Warbirds

Of the aircraft put up for sale by auctioneers, Pickles Auctions Pty Ltd, the highest time aircraft had 5882 hours flown while the lowest was just 1320 hours. Engine hours to run varied from 35 to 1460.

Pickles reported that in the month preceding the auction they had numerous calls enquiring about the aircraft. As a result it was no surprise that on the day there were some 1500 to 2000 people present to be part of or watch the proceedings. It is reported that bidding was spirited and thatprices went up, then down, and then rose again as the number of aircraft remaining started to dwindle.

The top price paid was $69,500. Reportedly this was for the former ARDU Airtrainer. The lowest price was $42,000. Five aircraft were sold in the $60,000 bracket, six aircraft went in the $50,000 bracket and the balance in the $40,000 bracket. There was no reserve figure. All 36 aircraft were sold and the auctioneers, Pickles Auctions, has commented that they could have sold more if they had them.

The aircraft sold went to buyers across Australia with perhaps a greater number in NSW. Three aircraft went to an American buyer and while there was much interest and a number of New Zealanders present none were sold to a NZ buyer. No doubt some of the Airtrainers will change hands shortly after the auction.

It is understood that the CAA will not certify the CT-4 Airtrainer as-is unless it is modified and brought up to CT-4B standard. The CT-4B is being flown at present at Tamworth with the BAe/Ansett flying College. The CAA “ill, however, allow Permit to F1y operation of the CT-4 Airtrainer under CAR-134 and this appeared to satisfy most buyers.

The end result is that theAustralian warbird movement has received a massive boost with the influx of these Airtrainer aircraft into the lower end of the warbird scene and as a result the Airtrainer marque will be seen around Australia for many years to come. Almost certainly the Airtrainer will develop a following in muchthe same the last RAAF basic trainer, the Wiitjeel, has come to enjoy, only this time there will be more of them.

Caa Bans Warbird Joyrides

Following the crash of the MiG-15 (SBLirn-2), VH-LSN, at Canberra on March 13, the CAA has banned joyflights being carried out in certain former warbirds.

In announcing the ban, effective from May 7, the CAA said that passengers cannot be carried in any former military jets or helicopters, or in propeller driven aircraft not originally designed to carrypassengers, unless they are associated with project. Passengers can still be carried on a cost-share basis (as also applies to normal civilian private aircraft) on former propeller driven militaryaircraftdesigned tocarrypassengers. The CAA stated that the move was a necessary safety precaution. Anindustry conference has been called for by the CAA for July to discuss the whole question of operating what are known as warbirds.

Following the MiG crash the MiG-15 type in Australia was grounded while an investigation took place into the cause of the accident that killed the two occupants of the jet fighter trainer.

The past year or so has seen an increase in the number of warbirdoperators who have used their aircraft to take passengers forjoyflights, be they paid for or for nothing. While most warbird operators have not promoted these rides others have run printed adverts to seek business and thus bring in some much needed revenue to help assist with costs.

There has even been mention of one or two warbird flight schools being planned in order that a pilot could pay for a warbird checkout at a flight school that would have warbirds on the flight line instead ofPipers of Cessnas.

In Melbourne one radio station has been·running adverts titled ‘Gig in a MiG’, the four winners of which would ‘experience 30 adrenalin pumping minutes high over Melbourne in a Soviet MiG interceptor jet fighter . . . and burst the sound barrier at a thousand kilometres an hour’. Another Melbourne Radio station took a more cautious approach and ran a competition that would fly the winner to the USA to experience combat flight in a Beech T-34 Mentor warbird. Following the ban the radio station promoting the MiG flight announced that it would defy the CAA and continue with thecompetition because it had been given permission by the CAA back in March to run the contest. The CAA in turn denied that it had granted any permission and warned the station that it faced prosecution.

To an outsider the scene could be likened to a Korean war dogfightto see iftheMiGortheF-86(theCAA) returnsfrom the battle!(We’ll take the latter! Ed)

More Migs to Australia

MiGs are certainly the topic of the month,in more ways than one,and the last fewmonths has seen three more of the MiG-15 model imported.

In Queensland another ex-Polish Air Force licence built MiG-15 hasarrivedforexisting MiG-15 operator,Barry Hemple. Barry already owns SBLirn-2 (MiG-15UTI) VH-DIE, sin 3804. The new arrival is s/n 1A07050. This latest machine was noted being unloadedfrom a container at Archerfield in March. Also of note is the fact that Barry has had his PZL-Antonov An-2 ‘Colt’ SP-FAO registered locally as VH-CCC.

