Warbirds

The Old Flying Machine Company recently purchased Bruce Andrews’ Sea Fury, VH-HFX, and already has former Australian Mustang A68-192, G-HAEC, previously VH-FCB, in airworthy condition.

Firefly Swap Over

Long time resident up a pole at Griffith NSW, Fairey Firefly WB518 has now been removed from its aerial perch and transported to the Bankstown hangar of Classic Aviation.

The plan is that Firefly WD828, former VH-HMW, which was badly damaged in an engine failure induced forced landing near Camden NSW several years ago, will be swapped for WB518 which can then be restored back to airworthy condition. Due to the condition of the Griffith machine it could be some time before it does get back into the air.

The RAN Historic Flight presently operates the only airworthy Firefly in Australia in the form of VH-NVU, previously WD826. The Firefly in the air and on the ground is an interesting contrast to the Mustang, Sea Fury, Spitfire and Kittyhawk. Besides WD828 now at Griffith, other statically displayed Fireflys in Australia are VX388 at Camden Museum of Aviation, NSW; WD827 at Moorabbin Air Museum, Vic; and WJ109 at the Naval Aviation Museum, Nowra NSW.

Former RAN Fireflys now overseas are WB271 which flies with the RN FAA Historic Flight; WD833 and WD840 with private owners in the USA, both believed to be eventual fliers; and WH632, nearing completion of its restoration to flying condition by the Canadian Warplane Heritage organisation. One other Firefly was exported after RAN service, however this aircraft (former WD901, also owned by the CWH) crashed into Lake Ontario, Canada, during an aerial display in 1977.

Kittyhawk Moves

Kittyhawks in Australia do not always fly to move around.

A P-40N owned by Melbourne enthusiast and rebuilder, Ron Lee, has recently changed hands to go to Tyabb based enthusiast, Graham Hoskings. The aircraft comprises an ex USAAF fuselage found in Queensland’s Iron Range and a set of wings that he obtained from Ian Whitney. The move of this Kittyhawk now brings to three, the number of this type being rebuilt at Tyabb.

While on the topic of P-40s, it is understood that Malcolm Long has sold his P-40N, A29-448, which has been on long term display at Air World air museum at Wangaratta, Vic. The new owners of the Curtiss areJohn Raynor and Jack McDonald. It is reported that the aircraft will be transported to Queensland where it will be rebuilt there. The Wangaratta Kittyhawk was one of a batch originally bound for China but diverted to Australia, where it then entered RAAF service in August 1943. It was salvaged from the jungle at Tadji airstrip, PNG (where it had force landed in May 1944), in the condition that it had been displayed in up till now.

Jack recently completed the fuselage of his own Kittyhawk, P-40E A29-28. (Details of this aircraft’s wartime No 75 and 76 Squadron code letters are currently being sought!)

Australian Aviation to Host NZ Air Show Tour

In the tradition of our successful Oshkosh and Farnborough air show tours, Australian Aviation has again linked with Torii Tours to offer an extra special enthusiasts’ tour to next Easter’s spectacular warbird air show at Wanaka in New Zealand.

The six day tour departs from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne on Wednesday 15 April 1992 for Christchurch. We then overnight at Christchurch, transferring by coach to Wanaka the next day and in the process seeing some of the most beautiful country in the South Island. Friday is spent either watching the arrival of the expected large contingent of Kiwi, US and Australian warbirds or enjoying one of a number of optional local scenic tours to such acclaimed attractions as Mt Cook and Milford Sound.

Saturday ushers in the first day of the actual show, which is rapidly becoming one of the biggest warbird events in the southern hemisphere. Sunday is the climax of the Wanaka air show whilst Monday is spent coaching back to Christchurch for onwards travel to Australia. Naturally, variations in arrival and departure times can be applied to this schedule for those visitors wishing to spend a little more time in what is truly one of the world’s most picturesque countries.

For more information on this great value tour check the full page advert elsewhere in this edition or contact Torii Tours direct on Ph (02) 233 8500 or Fax (02) 231 2758.

Point Cook Raaf Museum News

In the wake of the Defence Force Structure Review it is pleasing to report that all is not gloom and doom at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Vic.

