Warbirds

Now at least a temporary resident of Perth, Barrett is understood to have purchased the Sea Fury from Guido Zuccoli. Part of the sale apparently involves Guido getting a former Egyptian Air Force Russian-built Yakolev YAK-11 trainer of which Barrett has recently acquired 11 of the type in addition to the T-6 and Douglas Skyraider that he has in France.

The Sea Fury was at one stage going to a Melbourne TAA pilot who had reserved the registration VH-HFT for it.

DC-2 Update

The rebuild of VH-CDZ continues. At present in the Bankstown hangar of Pacific Aviation, the aircraft is being worked on by Winrye Aviation.

Originally of 14-seat configuration, it is planned to replace the 710hp Wright Cyclones with Cyclones of 1100hp de-rated to 950hp, driving Hamilton Standard Hydromatic fully feathering paddle bladed propellors.

It is also planned to increase the seating to 21 so that when completed, the old Rebel Air Douglas can be used for charter and joy riding, thus allowing a lot of people the enjoyment of a real ‘flight into yesterday’.

Avro Anson Restoration Continuing

Complete restoration of East West Airlines’ first aircraft, Avro Anson VH-ASM, is proceeding on schedule. East West have continued their active support for the project, while the Tamworth City Council has initiated through the local Lions Club a fundraising campaign designed to raise $40,000 to complete the project.

Funds raised will allow the final stages of restoration to be completed in addition to the construction of a suitable enclosed display area for ASM. Tamworth City Council have agreed to maintain the display area free of charge, while East West have undertaken a similar agreement on the aircraft itself. Under the guidance of John Gallagher, the completed display is hoped to be ready by the end of this year.

More Drover News

At Latrobe Valley airport, Vic. , the derelict DHA-3 Drover, VHADN, recently advertised for sale, has been bought by local pilot and enthusiast, John Brown. Restoration of the Gipsy-powered aircraft has already commenced.

In Sydney Hawker de Havilland has a small number of aircraft produced by its family predecessor, de Havilland Australia, including Drover VH-PAB which was ferried from Latrobe Valley some years ago. This aircraft has been rebuilt over a period of time and is due to fly again in 1985.

Yet another Drover has been acquired to be rebuilt and flown again.

This aircraft, VH-FDU, a Lycoming-powered Mk 3B, was last operated by the Adelaide charter firm, Coveair, until grounded in the mid-1970s. Since that time the Drover has been stored in the same hangar as the incomplete Southern Cross replica. The new owner of VH-FDU is Malcolm Long, well known for his Chewing Gum Field Air Museum at Coolangatta, Qld.

The Drover has been trucked to Melbourne and while in storage at present, will eventually be rebuilt at Moorabbin Airport.

VH-FDU was originally a Flying Doctor service aircraft but when rebuilt, will be painted up in a 1950s colour scheme of a TAA Drover.

A Bearcat for Australia?

Probably one of the most exciting WWII fighter aircraft, though it was too late to see service, was the Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat. Col Pay has been interested in acquiring a Bearcat for some time now, to complete his private air force and visited Thailand in January and February to access an ex-RTAF F8 that is suitable for restoration. If purchased, the Bearcat will join Col’s T-6G Texan, P-510 Mustang and the Spitfire and Kittyhawk that are still being restored. More news next issue.

Museum News

The last weekend of January saw a number of aircraft of Drage’s Air World flown from Wodonga to the new •aerodrome and Museum complex at Wangaratta, Vic.

Two hangars and the Museum’s display building were erected late last year.

New additions to the collection are BA Eagle VH-UTI and the long-term display of the recent UK to Australia bH80, G·AAZP. The Neptune and Venom of Ryan Equipment at Shepparton, V,c. are also understood to be joining the display.

The Air Museum at Nowra Air Station is expressing interest in obtaining the DH Venom at Maitland Aerodrome with a view to helping get their own Venom fully restored and back in the air again.

At Newcastle, the City Council has recently acquired the! Lakes Military collection and is now looking at re-siting Newcastle as a tourist attraction. The collection has a DH Venom and has had offers of other aircraft including the display of Peter Sledge’s recently completed Spitfire Mk IX, RR 232.

Imports

In Victoria, two Aeronca 7AC Airknockers have been imported by businessman Ken Ingersol.

The two Aeroncas arrived late last year. Purchased in the USA, both are powered by 65hp Continental engines.

Ken initially looked at purchasing some Piper J3 Cubs but soon found that in comparison with the Aeroncas, the Cubs were more expensive for no better aircraft.

Another DH83 Fox Moth fuselage has been bought from NZ. The fuselage, imported by Ken Orrman of Shepparton, Vic. , is the second to come from NZ in recent times. The other is owned by Max Horsecroft and Capt. Lanham at Coolangatta, Qld. Both fuselages are bare wood structures and require all the metal fittings plus wings.

