Gordon Burford
Encyclopedia
Gordon Burford was an Australian model engine designer and manufacturer. He was Australia's premier model engine builder. He produced thousands of engines of many different designs including the GeeBee, Sabre, GloChief and Taipan brands. Gordon was also a respected aeromodeler starting with Free Flight
at a young age prior to World War II before pioneering in Control line
after the war.
After the war ended, importation into Australia of model engines was difficult and expensive due to Australia's remoteness to the rest of the world. Gordon saw an opportunity of manufacturing his own engines for the Australian market. His first engine, produced in 1946, was the Gee Bee, a 5cc diesel motor based on the Sparey 5cc diesel design that had been recently published in England.
What was to follow was a long pedigree of diesel and glow engines from 1cc up to 10cc displacement until Gordon retired in 1974 and handed the business to his son Peter. Gordon then directed his energy into the interest of Australian aeromodelers by taking on the position of Federal Secretary and Treasurer of the Model Aircraft Association of Australia (MAAA).
Gordon Burford died on the 12th March, 2010, following a fall at his home in Currumbin Queensland
.
Free flight (model aircraft)
The segment of model aviation known as free flight is the original form of the aeromodeling hobby, extending back centuries.- Description :...
at a young age prior to World War II before pioneering in Control line
Control line
Control line is a simple and light way of controlling a flying model aircraft. The aircraft is connected to the operator by a pair of lines, attached to a handle, that work the elevator of the model. This allows the model to be controlled in the pitch axis...
after the war.
After the war ended, importation into Australia of model engines was difficult and expensive due to Australia's remoteness to the rest of the world. Gordon saw an opportunity of manufacturing his own engines for the Australian market. His first engine, produced in 1946, was the Gee Bee, a 5cc diesel motor based on the Sparey 5cc diesel design that had been recently published in England.
What was to follow was a long pedigree of diesel and glow engines from 1cc up to 10cc displacement until Gordon retired in 1974 and handed the business to his son Peter. Gordon then directed his energy into the interest of Australian aeromodelers by taking on the position of Federal Secretary and Treasurer of the Model Aircraft Association of Australia (MAAA).
Gordon Burford died on the 12th March, 2010, following a fall at his home in Currumbin Queensland
Currumbin, Queensland
Currumbin is a suburb in the Gold Coast region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Currumbin had a population of 2,647.-History:Many of the houses at Currumbin date from the period of its earliest subdivision and the area contains a substantial grouping of fibro beach houses...
.
Engines Manufacutured
Gee Bee
Gee Bee Gordon's first engines.| Year | Name | Size | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | GB1 | 5cc | Diesel | Based on the Sparey 5cc diesel |
| 1947 | GB2 | 5cc | Diesel | Based on the American Drone engine |
| 1949 | Gee Bee Stuntmota MkIII | 5cc | Diesel or Glowplug | Based on the American Drone engine |
| 1950 | Gee Bee 50 | 5cc | Diesel | |
| 1950 | Gee Bee 50G | 5cc | Glow | |
| 1950 | Gee Bee 75 | 7.5cc | Glow |
Sabre
Sabre was the name Gordon chose for his engines, but was threatened with legal action in 1956 by North American Aviation who built the F-86 Sabre jet. Gordon decided not to use the name anymore, rather than go through a costly legal battle.| Year | Name | Size | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Mk 1 Sabre 2.5cc | 2.5cc | Diesel | Inspired by the 1949 Elfin 2.49 and OK Cub 049 |
| 1951 | Mk 2 Sabre 250 | 2.5cc | Diesel | Improved crankcase design |
| 1951 | Sabre 150 | 1.5cc | Diesel | Small production run |
| 1951 | Sabre 49 | 8cc | Glow | Based on the Atwood Triumph |
| 1952 | Sabre 29 Mk 1 | 5cc | Glow | Inspired by the Veco 29 |
| 1952 | Sabre 19 | 3.27cc | Glow | Inspired by K&B 19 |
| 1953 | Mk 3 Sabre 2.5cc | 2.5cc | Diesel | New crankcase design |
| 1955 | Mk 4 Sabre 2.5cc | 2.5cc | Diesel | Improved design |
| 1955 | Sabre 35 | 6cc | Glow | Inspired by the K&B 25 "green head" Same bore and stroke as Fox 35 |
Glo Chief
Glo Chief was then name originally chosen as a replacement for Sabre for the larger Glow plug engines. Gordon later decided to use Taipan for all his engine designs.| Year | Name | Size | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Mk 1 Glo Chief 29 & 35 | 5cc and 6cc | Glow | Copy of the Fox 29 and Fox 35 |
| 1958 | Mk 2 Glo Chief 29 & 35 | 5cc and 6cc | Glow | Reverts to Sabre/Taipan styling. |
| 1959 | Glo Chief 49 | 8cc | Glow | |
| 1960 | Glo Chief 19 | 3.27cc | Glow | First engine with RC Throttle |
| 1963 | Mk 4 Glo Chief 29 & 35 BR | 5cc and 6cc | Glow | Ball race crankshaft mounting. |
| 1964 | Mk 5 Glo Chief 29 | 5cc | Glow | Change in crankcase design |
Taipan
Taipan is the brand name that is synonymous with the name Gordon Burford. Hundreds of thousands of these engines were produced and sold world wide.| Year | Name | Size | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Taipan 29 Mk 1 | 5cc | Glow | Basically a Sabre 29 Mk 2 with name removed. |
| 1956 | Taipan 35 | 6cc | Glow | Basically a Sabre 35 with name removed. |
| 1956 | Mk 1 Taipan 2.5cc diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Carry over from Sabre 2.5 Mk 4. |
| 1957 | Mk 2 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | New design based on the Frog 2.49. |
| 1958 | Mk 3 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Reverts to earlier format threaded assemblies. |
| 1958 | Mk 1 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel | 1.5cc | Diesel | Smaller version of the Mk 3 Taipan 2.5cc diesel. |
| 1959 | Mk 4 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Ball Bearing engine design for team racing. |
| 1959 | Taipan 3.5cc R/C Diesel | 3.5cc | Diesel | Radio Control] use |
| 1960 | Mk 5 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Improved porting. |
| 1961 | Mk 2 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel | 1.5cc | Diesel | New design inspired by Davies Charlton engines. |
| 1961 | Mk 6 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Ball race engine. |
| 1962 | Mk 1 Taipan 2.5cc Glow | 2.5cc | Glow | 1st 2.5cc Glow engine |
| 1963 | Mk 1 Taipan 1.5cc Glow | 1.5cc | Glow | Influenced by the OK glowplug line of engines |
| 1963 | Mk 3 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel | 1.5cc | Diesel | Integral fuel tank similar looking to OK Cub |
| 1963 | Mk 7 Taipan "Sport" 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Plain bearing engine. |
| 1964 | Mk 2 Taipan 2.5cc Glow | 2.5cc | Glow | Resembles Fox 15X engine |
| 1965 | Mk 8 Taipan "Series 65" 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | New cylinder style. |
| 1965 | Taipan 1cc Diesel | 1cc | Diesel | Smallest diesel |
| 1966 | Mk 4 Taipan 1.5cc "66 Series" Diesel | 1.5cc | Diesel | Based on the 1965 2.5cc Diesel |
| 1967 | Mk 2 Taipan 1.5cc "Series 67" Glow | 1.5cc | Glow | Resembles Cox Medallion .09 |
| 1967 | Mk 5 Taipan 1.5cc "Series 67" Diesel | 1.5cc | Diesel | |
| 1967 | Mk 9 Taipan "Series 67" Taipan 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Competition engine |
| 1967 | Taipan 19 "Series 67" Glow | 3.27cc | Glow | PB and BR versions available |
| 1968 | Mk 3 Taipan 2.5cc "Series 68" Glow | 2.5cc | Glow | Lightning Bolt model |
| 1968 | Mk 10 Taipan "Series 68" 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Ball race engine. |
| 1968 | Taipan 61 R/C Mk 1 | 10cc | Glow | Resembles the 1967 Taipan 19 BB engine |
| 1970 | Series 70 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel | 1.5cc | Diesel | Ball race engine. |
| 1970 | Mk 11 Taipan "Series 70" 2.5cc Diesel | 2.5cc | Diesel | Ball race engine. |
| 1970 | Taipan 61 Mk 2 | 10cc | Glow | More power |
| 1971 | Taipan Tyro Diesel | 1.9cc | Diesel | The beginners engine |
| 1972 | Mk 4 Taipan 2.5cc Glow | 2.5cc | Glow | Pylon Special |
| 1972 | Taipan 3.5cc Glow | 3.5cc | Glow | Ball race version came in 1973 |
| 1973 | Mk 5 Taipan 2.5cc Glow "Goldhead" | 2.5cc | Glow | AKA 15 TBR Schnuerle Goldhead |
| 1976 | Taipan 40 | 6.55cc | Glow |