Warbirds

The first is that ANR1OBA-type aircraft are not limited to only 30 hours flying per year but up to 50 hours between inspections for the issue of a maintenance release. Also the permits to fly are subject to 12 monthly intervals, not each and every flight.

The second and most important item is that to be eligible for the issue of a permit to fly under ANR108A, the subject aircraft must have had some significance to Australia’s aviation heritage.

Replica and prototype aircraft are not automatically eligible for a permit to fly under ANR1OBA.

When Warbirds column spoke with Mr Ian McIntyre, Chief Airworthiness Engineer of the OTC Head Office, he advised that the ANR108A permit to fly system was first proposed in the mid 1970s in order to keep Australia’s aviation heritage in the air and that only a small number of aircraft in total would ever be involved. Mr McIntyre went on to say that at that time no one foresaw that relatively large numbers of ANR108A type aircraft would be imported from overseas. At the same time there had been no increase in staff or funding to oversee ANR108A type aircraft and their operations.

As has been pointed out in the past, the Australian ANR1OBA system is a lot different to the nature and operation of the American Experimental system where, viewed from the Australian side of the Pacific, if something can fly it is allowed to.

What the aspect of significance to Australia’s aviation heritage means in practice is basically that if the aircraft type has been operated in relation to Australia or Australians, it will be approved. This could mean an aircraft type operated by or even against Australia.

Thus a Mustang, Me109, Fokker D7 or Zero would be approved but a MiG-21, Antonov AN-2, Lockheed T-33 or YAK-11 may not be approved (examples only, by this column).

For anyone proposing to import or purchase an ANR1OBA type aircraft, it is strongly suggested that they read a copy of the subject AWi and discuss the proposed aircraft type with a Regional OTC office before closing a contract of purchase. A clear Australian significance would ensure a trouble free import and permit to fly.

In talking with various members of the Australian Warbird and Antique aircraft movement, this column was clearly advised of the dissatisfaction with the new AWi. The general feeling was that several ANR108A type aircraft, be they Cessna 140s or T- 28s, would use up less OTC staff and funds than say several new airliners and secondly that it appeared incomprehensible to be able to import numbers of ‘Australian connection’ type aircraft but not others.

The subject appears far from closed as already approval to import a T-6 as well as a number of T-28s is understood to have been denied.

Moorabbin Air Museum Progress

The AARG, better known as the Moorabbin Air Museum is moving ahead with the acquisition of yet another aircraft and the construction of a proper Museum display building at its Moorabbin Airport site.

The new aircraft is an Australian made Victa 100 Airtourer, previously VH-BWI. The machine was at one stage owned by the Royal Aero Club of South Australia but since 1981 it has been dismantled and held in storage. The Victa is now at Kyneton, Vic where it will be reassembled and then flown to Moorabbin on a ferry permit. The engine, a Continental 0-200 of 100hp has less than 100 hours to run.

The ferry flight will be made by former AARG President, Roland Jahne and will be the first air arrival of an aircraft for the Museum for some time.

The 8,000sq feet display building will house seven aircraft and while fully enclosed will have capacity for future development. Construction of the building commenced in early May and was scheduled to be up by the end of June. Following the final fitting out and arrangement of aircraft and displays, a formal opening is planned for November.

Firefly Preliminary Accident Report

Following the December 5th, 1987 accident and subsequent write-off of Mike Wansey’s Fairey AS. 6 Firefly, VH-HMW, the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation has released a preliminary report on the event.

The following is a precis of the report: “The aircraft had been out of service for some months for engine maintenance. Following completion of the required maintenance, the aircraft took off from Camden Airport, NSW, and at about 1500 feet was noted to be trailing black smoke.

“The aircraft was unable to get back to the field and during the forced landing landed heavily.

“Examination of the engine disclosed that both the left and right camshaft gears had suffered from a lack of lubrication, had overheated and eventually resulted in a loss of power.

“The engine has an external oil priming system to lubricate the camshaft drives during the start up sequence, however, during the reassembly, fittings that carry the oil supply to the camshaft were omitted and blanking plugs left in place. ”

Cessna C37 and DHS0 Fly

Bendigo, Vic was an interesting place to be on Thursday March 31 and again next day, Friday April 1st when DH60M VH-ULP made its maiden flight followed by the Cessna C37 Airmaster, VH-UZU. The DH60M had been built up from components over a number of years by owner/builder, Les Penna.

