Warbirds

Of particular interest is the price $US198,000 which on the present exchange rate comes in at around $A250,000! What is more surprising is that a later advert advised ‘only 3 left’.

Considering that other jet aircraft sellers have not exactly been knocked over by a rush of potential buyers it will be interesting to see if the owners of the two sold are locals or from overseas, perhaps American.

A Mach 2 Civil Warbird. The mind boggles!

Historic DH60 Crashes

Historic De Havilland DH60M, VH-UQV, was badly damaged in an accident at Maitland Aerodrome, NSW, on October 23rd when it clipped power lines during a landing approach and nose-dived into the ground.

The two occupants, owner/pilot Mike Honeysett and passenger Stephen Merrett were injured but survived. It was later found that Mike suffered a broken neck in the crash.

It has been reported that the ‘Moth suffered an engine failure early in the flight. Locals commented that the occupants survived only because of the impact-absorbing qualities of the wooden wings and that the fuselage was a rigid steel tube structure.

Named ‘Robin’ VH-UQV was only returned to the register on 4/11/88. A ‘Moth with a long and interesting history it was at one stage to be exported to the UK and following Customs intervention it took many years for Mike Honeysett to conclude negotiations and obtain ownership of the aircraft.

One would like to think that the machine could once again be rebuilt to flying standard. Time will tell.

Of Bird Dogs and Strike Masters

At Scone, NSW, Col Pay has imported seven Cessna L-19 ‘Birddogs’ from South-East Asia.

The Birddog is a two seats in tandem observation aircraft that was used by American armed forces over the last thirty years and was also supplied to a number of foreign air forces. Over 3,000 of the type were built.

A recent sale advert for one of the aircraft was for $US16,000.

Given that these aircraft would be significantly easier and cheaper Warbirds to buy and maintain than say a Mustang they should find new owners fairly quickly.

The SAC Strikemaster is in effect a later day armed version of old Percival Jet Provost. The Strikemaster serves with the RNZAF and Singapore Air Force. Recently the SAF disposed of a number of the machines and at least three are understood to be in Australia. One aircraft, s/n 1935, is at Bankstown to be put in the air for owner John Waymouth of Victoria River Downs in the NT. John has owned and flown several Warbirds in the past.

WA Air Museum Expansion Appeal

Since its inception in 1971 the Air Force Association Aviation Museum in the Perth suburb of Bull Creek has continued to both expand and improve the quality of displayed hardware and memorabilia as well as increasing the number of aircraft on show. Such is the quality of the Museum that it is now the biggest and best Air Museum in WA and fast becoming a major tourist attraction.

With all expansion comes growing pains and in the case of Bull Creek it is that the Museum has run out of room to properly display the present 18 aircraft and needs to make provision for future acquisitions. With these points in mind the Museum has opened the Sir Norman Brearley Memorial Aviation Museum Appeal. The appeal aims to raise $1 million to expand the Museum.

The basic plan is to join together the North and South wings to provide an enlarged display area totalling 5,200 square metres. Also included in the building plans is the construction of an entry pavilion that will house historic documents, photographs, library, shop and the museum’s offices.

In commenting on the appeal the Museums Curator, Lt Cdr Graeme Horne, RANA, said “Here we have a good aviation museum that with a successful fund raising appeal can be a really great Museum preserving our Nation’s proud aviation heritage for the education and enjoyment of both todays and tomorrows citizens”. The Museum is not funded by government. Almost all funds come from admission charges, shop sales and donations.

Gifts to the AFA Aviation Museum fund are Tax deductable.

The address to contact is: Sir Norman Brearley Memorial Aviation Museum Appeal, Air Force Memorial Estate, Bull Creek Drive, WA 6155.

Skyhawk for Nowra Naval Air Museum

February is the scheduled arrival date of a former US Navy Douglas A-48 Skyhawk for the RAN Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra, NSW.

