Warbirds

Over the years Nelson has steadily rebuilt the machine to the stage where it was not all that far from being airworthy again. Nelson went so far as to reserve the registration VH-NRW for the Allison powered fighter. The aircraft has a combat history. During WWII it was flown by Bruce (Buster) Brown who named it ‘Polly’. While at Milne Bay the Kittyhawk destroyed no less than five Japanese planes.

The Kittyhawk will be a valuable inclusion in the AWM collection and one hopes that it will soon be displayed and not simply stored away out of sight.

Airworld Hopes Fade

It now appears that all hopes for the continuation of the Airworld Aviation Museum at Wangaratta, Vic have faded with the Wangaratta City Council starting talks with a private aviation firm about the possibility of using the hangar for aircraft painting and maintenance work.

The firm, VH Aviation of Benalla, has expressed interest in taking over the hangar and this comes on the heels of the Council having to consider that the end of Airworld’s six years as one of Australia’s largest aviation museums is close at hand.

The hard facts of the situation are that at present there is only a trickle of visitors while at the same time there are large outgoing fund commitments. This year alone Airworld and the adjoining airport will cost Wangaratta City ratepayers $527,000 out of a total rate income of only $4. 2m.

Both the Federal and State governments have not surprisingly opted not to step in and assist although both have in the past expressed concern about the role and future of the museum No final decisions are expected in the short term and no sale could take effect without a normal tendering process. Under present arrangements, the council would pay off the planes by 1994 and the buildings by 1996, however it appears that given the current situation only the appearance of a twelfth-hour saviour can save Airworld from closing and its rare collection being broken up.

Sanders Boomerang Flys

The warbird mecca of Chino airport, just east of Los Angeles, California, saw another first when, on 20 July, the Commonwealth Boomerang of Dennis Sanders took to the air for the first time. The last time a Boomerang flew was in Australia just after

WWII. Reporting on the flight, Dennis Sanders simply said that it was “No problem”.

Unpainted at the time of the first flight the Boomerang, registered as NX32CS with the title Commonwealth CA-13 and serial A46-139 below, is in fact a much modified North American T-6 Texan. Another feature of the Sanders Boomerang is that it is a two seater, something that the Australian product never was. The rear seat location is discreetly out of sight to the casual observer.

Also being built up in the same hangar is an original Boomerang for Guido Zuccoli of Darwin. The machine, when last sighted, was a complete fuselage with centre section and standing on its undercarriage. An engine and tailplane were due to be received in late August. A total rebuild of the wings supplied to Sanders was required and had been basically completed by mid August. The machine, which will carry a civil registration and the serial A46-206, should be in the air within six months based on the current rate of progress.

All Boomerang enthusiasts will no doubt look forward to word of its first flight and plans of its shipment to Australia. Also, don’t forget that At<s latest book in their unique Australian Air Power collection – the Wirraway, Boomerang & CA-15 In Australian Service – has just been released. For more information refer to our double page advert elsewhere in this issue and the book review section of Newsdesk.

Silver City Foundation

With the possibility of the Airworld Museum at Wangaratta Vic closing and its aircraft being sold (refer item elsewhere this column) a former owner of one of the primary display aircraft is attempting to save the machine and have it both remain in Australia and be made airworthy again.

The aircraft is Lockheed L-12A, VH-ABH and the man is John Love. John sold the Silver City, as the aircraft was first named, which turned 54 years old on 9/9/91, to the museum in the belief that it would remain in Australia for all to see and appreciate. Now that it appears Airworld is to close John has started the Silver City Foundation in order to raise funds to save and rebuild the historic Lockheed. John is seeking 1,000 people to donate $1,000 each and already the first contribution has come from Mr Tim Fischer, an aviator and friend of John Love. Tim Fischer is better known as the leader of the National Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition parties.

John Love is asking for contributions to help save the historic Lockheed and put it back in the air again. The $1,000 donation is not tax deductible so that there can be no federal involvement. Donations can be sent to the Silver City Foundation, Albury Airport, Albury, 2640.

T-28 Trojan Follow Up

Following on the recent Warbirds item on Steve Death’s T-28D rebuild at Albury NSW, where it was found that the Trojan had previously carried a US civil registration, more information has now come to hand.

