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New Zealand bound MiG-15UTI VH-NZM parked outside Winrye Aviation at Bankstown, freshly painted in Soviet air force markings.
Warbirds
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Jets Now Flying
Since warbirds began flying here in Australia under ANR108A and its later title CAR 134 the focus for a long time was on prop driven aircraft. Of these aircraft the high performance fighters took most of the limelight followed by the lesser performance types and the trainers. By the mid 1980s there were three jet powered aircraft on the local circuit, being two Vampires and a Sabre. The Sabre and one of the Vampires were operated under civil registration by the RAAF Museum as part of its Historical Flight. At that stage most observers of the warbird movement were of the view that these were to be the only warbird jets on the local scene but as time has shown this was not to be the case. The late 1980s struck with a vengeance with the news that a consortium had purchased a number of Polish built MiG-15 two seat jet trainers (in fact model SBLim-2) and that these were soon to join the local warbird circuit. The rest is now history and with the arrival of the MiG-15s other model MiGs followed as did other types of jet fighters and trainers. Given the number of jet warbird fighters and trainers now in Australia it may be worthwhile noting the various types now actually flying. In addition to the aircraft that are flying or have recently flown it is known that there are a whole lot more jet types in storage or under restoration and even being imported. All that is another story yet to be told. Of the locally built jets there are currently only two flying. These are the CAC CA-27 Mk.32 Sabre VH-PCM (A94-983) and the de Havilland Australia built DH-115 T.35 Vampire VH-HLF (A79-636). Both are operated by the Historic Flight of the RAAF Museum, Point Cook.
Another Australian built Vampire, VH-ICP, was on the Australian register but this was sold in New Zealand where it became ZK-VAM. At the time of writing both the Sabre and VH-HLF were not flyable due to mechanical reasons, hence their non appearance at the recent Avalon Airshow. Surprisingly enough only one model of jet warbird now flying comes from the UK and that is the BAe 167 Strikemaster. The first of this type to fly here was the Mk.84 Strikemaster, VH-AKY, owned by Steve Ferris of International Air Parts in Sydney. VH-AKY is an ex Singapore Air Force trainer and had previously carried the serial number 315. The recent Tasmanian air races saw jet involvement for the first time when VH-AKY had a demonstration race against two Sea Furies. More jet activity can be expected at the 1996 races. The next Strikemaster to get airborne was VH-AGI, a Mk.88 Strikemaster that had originally been serial number NZ6362 with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. This machine was registered on August 9 1993, and has since moved to its new home in WA with owner Neville Hyder of Busselton. Two other British jets that look like flying in the very near future are the former New Zealand Strikemaster NZ6372, now registered as VH-LLD to Dr John Pierce of Watchem in Victoria and the recently imported BAC Jet Provost T.4, VH-JPP, previously XS178 with the RAF. This aircraft is owned by a Tasmanian syndicate. From North America there are currently only two jet warbirds in the air, both of the same type, the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly. The first of these Vietnam veterans to get back in air was VH-DLO, previously s/n 68-10805. Owned by David Lowy of Sydney the compact machine is painted up in a camouflage scheme with South Vietnamese AF markings. VH-DLO made its first Australian flight on May 1 1992. The second of the type to fly here is Dr Michael Silva’s VH-XVA that once carried serial number 68-10779. At last count the aircraft was still in a natural metal finish though. No doubt it will go into the paint shop in due course. In New Zealand A-37B, ZK-ITL, owned by Bruce Black, is also back in the air. This is another ex Vietnamese aircraft. Of all the warbird jets in this country the most fascinating must surely be the MiG-15s. The aircraft that have been registered here are all Polish built, the actual model designation being SBLim-2 but commonly known as the MiG-15UTI. Following the accident to MiG VH-LSN at Canberra on March 13 1993, there have probably been only two flights of MiG-15s since. One was a ferry flight immediately after the accident and the second is reported as being the July 23 1994 flight of Barry Hempel’s machine, VH-DIE. The other MiGs have not flown since that time. Owners are recorded as follows: VH-ADY, Greg Lovett of Melbourne; VH-BPG, Hockey Treloar of Sydney; VH-XIG, John Weymouth of Warnervale, NSW. Both VH-ADY and another, VH-NZM, which is owned by Mike Kelly of New Zealand, have possibly only been registered but not flown as yet. The indications are that Barry Hempel’s MiG-15 could be the first of these aircraft back in the air. Barry has apparently been able to establish the total hours flown on his aircraft and has been working with the CAA in order to get the machine up and away once more. In the last month two more MiG-15s have been registered. These aircraft, VH-EKI and VH-REH, were not imported as part of the original batch and as such may not have all the problems that surround them. The next MiG to be noted as flying is the MiG-21UM, VH-XXI. Registered to Richard MacIntosh of Seaforth, NSW. The machine is owned by a consortium that purchased it for some $73,000. It reportedly costs $5000 an hour to run! This machine came from Poland where it carried serial 7505. It was built in Russia in 1969 and was shipped to Australia in June 1992. The last of the local flying jets to be noted is another eastern bloc aircraft type, the PZL TS-11 Iskra. There are now five of these in Australia but only two are flying. Both were noted at the Avalon show. The first of these slim machines into local skies was VH-ADG, owned by Gordon Glynn. It made its first flight on June 4 1994. At Avalon it carried a silver colour scheme complete with Polish air force insignia. The second Iskra, VH-ISK, took to the air on February 24 1995. This aircraft is owned by Mike Falls of Shortstop Jet Charter at Essendon Airport. Mike’s Iskra had been operated by the Polish Air Force Aerobatic Team and as such has a red and white bomb burst type colour scheme. Jet warbirds are definitely here to stay. The number that is already flying continues to grow and with the cost of obtaining a pistoned engined fighter type going through the ceiling it is clear that the new area of growth will be in jet warbirds.
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