Warbirds

The Cat, Spirit of the Coral Route, was due in New Zealand in January where it was to take up the marking of ZK-PBY. Built by Boeing in Canada it became s/n 9793 with the Royal Canadian Air Force. In later years it has no less than eight civil registrations.

The long trans Pacific ferry flight of single and twin engined aircraft has always had a risk element involved as shown in the loss of the Spirit of the Coral Route. The loss of the Kiwi Catalina is a major loss to all warbird enthusiasts.

Dove Crash

December 3 saw the unfortunate demise of Rudge Air De Havilland DH-104 Dove, VH-DHD, in a takeoff accident at Melbourne’s Essendon Airport.

The aircraft had just lifted off from runway 17 when it came down on houses in a nearby street. There were some injuries but no deaths among the occupants; pilot, Ted Rudge, the hostess and eight passengers; on board the scenic dinner flight. Two residents living in the houses sustained minor injuries.

A preliminary report issued by the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) said that after the right engine suffered a loss of power. The pilot increased power to the left engine and retracted the undercarriage but was unable to stop the aircraft descending. It then collided with the houses. The Dove was destroyed by impact forces. There was no fire. Aviation Industry sources have commented favourably on the solid structure of the Dove and that this helped prevent more serious injury or death to the occupants.

It was pleasing to note that the Rudge Air scenic dinner flights resumed shortly after the accident. The company reported good forward bookings indicating continued public confidence in the company and the service.

Lockheed Lodestar to New Zealand

Australia’s loss is New Zealand’s gain and we are not talking about cricket.

When Classic Aviation recently put the Lockheed 18-56 Lodestar, VH-XUS, on the market there were enquiries from a number of possible buyers. The outcome of the sale was that the Lockheed was sold in New Zealand to Gerald Rhodes. The aircraft was noted at Brisbane on November 19 and flew via Norfolk Island and Auckland. It arrived at Wanaka, NZ, on December 2. Bruce Simpson was the ferry pilot. It is understood that the twin tailed Lockheed is to be based at Wanaka. The New Zealand registration is as yet unknown.

With construction number 2388 and previous identities N56LH, XA-SAX, N17615 and 42-55951 the Lodestar was put on the Australian civil register on October 2 1992. The machine had flown here for some time under the American registration N56LH. It is not a stranger to New Zealand having flown there in order to be at the Easter 1992 Warbirds over Wanaka airshow. Enroute to New Zealand one engine developed problems and the aircraft made a one engined arrival. It did not get to Wanaka that time.

Operated by a syndicate when in Australia the Lockheed was used as transport by the members and often carried them to airshows where the machine was then displayed both on the ground and in the air. The nose art of a sprinting chook with the words ‘Flew the Coop’, a reference to its use and days in Mexico when it served as a chicken coop, made the big twin an even more interesting airshow circuit aircraft.

For those wanting to see the Lodestar again a visit to the 1994 Warbirds over Wanaka airshow would be in order. Contact Torii Tours (02) 233 6500 for further particulars. It would appear that Wanaka is THE place to visit in New Zealand anytime to see a great selection of warbirds. (Refer our New Zealand News section for additional Wanaka news.

For those that like numbers the Lodestar had a total time of some 3350 hours at the time of sale. The aircraft had 14 seats complete with toilet, executive interior, was IFR and had a GPS installed. It had a cruise speed of 170kt (315kmh) at 80 gallons per hour and a 1000nm (1853km) range. One could say that the aircraft could not have gone to a nicer home.

North American Aviation News

Following on the news of recent Trojan activity in the last issue of Warbirds (refer p52 Dec 93 AA) we learn of yet another of the type being registered.

On September 30 NA T-28D Trojan VH-PFM was put on the register to F (Bill) Pike of Mascot, Sydney. Originally built as a T-28A the machine was later converted to be a T-28D. Starting out with USAF serial 51-3588 it later served in the Royal Laotian Air Force as number 3405. Recovered by Col Pay in 1988 the aircraft was purchased by Bill Pike and has been slowly rebuilt over the years. The registration VH-WPA was originally reserved for the aircraft but this was not taken up and instead the marking VH-PFM was used.

Another North American machine that is in the news is the SNJ-5 Texan, VH-USN. This aircraft was the mount of George Markey. Recently the Texan changed hands and is now owned by Dr Michael Redmond of Brisbane.

