Gordon Burford


Gordon Burford was an Australian model aircraft 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 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 Aeronautical Association of Australia.
Gordon Burford died on 12 March 2010, following a fall at his home in Currumbin Queensland.

Engines Manufactured

Gee Bee

Gee Bee Gordon's first engines.
YearNameSizeTypeNotes
1946GB15ccDieselBased on the Sparey 5cc diesel
1947GB25ccDieselBased on the American Drone engine
1949Gee Bee Stuntmota MkIII5ccDiesel or GlowplugBased on the American Drone engine
1950Gee Bee 505ccDieselNew design
1950Gee Bee 50G5ccGlowGlow version
1950Gee Bee 757.5ccGlowBored out GB50G

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.
YearNameSizeTypeNotes
1950Mk 1 Sabre 2.5cc2.5ccDieselInspired by the 1949 Elfin 2.49 and OK Cub 049
1951Mk 2 Sabre 2502.5ccDieselImproved crankcase design
1951Sabre 1501.5ccDieselSmall production run
1951Sabre 498ccGlowBased on the Atwood Triumph
1952Sabre 29 Mk 15ccGlowInspired by the Veco 29
1952Sabre 193.27ccGlowInspired by K&B 19
1953Mk 3 Sabre 2.5cc2.5ccDieselNew crankcase design
1955Mk 4 Sabre 2.5cc2.5ccDieselImproved design
1955Sabre 356ccGlowInspired 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.
YearNameSizeTypeNotes
1957Mk 1 Glo Chief 29 & 355cc and 6ccGlowCopy of the Fox 29 and Fox 35
1958Mk 2 Glo Chief 29 & 355cc and 6ccGlowReverts to Sabre/Taipan styling.
1959Mk 2 Glo Chief 29 & 355cc and 6ccGlowLarger crank, flared venturi
1959Glo Chief 498ccGlow1959 & 1961 Gold Trophy Winner
1960Glo Chief 193.27ccGlowFirst engine with RC Throttle
~1961Mk 3 Glo Chief 29 Prototype5ccGlownever made it to production
1963Mk 4 Glo Chief 29 & 35 BR5cc and 6ccGlowBall race crankshaft mounting.
1964Mk 5 Glo Chief 295ccGlowChange in crankcase design
1965Mk 5 Glo Chief 366ccGlowUnbranded crankcase

Taipan

Taipan is the brand name that is synonymous with the name Gordon Burford. Hundreds of thousands of these engines were produced and sold worldwide.
YearNameSizeTypeNotes
1956Taipan 29 Mk 15ccGlowBasically a Sabre 29 Mk 2 with name removed but has
a "Drop In Sleeve" cylinder with Aluminium Fins
1956Taipan 356ccGlowBasically a Sabre 35 with name removed but has
a "Drop In Sleeve" cylinder with Aluminium Fins
1956Mk 1 Taipan 2.5cc diesel2.5ccDieselCarry over from Sabre 2.5 Mk 4.
1957Mk 2 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselNew design based on the Frog 2.49.
1958Mk 3 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselReverts to earlier format threaded assemblies.
1958Mk 1 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel1.5ccDieselSmaller version of the Mk 3 Taipan 2.5cc diesel.
1959Mk 4 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselBall Bearing engine design for team racing.
1959Taipan 3.5cc R/C Diesel3.5ccDieselIntended for Radio-controlled airplane use
1960Mk 5 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselImproved porting.
1961Mk 2 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel1.5ccDieselNew design inspired by Davies Charlton engines.
1961Mk 6 Taipan 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselBall race engine.
1962Mk 1 Taipan 2.5cc Glow2.5ccGlow1st 2.5cc Glow engine
1963Mk 1 Taipan 1.5cc Glow1.5ccGlowInfluenced by the OK glowplug line of engines
1963Mk 3 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel1.5ccDieselIntegral fuel tank similar looking to OK Cub
1963Mk 7 Taipan "Sport" 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselPlain bearing engine.
1964Mk 2 Taipan 2.5cc Glow2.5ccGlowResembles Fox 15X engine
1965Mk 8 Taipan "Series 65" 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselNew cylinder style.
1965Taipan 1cc Diesel1ccDieselSmallest diesel
1966Mk 4 Taipan 1.5cc "66 Series" Diesel1.5ccDieselBased on the 1965 2.5cc Diesel
1967Mk 2 Taipan 1.5cc "Series 67" Glow1.5ccGlowResembles Cox Medallion.09
1967Mk 5 Taipan 1.5cc "Series 67" Diesel1.5ccDieselFirst ball race engine
1967Mk 9 Taipan "Series 67" Taipan 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselCompetition engine
1967Taipan 19 "Series 67" Glow3.27ccGlowPB and BR versions available
1968Mk 3 Taipan 2.5cc "Series 68" Glow2.5ccGlowLightning Bolt model
1968Mk 10 Taipan "Series 68" 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselBall race engine.
1968Taipan 61 R/C Mk 110ccGlowResembles the 1967 Taipan 19 BB engine
1970Series 70 Taipan 1.5cc Diesel1.5ccDieselBall race engine.
1970Mk 11 Taipan "Series 70" 2.5cc Diesel2.5ccDieselBall race engine.
1970Taipan 61 Mk 210ccGlowMore power
1971Taipan Tyro Diesel1.9ccDieselThe beginners engine
1972Mk 4 Taipan 2.5cc Glow2.5ccGlowPylon Special
1972Taipan 3.5cc Glow3.5ccGlowBall race version came in 1973
1973Mk 5 Taipan 2.5cc Glow "Goldhead"2.5ccGlowAKA 15 TBR Schnuerle Goldhead
1976Taipan 406.55ccGlowR/C engine

Taipan Marine Engines

A line of Taipan diesel and glow marine engines were also produced in various sizes and configurations over the years. These are not detailed here. Details about these and all other Burford engines can be found in the book, Gordon Burford's Model Engines by Maris Dislers.