Register Update Service

With the price of new and used aircraft increasing it is not surprising to see more and more home built aircraft in the listings and in this issue no less than eight machines of various descriptions appear. NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA are all represented in the home built scene as can be seen by the prefix letter of the serial number which indicates the state of manufacture. The most interesting of these is the Viking Dragonfly, LSD. This lovely looking aircraft is of canard design and is similar to the Quickie with the main wheels supported in spats built into the forward wing tips.

The first three Cessna Caravans in Australia also make an appearance, TFT is operated by Tillair in the NT, whilst the two aircraft registered to Rex Aviation, the importers; are on lease to the National Safety Council at Sale, Vic. for evaluation and possible sale. Tracker NVX is the fourth aircraft to fly in the Fleet Air Arm Histori_c Flight and joins a DC-3 and a Tiger Moth on the air show circuit. The second aircraft of the foursome is slowly being rebuilt after its unfortunate accident at the Schofields air show and several more ex naval machines have been earmarked for future restoration, all to be registered in the VH-NV block. Westfield have taken delivery of their Challenger, MZL to replace the BAe 125 HSP which has moved on to Coles and North West Air Charter have now registered their two ex-Chinese Sikorsky S62As, NWB and NWC, as predicted in last issue’s Helicopter Directory. Of the other helicopters, Kestrel Helicopters have added another two ex-Canadian Bell 47Gs to their fleet and Heli-Muster a Japanese built Kawasaki model.

Three Warbirds in the form of two Harvards and a Spitfire add to the rapidly growing number of ex military aircraft which can now be seen at air shows. Randy McFarlane’s AT-6C Harvard is a ex Royal New Zealand Air Force machine which was retired from service in 1978 and subsequently shipped across the Tasman, whilst the other Harvard is a SNJ5 model which first saw service with the United States Navy in 1942. Col Pay’s Spitfire is a HF8 model with a 1710hp Merlin 70 engine and is one of only 160 built. It is the first of its type to fly in Australia for many years, although at least two more are being restored to full flying condition. The ‘Spit’ joins Col’s other flying warbirds: a Harvard, Mustang and Tiger Moth based at Scone Aerodrome NSW.

Of the aircraft returning to the register, by far the most interesting is the Beaver AAX. This aircraft was originally registered in Australia during September 1960 but was taken out of service in 1967 and converted to a Wallaroo 605 using a Garrett TPE331-61 turbine engine. As no sales for this conversion were forthcoming the aircraft was converted back to the radial engine and continued in its top dressing role until it was again taken off the register in December 1982. It has now been re-engined with the same engine used in the 1967 change and it will be interesting to see whether it will be accepted in this guise seventeen years after its original conversion. It has also come at a time when its rival, the New Zealand Aerospace Cresco turbine powered ag aircraft, has just finished a demonstration tour of some of Australia’s rural areas. Also restored to the register is Qantas’s first Boeing 747 which was put into service during 1971. After thirteen years of service it was sold to GPA Leasing who then leased it to Air Lanka. The aircraftis now back with Qantas and arrived in Sydney sporting the airline’s new colours. DC-3 PWM returned to the register after some maintenance but has now departed these shores for New Zealand where it is used by Speedlink on inter-island cargo services. After a long period parked on the grass at Mascot airport, Bandeirante MWX has returned to service and although owned by TNT wears Aeromil titles.

In the deletions section, two Ansell Boeing 737s and two Australian Airlines DC-9s have been sold in the USA following the arrival of both airlines new aircraft (refer Traffic). Two other aircraft sold overseas are Islander EQT to PNG and Squirrel SRA to Helicopter Specialties at Ardmore near Auckland. Sunbird Airlines have bought Cessna 421C BUI and re-registered it SBJ to suit their name and Frank Young Aviation have re-registered their Warrior MHR in keeping with other aircraft in their fleet. Only two aircraft have been deleted due to accidents this issue with another eleven withdrawn from use and these can be expected to return to the register shortly.

The changes of ownership show Bell 412 AHH going to the National Safety Council and the ex DOA Merlins CAL and CAM going to Pacific Aviation for charter work. Cessna 402 ESV is now registered to Steel City Airlines of Gosford NSW and Air North has bought Cessna 402 FTR from Arrmunda Airways. The brightly painted Beaver floatplane HAQ which operated alongside Vic Walton’s Beaver floatplanes at Palm Beach for some time has been acquired by Air Whitsunday and joins a fleet of Lake Buccaneers at Airlie Beach. Although Opal Air are shown as the new owners of Cessna 421B SAM this company has gone out of business so we can expect another change for this aircraft in the near future.

Trans Tasman deliveries of used aircraft during the past two months have seen a variety of types including three Cessna 21Os, two Cherokee Sixes, a Cessna 310, PA-31 Chieftain, Aerostar, Beech 200 Super King Air and a Falcon 200 all of which we can expect on the civil register within the next few months.

Two interesting registrations reserved for use are UBB and UBD for ABE Jet Charter at Sydney. ABE are looking to expand their fleet and the ex Sea World Citation which is now operated by them will be reregistered whilst a second aircraft will be purchased from overseas, possibly a Falcon 20 or a British Aerospace 125. The company is also looking at one or more aircraft purchases from within Australia to be based at their new offices at Mascot airport. The significance of the registrations comes from the parent company, U-Bix.