Warbirds

The plans are that the former RAN fighter bomber will be displayed at the annual American Confederate Air Force ‘Show at Harlingen, Texas. Mike Wansey is a Colonel in the C. A. F. and a keen promoter of the Australian wing of the C. A. F.

As the Firefly is an Australian-registered aircraft it must be flown by an Australian licenced pilot, even when overseas, and so American C. A. F. pilot, Edgar Vasser, came out to Australia just before the Ballarat Airshow to obtain an Australian pilots licence in order to be able to fly the Firefly in the USA. Edgar is a retired Pan Am pilot with a lot of heavy piston engine time.

Large Warbirds Turnout at Ballarat

The Australian National Airshow held at Ballarat, Vic, during mid February fielded the largest roll up of ex-military Warbirds yet seen in this country.

The Warbirds comprised three Mustangs, VH-AGJ, VH-BOB & VH-AUB, Mike Wansey’s Fairey Firefly VH-HWM, Ted Allen’s Hawker (Sea) Fury VH-HFA, Terry Brain’s Avro Anson VH-BAF, three N. A. T-6 Harvards, five CAC Winjeels and a Boeing Stearman plus John Love’s Lockheed 12A, VH-ABH, two Beech 1S in the air plus another on display alongside a Wirraway.

The ramp was the site of an almost constant rumble of powerful radial and Vee engines and the pilots and enthusiasts loved it!

Replicas Built for Smithy Film

Actor John Walton stars in a new telemovie entitled ‘A Thousand Skies’ being made about the life of famous Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith.

Being made by the 1000 Skies film company filming commenced early in the year. Three replica aircraft were made for the production, a non-flying Southern Cross plus two flyable Bristol Tourers.

For the aviation buff, these aircraft will really make the movie something big.

The Southern Cross replica is full size although non-flyable and was built at Essendon Airport by Melbourne Aircraft Maintenance whose Chief Engineer Jeff Smith had only a few weeks to complete the machine. Built of steel tube, wood, fibreglass and styrene foam it has a real aircraft engine in the centre position with the two outboard engines driven by two stroke motors.

The machine is able to perform a high-speed taxi with its tail up.

A radio-controlled model is then used for filming flight shots.

During March, Point Cook RAAF base was used as a backdrop for the filming of certain sequences.

At the same time as the Southern Cross was being built the firm of Air Charter at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane, was making from scratch, two flyable Bristol Tourer replicas.

As it was not possible to get plans from the UK design engineer Bill Whitney had to use any other available source of data including sketches, photos and common sense. Construction is steel tubing fuselage and wooden wings with fabric covering. They are big double-bay biplanes.

The engines are Continental 10-520 driving constant speed props. Wooden props are used for close-up filming shots.

A period of four months passed from the start of the project to the first flight and Air Charter Chief Engineer, Peter Smart, put in many long hours to get the aircraft built on time.

Painted in a dark green colour scheme with a 1920’s style registration in black letters on a white panel the two aircraft were completed and hurriedly flown south to the Mildura area, for filming, by pilots Peter Smart and former TAA pilot Bill Waterton Snr.

After this they went to Melbourne for more filming.

The two aircraft are reported to be slow in the air and it is planned to change the engines to water-cooled Ford VS units of 260 hp driving wooden props.

For those interested the registrations are VH-UDC painted as ‘G-AUDK’ and VH-UDR is ‘G-AUDJ

DH88 Comet on Display

Early February saw the arrival, albeit inside a Lufthansa B. 747, of the DH88 Comet ‘Grosvenor House’ at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport.

This was the aircraft that in 1934 won the England to Australia Centenary Air Race. After its return to England, the machine sank out of sight and came close to being scrapped. In the late 40’s it was rescued and later slowly rebuilt by the Shuttleworth Trust and British Aerospace.

It was hoped at one stage that the Comet could have been flown to Australia for the Victorian 150th Celebrations but for a number of reasons, including the fact that restoration work had not been completed, this did not take place however the Victorian 150th Celebrations Committee did manage to obtain the aircraft for static display.

