Warbirds

Congratulations to Col Pay and his engineers on a job well done.

For some years now there have been three Mustangs on the Airshow circuit and yet while the Spitfire flew in Australia for a much shorter time, the name Spitfire will draw enthusiasts great distances to see the aircraft fly. Two other Spitfire rebuilds are also actively underway in Australia.

Danish Chipmunk

Antique and classic aircraft from America may be all the rage but a recent arrival from England is none other than a former Danish Air Force DH Chipmunk.

For the record the machine has c/n C1/0101 and was built in England in 1950. Operated by the Danish Air Force as P-122 for some 3900 hours it was sold off in 1976 and became OY-ATV. In 1982 the low-wing taildragger was sold in England where it became G-ALUL. Purchased in mid-1985 by Rossair Aviation of Parafield, S. A. it was crated out to Australia to become VH-LBW.

There are not a great number of the classic Chipmunks still on the Australian register but Malcolm Sandford, Manager of the Rossair Flying School, advises that -LBW is available for endorsements and private hire or, if you have $54,000, you can take it home, wooden prop and all.

Footnote: It is disappointing to note that the Danish Air Force has refused permission to allow their former trainer to operate in a Royal Danish Air Force colour scheme and markings.

Drage Airworld Opened

The 15th December saw the official opening of the Drage Airworld Air Museum at Wangaratta, Vic. by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Cain, M. P. In opening the Museum Mr Cain praised the Wangaratta City Council for their far-sightedness in not only creating an Air Museum but also giving Wangaratta a prominent tourist focal point that would have benefits for the whole region.

The Airworlds collection initially comprised the 20-odd aircraft of the Joe Drage Historical Aircraft Museum of Wodonga, Vic. Purchased by the Wangaratta City Council the collection has been expanded by the Malcolm Long aircraft collection, previously on display at Queensland’s Gold Coast. In addition, other aircraft have been acquired or obtained on loan. The Airworld is displayed in an immense hangar-like building set on a new airport to the south of the town. A souvenir shop, restaurant, bar and large parking area all help to make Airworld a must for the enthusiast to visit.

The opening of Airworld was unfortunately marred when the Museum’s Ceres Agricultural aircraft, VH-SSY, had a fuel-related problem during the opening ceremony and was badly damaged in the on-field forced landing. Following this, a Piel Emeraude ran into a pile of gravel and bent its prop and a parachutist landed on and injured a spectator. (Some days it pays to stay in bed! . . . Ed)

Until the opening of the National Aviation Museum the Drage Airworld collection of aircraft will be the largest in the country and is certainly well worth viewing.

For the Man Who Has Everything!

The Canberra-based firm of Aerotechnics, in addition to being the Australian distributor of McDonnell Douglas helicopters, is also a haven for warbird and antique aeroplane restorers. The bustling firm presently own three Boeing Stearmans and has worked on a number of warbird aircraft over the years.

Of interest to our readers will be their present programme of restoration involving a number of aircraft that they are offering syndicate shares in for approved pilots. On offer for syndication are a Harvard, Chipmunk, Tiger Moth and a Stearman. If you are interested in gaining a share in one of these prestigious aircraft investments then contact Dick Rye, Aerotechnics, Canberra Airport, ACT, 2600, phone (062) 48 6313.

Deniliquin Aircraft Museum Nearing Opening

Work started in November 1985 on the restoration of a CAC Wirraway A20 to flying condition.

The aircraft is owned by Murray Griffiths and was obtained from Toowoomba, Old. The airframe has been checked, fuel tanks pressure tested and rebuilding work is proceeding smoothly. The Wirraway should be on the airshow circuit by 1987.

Murray also owns Winjeel A85-445 (VH-JJG), Tiger Moth A17- 615 (VH-AIP), plus an Avro Anson which is being restored to the point of being able to taxi.

Murray also will be opening an Aircraft Museum in Deniliquin, NSW. All going well, the museum should include the above four aircraft, plus a CA-18 Mustang. The museum is scheduled to open later in 1986.

