The first Genairco flew on December 20, 1929, and bore a marked similarity to the D.H.60, although it had a two-place front cockpit. The seventh and eighth aircraft produced were modified into cabin biplanes, resembling the D. H, 83 Fox Moth. The Depression and availability of D.H. types put General Aircraft out of business by early 1933.
Genairco VH-UOD
General Aircraft built about 12 Genaircos from late 1929 in ‘cabin’ and ‘open’ forms. A three-seater, two passengers are side-by-side in the front and pilot behind.
The Gemini Hummingbird 103 and Hummingbird Super 103 are single seat twin engined high wing mono¬plane with conventional three axis control. Wing has unswept leading edge, swept forward trailing edge and tapering chord; V tail. Pitch/yaw control by elevon; roll control by ailerons; control inputs through stick for pitch/roll and pedals for yaw. Wing braced from below by struts; wing profile; double surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation; no suspension on nosewheel and steel spring suspension on main wheels. Push right go right nosewheel steering connected to yaw control. Optional brake on nosewheel; optional brakes on main wheels. Aluminium tube framework, without pod (Hummingbird 103), totally enclosed (Hummingbird Super 103). Engines mounted at wing height driving tractor propellers. Two tractor Solo 210 engines, direct drive (two 20-hp Solos, 3:1 reduction unit, tuned exhaust optional). The Super 103 is the same basic configuration as the Standard 103 but POWERPLANT: Two Solo 210s, 3:1 reduction unit, tuned exhaust.
First year built: 1979. The 103 marks a change in marketing policy for the company, as it is the first kit built machine offered by the firm, taking two days to build. A wide range of options is available on the 103, including wheel spats and a fabric covering for the fuselage, with Lexan windows to make a fully enclosed cockpit. Thus modified, the aircraft is known as the Hummingbird Super 103 and costs $6185, as against $5495 for the Hummingbird 103, in 1982. Other notable options are floats, amphibious floats into which the wheels retract, disc or drum brakes on the main wheels, a nosewheel brake, heavy duty 16 inch (41 cm) wheels and a ‘Super Wing’ high performance wing. Reduction drive is optional. Units delivered by June 1981 48. The Hummingbird Prospector had the wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables. Aluminium tube framework, without pod (total enclosure optional). The Hummingbird Prospector was the flagship of the Gemini range in that it came complete and test flown from the factory, unlike the Hummingbird 103 and Hummingbird Super 103. It was an older design, easily distinguished from the 103s by its retention of kingpost and cable bracing. The Prospector was sold with two Solo 335 engines. However, there were plenty of Prospectors around with Limbach 275 cc engines. Latest power units for the Hummingbird Prospector were reduction drive Solos.
The Tractorplane is a utility ultralight version of Prospector. The Sport Hummingbird is a mono-wing with upright V-tail. Mixed three-axis controls make use of true ailerons for roll control and a separate elevator on the V-tail for pitch control. Construction is aluminum-tubing frame with the wings and tail surfaces covered with presewn 3.8-ounce Dacron. The engines are mounted in tractor position on the leading edge of each wing, and operated separately. Reduction drive turns each two-blade wooden Gemini propeller. Fuel tank is polypropylene. LANDING GEAR: Solid tricycle with steerable nosewheel. Wheels measure 16 inches.
Hummingbird 3-axis conventional (rudder, aileron, elevator). Gross weight 415 lb. Empty weight 163 lb (can be modified to 155). Max pilot weight 230 lbs. First year built 1979.
