Warbirds, Vintage & Veteran

Harvard Damaged in Ground Loop

Toowoomba, Qld, saw North American AT-6D Harvard III, VH-TOA, damaged in a ground loop in the mid afternoon of January 20.

The aircraft was taking off when, it is reported, the tail came up early. The aircraft was put down and then proceeded to ground loop to the left. The end result was a damaged right wing along with the undercarriage and prop. A local paper reports that a wing and the undercarriage will have to be replaced before the machine flies again. No one was injured.

The aircraft was one of a batch recently imported from the USA and prior to that it served with the Paraguay Air Force. Although registered as VH-TOA on June 16 1995, to Norleigh Aviation of Hervey Bay, Qld. The aircraft was transported to Darwin in 1994 where it was restored by Aerotech. After a year in Darwin the machine was ready to go back in the air again but this time in the colours and markings of a RNZAF Harvard as ‘NZ1014’. The aircraft had previously carried the serial number FAB0108 of the PAF and then N3171K although it never flew under that registration while in America.

Ansett Air Race

To commemorate the 1936 air race that saw Reg Ansett take the prize money that started an airline, a commemorative 60th anniversary race was run in February.

Known as the Ansett Air Race the event attracted 65 aircraft and the planned route went from Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne then Adelaide and finished at Hamilton, Victoria, on Saturday February 17. Hamilton is the home of the Sir Reginald Ansett Transport Museum and the birthplace of the Ansett group of companies. Poor weather prevented a Sydney stop and so an inland stopover was made instead.

From an antique and classic aeroplane viewpoint the race attracted a former Ansett Lockheed 10B Electra, Beech D-18S VH-FIE, DC-3 VH-ABR and the showpiece, the original 1936 race winner, the Porterfield 35/70 Flyabout VH-UVH. The Porterfield had been rebuilt, both engine and airframe, in time for the race and looked magnificent. It had been hoped that a number of warbirds and other older types would compete in the event but when the starters flag dropped they were not on the starting line.

At Hamilton an Ansett 737 landed on the Saturday to join the former Ansett aircraft in the race and the Fokker Universal that normally resides in the museum was also in the tarmac line-up. The Fokker had been on display in the Ansett Operations building in Melbourne the day before but had been dismantled, transported to Hamilton and reassembled before the entrants arrived there. Later that day the DC-3 made a special flight from Hamilton to Melbourne’s Essendon airport to commemorate the exact day of the 60th anniversary of the first Ansett passenger flight.

Readers may recall that in 1964 there was also an anniversary Ansett Air Race. One wonders if there will be another race in the next century to perhaps commemorate the 75th anniversary and how many of the previous entrants will be flying in it.

In an excellent piece of timing, the day before the race commenced on February 12 a TV documentary entitled ‘RM The Ansett Story’ was screened nationally on television. Produced by independent film maker, Jeff Watson, well known for his Kittyhawk and Spitfire documentaries, the TV doco covered the history of ‘RM’ and his company. It is of note that ex Ansett PR man Howard Bull is writing a book on the life and times of Sir Reginald Ansett, a book that will fill a missing niche in the record of Australian aviation history.

Porterfield 35/70 Flyabout, VH-UVH

The star of the 1996 Ansett Air Race was undoubtedly the winner of the 1936 race, Porterfield VH-UVH. Looking like a new aircraft it was hard to believe that the machine was built back in 1935.

These days the 35/70 is owned by John Bange of Clifton, Queensland, who purchased it in 1955. His son Trevor flew the aircraft in the race and shared the enjoyment with a crew that comprised Tony Perrett, Ron Muir and Paul Dalziel – but not all at once!

Reg Ansett (later Sir Reginald) owned the Porterfield from 1936 through to 1949. Next owner was E D Jones of Sydney who owned it until 1955 and then Fred Coustley of Albury had it until sold to John Bange later that year. When Reg Ansett had the aircraft it was powered by a 70hp (52kW) LeBlond 5DE five cylinder radial engine. In 1949 the LeBlond was replaced by a 75hp (56kW) A – 75 Continental flat four engine.

When it was decided to fly the 35/70 in the race the decision was also made to rebuild the machine to make sure that it not only looked good but would be reliable at the same time. The A-75 Continental was replaced with a C-75 engine and although of the same power the C-75 had a generator and starter on the accessory case. This coupled with a battery in the engine bay added a little weight to the nose of the machine and put the CG a little further forward. The machine is now more comfortable to fly.

The fuselage and wings were stripped right down and inspected. The woodwork forward of the rear seat was replaced but the steel tubing and metal work did not require any major work and were cleaned up and repainted and refabriced. The wooden wings required some work but nothing that was unexpected for an aircraft of its age. These were rebagged as well. The aircraft was painted in a colour scheme that is almost identical to the scheme that it has carried for the last 40 years, basically a blue fuselage and yellow wings. A radio and transponder were installed and the now-available electrical power allowed Trevor to run his Garmin 90 GPS off the aircraft’s system.

