Warbirds

At last count the other two Iskras were still for sale at $US50,000 ex Perth. Serial numbers are 1H0705 and 1H0728. Inspection by appointment. Arek Zoltowski of Arrow Crest Equities can be contacted at Perth (09) 448 8010.

The tandem seat TS-11 is a Polish designed and built trainer powered by a 1760-1980lb (7.8 to 8.9kN) thrust turbojet of indigenous design. The first flight of the type was made on February 5, 1960. Quantity deliveries of the sleek looking aircraft commenced in early 1964. In recent years a number of the machines have come on the surplus market with some finding their way to the USA and Australia.

With the number of MiGs of various models in Australia taking the spotlight other jet trainers and fighters have been somewhat pushed to one side. With five TS-11 Iskras now in this country, and one flying, it is probable that the other non-MiG types will gain more publicity and soon be seen in the air more often.

Sydney Aircraft Auction Results

Sunday May 29 saw another aircraft auction but this time the main theme was Vintage, Collectable and warbird aircraft. Held by Pickles Auctions at the Bankstown airport hangar of Banninkare (the old Aero Club of NSW hangar) the auction commenced at 12 noon.

Of the vintage and warbird aircraft Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, VH-LPZ, did not reach its reserve of $47,000 and was not sold. Auster Mk.III, VH-BDM, had bids as high as $32,000 but it too did not reach its reserve and was passed in. Stinson 108-3, VH-NWK, was sold for $40,000. DH82a Tiger Moth, VH-HCI, sold for $61,000 although it was advised that this was below the reserve initially set. DH104 Dove, VH-OBI, did not attract any bids but Moorabbin airport based DH Dove, VH-DVE, had one bid of $90,000 and it too was passed in as below reserve.

Of the warbirds, Strikemaster Mk.84, VH-AKY, got only one bid of $200,000, and this was knocked back as below the reserve. Winjeel, VH-WHZ, also got passed in as below the reserve although the highest bid went to $100,000. Beech Staggerwing VH-UXP, DH87B Hornet Moth VH-UVV, and a T6-24 Airtrainer were all withdrawn prior to the auction. The odd spot of the day was a DH Tiger Moth prop that went for a mere $525.

The auction may not have seen many aircraft change hands but it did give an indication of the sort of prices that owners regard their aircraft are worth. No doubt some of the aircraft passed in would be the subject of post auction negotiations.

More First Flights

Perhaps it is a sign of the times but the last few months have seen several post overhaul first flights of interest. In addition to the flight of the TS-11 Iskra VH-ADG mentioned above, on May 28 the first of the ex-RNZAF BAC 167 Strikemasters VH-AGI/NZ6362, took to the air for the first time. The aircraft was flown by Flt Lt Mark Scott, a serving RAAF officer. Mark had flown the Strikemaster while on exchange to the RNZAF. The overhaul of the aircraft was carried out by Winrye Aviation of Bankstown. Owned by Neville Hyder of Busselton, WA the aircraft was registered on September 9, 1993. The original Kiwi colour scheme has been left essentially untouched. It is understood that the aircraft will be based on the old WWII airstrip at Busselton, making it the first warbird jet for Western Australia.

Another first flight took place on Thursday June 16 when Cessna A-37B Dragonfly VH-XVA/68-10779, made its first post-restoration flight from Bankstown. This brings to two the number of Cessna A-37Bs now flying in Australia. The other machine is VH-DLO which first flew on May 1, 1992. VH-XVA is owned by Dr Michael Silva of Sydney.

Several other Cessna A-37Bs are in storage or under restoration in Australia. Another aircraft, ZK-ITL/71-0854, is now flying in New Zealand. All the Cessna A-37Bs were recovered from Vietnam where they once saw service with the VNAF, the South Vietnamese Air Force. Another aircraft soon to make its first flight from Bankstown is MiG-15/SBLIM-2, VH-NZM. Once it has been checked out the machine will then be crated and shipped across to New Zealand where it will take up the marking ZK-NZM. Full marks if you reasoned that the registration probably stands for New Zealand MiG!