Meanwhile, down at Canberra, a single-seat Russian-built MiG-15B arrived on May 13 for the Australian War Memorial. Built in 1951 this MiG isfrom the same batch as those used in the Korean conflict against Mustangs and Meteors flown by Australian pilots. The AWM has long been keen to obtain a single seat MiG-15 to complement its collection. After much negotiation behind the scenes the AWM managed to obtain a suitable examplefrom Russia. Its service history is unknown.

In an ideal world the AWM would have only accepted a MiG recorded as being a Korean combat veteran however the aircraft obtained is the next best thing. If the truth be known the Korean MiGs that were not shot down have probably been long ago turned into Vodka cans or the North Korean equivalent.

The serial number of the new AWM aircraft is 2458. This is apparently not the full serial which has yet to be discovered on the aircraft. The normal serial is a six digit number. In all over silver theMiG arrived at Canberra, complete with a fewlitres of fuel in the tanks and armament in place. The weapons comprised two NR-23 23mm cannon and one N-37 37mm cannon.

The MiG will go into storage initially and later it is hoped that the machine will beplaced on display in theMemorial’s storage annex. The AWM is to be complimented on its latest acquisition.

The third MiG is a model 15 that will not be in Australia for long. The aircraft, a Polish built SBLirn-2 (MiG-15UTI), with nose code 216, was recently brought into the country to be worked on by Winrye Aviation at Bankstown. Once completed it will go to New Zealand for owners, Mike Kelly and Murray Patterson of Southair Aviation.

It is expected that the machine will be placed on the Australian civil register for test flying and endorsement before being flown across the Tasman to NZ. The New Zealand registration of ZK-MIG (naturally!) has been reserved for the jet.

On the subject of MiGs the MiG-21UM,owned by Ansett 767 captain, DickMacIntosh,hashadenginetestruns at Bankstown, NSW,where it was assembled by Winrye Aviation. The aircraft, serial number 51-6905011,was registered as VH-XXI appropriately on December 21. hat belongs to Hockey Treloar. The jet, serial 1F04034, was registered as VH-ALG on March 3.

With all this Soviet bloc jet fighter activity taking place at Bankstown perhaps the CAA should redesignate the place on charts as Red Star fighter base.

Buried Treasure

A group of aviation organisations including the Aviation Society of Australia and RAAF Williamtown are currently working on a project which could, if successful, result in the discovery of a large number of buried WW2 aircraft.

Those involved are looking atthe prospect of excavating a couple of what are described as “huge burial sites” at Williamtown, near Newcastle NSW. One site which has already been extensively researched is known to contain at least 28 fighters including Kittyhawks, Corsairs, Mustangs and Airacobras. The group says it knows the aircraft are there because it has already located some components.

However,in order to recover these aircraft some additional help is needed. The group would therefore like to hear from anyone who may have been involved in these ‘burials'(or has photos of them), or indeed anyone connected with the base between 1942 and 1950,the period during which most of the aircraft were apparently buried.

If you can help,contact John Parker,5 Kendall St, Charlestown 2290, or telephone(049) 43 6275.

Indonesian Viscount

One aviation organisation which has our full support is the Australian Flying Museum, whose efforts to bring back home one of the two former Australian Viscounts currently flying with Indonesia’s Mandala Airlines deserve every success.

The retirement of the two Viscounts (ex TAA VH-TVP and Ansett-ANA VH-RMG, both 810 series aircraft) is now perilously close, and a maximum effort to save one of them is now being made by the AFM.

There has been some recent help courtesy Qantas, which last month flew the AFM’s Robert Hickling and Peter Robinson (along with 80kg of camera gear) to Jakarta for discussions with Mandala about the Viscounts’ disposal and a review of their technical and spares status. Robinson is a former TAA employee who held Viscount airframe and Dart engine licences. What may be the Viscounts’ last scheduled operations will be photographed and filmed by the parr. A full colour report will appear as soon as available in AA. AWM B-25

Mitchell for Sale

The Australian War Memorial has again put its B-25 up for sale. The aircraft was offered for sale by tender last year but was then apparently removed from tender for a number of reasons.

