Lawrence J. Wackett (later Sir Lawrence) started his career in the Australian Flying Corps in the First World War and saw service in Egypt; when the R.A.A.F. was formed in 1921 Wackett decided to move into aircraft design and development and, after a short professional training period, persuaded the then Defence Minister, R. K. Bowden, to set up a R.A.A.F. Experimental Aircraft Station at Randwick, in order to develop aircraft suitable for Australian conditions.
The first design was the Widgeon 1, a flying boat, followed by a much larger amphibian, the Widgeon 11, powered by a 440 hp A.S. Jaguar engine. In 1927, the Widgeon 11 undertook a 9,000 mile flight around Australia.
Two other aircraft were developed at Randwick to the prototype stage: Warrigal I (a trainer) and Warrigal II a single seat fighter. As a result of a government-sponsored report, the Randwick Station was closed in 1931: Wackett resigned from the R.A.A.F. and transferred, with some personnel and equipment to Cockatoo Dockyard.
Manufacturer
Raab-Katzenstein Flugzeugwerke
Rheinische Luftfahrt Industrie
Formed in 1925 by Raab & Katzenstein, formerly with Dietrich Flugzeugwerke. First product was Schwalbe two-seat training biplane with Siemens engine. Built several other light aircraft before company name changed to Rheinische Luftfahrt Industrie (Rheinland), continuing manufacture of an improved Schwalbe, the FR-2.
Raab Flugzeugbau Gmbh
Germany
Formed in 1959; took over the Italian plant of Colonel Mario de Bemardi, with plans to build his Aeroscooter ultralight aircraft in Germany. Raab Flugzeugbau also acquired rights to license-produce Ambrosini Rondone four-seat monoplane.
Quikkit Corp
USA
Developed the composites-constructed Glass Goose two-seat amphibious biplane (introduced in kit form in 1992) from the former Aero Composites Sea Hawker of 1982 first flight.
1995-2009: 9002 Summer Glen No.B, Dallas, TX 75243, USA.
Quicksilver Enterprises / Quicksilver Aircraft / Quicksilver Manufacturing
Successor to Eipper, and has offered kits to construct a range of trike microlights in the MX Sprint and Sport series, plus the single-seat GT 400 pod-and-boom microlight and two-seat GT 500, the latter having become the first homebuilt to be certificated under new FAA regulations in the U.S.A.
1997: Quicksilver Aircraft, 27495 Diaz Rd, Temecula, CA 92590, USA.
2010: Quicksilver Mfg, 42214 Sarah Way, Temecula, CA 92590, USA.
Around 2011, Escutia, a Mexican national who shares his time between his home in Guadalahara, Mexico, and Temecula, took over the operation. Escutia felt that the amateur-built category was a barrier to sales, so he embarked on a journey to bring the 2S to LSA certification. About 18 months later, he had the first light-sport airworthiness certificate for the S2SE in hand.
Quickie Aircraft
1980: PO Box 786, Mojave, CA 93501, USA.
Builder of the Quickie, Q2 and Q200
Quick Flight
USA
Has produced kits to build Quiet Bird single-seat microlight, made available from the Flight Shack in Lakeport.
Quest Aircraft Company
The origins of Quest Aircraft Company began in 1998 with the start of Idaho Air Group — the product of co-visionaries Tom Hamilton and David Voetmann. Both men recognized the need for a modern backcountry aircraft designed to meet the demands of humanitarian aviation. Along with an early group of visionaries, they put the Kodiak on paper and went out in search of funding.
Hamilton, a well-known aviation entrepreneur, had extensive aircraft design experience, and Voetmann had more than 40 years of flying experience with humanitarian and relief organizations, as well as raising funds to support these efforts. After years of dreaming and planning, the two launched the Idaho Air Group in 1998, and the origins of Quest Aircraft Company began.
Along with an early group of supporters, they put the Kodiak on paper and went out in search of funding. In May 2001, the company was official launched and a Board of Directors was chosen. Bruce Kennedy, retired CEO of Alaska Airlines, was Quest’s Founding Chairman.
The company was officially launched in May 2001, and by that summer employed a staff of 14. On October 16, 2002, the 27,000 square foot new Quest facility was officially dedicated and the team moved the production work to its current home at the Sandpoint (ID) Municipal Airport. Work began on the prototype aircraft.
Quest Aircraft Company, headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, manufactures the Kodiak 10-seat single engine turboprop airplane. The next-generation Kodiak combines aluminum construction, STOL performance and high useful load.
The Quest facility has since expanded to over 84,000 square feet. In 2011, Quest expanded its worldwide sales network and added strategically-located Authorized Service Centers to better support the growing fleet of Kodiaks in the field.
Daher took over Quest Aircraft in 2019.
Questair
Has marketed kits to build the metal Venture side-by-side two-seat low-wing monoplane with retractable undercarriage, first flown in 1987, and the Spirit derivative with fixed undercarriage.
1987-91: Questair Inc, Box 18946, Greensboro, NC27419, USA.
Quercy-Rouergue
1998
Aerodrome
F-82000 Montauban
France
Built the CQR 01
All Aero 