After assembly, the sleek red and white racer was shown at the Tullamarine Airport open day, the Laverton RAAF base open day – the same site where it first crossed the finish line some 51 years· ago, and became part of the annual Moomba Parade along the main street of Melbourne.

The last display was at the Mangalore Airshow although it came close to missing this event. The Comet was transported complete on a semi-trailer around Melbourne however the Road Traffic Authority would not allow the over-dimension aircraft to be transported along the busy Hume Highway to Mangalore.

The result was a last-minute dismantle job and then reassembly on-site at Mangalore. The Comet was finally dismantled and flown back to the UK in late April.

Engineer Ron Paine, who accompanied the Comet on its Australian tour is now committed to getting it into the air by January 1986.

Proposed Queensland Transport Museum Gains a Meteor

The proposed Queensland Transport and Technology Museum has gained a Meteor jet fighter. One of two such aircraft, the ex-RAF two-seat Meteor TT20 has been fully refurbished to static display condition by No. 3 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Amberley. Bad news is that the aircraft will now have to again survive the elements as it will be housed outdoors till the Museum is ready for occupation during the early nineties.

Both Meteors were originally based at Woomera and operated by the RAF in support of numerous joint military research programmes of the era. When disposed of in 1975, one aircraft (WD767) was transported to Mildura while WD647 flew to Bris. bane in the company of a Canberra, Mirage and F-111. The Queensland Air Museum is presently looking for anybody who can provide an undercover home for the Meteor pending completion of the Museum. If you can help then contact Peter Roberts at 5 Maenporth Street, Leichardt, 4305.

Two DC-3’s to Fly Again?

There are only two DC-3’s or C-47’s as you prefer, at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport these days and both have long been regarded as just attractive non-flying Museum pieces, that is until now.

The DC-3, VH-ABR, of Ansett Airlines of Australia, was rejuvenated and put in an early Ansett colour scheme shortly before it was displayed at the recent Tullamarine open day. It is now reported that a group of Ansett pilots and others are keen to take over the machine and get it back into the air once again. At the other end of the Airport T. A. A. has DC-3, VH-AES, in the original T. A. A. colour scheme, suspended on display outside its section of the terminal building. Surprisingly T. A. Á. pays out some $20,000 pa for rental of this site and the company is considering a proposal by a group of its people to obtain the machine, now hidden by trees and dotted with bird droppings. and put it back into the air also.

In the year of the 50th Anniversary of the DC-3, it would be good to see two of the type go back into the air again. Time will tell.

Stinson L5’s & Piper Cubs to be Imported

A 1944 Stinson L5B has recently been imported for a new owner, Malcolm Long of Coolangatta, Qld. and looks like being the start of a number of Stinson L5’s and Piper L4’s (Military J3 Cubs) to come to Australia from the Philippines.

The Stinson, an ambulance version, was previously RP-C-84 and was due to arrive in Brisbane in early March on an Australian National Line ship from Manila. The aircraft will require a rebuild before it flies again. It is of note that Malcom Long already has a Stinson L5 on display at the Wings of Yesterday Air Museum at Coolangatta.

The sales of the wartime Stinson and Piper observation types are being arranged by Australian Gary Camm who has a hanger and maintenance personnel at Manila and makes regular trips back to Australia. Another sale that Gary has made is that of a Piper PA18-90, now VH-LHB, to Garry Warren of Eden, NSW, for fish spotting.

Gary owns or has options on some 10 Stinsons and Pipers and when contacted by WARBIRDS was expecting the next aircraft, probably an L4 on floats, in June or July. This was to be his own aircraft although he advised he would make a reluctant sale it pressed.

Other aircraft types such as Tripacers, Pacers and Stearman’s can also be obtained.

Prices vary depending on the aircraft type and condition etc. For those interested in an economy Warbird, an observation type, they can contact Gary Camm C/- Bay Aero Engineering. Redcliffe, Old. Phone (07)203-2296.