Hummingbird Standard 103 Engines: 2 x Solo 335, 20 hp at 7200 rpm. Propeller diameter and pitch 52 x 27 inch, 1.32 x 0.69 m. V belt reduction, ratio 3.0/1. Max static thrust 340 lb, 154 kg. Power per unit area 0.24 hp/sq.ft, 2.6 hp/sq.m. Fuel capacity 4.4 US gal, 3.7 Imp gal, 16.6 litre. Length overall 21.0 ft, 6.40 m. Height overall 5.0ft, 1.52m. Wing span 36.0ft, 10.97m. Chord at root 5.0ft, 1.52m. Chord at tip 3.9ft, 1.16m. Dihedral 4 deg. Sweepback 0 deg Tailplane span 5.0ft, 1.52m. Height of in¬clined fixed surface 5.0 ft, 1.52 m. Total wing area 163 sq.ft, 15.1sq.m. Total aileron area 18.0sq.ft, 1.67sq.m. Inclined fixed area 18.0sq.ft, 1.67 sq.m. Total elevon area 14.0 sq.ft, 1.30 sq.m. Wing aspect ratio 7.9/1. Wheel track 6.0ft, 1.82m. Wheelbase 5.0ft, 1.52m. Nosewheel diameter overall 6 inch, 15cm. Main wheels diameter overall 6 inch, 15cm. Optional floats: length 8.0ft, 2.43m. Optional skis: length x width 6.0 ft x 3.5 inch, 1.82 x 0.08 m. Empty weight 240 lb, 109 kg. Max take off weight 560 lb, 254 kg. Payload 320 lb, 145 Max wing loading 3.43 lb/sq.ft, 16.7 kg/sq.m. Max power loading 14.0 lb/hp, 6.3kg/hp. Load factors +4.5, 3.5 design; +5.0, 4.0 ulti¬mate. Max level speed 62 mph, 100 kph. Never exceed speed 70 mph, 113 kph. Max cruising speed 57 mph, 92 kph. Economic cruising speed 45 mph, 72 kph. Stalling speed 22 mph, 35 kph. Max climb rate at sea level 941 ft/min, 4.8 m/s. Min sink rate 207 ft/min at 30 mph, 1.0 m/s at 48 kph. Best glide ratio with power off 11/1 at 42mph, 67 kph. Take off distance 100 ft, 30 m. Land¬ing distance 120ft, 38m. Service ceiling 27,000ft, 8235m. Range at average cruising speed 100 mile, 160km.
Hummingbird Super 103 Engines: 2 x Solo 335, 20 hp at 7200 rpm. Propeller diameter and pitch 52 x 27 inch, 1.32 x 0.69 m. V belt reduction, ratio 3.0/1. Max static thrust 340 lb, 154 kg. Power per unit area 0.24 hp/sq.ft, 2.6 hp/sq.m. Fuel capacity 4.4 US gal, 3.7 Imp gal, 16.6 litre. Length overall 21.0 ft, 6.40 m. Height overall 5.0ft, 1.52m. Wing span 36.0ft, 10.97m. Chord at root 5.0ft, 1.52m. Chord at tip 3.9ft, 1.16m. Dihedral 4 degs. Sweepback 0 deg. Tailplane span 5.0ft, 1.52m. Height of in¬clined fixed surface 5.0 ft, 1.52 m. Total wing area 163 sq.ft, 15.1sq.m. Total aileron area 18.0sq.ft, 1.67sq.m. Inclined fixed area 18.0sq.ft, 1.67 sq.m. Total elevon area 14.0 sq.ft, 1.30 sq.m. Wing aspect ratio 7.9/1. Wheel track 6.0ft, 1.82m. Wheelbase 5.0ft, 1.52m. Nosewheel diameter overall 6 inch, 15cm. Main wheels diameter overall 6 inch, 15cm. Optional floats: length 8.0ft, 2.43m. Optional skis: length x width 6.0 ft x 3.5 inch, 1.82 x 0.08 m. Empty weight 240 lb, 109 kg. Max take off weight 560 lb, 254 kg. Payload 320 lb, 145 Max wing loading 3.43 lb/sq.ft, 16.7 kg/sq.m. Max power loading 14.0 lb/hp, 6.3kg/hp. Load factors +4.5, 3.5 design; +5.0, 4.0 ulti¬mate. Max level speed 62 mph, 100 kph. Never exceed speed 70 mph, 113 kph. Max cruising speed 57 mph, 92 kph. Economic cruising speed 45 mph, 72 kph. Stalling speed 22 mph, 35 kph. Max climb rate at sea level 941 ft/min, 4.8 m/s. Min sink rate 207 ft/min at 30 mph, 1.0 m/s at 48 kph. Best glide ratio with power off 11/1 at 42mph, 67 kph. Take off distance 100 ft, 30 m. Land¬ing distance 120ft, 38m. Service ceiling 27,000ft, 8235m. Range at average cruising speed 100 mile, 160km.
Hummingbird Prospector Engines: Twin Solo 210 cc , 12.5 hp, 3:1 reduction unit, tuned exhaust. Undercarriage: Standard tricycle, steerable nosewheel. Wingspan 34 ft. Wing area 153 sq.ft. Aspect ratio 7.5:1. Length 22 ft. Empty weight: 240 lbs. Payload 400 lbs. Gross weight 640 lbs. Wing loading 4.18 lbs/sq.ft. L/D 10:1. Cruise speed 33 mph. Stall speed 21 mph. Vmax 63 mph. Takeoff/landing roll 75 ft. Climb rate 600 fpm. Fuel capacity 4.5 USG.