Steve’s T-28 started out as a T-28A with serial, 49-1724. Following a relatively short Air Force life it ended up with Munsey E Crost of Allenhurst NJ in 1963 as N2884G. Next civil owner was the GC Dewey Corporation of New York. Repurchased by North American in the late 1960 sit was remanufactured as a T-28D and ended up with the Royal Laotian Air Force as serial number 91724. Recovered, along with several others, from SE Asia in 1988 by Col Pay of Scone NSW, it was eventually bought by Steve Death and is now under rebuild at Albury, NSW.

It is doubtful if Mr Munsey E Crost would be aware of the travels, fortunes and present location of his old mount but if aircraft could talk then no doubt Mr Munsey would be in for a long history lesson.

WA Aviation Museum Lancaster Sold

In a dramatic move the Royal Australian Air Force Association Aviation Museum of Western Australia advised in early August that it would sell off its prime exhibit, the Lancaster bomber of WWII.

The reason behind the sale was the requirement for funds to carry out renovations and extensions needed to provide for the future preservation of the entire museum collection.

The museum, situated at Bull Creek, has never received any financial assistance from either local, State or Federal government agencies even though requests have been made in order to help fund the Museum’s significant collection of Australian and in particular, Western Australian, aviation heritage.

The Lancaster was acquired in 1962 and serves as a reminder to all of the Australians who served in Royal Air Force Bomber Command.

The Lancaster is a Mk. VII and originally carried serial NX622 in RAF service. It later served with the French Navy in the South Pacific with serial number U16. At the end of August it was understood that export permits had been granted and that an unnamed overseas buyer was about to sign a purchase contract for the aircraft.

It is almost certain that the aircraft will go overseas and given the present interest in warbirds it is most likely that the big aircraft will be overhauled to fly once again. One can express concern and disappointment that the Lancaster, although which has no direct RAAF connections, is being sold and will almost certainly go overseas. However, the WA Aviation Museum will receive a much needed injection of funds and there is a good chance that the Lane will also fly again, for all to see and appreciate.

One Avro Lancaster remains in Australia, G for George in the Australian War Memorial at Canberra.

Arthur Butler Memorial Lecture

On 2 October 1991, at 7. 45pm the Aviation Historical Society of Australia (NSW Branch) will present its annual Arthur Butler Memorial Lecture. This year the subject of the lecture is to be ”Arthur Butler, The Man” with guest speaker Mr Bruce Abell.

The venue for the lecture is the Target Theatre in the Powerhouse Museum, Ultimo, Sydney, enter off McArthur Street. All are welcome.

In Brief

• Noted at Oshkosh ’91 was ex RAAF Vampire, previously A79-631. Carrying registration N11926, the twin boomer attracted a lot of attention from the Americans who had not seen the type before. The Mark 35 Vampire is now in camouflage and the markings of the Rhodesian Air Force. That Air Force was one of the few to have operated the Vampire in anger. These days the twin boomer is operated by the famous Combat Jets Flying Museum of Houston, Texas.

• In our August column it was advised that the registration of former RAAF Canberra, A84-229, now flying in the USA, was N20AN. It would appear that since that time the aircraft has had a registration change and that the registration is now N229CA.

• At Albury NSW, John Love, already well known for his involvement in trying to save Lockheed L-12A, VH-ABH, has started Splitters Creek Airlines using the 10 seat Beech 18, VH-FIE. The aim of the organisation is to operate the classic twin Beech on flights, particularly for overseas tourists, from Albury to not too distant places such as wineries and paddle steamer ports. It is expected that a DHC Beaver presently based in Tasmania will also join the operation at a later date.

• The oldest Cessna in Australia, Cessna C-34 VH-UYG, has been bought from Jim Williams of Albury NSW, by Kim Ryan of Cairns Old. The aircraft has been in storage at Albury for some years and Kim has already moved the Airmaster to Cairns where he will rebuild it to fly once again. The aircraft has a 34 foot one piece wooden wing which no doubt has made Kim extend his workshop. Powered by a 145hp Warner Scarab radial engine, some 42 of the C-34 type were built. A small number still fly.

• The Federal Budget this year slashed funding to the Australian War Memorial from $16. 313m in 1990/91 down to $15. 035m in 1991/92. This action is certain to create pressure to reintroduce the admission fee that brought down adverse comment on the AWM last year. The memorial is a shrine to the more than 100,000 Australians killed in conflicts during the last century.