Warbirds

Still in NSW, de Havilland DH115 Sea Vampire T.Mk 22, XG766, was transported by road from Archerfield, Qld to Tamair at Tamworth, NSW on April 13 for new owner Paul Brederik and a rebuild to flying status. Built for the Royal Navy this aircraft became one of four of the type transferred to the RAN in August 1959. In RAN service it carried the code 808/NW and later 874/NW. The British serial was retained in RAN service. Disposed of on March 23, 1972, it went to the Chewing Gum Field Aviation Museum in Queensland. During the late 1980s the museum closed and the collection was dispersed with the Sea Vampire going first to Kim Rolph-Smith of Brisbane and later to Ian Aviation of Bankstown, although the aircraft stayed at Archerfield.

At Bankstown Dr Michael Silva’s Cessna A-37B Dragonfly, VH-XVA, is ready to fly and only requires CAA approval of the paperwork. Previously s/n 68-10779 with the South Vietnamese Air Force the aircraft was at last count still in natural metal finish and was to be flown before it had a Vietnamese paint scheme applied. The Cessna jet was overhauled by Classic Aviation at Bankstown. When this machine gets into the air it will join A-37B, VH-DLO that first flew on May 1, 1992, following overhaul. VH-DLO was previously 68-10805 with the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF).

Western Warbirds Imports Texans

In Western Australia there has not been as much warbird action as along the eastern coastline but all that is about to change and change in a big way. At Perth a new firm, Western Warbirds, has become involved in importing warbirds with the first group of eight aircraft on the water and due at Jandakot at the end of June. Operated by Dave Saunders, Western Warbirds located the aircraft, all North American Texans, in the USA and quickly had them packed and on a ship bound for Australia. The Texans were last operated by the El Salvador Air Force and after arrival in the USA were given American registrations. The aircraft will need overhaul prior to going back into the air but with most or all of the machines having been sold already this will allow the new owners to really get to know their purchases.

Dave Saunders, who has been involved with the aviation industry for some years, indicated that the recent Tasmanian Air Races had a lot to do with the Texans being snapped up. It is understood that a number of the aircraft will be rebuilt in time for the 1995 races as the owners are keen to participate. Of the eight aircraft being imported, airframe hours range from 3292 to 9670 hours with an average of just over 5000. For those owners who want their machine overhauled before they take delivery of it Saunders has been able to arrange for the work to be carried out at Rob Poynton’s Panama Jacks Vintage Aircraft Company at Jandakot. Rob Poynton has built up a very good working knowledge of the type having just rebuilt his own T-6 and is working on several others.

Details of the Texans being imported are as follows: North American AT-6, N3171A, s/n 7040, ex ESAF 102. AT-6, N3171H, s/n 41-2223, ex ESAF 107. AT-6, N3171K, s/n 41-2227, ex ESAF 108. AT-6, N3171N, s/n 7500, ex ESAF 109. T-6G, N3172M, s/n 41-7233, ex ESAF 147. AT-6, N3172N, s/n 41-7210, ex ESAF 111. AT-6, N61167, s/n 7095, ex ESAF 103. AT-6, N6069H, s/n 7094, ex ESAF 106.

Western Warbirds is now looking at other types for import and sale in Australia. Types being looked at or acquired include Yak-11, T-34 and T-28 aircraft.

Narromine Warbirds Meeting

The Anzac weekend warbird fly-in at Narromine, NSW, was a great success. Perfect weather attracted over 20 warbirds and a significantly larger number of modern aircraft, from Austers to a Citation, bringing spectators. Most of the Col Pay and Guido Zuccoli stables flew in to join the busy circuit of Harvards, Trojans, Winjeels and David Lowy’s ex Vietnam Air Force Cessna A-37B Dragonfly attack jet, VH-DLO, giving buddy rides. Veteran round engine pilot Captain Jack Curtis brought a full load of enthusiasts from Sydney in a Dakota National Air DC-3. Such was the informality of the occasion that Jack was seen later becoming airborne in the freshly repainted Zuccoli Boomerang fighter during a break in DC-3 joyrides!

Aircraft Written Off in Accidents

The months of April and May saw the destruction of two older aircraft, both as a result of engine failure after takeoff. Sunday April 24 saw Douglas DC-3, VH-EDC, takeoff from runway 16 at Mascot, NSW, when the port engine failed. The aircraft was ditched in Botany Bay. Before it sank all 25 people on board the machine were rescued by local fisherman in boats. The flight attendant suffered injuries and others received cuts and abrasions. The aircraft, owned by South Pacific Airmotive and being flown by Captain Rod Lovell, was on a flight from Sydney to Norfolk Island via Lord Howe. The aircraft was later recovered intact for technical investigation by the Bureau of Air Safety. By mid May the machine was reported to have been transported to Camden but is unlikely to be put back in the air.