Cape York Thunderbolts

The Australian War Memorial has recently recovered the empennage of an American P-47 Thunderbolt fighter from a remote region in Cape York Peninsula. This was one of two 5th Air Force Thunderbolts which forced landed on Dyfken Point near Weipa while en route to New Guinea. American pilots were instructed then to destroy their aircraft rather than run the risk of having them fall into enemy hands. This particular aircraft, serial number 42-75921, has had its fuselage completely destroyed by fire. The wings and empennage however were still basically intact.

Close by is a second P-47D which had also been set alight.

The empennage was recovered with the assistance of the RAAF and is one of only two USAAF relics held by the Memorial. It is hoped that the empennage will eventually be placed on public display in Canberra. All single-engined allied fighters operating in the Pacific after 1943 had their tail surfaces painted white to avoid confusion with enemy aircraft. The empennage of 42- 75921 still bears the remnants of its original white finish, graphically illustrating the 5th Air Forces’ operational policy.

Aircraft Auction Action

Casey Airfield Berwick, near Melbourne, was the site of an interesting aircraft auction on January 18th. Aside from the modern aircraft put on the auction block there was also a De Havilland Dove and the star attraction, a Warner engined Fairchild F. 24W.

The DH104 Dove, VH-DHE, was a former Northern Territory Medical Service machine that had last been used by the Sydney Technical College as a training aid (refer Traffic’ this issue). Declared surplus it was purchased by Flight Engineer, Ben Bostick, transported to Casey Field and reassembled. Bidding rose to $11,000 at which stage the aircraft was passed in. Private negotiations later resulted in an unnamed buyer purchasing the machine. Future plans for the Dove are unknown. A complete overhaul will be required before the aircraft flies again.

The feature aircraft of the auction was Fairchild F. 24W, VHALF, which along with a number of antique aircraft parts was put up for disposal by well-known collector, Ken Orrman. Billed as a 1935 model and the only plane of its type in Australia, bidding commenced at $50,000 and swiftly rose to and stopped at $96,000. Following a brief pause it was then announced to the hushed crowd that the reserve figure had :10t been reached and the aircraft was passed in. It is understood that the radial engined Fairchild, built in 1942, was purchased from its previous owner and rebuilder some four years ago for approximately $25,000.

National Aviation Museum

It has taken some time for the knowledge to be gleaned that Victoria will be the state that is to get the long-mooted National Aviation Museum. Until now, however, the actual site selected has remained open to speculation.

It was during the speech at the official opening of the Drage Airworld Air Museum at Wangaratta that the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Cain M. P. announced that the RAAF base at Laverton had been selected as the site for the National Aviation Museum, that it would be established in 1988 and that Ballarat and Wangaratta would be “outstations” for the Museum. A number of places in Victoria including Ballarat, Mangalore, Wangaratta, Wallan, Point Cook and Laverton had been proposed as suitable sites.

Laverton is close to Melbourne and is on a multi-lane highway and the rail line. Laverton Air Force base is at present a non-flying base and it is understood that it is due to be run down and closed by the early 1990’s. No indication has been given as to what appearance the Museum will take nor when actual construction will commence or what opening date is planned.

It is also not clear what the expression “outstations” means.

However, it may possibly be that Ballarat and Wangaratta could display aircraft etc. on a loan basis or to suit a particular theme or display. On January 13 the State Opposition Minister for Tourism released a telex criticizing the government for its lack of action on the Museum but both the Premier’s announcement of the selection of the Laverton site and the Opposition criticism received no coverage in the Melbourne media.

Comment: While the Victorian and Federal Governments both continue to lavish millions on the arts it is a profound reflection on them that neither is apparently prepared to really get stuck into the preservation and display of Australia’s Aviation Heritage. When one sees the Australian National Gallery pay $1. 3 million for the painting Totem Lesson 2′ a lot of people with an interest in aviation must feel discriminated against in that their taxes are not also being directed into the preservation of technology of which aviation is usually recognised as being the leader and a heritage worth preserving.

The day the first sod of dirt is turned and then an opening date is announced will finally mean that Government is prepared to do more than just give lip service to the National Aviation Museum.