Air Museum Survey

Recently the results of what is probably the first organised survey of air museums in the Asian Pacific region were released and they make for interesting reading. The survey was undertaken by Ms Dijana Alic and Associate Professor Dr Peter Oppenheim of the University of New South Wales in order to find out information on many aspects of aviation museum policy, structure and buildings. Professor Oppenheim was researching this topic in part to set up a series of Certificate Courses in Aviation Museology.

A five page questionnaire was sent to 54 aviation museums and aviation collections in all states and territories of Australia as well as eight in New Zealand and one in Papua New Guinea. A total of 45 useful replies or 88% of those surveyed responded. Some were most interesting. 84% of the museums surveyed were open to the general public on a regular basis. 57% of those surveyed had been open between one to 20 years. Just over 57% of the museums were open to the public on a daily basis while 5.8% were only open by prior arrangement. There was a varied response about visitor numbers, 23% indicating their numbers were falling while 70% said numbers were increasing. There was no clear pattern or reason to predict falling visitor numbers at those museums that noted falling attendances. Most interesting was the total number of visitors of the 30 museums and collections that advised visitor figures. There were a total of 3,733,530 visitors who passed through their doors in the year 1992-1993. This figure does not include the three largest organisations in the region which are not exclusively aviation museums. The AWM accounted for 800,000 visitors while the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney accounted for 1,000,000 and the Auckland War Memorial Museum for 750,000.

Nearly 40% of the museums claimed to be trying to make a profit while 60% were not. 65% of all the museums charged admission. Financial support of some measure was received by 62% of the respondents. Most organisations surveyed considered funding and finances or lack of to be their greatest ongoing concern. It was interesting to note the figures for the number of personnel employed in running individual museums in various roles. 26% were one person operations. 46% had between one and 10 employees while 28% had between 15 and 80. The survey went on to note that there are some 700 public aviation/aerospace museums and collections around the world at this time. Few, however, are housed in structures of any particular quality. A lot are in buildings that are basically a large span building whether purpose built or adapted from an existing structure.

While a full recount of the survey summary is beyond the space of this column the survey did make one very important observation – To survive and prosper an aviation museum must give the public what they want. In this exchange both get what they want, the visitor is entertained and educated and is satisfied enough to make the all important return visit and the museum increases its through put of visitors and working revenues. Smart informative displays, good restorations and well designed and functioning buildings require a great deal of imagination, ingenuity, hard work and dedication. Any reader who has ever been through an aviation museum will no doubt agree with the survey statement above.

Aeronautica Collector Museum

Around Australia there are any number of collectors of what is usually described as aeronautica; collections of aviation memorabilia, instruments, propellers, uniforms, engines, photos, parts of aircraft and the like. Usually these collectors are left in the shadows while the owners and operators of aircraft, be they flying or static in museums, take the limelight. In a lot of cases the collectors are frustrated small museum operators although to be fair most just collect as an aviation related hobby. Sometimes aeronautica collectors go beyond having a collection just for their own satisfaction and decide to open up a small public museum.

One such collector of aeronautica is Noel Ewers of Mona Vale, an outer Sydney suburb. Noel has been collecting for a number of years and since he retired has now opened up his display for public inspection. Entitled ‘Armadillo’ Private Army Museum, the display is open seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm. There is no entry fee. Donations of memorabilia are most welcome.

The museum has a wide ranging collection of memorabilia. There are instruments, gunsights, flying gear and control columns. Several engines are on display as well as ejection seats, instrument panels and more than 20 figures dressed in military various uniforms. More than 80 flying helmets and oxygen masks are on view. Relics from several military aircraft crashes have been gathered, while 300 plus model aircraft hang from the roof of the 6m x 9m (20 x 30ft) museum building or are dispersed between the various displays.

The Armadillo Private Army Museum is situated at 5 Hunter Street North, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Inspection by groups or individuals is welcome. Contact Noel Ewers on (02) 992 662 to arrange a visit.

