The Austral Tornado: A Little-Known Australian Engine
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The Austral Tornado was manufactured prior to WW2 by the Austral Model Aircraft Co in Hawthorn, a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria. Austral was run by the two Nicholls brothers. In addition to the Tornado engine, Austral produced and sold accessories and kits for both rubber and engine-powered model aircraft. It is believed they may have been agents for other manufacturers.
The Austral Tornado engine is believed to have been designed by Gil (Gilbert?) Nicholls, one of the brothers. In the years following WW2, Gil was also associated with the production of the Model Dockyard Whirwind, though whether this work was actually undertaken by the Austral Model Aircraft Co is not known. The man starting the engine in the test stand in this photo is believed to be Gil Nicholls.
The Tornado first appeared as a piston-port engine. The writer has an un-attributed note claiming the engine dates from 1931-32. Though a most un-sophisticated design, with similar features to the Loutrel and later GHQ engines, this date may be too early and circa 1935 may be more realistic. Few examples of this engine are known and the writer is indebted to Alwyn Smith for photographs of his incomplete early Austral. The engine held in the hand in this photo is fitted with an Australian Leggets spark plug.
The writer has a set of castings for what would appear to be a later Austral Tornado with a crankshaft rotary valve. We know the early engine was produced and sold. Whether this later engine went into production is unknown. The cylinder casting appears to be identical on both engines; the front rotary valve (FRV) engine being fitted with a neat, cast plate to cover the inlet port, which is directly under the exhaust on the early engine. Both used the same transfer cover plate, a crisp casting which carried the name. The die for this plate was engraved by Reginald Allenby, later known for his beautiful hand-engraved transfer covers on the original Model Dockyard Whirlwind engines built by the designer, Cliff McGuiness. Both Austral engines are typical of early pre-war design philosophies, though neither are of the same standard as their American contemporaries. The actual capacity of these engines is unknown, but they would appear to be in the range of 7-10cc.
So, here again we have an Australian engine about which little is really known. Even Jim Fullarton was unable to add much, but the writer is indebted to him for what details he had. Once again I would ask anyone with further information about these less-common Australian engines, such as the Austral, to contact either Ron or myself. It is so important that we document our history while there are relatively few of us who know anything about it!
David Owen, Wollongong NSW, September 26, 2011.