The AWM has decided that the B-25 does not meet its collection requirements and should not be retained. The B-25 is a J model and only about ten ofthese saw combat with the Australian and Dutch squadrons that operated them. The Memorial has noted that the trainer configuration of the aircraft also greatly restricts its usefulness as a museum example of a medium bomber.

TheMitchell, previously 44-86791,N8196H and VH-XXV,was flown to Australia in 1983 by a private group, Aero Heritage, and operated on the airshow circuit by arrangement with the AWM. In 1987 it was withdrawn from service and carefully inhibited, the outer wings removed and the aircraft placed in controlled storage where it has remained until now.

It wouldnow seem that there is a good chance forthe aircraft to be put back in the air and again fly the local airshow circuit. The B-25 was a verypopular attraction at airshows and the like when it was being flown and no doubt can do the same again. Being a nosewheel aircraft it should also present less problems for pilots than the likes of large tailwheel aircraft such as the Ventura, Hudson and Lodestar.

Interested parties regarding the sale of the B-25 aircraft should contact Richard Llewellyn at the AWM,phone/fax(06) 243 4376.

Flight of the Falcon

September 1993 is the scheduled departure date for the Miles M3A Falcon,VH-AAT,onan historic flightfromAustralia to England. The flight, planned as a tribute to the pioneers of the England to Australia air route, is to be made in the 1935 Miles by pilots David Squirrel and Doug Bowles. The Falcon is one of only two of the type still flying in the world. Only 18 of the model M3A were built.

It was in the 1934 McRobertson England/Australia air race that Harold L Brook flew an M3 Falcon, G-ACTM. Alas, the aircraft was notthe winner and in spite of a forced landing in Greece with propeller failure and then becoming hopelessly lost in Afghanistan, Brook and his passenger eventually arrived in Melbourne. Brook’s performance in the race was undoubtedly due to his less than fifty hours total flying experience prior to setting out from England! After the race Brook spent some time touring Australia In March 1935hereturnedtoEnglandandin so doingreducedthe solo flight record to seven days nine hours and fifty minutes.

A second aircraft carrying a film crew and equipment will accompany the Falcon anda documentaryfilmabouttheflight and the places visited will be made. It is planned that the filming will take in such sights as. Ayrr Is (Burma), which is the suspected site ofCharlesKingsford-Smith’sfatalaccident, and in Italy, at the site of BertHinkler’s accident it is hoped to drop a wreath.

The film will bring out the hardships that the air pioneers of yesteryear had to contend with.

The Falcon arrivedin Australia in1937fortheRoyal Queensland Aero Club. After several owners it was finally purchased by Col KeithHatfield in 1975 and after delivery to Berwick, Vic a total refurbishment was undertaken. The machine is probably now in better condition than it was in 1935.

It is planned that the aircraft will visit some 29 places along the way and it is hoped that $1 million will be raised for the Make a Wish foundation as a result of the flight. Additional sponsorship is sought.

The flight, of a 1935 aircraft across the politically turbulent skies of 1993 promises to be most interesting and one that this column will follow with interest.

Profile – Miles M. 38 Messenger 2A, Vh-Bjt

In an age of aeroplanes made of sheet metal or steel tube it comes as quite a surprise to hear of someone completely rebuilding an all wood aircraft. When one hears that the machine is of plywood semi-monocoque construction you start to understand where some 5000 hours of rebuild labour wentto. Such isthecasein Brisbane, whereretired automotive engineerBillThompson has spentthe last fewyears rebuilding a Miles M. 38 Messenger 2A

The Messenger was one of several types grounded in the sixties due to the deterioration of the glued wood joints. Of wartime vintage these aircraft were built with glues that had lost their strength over a period of time. The Messenger, one of a small number of the type imported into Australia of the total of 80 odd built, was owned by Sam Hecker of Maryborough, Qld. After it was grounded the Messenger, then VH-BJM, was stored in its hangar for many years. It was eventually purchased by a Victorian collector who intended to rebuild it but this came to nothing. Bill, who had already rebuilt several aircraft, was looking for a retirement project when he heard about the machine. After purchasingit hemoveditandhimself to Queensland and set about rebuilding the aircraft, literally from the metal fittings up.

The aircraft was already dismantled with some parts missing. Bill dismantled the hulk making measurements, taking photos, salvaging componentsandconstructing ajig to rebuild the machine on. All this work took eight hours a day five days a week Somewhere along the track Bill managed to find time to meet a lady called June and eventually marry her. No doubt to her surprise June found that her husband did not go off to work each day like most husbands, but instead he went off to the workshop to rebuild ‘the aeroplane’.