Wirraway Notes

There are a number of CAC Wirraway rebuilt projects underway around the country. Some are progressing at a good speed while others may never again have air under their wings. And indeed wings seem to be the biggest problem with the type in that while the fuselages and engines can be found there is not an overabundance of wings to be had.

Three projects have been noted as moving ahead. At Bankstown the Classic hangar has Wirraway A20-458 very close to being completed and flown. This aircraft is painted up as A20-719, a machine that one of the owners once flew. The marking VH-WRX has been reserved for it. Further north, at Caboolture, Qld two Wirraways are being rebuilt by Sandora Pty Ltd. One aircraft is A20-695 owned by the Mustang Fighter Trust. The second machine is A20-81 although it will carry the marking A20-176. This aircraft is owned by Wirraway Pty Ltd.

Hurricane Wreck Recovered

The remains of a Hurricane flown by an RAF pilot now living in Sydney are to be moved from France to England to undergo restoration, at least to static condition. Pilot Officer Kenneth McGlashan was shot down in May 1940 over Dunkirk in his Gloster Aircraft built Hawker Hurricane 1, serial number P2902. He abandoned the aircraft on the beach and made his escape back to England where he was reunited with his squadron, 245 Sqdn RAF, and flew in the Battle of Britain.

Fifty years later low tides and high winds revealed the remains of the aircraft which were exhumed and recovered by a Belgian aviation archaeological group and were taken to a museum near Dunkirk. The aircraft is surprisingly intact and still bears the marks of cannon shells left by attacking Bf 109s. It is now to be moved to Colchester in Essex where it will be restored by Charleston Aviation Services for eventual display.

Kenneth McGlashan now lives in Collaroy Plateau on Sydney’s northern beaches, a world away from the aircraft that he never thought would ever be seen again. Update: As of 2026, Hurricane P2902 has successfully returned to the skies. After a extensive 25,000 hour restoration by Hawker Restorations in the UK, it made its first flight in June 2017 and is currently a regular performer at UK airshows, such as the Shuttleworth Military Air Show in 2025.

Briefs

A recent report in this column made mention of three interstate coaches turning up for the March Point Cook Air Show only to find that it had been cancelled. While the original information was received from a normally reliable source further checking has revealed that the coach arrivals did not in fact take place. The error is regretted.

In March the South Australian Historical Aviation Museum moved from the old flour mill at Port Adelaide into a WWII hangar on Ocean Steamers Rd. The 2200m2 hangar was used in Darwin during WWII and was dismantled and brought to Port Adelaide just after the war. Aircraft in the museum’s collection include Anson EF954 Sea Venom WZ931, Winjeel A85-430, C-47 Dakota A65-114, Aero 145 VH-WWC, Aero 45 VH-WWH, Chipmunk fuselage VH-UEK, Aero Commander VH-PSG, Fairey Battle N2188, Ikara missile TN304, Meteor A77-851, Sheppard CS-2 Fokker Triplane replica, Hornet Ultralite and a Rhon Ranger glider. The museum also has a good collection of aero engines.

The impossible does happen! During April a man was going for a ride in a Jet Provost being flown by his brother. During a loop, near Colchester, in the southeast of England the passenger found that his seat had become separated from the cockpit, smashed the canopy and fell out. The passenger managed to get rid of the seat, open his parachute, and land with minor injuries. Amazing but true.

Remember the CallAir cropduster? Built at Afton Wyoming, in the USA, the model A9A and B-1 cropdusters came to Australia. A few A9As still fly here. Before the A9 series there was also a line of 2-3 seat passenger carrying versions. None came here. In the USA there is now a CallAir Club that is a focal point for owners, rebuilders pilots and interested parties. Over June 24-25 the second annual CallAir Fly-In was held at the CallAir Foundation hangar and museum at Afton. After CallAir ceased production in the US the Pitts Special and later the Avid Husky were built in the old CallAir factory.