Scott Winton was an aviation pioneer who, along with his brother Dean, excelled in extending the performance and efficiency of small aircraft; setting a number of amazing records flying from Tyagarah Airfield out over the Byron Bay region:

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• Time to climb to 15000 feet: 6 minutes

• Time to climb to 20000 feet: 20 minutes

• Maximum altitude: 30100 feet

• Max speed: cruise at 150 kts (250 km/h)

• Longest range: 3000 Nm

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Also known as the Winton Facet Opal the aircraft was completed and underwent twelve months of intensive test flying and refinement before its attack on the world records.  In that time more than 100 hours were flown and distances of up to 1,300 km (808 miles) were achieved non-stop without refuelling.  When first flown the Opal was fitted with a Rotax 532 engine, achieved a speed of 254 km/h (158 mph) and achieved a sustained rate of climb of 914 m/min (3,000 ft/min).  In order to set records approval had to be received from the FAA, the international controlling body, and the Australian Civil Aviation Authority, which at that time limited this class of aircraft to just 152 m (500 ft) maximum flight level above sea level.

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On 5 March 1989, having flown from Tyagarah airfield to Evans Head, NSW, a record time to climb to a height of 3,000 m (9,943 ft) of 6 mins 46 seconds was set. On 16 March a time to height record to 6,000 m (19,685 ft) of 20 mins 30 seconds was set; and on 8 April 1989 an altitude record of 9,189.72 m (30,150 ft) for piloted aircraft weighing less than 299 kg (660 lb) was set. Subsequently plans were put in motion to attempt to set records in the speed and un-refuelled distance categories. Calculations projected a performance of an economic cruising speed of 252 km/h (156 mph) with a fuel burn of 6.9 kg (15.2 lb) per hour, an endurance of 17½ hours, with a range of 4,214 km (2,619 miles).

The Winton Opal team received some sponsorship in relation to the record setting, including Mils Petroleum, Mobile One, Castrol, Global Aviation Support, Bert Flood Imports and Sky Sports. At one stage the Opal team was hopeful of gaining major sponsorship to fly across Australia in an attempt at the world record non-stop, non-refuelled distance for Microlight aircraft, the record at that time of 1,028.92 km (639.35 miles) being held by Thomas Pratt in the United States in a Mitchell Silver Eagle."

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The engine powering the Facet Opal was a Rotax 532 engine producing only 64hp [48kw]. Looking at the above records again we should remember this was all achieved over 30 years ago!

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In a tragic turn of events Scott lost his life in the Opal at Tyagarah during a routine test flight in which the airframe failed. Speculation by those working closely with Scott and the Opal place the failure event being due to holes Scott had drilled through a bracing gusset in order to mount the oxygen tank for his successful record altitude flight.

 

Many of these records achieved by Scott and the Winton Opal still stand unbroken to this very day. His name along with other significant Tyagarah figures of Bryce Ducker and Graeme John are engraved upon a small concrete slab next to the eastern end clubhouse.

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