Western Australia now has two more Harvards, both of which were built in Canada. The first is a NAT-6J built around 1952 by the Canadian Car & Foundry Co as a Harvard Mk. 4. This ended up with the Italian Air Force as s/n MM53652. Following IAF service the machine was shipped to the UK in 1981 and eventually obtained by Peter Croser of Mount Eliza, Vic, by the mid sixties. In December the aircraft was trucked to Perth where it will be rebuilt by Rob Poynton at Jandakot at his Panama Jacks Aircraft Service.

The second Harvard to go west is a well travelled machine. Built by Noorduyn Aircraft in Canada with construction number 14A-1106 it was allocated USAAC s/n 43-12807. Transferred to the RAF it took up RAF s/n FS966 and was initially operated by the RAF in Canada and then by the Royal Canadian Air Force as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme. After the war the RCAF took the aircraft back on charge but in 1946 it was sold to the Royal Swedish Air Force with whom it took up serial Fv16077. After retirement the machine was stored by the Royal Swedish Air Force Museum.

Enter the Australian connection. The Swedes wanted a Wirraway hulk to help in the building of a replica NA-16 to represent one of those built prewar under licence by Saab for the Swedish Air Force as an SK. 14. A suitable hulk was obtained from Pearce Dunn’s Warbirds Air Museum at Mildura in exchange for Harvard Fv16077. The Harvard arrived at Mildura in 1982. Over the years Pearce had the machine rebuilt and it is basically complete except for the electrics, the hydraulics and the paperwork.

Recently Pearce opted to part with the Harvard and concentrate on the construction of a replica Fieseler Storch aircraft. Sources report that the aircraft was transported to WA by road in August and at last count was also in the Panama Jacks hangar at Jandakot. The civil aircraft register records that on the November 5 the well travelled Harvard was registered as VH-JHP to John H Poynton of Perth.

To close off North American news we ask the question did you go to the Wagga Air Show on October 31? Aside from being a good airshow there was a lot of interesting aircraft and the RAAF School of Technical Training was open for inspec- tion. The most interesting aircraft had to be the nine Trojans present, the most yet at any Australian flying event. Registrations were VH-XVT, NAW, SHT, AVC, CIA, DPT, DUK, LAO and MEO. Five Harvards were also present: VH-USR, CRC, SFY, SNJ and XNZ. Enough aircraft to make up a small air force.

Cessna C-34 Airmaster Re-Engined – Again!

to the air after a complete rebuild. 1993 saw Cessna C-34, VH-UYG, (previously VH-KWM) take Owned by Cairns resident, Kim Ryan, the aircraft had not flown for some years before Kim purchased it. During the rebuild the Warner Scarab radial engine was replaced by a 220hp Continental W670 radial engine giving greater power and better parts availability. The re-engined aircraft was test flown by John Jones who reported that it climbed like a homesick angel.

After months of discussion the CAA decided that it was unable to issue the aircraft with a certificate of airworthiness, apparently due to the larger engine and the effects that it had on the aircraft. Kim then managed to obtain another Warner aircraft back to manufacturers specifications the aircraft, the Scarab engine and had this installed in the Airmaster. With the oldest Cessna in Australia, took to the air on January 7 1994, with John Jones once again as test pilot. Good work guys.

Now there are two C-37 Airmasters and one C-34 flying in Australia.

West Australian Sea Fury Move

Mid October saw Rob Poynton’s Sea Fury moving – on the road to Jandakot airport from the old WWII air force base at where it had been stored for some time. The former Iraqi Air Force fighter is now in the Panama Jack’s Aircraft Service hangar at Jandakot to have the work completed that will be required to get the aircraft back into the air. To be registered as VH-ISS the fighter had previously had the marking of VH-HFR reserved for it and before that it had the marking N54SF held for its use in the USA. When in Iraqi service it carried serial 249.

The road journey from Cunderdin was not without its moments. Car drivers astounded by the sight of the big fighter being transported across country obviously had a hard time controlling their vehicles. One car actually went of the road and overturned while another hit the aircraft and caused some damage. It is understood that both cars came off second best. Perhaps the Sea Fury should wear a couple of car “kill” symbols painted below the cockpit canopy.

In a like exercise in Poland recently a MiG-21 was being towed by road to the Rakowice Air and Space Museum near Krakow. A wingtip on the MIG was hit and damaged by a seven ton truck and this was followed by a small van that lost its roof as the driver tried to pass underneath the jet fighter’s wing All of this would seem to confirm that it is more dangerous getting to the airport than actually flying.