Altogether some 2500 work hours were put into the rebuild. A lot of labour and materials were donated to put the historic machine back into the air in time for the race. The firms involved included Aerotech, Custom Aero Services, Time Ex Aero Engine Overhaul, B & R Aviation and I B Signs.

Reassembled, the Porterfield was test flown on January 20, only a few weeks before the race started.

When interviewed, Trevor reported that the 35/70 flew very well. The cruise speed is a fast 60kt (112km/h) and fuel consumption is 3.5 gallons or 16 litres per hour. A 14 gallon/63 litre tank is mounted in the nose. Range is typically 240nm (445km). The stall occurs at 40kt (74km/h) IAS. The cabin has accommodation for two people in tandem plus a small luggage space.

When built by the Porterfield Aircraft Corporation of Kansas in 1936 the aircraft cost $US1695 and was operated prewar here for £3 an hour. The owner, John Bange, flew the machine in the 1964 Ansett Air Race and was pleased to have his son Trevor fly the aircraft in the 1996 race. Trevor reports that in the last 10 years they have had no serious offers to purchase the little Porterfield. Given its as-new condition one wonders if that 10 will get to 11? And how many hours has it flown you ask. A mere 1320 hours up to the time it arrived at Moorabbin during the race!

Trevor has raised a note that readers of AA may be able to assist him with to help keep this historic Porterfield in the air. The tyres currently on the aircraft are smooth cord airwheels of size 800.8 x 3. These low pressure tyres are not the type to be found at your local Cessna spares shop. Can any reader help with a source of supply for these tyres and tubes or even if there is a conversion that can be applied to the machine?

New Zealand Spitfire Accident Theory

While Sir Tim Wallis continues to slowly recover from his accident injuries, sustained when his Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV (Mk.14), ZK-XIV, crashed on takeoff at Wanaka airport, New Zealand, on January 2, (see March AA) speculation continues as to the cause of the accident. The accident is under investigation by the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission however local pilots and witnesses have already put forward a possible theory as to the cause of the event.

The aircraft in question was a Mk.14 Spitfire powered by a Rolls Royce V12 Griffon engine of some 2000hp (1500kW). When viewed from the rear the prop blades turn in an anti-clockwise arc. The result of this means that with application of power, such as at takeoff, the nose of the aircraft wants to swing to the right and the right or starboard wing will want to roll to the right. Propeller torque is the reason. The Griffon powered Spitfire needs a lot of pressure applied to the left rudder pedal on takeoff in order to keep a straight takeoff path. In the book Sea Fury, Firefly and Sea Venom in Australian Service by Stewart Wilson (Aerospace Publications) former RAN pilot and now AA writer, Norman Lee, gives an interesting description, on page 81, of this swing effect in a Griffon powered Firefly.

The other Spitfires in the Alpine Fighter Collection, a Mk.V and a Mk.XVI, are powered by V12 Merlin engines of 1470hp (1102kW) and 1720hp (1290kW) respectively. These engines, when viewed from behind, want to swing and roll to the left with application of power, ie just the opposite direction to that of the Griffon powered Spitfire that Sir Tim was flying.

Sir Tim was still becoming familiar with the Mk.14. One pilot witness reported the aircraft as having barely left the ground when it swung to the right, tore through a fence and slammed into the ground inverted. The right wing was torn off.

The former RAF Spitfire Mk.14 was at one stage operated by the Indian Air Force and by 1986 it was added to the Fighter Collection at Duxford where it was restored and test flown before being taken to New Zealand in 1994.

The aircraft has carried the serials or registrations NH799, G-BUZU and now ZK-XIV. It is not known if it will be rebuilt.

Connie Show Dates

At long last the Super Constellation, VH-EAG, has arrived and Connie and airline enthusiasts alike are keen to see the big airliner (refer separate report in this issue).

For those wanting to see the machine three dates will be of interest. The first is the flying day at Naval Air Station Nowra, on Sunday March 17. The aircraft was to have been flown down to Nowra in February and will be on show at the flying day.

The second is the one day air pageant at Point Cook, the future home of the National Air & Space Museum of Australia (NASMA), on Sunday March 31. The event is being staged by the Rotary Club of Forest Hill and NASMA.

The third date is the Optus Albury Airshow on the weekend of April 13/14. The organizer has advised that it is planned to have the Connie present at the show and that Bob Delahunty will give a talk on the history of the machine and its restoration at the airshow dinner on the Saturday night.

Other attractions at the show will include the RAN Historic Flight, David Lowy and his Cessna A-37 Dragonfly jet as well as famed aerobatic ace, Chris Sperou and his Pitts Special inverted ribbon cut. The RAAF Roulettes aerobatic team will put on a display and various warbirds and antiques will be present. The RFDS is to be the major beneficiary of the show. All that and you get to see the Connie as well!

Whatever Happened To …

Remember the shiny polished metal Twin Beech D-18S, VH-UWG, until recently based at Camden airport, near Sydney?

It was imported from the USA in 1988 by Red Harrison and a syndicate of local pilots and flew regularly including offering joyrides at airshows.

