Robinson Redwing
Robinson Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1930 · light aircraft
The Robinson Redwing was a British two-seat single-engine biplane light aircraft built in 1930. Twelve were produced, selling mostly to flying clubs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.91 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with equal span and chord and parallel pairs of interplane struts
- Wide cut-out in the centre of the upper trailing edge for pilot visibility
- Pilot and passenger side by side under the upper wing, with easily folded wings
Look for a small club biplane with slightly staggered, unswept equal-span wings, a rounded rectangular fuselage and a radial engine.
Specifications
- The Robinson Redwing has a length of 6.91 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.3 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 153 km/h (95 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
John Kenworthy designed it, and it first flew in May 1930 at the peak of the boom in light aircraft enthusiasm in the UK. The first prototype had a 75 hp A.B.C. Hornet.
Variants
The Redwing II had an 80 hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet IIA radial. The last two began as Redwing IIIs with smaller-span 24 ft wings and wheel fairings, but one needed full-area wings before it received a Certificate of Airworthiness.
Where you'll see it
Most went to aero clubs; six went to the Eastern Counties Aeroplane Club. A common problem in club use was a main undercarriage leg breaking where it joined the upper longeron, and one aircraft survives.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.