Another DH83 Fox Moth, to become VH-AAA, if being built up by Don and Robert Bunn at Albury, NSW,

Iroquois for AWM

With the retirement of the ‘Bravo’ model Iroquois helicopters from RAAF service at the end of 1984, at least one has been allocated for a museum.

The Bell UH·18 ‘Huey’ or Iroquois was first delivered to the RAAF in 1962. A total of 24 Bravos were taken on strength. Initially used by No. 9 Search and Rescue Sqn. , they were later used in the confrontation with Indonesia and later in Vietnam. In Vietnam, the choppers were used as troop carriers and gunships.

One of the ‘Bravo’ Iroquois that has been used for SAR duties for a number of years at Williamstown RAAF base, A2-1019, is to go on permanent display in the Australian War Memorial at Canberra, ACT.

The Bravo Iroquois are to be replaced by Aerospatiale Squirrel helicopters. D&H model Iroquois remain in RAAF service.

Dornier Flyingboat Houseboat

A sword converted to a ploughshare is the thought that comes to mind when one sights a converted Dornier Flying Boat on the Murray River at Echuca, Vic.

Now a 4-berth houseboat, the vessel is the cockpit and forward hull of a Dornier DO 24K, one of five phased out of the RAAF service at the end of the war and later sold as surplus.

The DO 24K model was built in both Holland and Germany during 1937 to 1939 for use by the Dutch in the Netherlands East Indies. During the war a number of these three-engine flying boats flew south, to Australia, in an attempt to evade the Japanese advance. Four of the Dorniers were attacked and destroyed in the harbour at Broome, W. A. in March 1942 and another six were eventually transferred to the RAAF.

This Dornier, which has defied all attempts at identification, was purchased as surplus at the former Lake Boga, Vic. Flying Boat base, converted to a houseboat and launched at Echuca in 1950. Now owned by Mr. Henry Horsfall of Echuca, it has recently be rejuvenated and carries the name “Dornier” proudly on its nose.

SE-5A Replica For Sale

The five-eighths scale replica of a WW1 SE-5A fighter is up for sale.

Registered VH-CIC, the aircraft was built by well-known home builder, Clive Canning, and is the only one of its type in Australia. Powered by a Lyc. 0-235 engine, the replica is painted up in the colour scheme of WW1 ace, Captain Forrest of No. 2 Sqn. AFC. Cruise speed is 72 kts and stall 32 kts. The price asked is $30,000.

DH Dragon Damaged

Well-known South Australian DH-84 Dragon, VH-AQU, suffered undercarriage and other damage in a forced landing near Robe. S. A. on 17 November.

The former Marshall Airways aircraft was reported to have recently been purchased by a Sydney pilot and the forced landing is understood to have occurred during the delivery flight. Both engines are believed to have lost power.

The Dragon was one of a number built in Australia by de Havil-1 land during the war as RAAF navigation trainers. It featured in the TV mini-series “A Town Like Alice and more recently has been noted carrying a garish red and white ‘Coca-Cola’ colour scheme and advertising.

Ryan STM Rebuild

At Latrobe Valley, Vic. , Ryan VH-AGD is being rebuilt on a long-term project basis.

The low-wing trainer was badly damaged in a forced landing at Mildura, Vic. on 15 October 1967, following engine failure. The remains were purchased by Lan Baille, now known for his aircraft sales firm at Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport, and have been in storage until recently.

Powered by a Menasco engine, VH-AGD was built in 1940 for the Dutch Netherlands East Indies Navy (KNMLD) as s/n S-23 and later came to Australia where it became A50-11 with the RAAF.

Coming Events

Easter will see the SAAA hold its annual convention and Fly-in at Mangalore, Vic. This will be the world of Homebuilts, Ultralights, Warbirds and Vintage aircraft. TAA is to help sponsor the convention and Fly-In for the next three years. A special feature of the event will be the display of the 1934 Air Race Winner, the de Havilland DH88 Comet, in its fourth and final! Australian public display.

The Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June will see two events of interest to Warbird and Antique enthusiasts.

At Mackay, Qld. , the Mackay Air Museum is running an Air Show, the theme of which will be the 50th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3. The Air Museum operates a DC-3 on regular joy flights. A Sea Fury and Neptune are also to be featured in the show.

At Wangaratta, Vic. , the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia will hold its annual National Antique Fly-In at the new and larger aerodrome. The aerodrome has recently been built and is the home of the expanding Drage Air World Air Museum, now housed in a very much larger display building.

The AAAA has previously held its Fly-In at Wodonga.