Time Machine Hangar

At Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne, amidst the General Aviation aircraft, there is a hangar that contains enough World War II aircraft shapes in camouflage paint to make one think they had turned the clock back over 40 years.

Currently being prepared for flying to the Drage Airworld Museum at Wangaratta are Wirraway VH-BFF and Stinson LS, VH-BFR, as well as Lockheed Hudson, VH-AGP and Hudson, VH-AGS.

These machines are part of the Malcolm Long collection of aircraft that were formerly on display at Chewing Gum Field, Coolangatta, Old. and are now destined to go to Wangaratta. Some of the Long aircraft are already at Wangaratta, however weather and hangar space are reported as the reasons for several machines being at Moorabbin.

Still at Chewing Gum Field, are the Bristol Freighter and Douglas C-47, the size of the two creating a little bit of a moving problem.

Wangaratta Plus Mangalore

The Easter holiday break in late March promises to be good value for aviation enthusiasts in Victoria.

On Easter Saturday Drage Airworld in conjunction with the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia will be holding a FlyIn and Airshow comprising Antique and Classic light aircraft as well as Warbird participation plus, at no extra charge, a chance to inspect the Air Museum.

The next day, Easter Sunday, the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia will be holding its annual Convention and Airshow at Mangalore, some 75 miles SW of Wangaratta, and a spectacular display of Ultralights, Homebuilts, Historic and Warbird aircraft will be flown in the Airshow with more on the ground to view.

As the two events are being held on alternate days and are reasonably close to each other it will be quite possible for a lot of people to visit and enjoy both events and really make the most of the Easter break.

Lake Boga Catalina

At Lake Boga, on Victoria’s northern border the fuselage of a wartime Catalina, plus other parts, has recently turned up in a compound near the launching ramp. There are no wings or tail but it is reported that the fuselage is being worked on.

During the Second World War, Lake Boga was used as a Seaplane base. Being over a hundred miles inland from the coast it was considered safe from possible attack by Japanese aircraft. Twin-engined Catalinas were one of several types operated on the lake.

There is a rumour that another ‘Cat’ is still in the lake having sunk there during or just after the war.

For those Catalina enthusiasts passing through the area, make sure a visit is paid to the nearby Lake Boga Hotel where there is an extensive wall display of photos and news cuttings about the wartime floatplanes that operated on the lake.

Warbirds Airshow Scene

Not so many years ago the feature aircraft of a typical Airshow was the very latest Brand X belchfire six from America.

Suddenly a Mustang came on the scene and was available for Airshow appearances and, with the advent of ANA 1OBA, several more Mustangs and then a bunch of ex-RNZAF Harvards became the star attraction of the average Airshow. Brand X was forgotten.

Today the Airshow organiser, at least on the East Coast, has a problem as to which Warbird to feature at his event such is the choice available. Warbirds around include a Fairey Firefly, several Sea Furys, three Mustangs, a B-25 Mitchell, a good number of radial engined Winjeel and Harvard trainers and now a genuine World War II Supermarine Spitfire. To this line up one can add the heavy twin transports, the C-47/DC-3s, the Beech 18s and the ever-popular Lockheed 12A. The heavy metal side of the Airshow scene never looked better and is improving. By the way, what was Brand X?

Snippets

It is understood that the Federal Government has taken over the Southern Cross Replica project at Parafield Airport, South Australia, with a view to finally completing the trouble-prone machine; one hopes that it will be in the air for the 1988 Bicentennial Celebrations.

Jeff Trappet’s Boeing Stearman, VH-AGR, has been sold to Graham Flannagan of Mt. Eliza, Vic. and is now tied down in the open at Tyabb Airport, on the Mornington Peninsula.

At West Wyalong, NSW, former RAN Douglas C-47, N2-23, is on display between the airport and the town centre.

Percival Proctor, VH-AVG, formerly with the Mildura Warbirds Air Museum has been obtained by the Central Australian Aviation Museum at Alice Springs which plans to restore the aircraft as a Percival Vega Gull.