Civil Register Update

Five amateur-built aircraft are listed: two constructed in Victoria and one each in New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. EIK is another example of the popular, high-performance, side-by-side two-seat Lancair 320, whilst ZWZ is the nineteenth Long-Eze to fly in Australia. The Long-Eze is a larger development of the Vari-Eze and has taken over from the latter as the most popular Burt Rutan design in Australian skies. MKF is the latest Mark IV version of the American-designed Kitfox on which the Australian Skyfox is based.

WWF is the first Focke-Wulf Fw 190 replica to appear on the VH register, although at least two are flying as ultralights. The Fw 190 is the most popular design from the War Replica stable, an American company specialising in half-scale replicas of famous WWII aircraft. Construction is of wood and polyurethane foam with a laminated fabric and epoxy resin covering. Also available from the same company are scale plans of the Spitfire, Kittyhawk, and Corsair.

The fifth amateur-built machine is Rotorway Exec 90 helicopter TKO. The Exec 90 has really taken off in a big way in Australia, TKO being the sixth of this type to fly since it was introduced in this country only eighteen months ago. Although the Exec 90 is a development of the Executive, none of the earlier versions ever made it onto the register in Australia. Conversely, in New Zealand, seven Executives have been built and are still flying, whilst no Exec 90s have been completed.

Of the six heavier helicopters shown, AEG and AHT are brand-new Robinson R44s, the 45th and 46th off the production line. The 29th aircraft, ARG, was the first to arrive in Australia whilst the 30th machine went to New Zealand. The 26th production aircraft is also known to be in Australia, and we can expect to see many more R44s in local skies in the future.

Kawasaki BK117 BKK was built during 1990 and was operated by Kato Shoji of Asahi Kawagoe and more recently by Air Supply of Makurazaki in Japan before coming to Australia. Jayrow Helicopters of Moorabbin have acquired two more Bells: a JetRanger from Hevi-Lift of Mount Hagen, PNG, and a LongRanger from Chartair of Alice Springs. Both aircraft are now flying with registrations prefixed BL in keeping with other aircraft in the Jayrow fleet. Reef Helicopters of Cairns has bought JetRanger ALV from Anderson Helicopters after Andy Anderson died in a helicopter crash in September last year. In fact, it was ALV that was first reported as the aircraft involved in that crash, however, it was found later to be another machine. Reef Helicopters has re-registered the JetRanger RHL.

Only three imports from the world’s largest GA aircraft manufacturers—Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft—are listed this month and all are second-hand. Cessna Titan JOR was built during 1980 and delivered new to Scenic Airlines of Las Vegas, Nevada. It was part of a large fleet of Titans used by Scenic up to 1986 when the slower but roomier Twin Otter replaced the type on sightseeing flights around the glitzy American city. During 1987, the aircraft crossed the Atlantic to join the RWL Luftfahrt fleet in Mönchengladbach, West Germany, and it was from Germany that Air Swift of Cairns acquired the machine.

Beech Baron MPB is familiar to Australian skies as it was delivered new to Brisbane during 1967, registered RUW, to join the fleet of Union Air, a division of Richard’s Rent-A-Plane of Toowoomba. It moved to PNG during May 1974 where it operated for almost 20 years as P2-RUW. Now back in Australia, it has not taken up its original registration but the personal markings of its owner Mike Price. CFC is a 182Q model Cessna Skylane which has been in Australia for some time. The 182Q was built between 1977 and 1980 and was one of the most popular Skylane models of the almost 19,000 182s produced.

Several aircraft have changed registrations, including Learjet 35A ULT which has become FSW. This is the fourth of five Fleet Support Learjets to be re-registered and it is expected that the fifth aircraft, FOX, will in time become FSV.

Four aircraft are returning to the register this issue: two after long periods off the register, one after a relatively short period, and one after only four days. Extra OOE was listed last month as withdrawn from use and we mentioned that it may be heading for the USA. It appears that our speculation was incorrect, as after only four days off the register it now returns and is the only Extra still flying in Australia.