Mustang Parts Wanted

In Perth, Western Australia, Mustang restorer and owner Dereck Macphail asks the question, does anyone have any Mustang parts to spare? Dereck, who is rebuilding CAC built Mustang A68-71, (see WARBIRDS, Dec. 1984) has appraised his project and finds that he needs at least the following items: Any cockpit items, elevators, undercut doors (both doors, both sides), wing L. E. cover for undercard, Left and Right rear wing gun access panels plus anything from the firewall forward.

Propellor blades are another item required.

Dereck is aware he has a big job in front of him but would find the going easier if he can source the needed parts here in Australia before he is forced to look overseas.

Anyone who is able to help Dereck Macphail with Mustang parts can contact him at P. O. Box 195, Nedlands, W. A. 6009.

Scale. Models Air Pageant

The April Easter break saw the first event of its size in Australia when more than 50 radio-controlled model planes attended a Vintage Air Pageant at Whittlesea, just outside Melbourne.

These were not ordinary models because each was an exact scale copy of a full-sized machine from sometime between the years 1903 to 1945.

Most had wing spans of 10 feet or more. To add a novel feature to the event each ‘pilot’ had to dress in period costume to match the era of his aircraft. The types of models ranged from a Southern Cross to WWI Sopwith Pup, AVRO Avian, and WWII Spitfire to Gloster Meteor.

Due to the location of the event there were many thousands of spectators from Melbourne who attended the Pageant and enjoyed the variety of flying.

A yearly event in the future perhaps?

Coming Events

One popular event on the Australian Airshow calendar has always been the Schofields Airshow, staged by the Aero Club at Schofields Aerodrome on the N-W side of Sydney, NSW.

The 1985 Schofields Airshow is scheduled for 7-10 November. The theme of the “Show this year is ‘Fighter 1985’ at which it is planned to have a selection of fighter aircraft, past, present and future, including the new F/A 18 Hornet, displayed.

Based on previous performances the 1985 Schofields will be almost a must for Airshow and heavy metal enthusiasts to attend.

Snippets

For those who like real antique twin-engine aeroplanes, Ballarat, Vic. has no less than three based at the field; Terry Brain’s Avro Anson, VH-BAF, Savage Air Service’s Beech D18S, VH-SAU, and Rod Lovell’s Antique Airways Beech D18S, VH-FIE.

The Focke-Wulf FW190 semi-scale replica that was for sale (see “Warbirds’ September 1984) has been bought by Rudi Pleschutschnig of Boort, Vic. and at last report was being worked on at Tocumwal, NSW.

Warbird enthusiasts eat your heart out! A recent check of the US Civil Aircraft Register found 8 WWII twin-engined Grumman F7F Tiger Cats, 40 Grumman TBM Avengers and no less than 84 Douglas A-26 Invaders currently registered. Enough to make quite an Air Force!

WWI Hispano-Suiza Engine Sold

As this column went to press a Sydney aviation enthusiast was about to become the new owner of a WWI 12 litre V8 Hispano- Suiza engine, ideal to power an SE5a or S. P. A. D. Scout replica. The engine, which is apparently unused and has been properly stored, was first obtained from RAAF auction sales in 1946 and later passed into the hands of well-known historic motoring enthusiast John Ould whose firm, John Ould Motors of Arma- dale, Melbourne, deals in marques of cars that are not just run of the mill.

John had plans to build an SE5a replica but over the years had become more involved in motor vehicles, including historic cars, so he decided to let the engine go and is quoted as saying ‘Life’s to short to do everything’.

The fact that this early original engine has recently come to light surely indicates that there must be other original engines around and suitable to power replicas of early aircraft types.

Interested in Mustangs?

If you are interested in the Mustang fighter you may be interested to know about a worldwide association of P-51 historians, rebuilders, pilots, owners and enthusiasts who also consider it to be the finest all-round piston-engined fighter aircraft ever manufactured.

The association, entitled simply Mustang International, was founded by enthusiast Paul Coggan in 1978 and since that time has gained a rapidly expanding membership that is interested in or involved in operating some 120 Mustangs of various marks world-wide.

Mustang International keeps track of both North American and CAC-built Mustangs and produces a quarterly journal containing news, restoration reports, historical articles, photo pages etc.