During 1994 the Twin Beech was widely advertised for sale in Australia, NZ and the USA. The advertisements incidentally referred to the aircraft having been a former Royal Canadian Air Force machine however this was not the case. It was in fact delivered new as an executive aircraft to a US Chevrolet dealership in October 1952 off the civil D18S production line at Wichita, Kansas. Later it was to spend 30 years in Canada on charter flying.

VH-UWG was sold in July 1994 and departed Australia on a ferry flight across the Pacific to new owner Douglas Neely of Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Now registered N52DN it is still flying with him in the Chicago area.

AF 75th Anniversary Air Expedition

1996 is the year of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the RAAF. With that in mind the RAAF is inviting aviation enthusiasts to fly with it during August on a unique ‘Air Expedition’ of the top end of Australia that will take in not only a number of the natural wonders of the country but also sites that hold special significance to the RAAF as a result of WWII.

The planned air expedition will take 11 days but participants are welcome to join for all or only sectors of the tour. The tour commences and finishes at Tennant Creek. Destinations and stopovers include Townsville and a tour of WWII airfields, Cairns, Normanton and a B-24 Liberator wreck inspection, Darwin and a tour of WWII airfields, RAAF Tindal inspection, Truscott WWII aerodrome, Broome and many more.

Participants are to provide and fly their own aircraft. The ideal aircraft will need to have a range of at least 400nm and a speed of 120kt in order to join in the various activities.

The RAAF will provide basic accommodation plus meals, at visitor rates at RAAF bases on a pay-as-you go basis. At other stopovers there will be a range of accommodation available, from motels to sleeping under the wing! Aviation support and reception arrangements will be co-ordinated by the RAAF. Local councils and service clubs will make available shower and toilet facilities where possible and also organise meals. Payment for accommodation, fuel, transport and meals will be the obligation of each individual. The RAAF Museum C-47, and possibly another machine, will accompany the expedition as a support aircraft. Interested? Already a number of potential participants have indicated their possible involvement. To obtain a copy of the Registration of Interest and Information brochure write to the Director – RAAF 75th Anniversary Air Expedition, GPO Box 6015, Cromer 3193, or telephone (03) 9379 6677, fax (03) 9379 2550.

The tour looks to be very interesting. A TV documentary of the expedition will also be made.

Calling All Stamp Collectors

Australia Post released four 45 cent stamps in February that recognise the role that six aircraft played in the history of Australian military aviation. The issue coincides with the RAAF’s 75th anniversary and acknowledges aviation’s importance to the three branches of Australia’s defence force.

The first 45 cent shows both a Beaufighter, A8-23, and a Kittyhawk, A29-480. There is also a 45 cent stamp that waves the flag for the Fleet Air Arm of the RAN. This stamp depicts Firefly WB358 and Sea Fury VX:728.

Yet another 45 cent stamp release is dedicated to the Army Aviation Corp with an illustration of two Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopters, serial 70-15240 is in the foreground. The caption for the Army stamp reads that on September 21 1971 Second Lieutenant John Sonneveld became involved in an action which earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. At that time the Australian 4th Battalion was engaged in a number of heavy contacts with the enemy in the northern part of Phuc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. Sonneveld provided direct support throughout the 11 hour engagement, continually exposing his Kiowa to ground fire. These days John Sonneveld is a Melbourne based aircraft accident inspector with the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI).

As a side note the newsletter of the Australian Aviation Museums Association records that two Kiowas that served in Vietnam, serial 70-15243 and 70-15242, are still serving with the US Army, a quarter of a century after being loaned to the Australian Army in Vietnam. The aircraft have 2800 and 2450 hours flight time respectively. Just run-in some would say!

The last of the 45 cent stamp release features the first RAAF F/A-18 Hornet, A21-101, which was delivered in November 1984.

Australia Post has also released a Military Aviation Heritage book that complements the stamp issue. Written by Mark Clayton, the 40 page book features vivid pictures of aircraft used by the RAAF, RAN and Army. The book traces the origins of Australian military aviation from the commencement in 1911 at Point Cook in Victoria through to the present day. The book costs $14.95 and is available from post offices and post shops. In 1995 Australia Post released a similar book that covered civil aviation in Australia.

Again on the subject of Australia Post and aviation themes this writer recently noted a new aerogramme envelope that is dedicated to Australian aviatrix, Lores Bonney, and her Australia to England flight in 1933 in her DH.60G Moth, VH-UPV. Again a good one to obtain if you have an interest in stamps and things philatelic.

In Brief

Planning to fly a warbird in an airshow in the future? Got a Commercial Pilots licence? The word is going around that CASA is going to require pilots flying these aircraft in such events to hold a CPL. A lot of the pilots who now fly warbirds and other aircraft at airshows only hold PPLs. More on this later.

As part of a display by the Australian War Memorial (AWM) to mark the end of WWII the fuselage of the Me 262 was put on display in the AWM’s aircraft hall. Of interest from overseas is the news that one of the massive bunkers at Pas de Calais is to be converted into the European Second World War History Centre with a reconstructed V-2 as the key exhibit. $12 million will be spent by the French and European authorities to develop the museum. The AWM also has a V-2 in store