Commander Phil Parker, in charge of the Museum, has advised that late this year he would be travelling to the USAF Davis Monthan storage facility in Tucson, Arizona, USA, to take charge of and road transport the Skyhawk to Los Angeles. There the aircraft would be dismantled and crated with the fuselage being flown to Australia free of charge in a Qantas 747 Combi. Because of their size the wings present a size problem and may have to be transported by sea or by the RAAF.

The A-48 was presented to the Air Museum via McDonnell Douglas as a gift from the USN. The aircraft will eventually be modified to A-4G standard to represent one of the type as operated by the RAN.

Qantas and MDC are to be congratulated and thanked for its involvement and assistance in the further development of the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra.

Lockheed 10 Close to Flying

At Sydney’s Bankstown Airpor t a true case of the Phoenix arises is taking place with the rebuild of Lockheed 10 Electra VH-UZO.

The twin-engined Lockheed last flew on 19th February 1967 when it landed with a smoking left engine and a suspect undercart. The Department of Civil Aviation advised the owner, Marshall Airways, ‘Do not fly the aircraft again’ and with that the machine sat out in the weather for the next 14 years.

Purchased by present owner, Laurie Ogle, in 1981 the last few years has seen a complete rebuild of the aircraft take place and on May 20, 1989, the engines were started for the first time in 22 years.

The Lockheed, s/n 1107, started out as VH-UZO with Ansett Airways in 1937. Following much wartime transpor t service the aircraft had a succession of owners and several registrations the last of which was VH-ASM. The first flight of the rebuilt VH-AZO is planned for March 1990.

The rebuild of the Lockheed has taken a massive amount of input reports Laurie Ogle. The original W right engines were replaced with two zero time P&W R985s complete with feathering props. This effectively changed the aircraft model from a L. 10B to a L. 1OA.

Laurie has had the very best sheet metal workers put the machine back into as new condition. In his quest for parts he ended up with some three tons of spares obtained from the USA, NZ and Australia. Ironically, some spares were originally destined for this very machine. The original name of the Lockheed in Ansett service was ‘Ansertes’ and it appears that Ansett Airlines is keen to have the Lockheed support the company in promotions in the future.

The rebuild of the Lockheed to flying condition is a credit to Laurie Ogle a:nd his team and March 1990 will be an eagerly awaited date in the continuing history of an aircraft that not only helped establish Lockheed but also built an airline.

Air Museum for Derby WA

DerbyWA is one Australian town that owes its very existence and development to aviation and with this in mind a group of locals are in the process of establishing a museum to preserve the aviation history of the area.

In 1921 the first scheduled air service and the first air mail service inAustralia called at Derby. The Royal Flying Doctor Service and theAir Beef Scheme well as the RAAF inWW II all contributed to aviation development at the town.

Convenor of the Derby Aviation Museum, Rob Douglas, has advised that they would like to hear from any persons with memories or knowledge of aviation development in the area. Photos and memorabilia are most welcome as are stories of incidents that have occurred in the Kimberley region. Contact the Derby Aviation Museum, PO Box 607, Derby,WA 6728.

Aviation museums Conference

“A great success” was how Mark Clayton, organiser of the inaugural Australian Aviation Museums Conference, described the event. Held over November 1-3 the conference covered a wide range of subjects from aircraft restoration and research to papers on the National Aviation Museum and even aircraft operation under CAR134 (formerly ANR108a). Special guest speaker was respected author and Senior Curator of Aeronautics at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Mr Robert Mikesh.

The conference was held at the Sydney Mitchell Library and close to 100 people attended.

Aside from hearing about the problems and progress of Air Museums across the country much good work was achieved behind the scenes as delegates met, some for the first time, to discuss mutual problems and cement working relationships.

W ith regard to the operation of warbirds, Ian McIntyre, Manager, CAA Aircraft Certification advised that CAR134 aircraft no longer required an Australian connection to justify their import and operation. The subject of carrying passengers in CAR134 type aircraft was deliberately not discussed as this aspect is currently under active review by the CAA. Ian McIntyre went on to say that with the continued import of high performance CAR134 aircraft the CAA would be closely monitoring the American FAA which is looking at requiring suitable training as well as 1,000 hours minimum experience for pilots wanting to fly these types.