The end result was that Friday May 5 saw the finish of the rebuild. At long last the Messenger was finished, complete in the RAF squadron camouflage markings and colours as a replica ofthe Messengerused by FieldMarshalMontgomeryin the latter stages of WWII.

The Messenger, now VH-BJT which stands for Bill and June Thompson, was due to be moved to Archerfield in mid May for inspection and certification and was expected to be in the air by June. The Messenger, with its modern glues and new woodwork,is theonlyoneofitstype toflyinAustraliainrecent years. Itis not likely that any others will rebuilt here due to the amount of dedicated labour required. As a result Bill will have a very unique aircraft, one that has three fins and rudders and STOL performance as well as being a four seat touring aero- plane. One other of the type is flying in the UK, also following an extensive rebuild.

The Messenger is powered by a 155hp Blackburn Cirrus Major III. With a maximum weight of 1090kg (24001b) the machine could get airborne in as little as 75 metres and could make a landing approach as low as 40kts (75km/h) thanks to the large chord auxiliaryaerofoilflaps that areinter-connected with the ailerons.

Footnote: Now that the Messenger rebuild is finished June Thompsonisstartingto lookforward to theprospect ofhaving Bill around home more often. Bill on the other hand is starting to wonder how he is going to fill in his days. Could another rebuild be the solution?

Tasmanian Jet Provost

It can now be revealed that the ex Singapore Air Force StrikemasterinTasmania isin factaT-52 JetProvost (referp43 June AA).

An armed version of the Jet Provost trainer, the Tasmanian machine has serial number 356 of the SAF. Owned by a six person syndicate the machine is being made airworthy by Skywise Aviation at Devonport.

Already Chief Engineer Mike Mathews has stripped the aircraft down to basic components and is working on one wing. A new canopy was obtained in the UK for a veryreasonable price, following the chance sighting of an advert in a magazine, and a new windscreen is now sought. The airframe has a low 2500 hours while the engine has only 250 hours. The Tasmanian group purchased the Provost from International Aircraft Parts inSydney. !AP bought a number ofthe typefrom the RSAF and 13 have been shipped to the USA

A growth development of the Provost is the Strikemaster. One of these is on the local register as VH-AKY and was noted at last year’s Avalon airshow.

In Brief

• The Point Cook RAAF Museum has acquired a Mirage jet fighter. The Mirage, A3-51, replaces A3-13 and A3-84 that it did have but which eventually ended up in the consignment of surplus Mirages that were sold to Pakistan a few years ago. A3-51 was transported by low loader over May 17 and 18 from the Wagga RAAF base to the Point Cook Museum. The aircraft had been used as an instructional airframe at the Wagga base for AirForceapprentices. Altogether the road trip took some 33 hours, given the Mirages normal flight speed the trip by air would have taken 21 minutes. Interestingly enough the support vehicle following the Mirage along the highways carried signs advising both ‘Wide load’ and ‘Pilot vehicle’. One wonders which sign the average motorist would believe.

• For thosewithaninterestinArmyaviationnotethatSeptember 19 is the datefor the next OakeyArmy base/museum fly-in. With the nearbywarbirdcentre atToowoomba, Qld itcould be well worth visiting Oakey for the date.

• At Caboolture, Qld Jack McDonald’s Lim-5 (MiG-17) sin 1F0102hasbeennotedasstandingonitsundercartandstripped back to natural metal.

•An interesting advert was recently noted in a UK aviation magazine. The advert advised that an Australian Avro 643 Cadet was for sale, having recently been restored and test flown, and that the same source also had a de Havilland DH. 87 Hornet Moth for sale. The latter having once been airlifted to the USA to be displayed at Oshkosh. The Cadet was priced at £48,000 and theHornet Moth at£38,000. While no registrations or the Australian owner were mentioned the descriptions match those of the Avro Cadet and Hornet Moth, VH-UVV, owned by Ken Orrman of Blairgowrie, Vic.

• Tiger Moth VH-TMK suffered damage to the right wings and undercarriage during a forced landing one km south of Casey Airfield, Berwick, Vic on Sunday May 22. Engine failure is reported as the cause of the forced landing. The pilot was fortunately unhurt.