The Airmaster, the only C37 ever to come to Australia and now the oldest Cessna in the country, was rebuilt and flown by owner Ray Goulding. Ray operates an aircraft maintenance organisation, Goulding Airmotive, at Bendigo Airport. The aircraft is powered by a Warner Super Scarab radial engine for which Ray had a new cowl made. The new cowl has the original style bumps for the rocker hats and gives the machine real character.

More Bicentennial Air Show Aircraft

The Australian Bicentennial Air Show organisers have advised that in addition to an already wide range of Warbird and Antique aircraft to be displayed at the event, further significant aircraft are also to be on display.

A replica of the Duigan biplane, the first Australian built aircraft that flew in 1910, is planned to be on display at the show. Another Australian designed and built aircraft to be at the show is a WWII CAC Wackett Trainer being rebuilt by Sydney aircraft restorer John Gallagher. Two DC-3s are at present being restored to flying condition in order to be at the Air Show, to be held between 12-16 October. The two DC-3s, one each by Ansett and Australian Airlines, are VH-ABR and VH-AES. VH-ABR is the oldest DC-3 in Australia having been imported in October 1938. The second machine VH-AES, is the original TAA aircraft and was used to inauguraty the new airlines’ services in September 1946.

Pioneer ‘Australian Aviator Honoured

At the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia’s Annual National Fly-In at Kyabram, Vic this Easten the inaugural R G Carey Memorial Trophy was instigated.

Carey was not a world headline attention grabber but here in Australia he brought aviation to the masses when as an early bird he started flying at the age of 42 in 1916.

His first aeroplane was a Bleriot XI which today is featured in the new Power House Museum in Sydney. Throughout the twenties and thirties he flew around Victoria and southern NSW. Frequently he was the first pilot to have landed at many country towns.

Carey, who built an aerodrome at Port Melbourne close to the present West Gate Bridge, never had a serious accident or injured any of his 70,000 passengers carried over 20 years of active.

The trophy was donated to the AAAA by Mrs Bertha Harvie, R G Carey’s daughter, as a perpetual award in her father’s memory. The trophy is awarded for the best restoration on its inaugural appearance at the AAAA National Fly-In.

This year the award went to the Bunn Brothers, Robert anq Donald, tor their restoration of the historic DH60M Gipsy Moth, VH-UAE.

Kingfisher Restoration

At Albany, WA, John Bell has embarked on the rebuild of a WWII Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplane. Previously A48-2 the Kingfisher needs a lot of life breathed into it but John, a keen floatplane owner and flyer, might just be the man to do it. The remains of the single engine tloatplane, the last of 18 operated by the RAAF, were obtained by John from the Mildura Warbirds Museum. Already, from other sources, a P&W R985 450hp radial engine has been obtained as has an original propeller. At last report John was planning a SE Asia trip to follow up on an ex RAAF Kingfisher that went there after the war. It any readers can help with Kingfisher parts etc drop John Bell a note c/- the Whaling Museum, Albany, WA 6330.

Catalina Remnants Part 2

At Lake Boga, Vic, a Catalina has recently turned up with the Lake Boga Lions Club restoring the aircraft as a static display memorial to ‘No1 Flying Boat Repair Depot, Lake Boga’.

The Catalina and parts for its restoration came from local farms having been originally obtained as WWII surplus. The Cat has the letters D2 on the fin but no other identification markings as to which particular machine it was. The machine is missing engines, props and a rudder.

For a number of years a rumour has indicated that a sunken Cat lies at the bottom of the lake. This can now be discounted by virtue of the fact that the lake has an average depth of 15′ at high water mark while a Cat stands 20′ tall.

In Western Australia the remains of a US Navy Catalina exists on an island on the NW coast where it was wrecked during WWII.

Probably the most famous Australian Catalina is VH-ASA, used by Sir Gordon Taylor to chart the last great ocean air route between Australia and South America in 1951. The Cat, known as Frigate Bird II, was donated to the Sydney Power House Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and restored by Hawker Pacific before being suspended from the ceiling in time for the March 24th opening of the Museum.

One Catalina that appears to have gone forever is A24-1. This aircraft sank after a takeoff accident at West Arm Darwin, NT, on August 30th 1945. The wreck was recovered and for many years could be found in the mangroves on the shoreline. At last report the aircraft had entirely corroded into the mangrove mud. Do any readers have details of other Catalina remains around Australia?

Of Stearman and Waco’s

Regardless of how you pronounce Waco you might or might not see the two Waco UPF-7 biplanes and a Boeing Stearman that Rob Poynton of Sea Fury fame recently purchased in the USA with the view to taking back to WA.

