SPEED Features
Safety ~ The SPEED is a low wing aircraft (wing area: 12.62 sqm) with a higher wing loading than the GR-912. The aircraft has the same ultra strong welded steel pilot protection frame coated with our latest zinc Epoxy protection system which has a twenty year conditional guarantee.
The Hughes Group of Companies have found over the past twenty years, in Australian Aviation, our welded steel frame offers the best possible protection to our pilots and passengers. Although damage may occur to some aircraft, with over 160 of our aircraft manufactured in Australia, we usually carry out only one major repair approximately every two years.
~ OZ ON HOLD ~
Telephone On Hold Systems for small businesses
Is your Telephone On Hold System playing those annoying chimes??? Or even worse- the radio- Advertising your competitors????
With the extremely affordable Oz On Hold ~ On Hold Telephone System, you can have a customized message; explaining YOUR products, entertaining YOUR clients and promoting YOUR business.
Homebuilding Supplies
The Hughes Group of Companies are here to help you with all your home building requirements, be it parts, advice or information. Feel free to call or email Howie or one of the team during work hours.
Australian LightWing Diary Page
July 2010
The SP TD (SPEED Tail Dragger) Available as a 2 or 4 seat aircraft.
 |
 |
 |
| Our new Spinner design! |
Here are some photos of a recent flight out over our beautiful beaches. We hope you like them!
 |
 |
 |
We are celebrating our new Australian LightWing LOGO with a splash of new mugs and they look great!!!
Don't know what to buy for the person that has everything- an ALW mug of course ! :)
June 2010
 |
The team here at Hughes Engineering are pleased to introduce to you ~ our new Australian LightWing logo! We think it looks great on the NEW SPEED, as she comes out of the showroom today for a flight around Byron Bay. The new wing images on the wings look stunning! |
MAY 2010
 |
| NEWS FLASH!!!!! MAY 2010 |
|
On Saturday, the 3rd of April 2010, the Ra-Aus (Recreational Aviation of Australia) awarded Howard Hughes of 'Hughes Group of Companies' in Ballina, the recognition of achievement as a “Recreational Aviation Pioneer 2010”. He was acknowledged for over twenty-five years contributing to the Australian Aviation Industry. The award was presented at the National RA-Aus Temora Airshow in southern NSW, Australia.
Howard (Howie) Hughes and his team have been manufacturing the Australian LightWing two and four seat Aircraft Range for twenty-five years. After beginning in a colourful career based in architecture, he then included boat building, hang gliding, building trawlers in Ballina in the 80's, and more recently:- electric green cars, catamarans, computer software and back to architecture into his repertoire of interests and passions. Howard has been involved, inspirational and eccentric and always focused on sharing his passions with fellow enthusiasts and local and international schools and university aeronautical programs. The Hughes Group of Companies is a family owned and operated group, with supporting staff who are just as involved and dedicated to their projects. Nick Hughes, Howard's son, is your 'aircraft dictionary' on aircraft repair, parts and service. Shelly Hughes, Howard's daughter, creates all things digital for the company's products, with a background in music recording. We would like thank the Ra-Aus for the acknowledgement of Howard's achievements and accomplishments, and would like to raise a toast to the next twenty five years in Australia's thriving aviation community. Thank you! ~~~ And thankyou for all the well wishes! Please feel free to pass yours along via email or at our blog or in person at our factory! |
31st May 2010
Below, the SPEED Taildragger under construction in the Hughes Group Workshop.
The New Hughes Group Showroom is coming along nicely. Still a little bit to be done, but we're very happy with the outcome so far!
Drop in for a visit, view the factory and learn how the Australian LightWing is designed and manufactured!
May 2010 SPEED DVD Available Now! Here's a sample! Contact us now for your free copy!
Our New model High Wing 912 SPORT now has a sleek cantilevered tail and is also 18 inches longer. This range is
Pictured to the below, Australian LightWing Wings!
Straight from the paint room.
Don't be confined to boring old White! You can have any colour you wish!!!
For more information on our High Wing range, check out the website or give Howie, Nick or Terry a call today on (02) 6686 8658.
We are happy to answer all of your questions and get you into a new Australian LightWing.
August 2009
Eric Turion, Nael Montouchet and Dorian Matinez have been with us for the past five months and in that time they have developed both the body and the chassis for the three wheel, all electric road vehicle, ‘The Roadie' which we hope will be ready for road testing late in 2009 or early 2010.
