Warbirds

Registered in Australia on 22/4/85, it was purchased by Ansett Airlines 767 Captain, Bruce Andrews, of Melbourne, in November of 1985. The machine was one of a small number imported into Australia by Guido Zuccoli of Darwin in the early 1980s. The machine was originally with the Iraqi Air Force where it carried IAF serial 243. Later the ‘Fury and 26 others were purchased by Americans Ed Jurist and David Tallichet and taken to the USA.

Bruce had the ‘Fury painted up in the dark blue colour scheme as carried by several Royal Australian Navy Sea Furys. On the fin, the code letters NW were applied along with NAVY and 115 on the fuselage. The RAN serial WE729 was initially noted but later this was changed to WH589.

The Sea Fury was based at Nowra Naval Air Station but has not been seen flying in recent times, reportedly due to a problem with the engine. The big blue bird will be missed.

The other Sea Fury to depart Australia in recent times was VH-HFA. This went to the USA where it is still flying.

Catalina Enthusiasts Take Note

For those Catalina enthusiasts who would like to take not only an extended flight in one of these ladies of the sky, but also see a slice of exotic countryside, then a flight with the Catalina Safari Co could be in order.

Catalina Safari operates a 50 year old Catalina on African Safari flights. Past flights have included a Nile river trip.

Captain Pierre Jaunet has now put together a new route that starts at Nairobi, Kenya and weaves its way across Tanzania, Comores, Madagascar, Mozambique and 18 days later arrives at Harare, Zimbabwe. Past flights have had a good number of Catalina enthusiasts as clientele who have enjoyed not only the aircraft and water landings but the feeling of yesteryear that the flight creates.

A recent passenger on one of the Cat flights was Mr Mike Cottee of Sydney who reports that the trip offered rare sights, a high level of comfort, a sense of adventure and a classic mode of transportation.

For those wanting to buy a ticket, be advised that it does not come at 50 year old prices. The fare is $12,000 per person with a single supplement of $1,000, excluding international air fares. For more details contact Travellers in Sydney (02) 233 8788, or Abercrombie and Kent in Melbourne (03) 669 8911.

Any intending passengers please advise this column if you require a baggage caddy!

Raf Shackletons for Sale

In the UK, the Ministry of Defence put four Avro Shackleton AEW. 2 anti-submarine aircraft up for sale by tender during June. When advertised, the four engined machines were currently in Squadron service and would be available during July 1991.

The Shackleton is the last of the Avro multi-engined bombers that started with the Manchester, went to the Lancaster, then the Lincoln and last, the Shackleton.

It goes without saying that apart from the aircraft that will go to air museums in the UK there will almost certainly be at least one of the Shackletons that is kept airworthy by private owners that buy one of the four put up for tender. The UK seems alive with groups that are willing to take on a project such as keeping a Shackleton in the air and for that we admire them. May the day come when we see more of these groups in Australia.

Second Mig-15 Is All Go

The second MiG-15UTI, in actual fact a two seat Polish LiM-3, to take to the skies in Australia has flown from Bankstown Airport (refer P. 42 July 91 A A). Registered as VH-BPG, the MiG is owned by Hockey Treloar and was flown south to Nowra Naval Air Station. The first MiG to fly in Australia was VH-XIG. Both machines took to the air with former Empire Test Pilots School graduate, Harry Bradford, as the pilot.

The MiG was to have been demonstrated at the recent Canberra Air Show but was prevented from doing so due to a problem with a pressure hose that did not allow the aircraft to fly as scheduled.

Altogether eight of the type have been imported into Australia and while work continues on some, one or two might not fly for some years.

The MiG-15UTI of Barry Batagol, in Melbourne, was scheduled to make its first flight around mid July and thus become the third of the type to be flown here inAustralia.

1991 Aviation Museums Conference for Victoria

The 1991 Aviations Museums conference is to be held at Werribee, Vic.

Werribee is situated very near Point Cook RAAF base and the RAAF Museum, a visit to which will no doubt be part of the program. Werribee has wartime aviation links in that there was an RAAF aerodrome there. The aerodrome has long been cut by a freeway and the remaining hangars, still visible, were taken over by the Board of Works. A visit to the Moorabbin Air Museum is also planned as part of the program.

For those wanting to attend keep 14, 15 and 16 November free. For more information contact the Aviation Museums Association, 8 Packington Place, Prahran, Vic 3181.

In Brief

• For the record the former RAAF Canberra, A84-229, that flew to the USA last August, is now registered as N20AN.

The Government Aircraft Factory built bomber was swapped for the Lockheed V-1 Ventura, VH-SSF, which is now operated by the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Vic. It is understood that the new owner of the aircraft, Steve Picatti, has the only civil Canberra in the world. The departure flight of the Canberra was covered in the December 1990 issue of Australian Aviation.

• Those five TBM Avengers found off the Florida coast recently are not the so-called Lost Squadron that went missing on 5 December 1945. Following on the report in the last issue of Warbirds, it has been found that the five Avengers recently located on the sea bed were older aircraft than the missing five. Although found within a close distance of each other, the tail number 28 on one aircraft gave rise to speculation that they were the long sought aircraft.

Given the increased amount of undersea exploration in recent years there is a good possibility that the five missing Avengers will eventually be located. The only question is where and when. • The Queens Birthday honours list for 1991 contained two people well known to the aviation industry. Mr Charles Maxwell Hazelton CBE of Cuda!, NSW was awarded the AM for services to aviation and the community. Mr Peter Stuart Isaacson DFC, AFC, DFM of Toorak, Melbourne was also awarded the AM for service to the print media and the community.

Mr Hazelton is best known for his company Hazelton Airlines and its predecessors. He started out with just one Auster. Mr Isaacson is these days known for his printing and publishing empire. A wartime pathfinder pilot, he became well known for flying the Lancaster G for George, now in the Canberra AWM, on Peace Loan flights around Australia The second annual warbird and classic aircraft auction to be held by the Museum of Flying, at Santa Monica, California, is to be held on 5 and 6 October. Some of the aircraft to be auctioned this year include a B-17G, a Lockheed Constellation, P-38 Lightning, F-86 Sabre and a Grumman F8F Bearcat. Most interesting item to go under the hammer will be an A6M2-21 Zero.

In case you were not aware of it, the RAAF 70th Anniversary Air Show at Richmond AFB looks like shaping up to be the biggest air show since the Australian Bicentennial Air Show of 1988. For more details contact Airshows Downunder at PO Box E70, Parramatta East, NSW 2150, or refer to the advert in this issue- but be quick. Tickets and accommodation are going like hot cakes.