Ornithopter to Moorabbin Air Museum

A new acquisition by the Moorabbin Air Museum is a man powered aircraft, the Koltai Ornithopter. This man powered flapping wing aircraft was built in the late seventies by a GAF engineer, a Mr Koltai. With a span of 11. 3m (37ft) the machine is well designed and constructed. The craft works on the principle of a rowing machine and is believed to have success- fully ‘hopped. Mr Koltai has since passed away and the machine was donated to the museum by his family. In the last few months the museum has also obtained several other noteworthy aircraft. A GAF Mirage III, A3-45, has been obtained on permanent loan from Aerospace Technologies of Australia. The former 77 and 79 squadron fighter was retired in 1986 and ended up with ASTA at Avalon (refer pic p74 Dec 92 AA). Following an approach to ASTÀ the decision was made to place it on permanent loan to the museum.

Auster JIB, VH-ACY, is now also on display at the museum. Recently restored to as new condition, the aircraft is destined for display in the historic Lord Casey hangar that the museum will erect early this year.

Another locally built aircraft to be obtained by the museum is Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Boomerang A46-25. Acquired from Hawker De Havilland Victoria the WWII fighter was donated to the museum under the Taxation for the Arts scheme. The aircraft consists of an excellent fuselage and many components. The museum also holds a stock of Boomerang parts that will be used to build up the aircraft. Initially the Boomerang will be displayed as received but the long term plan is to completely rebuild it.

It pays to advertise. Last year the museum made mention in the Warbirds column that it needed parts for its Jindivik WRE-601. As a result Messers Mark Pike and Graham Matthews of ASTA made contact with the museum as ASTA was about to scrap a quantity of Mk. 1, 2 and 3 Jindivik parts which were surplus to requirements. The end result was that the Jindivik went from being about 60% complete to 95% complete.

The museum directors were keen to pass their thanks to both ASTA and Australian Aviation for their assistance in this matter. On the subject of needed hardware the museum is still seeking a Fuji Robin, Rotax or Huntington-Field engine for its Ultra-light Aircraft Industries Wombat aircraft. The engine needs only to be externally complete and does not need to be serviceable. Can any reader help? This is a good point to note that news is most welcome from all Australian air museums. Acquisitions, displays, swaps and staff changes are typical of the sort of news that all readers find of interest and hence are good publicity. YAK-52 FIRST FLIGHT Yak-52, VH-YAK (1) on November 20. Noaralunga airfield, south of Adelaide, saw the first flight of The test pilot was Geoff Cramp who had travelled from Canberra to fly the aircraft. Geoff has a lot of time in the Chinese Nanchang CJ-6 which is a licence built derivative of that the high power to weight ratio and the short frieze the Yak type. Geoff reports that the Yak flew beautifully and ailerons gave it excellent rolling characteristics.

Registered as VH-YAK on August 2 the two seater was built in Russia in 1988 and had a total of only 260 hours when purchased by owner Ivor Paech of Christies Beach, SA. The engine is a nine cylinder Ivchenko 14P radial of 360hp and drives a constant speed paddle blade prop. All systems includ- ing starter, undercart, flap retraction and braking are air operated from an onboard tank that is replenished from an American aircraft systems. The undercarriage retracts driven compressor. A marked contrast with the typical ward and remains partially exposed beneath the wing to cushion the underneath of the fuselage in the event of a gear up landing.

It is of note that the Yak has only a 120 litre fuel tank thus giving a reasonably short range. There is no baggage compartment in the aircraft. Both features reinforce the air force aircraft he also obtained a spare overhauled engine and trainer background of the type. When Ivor purchased the translated copies of the handling notes and maintenance manuals. The CAA has always been keen to see translated copies of manuals and the like from non english speaking held up more than one certification in the past. aircraft manufacturers. The lack of translated paperwork has CJ-6 and reports that they are very similar, although the Yak Geoff Cramp has now flown both the Yak and the Nanchang has more power.

A Note From Overseas

During WWII an airborne supply route from India to China, over the very high Himalayan mountains, was established due to the Japanese effectively ruling the Sea of Japan and preventing the movement of supplies to China by sea. Not only were the mountains high but also very rugged and hostile. A number of aircraft and crews flying the supply route, that came to be known as the ‘Hump’, were lost due to weather and mechanical problems. A number of the crews were never recovered.

Recently hunters found the remains of three WWII USAAC aircrew on a glacier in a remote part of Tibet. With the remains were a flightlog and mess bills dated November 1943. The bodies were handed over by the Chinese to USAF representa- tives and were later taken to Hawaii for formal identification. This was the first time that the Chinese had handed over WWII war dead to the Americans and as such marks a new era in cooperation on such matters.

VH-BOM, has been paint stripped and repainted. A big task but it is reported that the aircraft now looks better than ever. After the Boomerang is completed the Fiat G. 59-4B, VH-LIX, will be paint stripped and repainted in a WWII Italian desert colour scheme. Both aircraft will be worth looking out for during 1994.