The maybe aspect involves whether import permits will be issued. In Queensland Transcorp have rebuilt the former Ag Stearman, N70KB and got it back in the air. Gary Camm is reported to have been flying the biplane at the Toowoomba Airshow and Adventurer Hans Tholstrup was planning to fly the machine in the Hinkler Bicentennial Air Race. Another Stearman, N5004V, has also been reported as being exported from the USA to Australia.

Spitfire Wreckology: More Feedback

Following the Great Spitfire Dig article in the March issue of Australian Aviation, the question then posed was what became of the pilot of the ditched Spitfire A58-51, one Flying Officer Derrick W Gray, Service number 123590 of No54 Squadron.

Recently a Tasmanian reader, who flew with F/O Gray, has written to Australian Aviation with advice on a postwar address for the now Mr Gray. We will be following up on the advice and will keep readers informed of the outcome of our attempts to contact Mr Gray, remembering of course that more than 40 years have passed since the Spit was put down in the Western Australian river mud in 1943.

Another Fatal Raaf Winjeel Crash

For the second month in a row a RAAF Winjeel has been involved in a fatal accident.

The latest accident to happen to one of the radial engined extrainers occurred on Monday March 28th when the aircraft dived into the ground just short of the runway as it came into land at Williamtown Air Base new Newcastle, NSW. Killed in the accident were the pilot Sqn Ldr Paul Carter, 31 and Aircraftsman Anthony McNeil!, 18. The machine had flown several circuits before the crash.

While there is some concern that two of the same type of aircraft have been involved in accidents in a short period of time there was no evidence to suggest that th. e two accidents are related. Nearly a dozen former RAAF Winjeels are on the Civil aircraft register and flying under ANR108A approvals.

Beech Staggering in Accident

Beech D17R Staggerwing, VH-BBL, owned and flown by Joe Drage was badly damaged in a forced landing accident 40km south east of Charleville, Old during the first leg of the Hinkler Bicentennial Air Race.

The accident, which took place on April 23, happened when a prop seal gave way and left oil on the windscreen. Joe elected to land the Beech in a small paddock during which the prop struck the ground resulting in an undercart collapse and the engine being torn out. Joe suffered cuts to his forehead and received some 50 stitches. The other two occupants were uninjured.

When Joe Drage sold his collection of Antique aircraft to the City of Wangaratta, to form what is now known as Airworld, he retained ownership of the 1944 450hp Wright Whirlwind powered biplane. The aircraft was being flown as the Airworld entry in the race.

The white painted Beech was a popular sight at Airshows and the like and will be sorely missed.

This column is of the opinion that a get well card from readers would be appreciated by Joe (c/o Airworld) with perhaps an encouragement note to get the ’17 back in the air. Go to it!

Bristol Freighter for Raaf Museum

The Point Cook RAAF Museum has been donated its largest aircraft yet. The aircraft is a former RAAF Bristol 170 Mk21 Freighter. Previously A81-1, the large twin engined freighter was donated by Malcolm Long whose aircraft collection is now on display at Airworld, Wangaratta, Vic.

Following the move of the Long aircraft to Airworld, the Bristol remained at Chewing Gum Field, Coolangatta, Old where the RAAF Museum will take delivery of it. The Bristol flew into nearby Coolangatta Airport some years ago on a one way delivery flight to the Museum.

The Chewing Gum Field aircraft owned by Cliff Douglas were in the main sold recently by sealed bid

Awm Flooded.

The night of May 17/18 saw almost a third of the Australian War Memorial building flooded. The Aeroplane Hall was reportedly ankle-deep in water. Valuable documents and displays in the building were also affected. A problem with a leaking roof mounted hot water system that activated the automatic sprinkler system is understood to be the cause of the flooding.

In Brief

• Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune VH-IOY is reported to have changed hands. Formerly A89-273 with the RAAF, the big machine was previously owned by Peter Rundle at Townsville, Old. It is understood that the aircraft has been sold to a Sydney syndicate headed by Phil Dulhunty. Phil has been involved with aviation for many years and in more recent times has owned Super Cub floatplane, VH-AQA. The Neptune was flown Townsville/Tamworth on April 11 for inspection by East-West Airlines.

• Two rare Western Australian Antique aircraft have recently moved East to new bases. Doug Muir’s 193iGipsy Major powered Comper CLA-7 Swift VH-AGC was airfreighted to Sydney in March and was due to take up a new home near Newcastle. Meanwhile Mike Hockin’s DH84 Dragon VH-AML moved to Melbourne around the same time. The machine sports a silver RAAF colour scheme and is based at RAAF base Pt Cook where it is operated in conjunction with the RAAF Museum.