Alighter side to the conference came when when restoration consultant Ken Merrick described how he had been criticised by an individual for his selection of a particular shade of olive drap paint applied to a museum aircraft. Harold Thomas of the CamdenAviation Museum then told of his experience during the war when no less than four paint suppliers each produced a different shade of paint all supposedly to the same specification! Mr Robert Mikesh advised that the American experience had been the same.

Following the conference delegates were transported to Bankstown to examine a Lockheed 10 and Beaufighter rebuild projects and see a DC-2 as well as look over the Camden Aviation Museum and witness an engine run on the Vultee Vengence there.

On the last day of the conference an Aviation Museums Association of Australia was formed. The new Association voted unanimous suppor t for the NationalAir and Space Museum to be established at Laverton immediately. (Refer p46 Nov 89 AA)

Phantom Arrives at Raa F Museum

The first week of November saw McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom, s/n 67-0237, arrive at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. Obtained from the USAF Museum at Dayton. Ohio, the former USAF fighter is the same model as those used by the RAAF although this aircraft is a little older.

The Phantom was one type long sought by the Museum. It was surface transported from Queensland where it arrived from the USA in May

Sabres Go Overseas

The Sabre Jet fighter may have originated in the USA but in a classic case of exporting coal to Newcastle two Australian built Sabres have recently gone to America.

The two CAC built Sabres, A94-906 and A94-909, from Mildura Warbirds Museum and Transcorp in Queensland are understood to be at the Saunders facility at Chino, California.

The rebuild and operation of these two aircraft will be very interesting to follow and in particular how the Australian bu1!t Sabre ultimately compares with the North American or Canadair-built product.

A total of 8,519 F-86s were built plus the 112 from the Australian Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.

Briefs

• The weekend of Sept 30/Oct 1 saw the successful inaugural meeting of Australian Warbirds Ltd take place at Canberra, C;­ The meeting brought together a number of the . members for a dinner held at the Hyatt Hotel where key members of the CAA and FAC were guests. Led by Association President, Randel McFarlane, it was stated that the aim of the new organisation was to encourage the sate operation of Warbirds and that self regulation was high on the . list of priorities.

• Where have all the airshows gone? 1988 was supposed to be the year that no one held an airshow because of the Bicentennial Airshow at Richmond AFB, NSW, late In the year. Instead 1988 saw a flurry of airshows, big and small, across the country. 1989, by comparison has been a very quiet year with major airshows being few and tar between. Whatever the reason tor this one can only hope that 1990 will see the airshow drought broken and perhaps the Australian National Airshow at Ballarat, Vic. on 24/25 February is only the start of many for the year. • Want to buy a 707? A 707 may be tor sale but it is anAvro 707, serial number WD280, not that other brand.

The Avro was one of several built during the 1950’s to explore the concept of a delta wing aircraft. The knowledge gained was used in the designof the Avro Vulcan bomber for the RAF. Follow­ing flying research in Australia the Avro was sold as surplus in 1967 for $1,000. It was purchased by Mr Geoff Mallett, an aviation enthusiast, and put into the backyard of his home at Williamstown, a Melbourne suburb. Now Mr Mallett is thinking of selling the machine and has advertised overseas with a view to finding what the market price may be for the aircraft. .

Another Avro 707A is in the RAF Finningley aircraft collection at Doncaster, Yorks.

• In Qld the Queensland Air Museum held a unique reunion recently when, 38 years after the event, an aeroplane and the crew that saved it got together again at the QAM Museum at Caloundra. The aircraft was DH Dove, VH-MAL, the date 1951 and the situation was that the nose wheel would not lower and lock. Using some skills not taught at pilot school Captain Jack Stammer used a crash axe to gain access to the nose wheel bay and then a length of curtain rod to push the wheel into place. The Dove had seen a lot of owners and registration changes since that day in 1951. However in 1986 the QAM obtained the machine in NSW and restored it to the livery of Mandated Airlines. The Dove is on display at the QAM at Caloundra.