The Americans have long had a policy of taking their war dead back to the America. The Americans are now working with the Chinese to recover the remains of two crew members of a US Navy aircraft that in 1967 strayed over the border and crashed in southern China during the Vietnam war. This cooperation would seem to mark a new point in American/ Chinese relations.

Melbourne Moomba Airshow

The reasons why people do not want airports in their area. In Queensland the Queensland Vintage Aeroplane Group (QVAG) has established its own airfield at Watts Bridge, basically for antique and classic aircraft. The QVAG newslet- ter reports that around the time the idea of the field was first made public the police found that an objector had a nice crop of dope under cultivation. It appeared that the gentleman in question was most concerned that the flying activity would to Sunday March 13 is the date to note on your calendar in order to be in Melbourne for the Moomba Airshow at Point. Cook RAAF base. Under the motto of ‘Lets get together and have fun’ the annual Moomba Festival has sanctioned the Airshow as part of the Moomba events programme. The Airshow, which will celebrate 80 years of Military Aviation in Australia, will feature Military aircraft as well as ex-Military and Historic aircraft. Aircraft from the RAAF Museum will be flown and the recently relocated RAAF Museum aircraft display will be open for inspection.

Visitors to the Airshow can expect to see Mustangs, Harvards, T-28 Trojans, a Hudson, Lockheed Ventura and Boomerang in the air as well as Guido Zuccoli’s Fiat G-59, a Sabre, PC-9 and the Grumman Tracker from the Navys His Flight.

Avro Anson VH-BAF will make its last public display before going overseas to new owners. Other possible air display aircraft are the civil Vampire VH-ZVZ, a Cessna A-37 Dragonfly and a MiG-21. A spokesperson for the Airshow advised that the inclusion of the last three aircraft was dependent on final certification paperwork approval.

All in all the Moomba Airshow looks like being an event warbird enthusiasts should not miss.

In Brief

Wanaka’s Alpine Fighter collection has recovered the wrecks of three Hurricanes, three Messerschmitt 110s and two Ju 87 Stukas. It is hoped that one of each type can be rebuilt to fly again (refer New Zealand News elsewhere this issue).

• Wanaka in New Zealand continues to grow at a rate out of all proportion to any similar venture. Not only is the former Australian Lodestar to be based there but the airfield will also be the base for a MiG-15, a P-51D Mustang and a Yak-3. The Kiwis are already promising that there will be not one but two Spitfires at the Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow this coming Easter. And all of this comes on top of the other interesting and exciting Warbirds that have appeared in the past and are known to be returning for the 1994 event.

• At Toowoomba, Qld. Guido Zuccoli’s CAC Boomerang, lead to his crop being spotted from the air and thus was keen Sometimes one has to have a quiet chuckle about our American friends. A recent television special on the mysteri- ous 1937 disappearance of American flyer Amelia Earhart however that was overlooked. The map used to illustrate the had spared no expense in production. There was one thing departure point had Lae spelt as Lea! stop the aerodrome before it started.

• On another like note an American write up on the former Ansett flying boats, one of which is now owned by Kermit the “Sandringham”. Weeks, had the Short Sandringham aircraft repeatedly titled • The Caloundra based Queensland Air Museum has managed to obtain a large section of a very significant Australian airliner in the form of the nose of Vickers 756 Viscount, VH-TVJ. The aircraft made its first flight in June 1956 and when it was retired in late 1968 it had flown nearly 29,000 hours. It was operated by Trans Australia Airlines. When scrapped at Eagle Farm airport, Qld, the nose section was salvaged and was put on display at several museums before being obtained by the QAM in October 1993 and trucked to Caloundra for eventual display • It had to happen! In America the Fisher Ultralight people have started to produce a replica of the famous DH-82 Tiger Moth. Photos show an aircraft that looks just like a Tiger except that it got caught in a rain shower and shrank in size. So if you are unable to afford the real thing. . . . LAST BUT NOT LEAST The start of 1994 marks the twelfth year of the Warbirds column in Australian Aviation. Over the years the column has continued to be a clearing house for news on Warbirds and Air Museums as well as Antique and Classic aircraft here in Australia. This aim will be continued in the future.

This is a big country and a lot of things happen in a lot of places so need we say that if you, the reader, become aware of any news that is applicable to the column we would be pleased to hear from you. Just drop a line to Warbirds c/o Australian Aviation, PO Box 3105, Weston Creek, ACT 2611, and share your knowledge with other like minded readers and enthusiasts.