Warbirds

Another Way To Mount A Display

Recently the Ballarat Aviation Museum (BAM) took delivery of a Walter HWK 109-509A-2 bi-fuel liquid rocket motor of the type used to power the wartime Messerschmitt M 163 Komet ultra short range interceptor. The motor put out 3750lb (16.8kN) static thrust. The donor was from Melbourne who found he no longer had storage space for the motor. Now an aircraft engine much less a rocket motor is usually a hard thing to display in any way except on a stand, nothing resembling the way it was installed’ when in an aircraft. As a result one has little perspective as to how big or small was the machine that it was installed in. With this in mind the BAM has made a rather innovative display by having the motor on a stand but with the correctly sized fuselage profile of an Me 163 painted on flat board surrounding it. The rather eye catching display gives the spectator a feeling of the size of the aircraft and how much space the rocket took up in the aircraft. Perhaps a lead that other aero museums could use with their engine displays?

Model Expo To Help Celebrate Raaf Anniversary

With 1996 being the 75th anniversary of the formation of the RAAF it would only be wishful thinking to be able to see a display of an example of each and every type that the RAAF has operated over those years. With the knowledge that it will never be possible to see a display of actual aircraft the Melbourne suburban Waverley Scale Model Club has elected to mount a display of Aircraft of the RAAF as their contribution to the annual Model Expo. In order to assist and to help get a wide range of the subject models the various Melbourne based modelling clubs have been invited to participate and to have the International Plastic Modellers Society of Australia to be the coordinating body. The theme of the RAAF display is to mount a display of Aircraft of the RAAF that not only includes aircraft of the A registered series but also those operated by RAAF squadrons within the RAF and even captured aircraft eg Italian, German and Japanese types as well as types obtained formally or informally from the United States. So to cover most types available and to give the correct perspective of size, a common scale of 1/72 will be used. The models will be grouped into categories showing their usage, as follows: fighters, bombers, transports, trainers, marine, helicopters, reconnaissance and target. Using this concept the evolution of design will be easily shown. Within this category any quantity of the same type will be displayed to show different models and markings. The venue for the display is the Arts and Crafts Pavilion, Staughton Parade, Royal Agricultural Society Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, Melbourne. The date of the expo is to be the Labour Day long weekend of March 9 to 11, 1996. The models will be presented in a very large display case and at least 400 are expected to be shown. The organisers have given early notice with the view that some modellers may wish to build certain models of RAAF aircraft in time the show. For more information contact IPMS Australia GPO Box 1187K, Melbourne 3001. Telephone Frank Morgan (03) 9876 1818 AH or Graeme Dodd (03) 9808 0341 AH In addition to the RAAF theme display the Expo is a showcase of everything that encompasses plastic modelling. Open model competitions are conducted during the Expo covering not only aircraft of all scales but AFVs, civil vehicles, figures, ships etc. Normal competition entries exceed 500. The Expo has had good visitor attendance in the past and more are expected at the 1996 show given the RAAF aircraft theme. A swap and sell meet is conducted on the Monday morning.

New Zealand Wanaka Airshow Update

With six months to go, interest in the Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow is increasing. Torii Tours, (02) 233 8500, fax (02) 231 2758, has just released its 1996 Wanaka Airshow brochure and reports that interest is very high with a number of tour packages sold even before release of the brochure. As with previous Wanaka shows there are always new, or should that read old, aircraft that are rolled out for the show having just been rebuilt. For 1996 expect to see the NZ Catalina, ZK-PBY, which arrived in NZ recently. The recently imported Yak-3, built up in Russia, is already flying at Wanaka. The P-40 being rebuilt for the Hanna’s Old Flying Machine Company is under restoration in NZ and is due for completion by Easter. Barring major problems one could reasonably expect to see something to the order of three Spitfires, two Mustangs, two Kittyhawks plus one each of Corsair, Sea Fury, Yak and Grumman Avenger plus many others. The Wanaka airshow is a display that is built with quality rather than quantity and coupled with the great New Zealand landscape makes it an event in this region not to be missed.

Dh.82 Tiger Moth in Australia Book

For those with an interest in the De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth a new book has just been released that covers the history of the type in Australia. Titled The DH.82 Tiger Moth in Australia this detailed book on the operation of this aircraft in this country has long been awaited and is now available. Compiled by author Julian Forsyth the book covers such things as listings by construction number, both RAAF and civil history, civil registration listings, details of RAAF units that operated individual aircraft and of course civil owners and aircraft fates. This sounds like the book that Tiger Moth enthusiasts have dreamed of but, until now, could never obtain. Jack Petersen, Historian, Royal Queensland Aero Club, in reviewing the book reports that it is a comprehensive record of the DH.82 Tiger Moth in Australia and should be welcomed by owners of the aeroplane both past and present, not to forget the countless Tiger Moth pilots and enthusiasts in this country and around the world. While the book has just been released it is unfortunate to record that the author, Julian Forsyth, passed away last year. The book is thus in existence due to the unswerving determination of Julian’s widow, Jodie, who promised him that it would be taken to fruition. For those wanting to purchase a copy of the book it can be obtained from Skyline Publications, PO Box 57, Mt Waverley, 3149. Tel: (03) 9888 1438. The cost of the publication is $49.95 plus postage and handling of $8.55 (in Australia). Total $58.50. Skyline Publications advise that six to eight weeks should be allowed for delivery.