Hummingbird Tractorplane Engines: Two Solo 210s, 3:1 reduction unit, tuned exhaust. Undercarriage: Standard tricycle, steerable nose-wheel Wingspan 34 ft. Wing area 153 sq.ft. Aspect ratio 7.5:1. Length 22 ft. Empty weight: 163 lbs. (can be modified to 155). Max pilot wt: 230 lbs. Payload 420 lbs. Wing loading 4.18 lbs/sq.ft. L/D 10:1.
Sport Hummingbird Engine: Twin Gemini/Partner K-1200 100cc, 7 hp Static thrust, 51 lbs each. Wingspan, 34 ft. Wing area: 186 sq.ft. Aspect ratio, 7.5:1. Empty weight, 138 lbs. Usable payload (include fuel), 200 lbs. Wing loading, 1.07 lbs/sq.ft. L/D power-off glide ratio, 11:1. Cruise speed (85% power), 30 mph. Stall speed, 15 mph. Approach speed, 25 mph. Flair speed, 20 mph. Liftoff speed, 17 mph. Takeoff roll distance, 150 ft. Rate of climb, 250 fpm. Fuel capacity, 1.75 USG. Range at cruise, 50 sm.
Ed Sweeney, president of Gemini International, was not only a longstanding friend of Klaus Hill but was also directly involved with him in the development of the Humbug and its evolution into the Hummingbird, which he continued to produce after the accidental death of Klaus. Earlier, Ed had been amongst the very first people to motorize hang gliders, using two cut down partner chain saw engines. This power pack was produced for two years, beginning in 1979, and more than 200 were sold under the name of Gemini.
A construction of “Gesellschaft für Flugmaschinen- und Apparatenbau” at Bonn-Hangelar; designed and built by Dr. Josef Hoos – a “Kölner” – and a flyer since 1911. Similar monoplanes were built in “some” numbers during 1910-13, with various engines and used by the Hoos flying school up until 1914 – at first in Cologne and from December 1913 in Bonn-Hangelar.
The earlier G.E.F.A. eindeckers (of 1911/12) had a small rudder, the later rudders were larger. This example, probably a later model with a partially covered fuselage, is shown at Hangelar Flugplatz in early 1914 with flight-student Albert Leick seated.
Development of the machine started in December 1909. It was powered by a 12 hp engine driving a two-bladed tractor propeller. The undercarriage was a tricycle construction with a strong skid in the middle of the front wheels. The characteristic wing – later the trademark of the Geest Möwe Eindecker types – was based on earlier work of Alois Wolfmüller. The machine was not tested as Wolfmüller realized that the machine would not reach the required speed to get into the air.
The Geest Flugzeugbau GmbH Möwe 2 was built at L.V.G. in Johannisthal during the second part of 1911. The idea was to build a Morane E.D fuselage with a Geest’s wing, but the result looks quite different. The engine was a 70 hp Gnome. It was successfully flown before winter by the L.V.G. pilot Alois Stiploschek. Some time later, it crashed.
After liquidation the workforce built the QED, and the ‘Time Flies’ a racer for Frank Hawks. The Gee Bee R6 (later designated Q.E.D.) was designed and built as a two place transcontinental air racer specifically to complete in the MacRobertson Trophy Race – a transcontinental air race from London to Melbourne, Australia. The QED was powered by a 650 hp P&W R-1690 Hornet engine.
The QED did not finish the MacRobertson Trophy Race only reaching Bucharest and in 1939 was sold to Mexican competition pilot Francisco Sarabia.
After setting a new speed record from Mexico City to New York City in 10 hrs 48 minutes, tragedy struck and Sarabia was killed when the engine quit on take off from Washington D.C. and the aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.
The Q.E.D. was not badly damaged, and was restored and is now on display in Mexico as a tribute to Francisco Sarabia.
The Granvilles and their new chief engineer, Howell “Pete” Miller, came up with two of the most powerful models yet—the R Series Super Sportsters, race numbers 7 and 11—tailor-made to win the 1932 Nationals. For the Bendix there was No. 7, the Wasp Jr.-powered R 2; for the Thompson Trophy event there was No. 11, the Gee Bee R 1.
Gee Bee R 2 Super Sportster
P&W R-985, 535 hp Built for the Bendix trophy. 302 USG fuel cap. Fixed tailwheel.