In the second accident DH Tiger Moth, VH-UNA, was destroyed in a crash at Luskintyre, NSW, on Sunday May 1. The aircraft was being flown by owner Bob Copas and had wingwalker Lace Maxwell in a safety harness and frame mounted above the fuel tank. Shortly after takeoff the engine lost power. The aircraft stalled and spun into the ground. The Tiger Moth was destroyed by impact and fire. The two occupants died as a result of the accident. It is possible that this accident will result in a ban on the use of Tiger Moths being used for wing walking displays in Australia.

AAAA Fly-in a Success

The 1994 National Antique Aircraft Fly-In held by the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia (AAAA) was a great success reports AAAA President, Mr Dick Gower. Held at Kyabram, in northern Victoria, over the Anzac holiday weekend in April, the two day event attracted over 100 aircraft including more than 60 antique, classic and contemporary types. While there were plenty of Tiger Moths and Austers there were also Chipmunks, Winjeels, Harvards and several Piper J3 Cubs as well as a rare Taylor J2 Cub. The Cessna company was represented by a pair of 140s, a pair of 170s and the C195, VH-KES, entitled ‘Executive Sweet’ plus an L-19 Bird Dog.

Other interesting and unusual types present included: a Jacobs powered Avro Cadet; Bellanca 14-13-2; a Ryan STM in prewar Dutch markings and a Ryan PT-22 in WWII era USAAC colour scheme; a Beagle A109 Airedale; Stampe Biplane; Forney Aircoupe; DH104 Dove; four Luscombes; a Champion Tri-Traveller; Boeing Stearman; several Stinson 108s; and a Yak-52 as well as a single seat tailwheel equipped Yak-50. The Concours trophy was awarded to Tony Green of Sydney for his immaculate polished metal finish Globe GC1B Swift, VH-XTG.

South Pacific Aircraft Wrecks

The remains of aircraft wrecks continue to turn up nearly half a century after the war. In January the wreckage of a WWII PBY Catalina was discovered on a remote ridge on the Vanuatu island of Espiritu Santo. At the crash site bombs, machine guns, cutlery, ammunition, oxygen cylinders and crew remains were found. In May the wreck of an aircraft thought to be a WWII P-39 Airacobra was found in five metres of water some 50km northwest of Noumea. Divers who found the wreck reported that the remains of the pilot were still in the cockpit.

Boomerang Rebuild on Offer

At present there is one CAC Boomerang fighter flying in Australia with another two substantially complete and being rebuilt to fly again. One of the two rebuilds is owned by Matthew Denning of Queensland. His aircraft, A46-122/VH-MHR, is now to the stage where it is on its undercarriage and is clearly on the way to being completed. Matthew recently acquired some more Boomerang fuselage frames and associated components from the Oakey region of Queensland. Matthew is interested in hearing from serious potential Boomerang owners on the basis that he would rebuild the aircraft for them.

RAN Fairey Gannets – The Survivors

During the period from October 1955 through to late 1969 the Royal Australian Navy operated the UK built Fairey Gannet in the carrier borne anti submarine role. A total of 36 of the type were taken on charge. Only four survived to be preserved. Today Gannets can be seen at several locations. At the RAN Australian Naval Aviation Museum at Nowra, NSW, Gannet AS-4, XA434, is on display. At the Camden Aviation Museum at Narellan, Gannet AS-1, XA334, can be seen. At Moorabbin Airport, the Moorabbin Air Museum has Gannet AS-4, XG789. Last but not least is Gannet AS-1, XA331, at the Queensland Air Museum (QAM) at Caloundra.

Warbird Nose Art to Take Home

Artist Ben Saunders has created a number of nose art panels that look just like they have been cut from a portion of the fuselage or nose of a WWII warbird. The panels have all the rivets and patches of a typical aircraft skin. Prices vary from panel to panel but are typically around $300 each for a section of around one metre square.

Widgeon Flies North

Australia’s only remaining Grumman Widgeon amphibian has been sold to Papua New Guinea. VH-WET departed Cairns on April 19 bound for Rabaul, flown by legendary flying boat skipper Bryan McCook. This Widgeon came from New Zealand to Cairns seven years ago and was operated by Coral Wings. It has been sold to Pacific New Guinea Lines, a Rabaul shipping company.

In Brief

Unusual resident of Mackay, Queensland, for the past few years is the ex-RAF De Havilland Devon VH-EOB. Sydney DC-3 passenger operator, Dakota National Air, acquired two former Papua New Guinea Defence C-47s, P2-001 and P2-004, last year. P2-004 reportedly soon to become VH-DNA. CAC Wirraway VH-WRX is close to flying. Although carrying serial A20-458 the aircraft is in fact A20-719. In early May Vietnam celebrated the 40th anniversary of its victory at Dien Bien Phu. One photo showed the bullet-ridden propeller of a Grumman Bearcat.