Welcome to the Sunbeam Dyak
Aero-Engine restoration project
This website is dedicated to the restoration of one of Australia's most important and historic Aviation Engines -
Sunbeam Dyak, (serial number A960640).
This 100-horsepower engine was originally fitted to Qantas' first aircraft, a 1920 AVRO 504K, and flew the airline's first passengers. It is one of only three Dyak engines known to still exist worldwide.
Follow us here, as we restore to Airworthy Running condition, this unique and important heritage item...
Engine History
Designed in 1918 and built by the Sunbeam Car Company in Wolverhampton, England, the Dyak was the brainchild of Sunbeam's chief engineer, Louis Coatalen. Although orders for more than 100 were received, less than 50 examples of the Dyak are known to have been originally fitted to aircraft worldwide.
In Australia, 16 Dyak engines were imported by the Australian Aircraft and Engineering Co. Ltd. to power AVRO 504K aircraft, being built under licence in the Sydney suburb of Mascot. One of those aircraft was purchased by the newly formed aviation company in Winton - Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd, or Q.A.N.T.A.S.
Notes in the original aircraft logbook (see images opposite) list the serial number of the engine - A96064. This number matches that on the engine being restored.
The Dyak Engine
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Water-cooled, 6 cylinder inline engine,
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Aluminium block for light weight construction,
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Single overhead camshaft with two valves per cylinder,
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Twin Claudel Hobson BZS type carburettors,
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Twin magnetos,
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Cockpit mounted cranking handle for starting.
Qantas Logbook Entry
Extract from Qantas aircraft logbook for AVRO504 aircraft G-AUBG
Source:
Queensland State Library
Qantas Airways. 1921 - 1932
4117, QANTAS Log Book, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia
Gipsy Engine Project
Delivered by the Team in 2018
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Project Goals
This engine is one of Australia's most significant aviation heritage items and is a tangible link to the earliest years of commercial aviation in this country.
The focus of the project is to authentically restore the Dyak engine to its original, running condition, to preserve its unique cultural heritage, and to display the engine as both a static and running curatorial item.
Stages and Timeline
Stage 1 - September 2024 - March 2025
Strip down and rebuild to original airworthy condition, all internal components of the engine,
Stage 2 - December 2024 - March 2025
Restoration of engine ancillaries - restoration of both Carburettors, both Magnetos and all external engine wiring,
Stage 3 - December 2024 - June 2025
Re-manufacture essential ancillary equipment - new propellor, fuel tank, engine oil tank and engine instrumentation,
Stage 4 - April 2025 - July 2025
Construction of a mobile engine mounting platform, suitable to allow the Dyak to be started and run on a regular basis for public display.
Project aim is to be ready for first engine start in August 2025.
Latest Updates
Stage 1 of the project now underway...
Already in disassembly, each component awaits its turn for restoration
The journey has begun.
As of early October, 2024, the Sunbeam Dyak engine arrived on-site to begin its mechanical journey back to a 'flyable condition', running engine. Our best research indicates that the engine last ran in 1924, when it suffered a catastrophic failure in a starting gear, rendering it unusable.
Phase 1 of the engine rebuild is now underway, when the engine is disassembled, cleaned and inspected for damage and wear.
Phase 2 (repair, replacement and restoration) is expected to begin in November.
Phase 3 (Final reassembly and test running) is expected to begin early March, 2025
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Click on each image above, for a short description. Images will be updated regularly
STOP THE PRESSES!!
A new update from the factory... Phase 2 already underway! Crankshaft is in better condition then expected, and is receiving the Master's touch
BLOG Section coming soon...
Check back regularly to this website as we bring you interviews, updates and more history about this amazing engine.
Our first BLOG should be up and available here in the next few weeks
BLOG
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The Team,
Our Partners and Supporters
THE TEAM
Meet the Project Managers,
Don Hill and David Thiess
David Thiess and Don Hill bring a wealth of aviation, heritage and project management expertise to the Dyak Engine Project. David, as a career airline Captain and specialist antique aircraft Engineer takes the lead with the engineering side of this rebuild. David has amassed many years of experience rebuilding, maintaining and flying antique aircraft, and has management experience with several aviation businesses.
Don, also a career airline Captain, has successfully planned, managed and completed several complex aviation heritage projects, including a television documentary, and the repatriation of historic aircraft parts from a Middle East desert location. Both David and Don have many years of Board level experience of a major aviation museum and understand the complexities and responsibilities of proper aviation heritage management.
Jointly, they maintain ownership of the Dyak engine and have developed a realistic project plan, timeline and budget for the authentic restoration of this iconic and historic aircraft engine.
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SUPPORTERS and DONORS
We gratefully acknowledge and thank these organisations and individuals for their amazing support!
Qantas Founders Outback Museum, Longreach, Qld Qantas Founders Museum (qfom.com.au)
Aviation Heritage Museum, Bull Creek, WA Aviation Heritage Museum (aviationmuseumwa.org.au)
Mr Phil Guilfoyle, NSW Research and Dyak parts
Jack and Bob Croft, NSW Technical and engineering advice
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Please help us in our journey.
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Do you have any history of the Dyak engine or AVRO 504K aircraft in Australia?
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Do you know of (or have) any parts or historic documentation connected with the engine or aircraft?
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Do you have any specialist skills you would be willing to donate to the project?
To connect with us, please email - avrospirit@hotmail.com