If you are interested in joining Mustang International membership fees are Aust. $17. 00 pa and this includes receipt of the magazine Mustang World. Write to Paul Coggan, 19 Ésmonde Gardens, Bishopmill, Moray, IV30 2LB, Scotland, UK.

Tiger Moth Joyrides in Melbourne

While DH82 Tiger Moths have been operated for some years on joyride work at Surfers Paradise and Sydney, another Tiger has recently commenced joyride work, or scenic flights as they are called, from Melbourne’s Essendon Airport.

Almost all Australian Tiger Moths are registered in the Private Category and are therefore not allowed to be operated for hire or reward, however, there has always been a demand by people wanting to fly in a Tiger Moth and experience the feeling of open cockpit flying.

Julian’s Tiger Moth has brakes and radio and has been found to easily mix with the other traffic at Essendon Airport.

Tiger Wings can be contacted C/- Discover Flying, Terminal Building, Essendon Airport, ‘phone (03)379-2122 and by the way a helmet and goggles are provided!

Boeing Stearmans Increase

The American equivalent of the WWII RAAF trainer, the DH82a Tiger Moth, was the two-place open cockpit Boeing Stearman Bi-plane.

Due to a lack of available certification data the type has never been approved in this country. The introduction of Air Navigation Order 108A a few years ago now allows the operation of types such as the Stearman, subject to certain conditions such as no commercial operations.

Since the introduction of ANR 108A some 8 Stearmans have arrived in Australia. Two aircraft, Jeff Trappet’s VH-AGR and Jeff Leach’s N68424, are flying while two more are in storage at Baxter, Vic. At Canberra, ACT. Aero Technics have two more in storage and recently Jeff Leach brought a second machine, N66974, into the country. At Coldstream, Vic. Ray Adams is restoring N56402 to better-than-new condition. This machine will be powered by a 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R985 engine.

Reports have been received that more Stearmans are due to come to Australia for local owners.

It is an interesting point to note that the empty weight of the Stearman is more than the gross weight of the DH82a Tiger Moth.

AWM Aircraft Collection Grows

While the Australian War Memorial at Canberra, ACT, has a small number of aircraft on display it is not generally known that the Memorial has a total of some 28 aircraft on its inventory, most of which are in store pending both restoration and an increase in available display space.

In addition to the existing display and stored aircraft the Memorial also has two flyable aircraft in the form of a Fokker DR-1 Triplane replica and a North American B-25J. These machines are often welcome attractions at Airshows and special functions.

In a list recently sighted by WARBIRDS the Memorial has no less than three WWII Japanese Mitsubishi A6M series Zero fighters in storage or being restored. It is understood that all need considerable restoration work before being able to be put on display.

Two aircraft also cited as AWM collection items are an Avro Anson Mk. 1 and a Nakajima Ki-43. Both machines have in the past always been quoted as having owners other than the AWM.

Historic DH60 ‘Moth to Fly Again

In a surprise move it was recently noted that DH60M Gipsy Moth, VH-UQV, has been bought and is to be restored and put back into the air before Christmas 1985. This ‘Moth was the subject of much controversy in the late 1970’s when it was bought by Englishman Sir William Roberts who planned to have it taken to the UK. Restrictions on the export of Historic aircraft prevented the export and, still owned by Sir William, it has been in storage at the Oaks, outside Sydney, ever since.

Recently Mike Honeysett, son of the owner before Sir William, managed to purchase the machine and is now keen to get it back into the air – in Australia.

A very historic ‘Moth it had been a float plane in Canada and later was flown out from England to Australia. At one time it was operated by the famous Flying Doctor, Clyde Fenton, who called it ‘Robin’.

In later years Clyde Fenton wrote a book entitled FLYING DOCTOR, which included stories of the use of ‘Robin’.

Mike Honeysett is keen to get hold of a copy of the book (Georgian House Publishing 1947) and if any WARBIRDS reader has a spare copy could they write to Mike Honeysett C/- Warbirds Column, Australian Aviation magazine.