One item of the review was that Point Cook RAAF base be closed and the land sold. Later reports indicated that the airfield portion of the base was to be sold off while the existing building area would remain intact and used by the RAAF.

Although the review has just been announced it will be some time, indeed up to ten years, before all the recommendations are implemented, so, in the absence of any immediate changes happening, it is business as usual at the RAAF Museum. The Officer in charge of the museum is now Sqdn Ldr John Matthews and the curator is WO Dave Gardner who has been with the museum for a number of years.

The Museum has almost completed the restoration of its MauriceFarman MF. 11 Shorthorn biplane, which is on track to be rolled out in six to eight months. With a wingspan of 16. 17m (53ft), length 9. 35m (30ft Bin) and height 3. 15m (10ft 4in), the Shorthorn represents a major restoration project (a Museum spokesman likened it in size to the Ventura bomber!) The Shorthorn was one of four acquired by the Australian Flying Corps in 1917, and is one of two of these four to survive, the other now being in Canada’s National Aviation Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, having been exported from Australia in the 1950s. The Point Cook restoration team has been able to use most of the aircraft’s original timbers in the project, though the cockpit has had to be largely rebuilt. It has on loan from the Australian War Memorial an engine believed to be either a 75hp Wolseley or Renault V6 engine, which is to put in the Farman. The exact make of the engine is unknown as it has no maker’s plate or marks and could even be one of the licence built engines made by the Melbourne firm of Kelly and Lewis.

Once the Farman has been finished, the Museum is to turn its attention to building up the remains of Supermarine Walrus HD874. This aircraft was taken to the Antarctic in 1948 but a storm effectively destroyed the machine. The fuselage was recovered some years ago and will be the centre of a rebuild to static condition. A quantity of Walrus parts was recently obtained from the Camden Aviation Museum and some parts and drawings have also been acquired from the UK.

The museum would be pleased to accept any and all Walrus and Seagull V parts or components, no matter how big or small and regardless of condition. Parts in poor condition can be used as patterns for the manufacture of new parts. Can any readers help? Contact Warrant Officer Dave Gardner at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook, Vic, 3029. Ph (03) 3681443.

Ex-Australian BF 109 Flies in the UK

In the UK a former WW II Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109G made its first flight in nearly 50 years following restoration to airworthy condition. (refer p. 40 Aug 91 AA)

The aircraft, which as G-USTV flew on 17 March at RAF Benson, is understood to be presently the world’s only airworthy German manufactured WWII combat aircraft (though a small number of others are under restoration, including at least one other Bf 109G and an Fw 190 in the USA!); it is not to be confused with the Merlin powered Casa HA-1112 Buchons (Spanish license built Messerschmitt Bf 109s), of which a number are flyable in Europe and the US.

The punch line is that the aircraft was captured by No 3 Squadron RAAF in Libya in 1942. The CO of No 3 Squadron, Sqdn Ldr Bobby Gibbes, test flew the aircraft after it had been patched up and later commented favourably on its performance. If the RAF had not demanded the aircraft, ifit had been transported to Australia as a war prize, and if the powers that be had kept the ‘109, then it might now be on display in Australia and not the UK!

Bobby Gibbes incidentally is alive and well and at age 75 still flies. A WWII fighter ace, he was noted at this year’s SAAA Mangalore Fly-In where he demonstrated his home built aircraft, the incredibly small, twin engined, single place ‘Cri Cri’.

Museum of Flying Auction Attracts International Contingent

Fifty years ago when Lockheed was building P-38s, Supermarine was assembling Spitfire Mark Vs and North American was building the powerful P-51 Mustangs for combat duty in World War II, few ever thought these flying machines would someday become as revered as rare art or fine jewellery.

With the warbird movement gaining in popularity among collectors, investors and general aviation buffs, the second Annual Museum of Flying Auction is expected to attract worldwide attention as enthusiasts from around the world anticipate attending the auction on 5-6 October 1991.

