Warbirds

It has been reported that the Aussie Vampire will be painted in the markings and colour scheme of a No 75 Squadron DH115 T. 11, NZ5709, an ex RNZAF aircraft that is now in storage with Don Subritzky in Auckland. New Zealand also has another twin boom jet in the form of a DH Venom that was the first NZ jet warbird.

On the subject of Vampires, former Zimbabwe Air Force DH115 T. 11, R4221, is reported to be under active overhaul at Tyabb, Vic.

Harvards and Texans

In northern Victoria the former RNZAF Harvard, NZ1024, long in storage at the Airworld Museum at Wangaratta, has been obtained by local Winjeel owner Doug Hamilton and is to be restored to fly again. Doug has found an engine and prop for the machine and hopes to have the low time aircraft in the air in less than a year.

Up Sydney way the Texan, N4995A, that flew in the recent UK to Australia Air Rally, has been purchased by Ray McWilliams and a partner. The machine is reported to be in good shape. As a result of the T-6 purchase Ray has sold his Luscombe Silvaire, VH-NCX, which has since been noted tied down at Casey Field, Berwick, Vic. Ray is moving from 65 up to 550 horse power. T he mind boggles!

A Harvard that has almost gone unnoticed is former RNZAF aircraft, NZ1100. Shipped into Townsville in 1988 the Canadian built model 2B was apparently a ‘station hack’ and only flew an amazing total of 107 hours. New owner Bruce Black is restoring the aircraft and is planning on having it flying by 1993. Bruce is seeking some missing components and asks can any reader help. Missing are the hydraulic shelf, fuel system parts, front and rear seats and seat rails and the back left floor pan.

Argosys Scrapped

December 3, 1990, saw the scrapping of the three former IPEC Argosy freighters at Essendon Airport, Vic.

The aircraft, VH-IPA, VH-IPB and VH-IPD had outlived their usefulness as freight carriers and had been replaced by other aircraft. IPEC tried to sell them as going concerns but the best offer was from an American firm that removed the still useful turbine engines and sold the airframes to a scrap metal dealer. Less than one day saw the total destruction of the aircraft and now the only remains of an Argosy are a huge landing gear assembly and a fin and rudder that will go on display at the Moorabbin Air Museum.

In commenting on the demise of the three aircraft the Secretary of the Australian Aviation Museums Association, Mr Mark Clayton, expressed disappointment that greater efforts were not made by IPEC to have the machines preserved in an aviation museum. Mr Clayton said it appeared that no aviation museums other than Point Cook were asked if they wanted any of the aircraft and that donating the aircraft under the provisions of the Taxation Incentives Scheme for the Arts could possibly have realised a greater value than selling them for scrap. The Argosys are gone. Vale!

Aviation Museums Conference

Wangaratta, Vic, on the 15th to the 18th November was the venue of the recent Australian Aviation Museums Conference.

Delegates were again treated to a run down on what is happening in the Australian aviation museum scene and were addressed by a wide selection of speakers well respected in their fields. Keynote speaker was Dr Michael Fopp, Director of the RAF Museum, Hendon, UK. Dr Fopp was an above average speaker and left a lasting mark on all those present.

Following the three day conference the delegates attending were treated to a flying display of some seven historic aircraft types from the Airworld Aviation Museum at the Wangaratta airport. Although not quite as well attended as last year’s Sydney located conference, the current economic climate and the location of the venue may have had some bearing on the numbers attending. More details from the conference will be run in the next issue of Warbirds.

Winjeels in the Works

Three more Winjeels have turned up, which bring to at least 20 the number in civil hands that are flyable or in the process of being put back in the air.

New machines are A85-417, formerly owned by Bob Eastgate and now with Don Brown at Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, and A85-447 and 448 that have been acquired by Rod Swallow of Melbourne. While all have a good amount of work to be done to them the future for Winjeels as a type would seem good with the numbers and interest shown in this locally developed and built machine increasing each year.

Chinese Cj-6s Available

At the end of July last year, three Chinese trainers arrived in Sydney having been freighted in from China. The aircraft, Nanchang CJ-6 Trainers, are derived from the Russian Yak-18A, and have 260hp radial engines and tricycle retractable undercarriage.

Imported by Canberra based firm Lampa Holdings, the first aircraft became VH-NNA and is now flying. The second machine became VH-NNB and is available for $ 97,500, assembled and with a permit to fly. The third CJ-6 is to become VH-NNC and is available for $75,000 in an unassembled state. A director of Lampa Holdings, Mr Brian Chandler, has been keen to point out that the CJ-6 is not a licence built copy of the Yak-18A and that the type is in fact a superior aircraft to the Yak-18A from which it was derived.

As has been commented on before, these Chinese built warbirds are a marked contrast to the British and American warbirds that are to be seen around Australia and as such will without doubt raise a lot of interest wherever they go.

Sir Reginald Ansett Transport Museum

At Hamilton, Vic, Sunday February 17th saw the opening of stage one of the Sir Reginald Ansett Transport Museum.

The date is the same day that 50 years ago saw Reg Ansett commence operations between Hamilton and Melbourne and eventually saw his little flying operation turn into the largest transport concern that Australia has ever seen.

The original hangar that Mr Ansett used has been relocated beside Lake Hamilton and eventually the Fokker Universal that was restored as ‘VH-UTO’ will be on display at the museum. The Fokker is at present on display at the Ballarat Aviation Museum. Spokesman for the museum, Mr Graham Soawyer, said that both the people and the Shire Council of Hamilton felt that it was time that something positive was done to commemorate the memory and achievements of Reginald Ansett, and the opening of the museum would do that. Ansett Transport Industries has been most supportive of the venture.

Mr Soawyer also said that contributions to the museum would be most welcome and could be almost anything, from photographs and records right through to aircraft. One asks what the large American limousine that would drop Sir Reg off at the Melbourne Heliport each night was, and what ever became of it. It certainly would hold a spot in the museum.

Persons wanting to contribute exhibits to the museum can contact the museum at PO Box 651, Hamilton 3300, or contact Mr Pat Kempton on Phone (055) 73 0444.

In Brief

• The Australian War Memorial at Canberra is now charging an entry fee. Until recently the AWM has been totally funded by an allocation from the Federal Government and people visiting have had the choice of making a donation. Now there is an entry fee of $3. The AWM is both a memorial and museum and as such is one of the most visited attractions in Canberra. Some seven aircraft are on display in the Aeroplane Hall. A note for Mustang enthusiasts. Dick Hourigan has reserved the registration VH-JUC for his CAC built Mustang, A68-105, that he is overhauling at Tyabb, Vic. On another Mustang note, Bob Eastgate has got his Mustang, VH-BOB, back into the air after a three year break caused by a dose of ‘kerosene poisoning’ and then further engine mechanical problems. The aircraft was a welcome flying attraction at a recent Point Cook RAAF base open day.

• For MiG enthusiasts. Just in case you were wondering, the registration VH-MIG is currently held by a Cessna 182P registered to aMr C Jacobs of Lakeway Station, Wiluna, WA. One asks how long it will be before Mr Jacobs gets an offer too good to refuse, to use a popular expression, to change the marking on the Cessna and let the registration VH-MIG decorate a more suitable aircraft.

• Casey Airfield at Berwick, Victoria, appears set to finally close at the end of February. While there are lots of little privately owned airports Casey has history, charm and character that will not be possible to develop at a new airport. The land is set to be develop as has the nearby town of Berwick.