During this time, they have worked with a high degree of professionalism in the construction and faring of fiberglass tooling pictured above. The welded metal chassis contains a suspension and rear propulsion electric motor, also all designed and developed using state of the art cad.
We are sad to see them go and we wish them well with their university careers and they will be welcome back at our establishment at any time.
July 2009
Pictured above and below, is one of the very first Australian LightWing aircraft to ever be built! Revisiting the factory to have the fuselage and wings recovered.
The aircraft has been living in the outback of Australia, enduring Australia's harshest conditions, and is still going strong.
For to view a short film on this aircraft, visit our You Tube Channel!
March 2008
March 2009
Pictured left, the Pedals in the SP4000.
Below, you can see the latest SPEED in the Factory with the wings now attached. The Paint job is nearing completion. The flaps and horizontal stabilizer on the tail section will be attached shortly.
The SP 4000 4 Seat Aircraft is a super advanced kit, which means it will take 200 to 300 hours to complete.
The kit is provided semi completed, which means some components have been completed on arrival to your door. The body is fitted to the fuselage. The windows and windscreen are fitted. Seat tracks fitted. Hydraulic brakelines are fitted. Left to complete in this kit is the undercarriage, the interior lining and fitout and completing the wings (see wings image below).
Below, The rear cabin bulkhead is fitted 18 inches aft of where it is located in the SP 2000. Allowing extra room for baggage etc.
Below, the SP4000 - 4 Seat Wings and wing tips. The Wings are completely closed out. Inspections can be made through the inspection holes. Wing skins are provided. Tail surfaces can be provided framed or unframed. Fit control surfaces to wings and paint.
Below, the seat tracks and pedals of the SP4000 - 4 Seat SPEED. Hydraulic lines are fitted. The aircraft has fully adjustable brake pads.
February 2009
We have a new paint scheme for the SPEED! The next Australian LightWing SPEED will be this beautiful light blue. Pictured below, you can see the fuselage exiting the Hughes Group Paint room.
There are also some exciting new graphics of the developments on the Roadie Electric Car.
Visit
The Roadie page to view some more!
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME................. INTRODUCING THE AUSTRALIAN LIGHTWING SP6000 - 6 SEATER
Construction: Fuselage carbon fiber epoxy composite
Wings: 6061T6 aluminum
Control surfaces: "S" glass Laminates
Engines: 2 x Rotamax 2 cyl Turbo rotary engines or 2 x Rotax 914 (4 seat only)
Navigation systems: ALW Glass cockpit, Trutrac Autopilot.
Design and manufacturer: Hughes Group Ballina
Registration: Experimental
Available: 2009 Please register your interest now. Contact al@spot.com.au
Kit or super advanced kit prices on application.
Factory builder assistance available.
A range of engines can be fitted to this aircraft including auto conversions such as the 2-cyl Mazda rotary ranges; also, we anticipate that Air Gyros 2 cyl turbo rotary engine will suit the airframe well when these engines become available. The airframe is planned to be very flexible with the ability to produce the aircraft as a single turbine engine with either high or low wing configuration.
Haven't you always wanted to make yourself a cuppa or just get up and stretch your legs whilst you are flying? well now you can, the SP-6000 fuselage is 1.5m in diameter. With 4 seats, a small galley with a food warmer can be fitted in the rear left of the cabin and a toilet on the right, the SP-6000 will have 1000 nm range so this will be a valuable feature on long trips.
Pressurized? .... Perhaps in the future, till then carry oxygen at altitude. With 2 Rotax engines, 4 seats will be an option and with 200 hp available at 15,000 ft with the 914 engine an acceptable cruise and range will be achieved, the Rotax powered version will be built a little lighter than the same airframe carrying 2 x 200 hp engines.
WATCH THIS SPACE !!!!!!!!!!
January 2009
Happy new year to all of our friends and customers! We hope you had a good break and festive season!
The Hughes Group began the New year with a big change- we totally revamped our showroom and office area. The SPEED aircraft now sits in pride of place, looking out the front door, enjoying the summer sea breezes and a little sunshine. Shifting the office was epic, but exciting, as going through all the archives of our history involved looking at many photos documenting the growth and develpment of our company over twenty years. We've come a long way, and we're still going strong!
We're moving into 2009 with our eyes focued on the environment. We will be investing our time and energy into making our products as environmentally friendly as possible. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on this topic, please feel free to email us or contact us via our Blog.
More History?! -- The Diary Page 2008 --
Tell us what you think!!
What would you like to see photos of in our factory? What areas of construction are you interested in?