“There has been a tremendous interest in the auction from the British, Australian and European warbird community and,for the first time, from the Japanese,” said Bruce Redding, director of the Santa Monica, California based Museum of Flying Auction. “It’s quite possible the Japanese are going to become a very big factor in the warbird market. ”

Redding is currently evaluating over 200 aircraft whose owners have expressed interest in putting them up on the auction block. Already included on the list is a P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre, F8F Bearcat, F4U Corsair, 8-17 Fortress,Lockheed Constellation, 8-25 Mitchell and a very rare 8-23 dragon (only one of two flying and once owned by Howard Hughes).

According to Michael O’Leary, editor ofAirClassics magazine, museums and collectors are eager to buy into a piece of history. “Take the P-38 for example. At that time it cost the government about $80,000 to build, ” explained O’Leary. ”A flight of P-38s were responsible for shooting down Admiral Yamamoto, who had ordered the attack on Pearl Harbour. When the war ended the Air Force sold a few P-38s for several thousand dollars,then sent the remainder to the scrap pile. ” Aviation experts believe only six are still flying today and the last sale was completed at $US1. Sm.

In addition to the world’s largest auction of classic aircraft, the Museum of Flying Auction will feature over $US2m worth of historic aviation memorabilia. Scale models of fighters, bombers and experimental prototypes that never flew, as well as antique show posters and other memorabilia, will be available.

The auction will be held at the Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport. The Museum rests on virtually the same spot where Donald Douglas founded his famous aviation company in 1922, thus effectively establishing southern California as a leading aerospace centre of the world. The Museum’s auction proceeds will maintain an ongoing endowment to fund museum operations and provide educational opportunities for young people pursuing aviation careers.

“We learned a great deal from last year’s auction and we have intensified our efforts at increasing the number of historic and classic aircraft for this year’s event,” said Redding. “While we are recognised as having the world’s largest warbird and classic aircraft auction, we want to ensure it is also the best. And I think we will do just that by offering the best aircraft and memorabilia available. ”

For more information contact the Museum of Flying, Santa Monica Airport, 2772 Donald Douglas Loop North, Santa Monica,CA, 90405.

Wirraway Changes Hands

In Melbourne, at Moorabbin airport, Wirraway A20-656 has been sold by owner Ron Lee to a group comprising Brian Jones, Rob Black and Graham Waddingham.

Ron has had the Wirraway under rebuild for some time but recently opted to sell the machine and purchase Winjeel VH-BFX from well known warbird enthusiast, Malcolm Long. VH-BFX has been on display at Air World at Wangaratta,Vic.

In Brief

• Contrary to some reports, four DH. 84 Dragons were not found dismantled in a Queensland barn recently. What was found were components from at least four Dragons that had been collected during the 1980s with the view that it might be possible to build up a Dragon. The parts have now been taken to Murwillumbah. NSW,where there are long term plans to build up a Dragon.

• If you are a 8-17 enthusiast then plan to visit the recently opened Movie World,a $120m movie theme park extravaganza built by film giant Warner Bros, on the Pacific Highway just north of the Gold Coast,Queensland. One of the many attractions is the forward fuselage section of a Boeing 8-17 Flying Fortress which the visitor can enter and operate the guns of the upper turret. The 8-17 exhibit is straight from the recent film ‘Memphis Belle’, the story of a Flying Fortress and its young crew on their last bombing mission over wartime Germany.

• Chrislea Skyjeep VH-OLD looked rather soggy after it made a forced landing in the sea off Moruya NSW on 6 July following an apparent failure of its Cirrus Major engine. Neither the pilot nor passenger was injured, however the Skyjeep,although recovered, may not be rebuilt due to the immersion in salt water. The rare English built aircraft had only been put back in the air in recent yea? it was last on public display at the Antique Aeroplane Fly-In at Temora NSW in April.

• Douglas DC-2 A30-9 has been moved from Essendon to Tyabb Airport. The move was made in mid May. The aircraft will be worked on by the Old Aeroplane Company for the owners, Jack McDonald,Tony Gilbert and several other group members.

• Following on from the photo of a Winjeel ‘A85-443’ in the July Warbirds it has been pointed out that the aircraft carrying the markings is in fact A85-407 and that Winjeel A85-443, which was used to test the orange and white colour scheme, is still in RAAF service with No 76 FAC flight at Williamtown RAAF base.