Calendar Dates To Note

There are many flying events around the countryside worth attending however a few that merit special interest are noted below: The Ansett Air Race runs from Brisbane to Adelaide and then to Hamilton, Vic over the period of February 12 to 17, 1996. Melbourne and Sydney are overnight stops during the race. For those competing or just watching this will be an interesting event and one that we trust will have a good selection of warbirds, antiques and classics in it. February 10 to the 18, 1996, are the dates of the third great Country Club Casino Skyrace Tasmania. To again b held at Valleyfield, just south of Launceston, Tasmania, the race will attract the fast heavy metal of the warbird scene as well as civil aircraft. Jets are scheduled for next year’s race with action and colour aplenty The year 1996 marks the 75th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force. It is understood however that there is to be only one official airshow in the country to mark the event. That airshow is to be held at RAAF Amberley, Queensland, on the weekend of May 4/5, 1996. For the last few years No 23 Squadron, ‘City of Brisbane’ RAAF Reserve Unit has been rebuilding two Douglas A-20 bombers at RAAF base Amberley. These aircraft, Boston A-20C, RAAF serial A28-8 and USAAF A-20G Havoc, serial 42-86786, have a deadline to be completed by March 1996 and therefore should take pride of place at the anniversary airshow. More than a year to run but the dates for the next Avalon International Air Show have been announced as being February 18 to 23, 1997. Advance publicity already has indicated that gate costs will be lower as well as other improvements to generate more interest in and greater attendance at the event.

In Brief

More Strikemasters are soon to climb into the skies over Australia. A report has been received that two ex RNZAF Strikemasters are being worked on at Winrye Aviation at Bankstown. The aircraft are NZ6361, to be registered as VH-ZEP for an owner at Coolangatta, and NZ6370, to be registered as VH-RBA for an owner at Parafield, SA. The Queensland Air Museum has a new President. Following the August AGM of the QAM the new President is Tom Moodie. In taking on the role of QAM President Tom thanked Ron Cuskelly for his many years of service and dedication to the QAM as both President and Editor of the QAM newsletter. Although stepping down from the position of QAM President, Ron Cuskelly has chosen to take on the job of Chairman of the Brisbane region of the QAM. Tom Moodie has been a member of the QAM for more than 20 years. Wanting to get back to nature? As a follow up on the America report in October’s AA Warbirds column we recount the tale of the P-51 Mustang pilot who turned up at an Antique Airplane Fly-in at Brodhead, Wisconsin, down the road from Oshkosh, during September. After managing to land on the grass airfield that was being used by all kinds of fabric covered biplanes he promptly pitched his tent alongside his aircraft and enjoyed the action. It seems that the Mustang pilot is keen to camp alongside his aircraft wherever he goes but this year the Warbird guys at Oshkosh wouldn’t let him camp by his aircraft in the Warbird park. Next year he plans to park in the Antique and Classic aircraft park at Oshkosh so that he can pitch his tent alongside his machine! So if you happen to be at Oshkosh next year and see a Mustang with a tent alongside it parked amongst the Antiques and Classics… The Moorabbin Air Museum has recently extended its northern fence line in preparation for an extension of the main museum building and in due course the number of aircraft and exhibits to be displayed. The Australian War Memorial is advertising for a new Director following the expiration of the previous Directors contract. The position is an appointment under a seven year contract. Mr Peter Hawker has been acting in the position of Director AWM since January, this year. The Australian Aviation Museums Association has been allocated the amount of $19,000 — by the Australian Heritage Commission — to allow the AAMA to carry out the first systematic survey of Australia’s aeronautical and astronautical heritage. The task should be completed early in 1996 with the possibility that the results might also be published. The Bankstown Bicentenary Airshow and opening of stage one of the Bankstown Aviation Museum, scheduled for October 14/15, has been cancelled. The cancellation is reportedly due to the withdrawal of funding by the Bankstown Council. It is hoped that the event will now take place early in 1996. In the Oshkosh ’95 report in the October issue of AA some keen eyed readers may have noted that the DH.71 replica has an upright engine reported as a Gipsy Major. The original DH.71 had an upright ADC Cirrus II later replaced by an upright special Gipsy engine. When Michael Maniatis built his replica he knew from owning DH.82a Tiger Moth, N9410, that these engines, much less spares, were not to be had. As a result Maniatis elected to use an (inverted) Gipsy Major 1, modified to allow it to run in the upright configuration. The Gipsy Major 1, in the inverted position, is the standard engine used in the DH.82a Tiger Moth. The England to Australia Vickers Vimy replica, NX71MY, has left Australia. Stored at Luskintyre, near Newcastle, NSW, since the end of its epic flight last year, it was dismantled and placed in two shipping containers during July. The Brooklands Aviation Museum and P&O, the shipping line that is buying out the Australian National Line, have got together to return the replica to the UK. There it is to be prepared for two historic flight re-enactments, one to South Africa and the second, the big one, across the Atlantic.