Robinson HEV was withdrawn from use on April 4, 1991, but is now flying again, whilst Chipmunk WFH has not flown for over 18 years. The Chipmunk first came to Australia during September 1957 when it was registered GAN. It became WFH on June 1, 1962, only to be damaged just over twelve months later on July 14, 1963. It was back in the air four years later but was grounded again during November 1975. After nearly two decades of inactivity, the venerable “Chippy” joins a growing number of the type in Australian skies.

Beech Bonanza FWO was delivered new to this country during November 1968. Twelve years later it was sold to New Caledonia where it was registered F-ODGG and has spent many years with Aviazur at Noumea-Magenta. Whilst it has been away, the callsign FWO has been used by a Dassault Falcon, but as this aircraft has now been reduced to spare parts in the USA, the Bonanza has been able to reuse its original markings on its return to Australia.

Once again, accidents are responsible for a large proportion of deletions this issue, and unfortunately, they resulted in several deaths. Islander JUU dived to the ground after both engines failed soon after takeoff from Weipa, Qld. Six people died in the crash, five of them under 21, including Aurukun Community Chairwoman Alison Wooler’s two young sons and Aurukun’s Police Sergeant’s 17-year-old daughter. This was the second air tragedy involving Aurukun Community-owned aircraft in the last 14 months, as four people died in the crash of a Cessna 206 between Weipa and Aurukun in January last year. To make matters worse, another aircraft that was chartered to transport the bodies from the crash from Weipa to Cairns developed engine problems prior to departure, so the flight was delayed.

The pilot of Pawnee AYB died after his towplane struck a sailplane at Benalla during gliding operations. The glider was also badly damaged and the pilot suffered serious injuries in the accident. The crash of Aztec BOC at Bellenden Ker also claimed four lives. The aircraft slammed into a hill just west of Cairns in bad weather killing all on board.

Ten aircraft have been sold overseas with, as usual, the majority of these going to New Zealand. Winjeel JJG will become the first of its type to be registered in New Zealand and will be an interesting addition to the growing warbird fleet across the Tasman. As reported last issue, Citation LJL is now Kiwi-based and with a couple of strokes of the signwriter’s pen, it has become ZK-LJL. Seneca IEE departed this country on March 17 via Norfolk Island to Auckland and several others followed via the same route during the next two weeks including Cessna 180 CDW, Cessna 206s PRQ and IBI and Twin Comanche KST.

Of the eight aircraft that have been withdrawn from use, two were only registered last month. Both machines, Stinson BPS and Cessna Skywagon ARW, were imported by a company at Riddells Creek, near Melbourne and the owner of the Skywagon is apparently unhappy over the CAA’s decision to change his aircraft’s registration to ARW after originally allocating AAA. Most of the machines listed in this section can be expected to return to the register in the future with the exception of Kavanagh Balloon HLU whose envelope has deteriorated beyond repair.

Three prospective exports appear in the Change of Ownership section this month. Cessna 170 YAR is now owned by Singapore-based interests, Beech Baron HFI has gone to Robert Mathews in Hong Kong and AESL Airtourer MUM is now owned by Brian White of Wellington. Although designed in Australia, Airtourer MUM is a New Zealand-built example that was delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a primary trainer. It flew for many years as NZ1763 before being demobbed and registered ZK-JAX. It came to Australia during May 1993 but after less than a year it seems that it will return to its place of birth soon.

Six Eastwest Airlines BAe 146s are shown in the listing as a result of Eastwest aircraft being consolidated into the Ansett fleet and all these machines are now flying in Ansett livery. Cessna 401 FAX has been acquired by Heli-Muster at Bankstown whilst two DC-3s, SBL and UPQ, are also now resident at Bankstown with Dakota National Air.

There are only a few 1993/94 Australian Aviation Civil Aircraft Registers left now so if you do not have one yet, now is the time to order. This register has been expanded to include ultralights and powered hang gliders (trikes). This is the only publication available that lists registration, type, construction number and owner/operator’s name and address in an easy to read tabulated format. Nearly 10,000 aircraft are listed including those registered with the Civil Aviation Authority, the Australian Ultralight Federation and the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia.