Warbirds

The Replica Project is Being Undertaken by Michael Costello of Nundah, Queensland. Michael Has Managed to Obtain the Talents of Bill Whitney, the Designer of the Southern Cross and Vickers Vimy Replicas. In the Usa John Oder is Providing Original Drawings and Plans Plus 30 Years of Research on the Lockheed Altair and Sirius Models. The Altair Replica is to Be a Full Scale Flying Creation and Will Use Wood in the Construction, Just as Was Used in the Original.

The Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra Has Agreed in Principle to Allow the Museum Grounds to Be Used as the Site for the Construction of the Machine.

This Means It Will Be Possible for Visitors to the Museum to Witness the Altair’s Construction.

Michael is Seeking Expressions of Interest From Potential Sponsors for This Most Interesting Project. Michael Costello Can Be Contacted via Entello Pty Ltd, Po Box 702, Virginia Qld 4014.

Dc-2 Plans in Doubt

Plans for the Restoration of the Dc-2 at Albury Have Apparently Faltered.

For the Last Year or So the Dc-2, for Many Years on Display on a Nearby Pylon at the Airport, Has Been Standing in the General Aviation Park at Albury Airport. It Has Been Reported That While the Future of the Council Owned Aircraft is Decided It Has Slowly Been Deteriorating in the Weather.

It Has Been Suggested That Cut Off Parts of the Aircraft Be Incorporated Into a Wall Inside the Soon to Be Upgraded Airport Terminal. Another Suggestion is That the Restored Dc-2 Be Mounted on the Wall That Will Separate the Arrivals Area From the Departure Lounge.

The Dc-2, Commemorating the Albury Landing of the Dutch Airliner Uiver in the 1934 London-melbourne Air Race, is Not the Original Aircraft but a Former Raaf Aircraft.

Architects for the Airport Terminal Redesign Have Suggested That the Check-in Area Be Provided With a Western Wall With the Uiver Mounted on It, Raising the Ceiling by 10 Metres.

Govt Grant Rescues Canberra Bomber

a $6000 Federal Government Grant Will Allow Canberra Bomber A84-307 to Be Transported to the National Vietnam Veterans Museum on Phillip Island for Restoration.

Currently at the Kingswood Ammunition Store, Nsw, the Aircraft, Built in August 1951, is the Oldest Surviving Canberra in the World. It Was Also the First Jet Aircraft to Arrive in Australia, as It Was the First of Two British Built Canberras Ordered to Provide Training and Familiarisation Before Australian Production of the Canberra Commenced.

In 1950 the Australian Government Placed an Order for 48 English Electric Canberra Jet Bombers to Be Built Under Licence by the Government Aircraft Factory at Fisherman’s Bend in Melbourne. The Australian Built Aircraft Were Designated the Canberra Mk 20. The First of These Flew in May 1953 and the Last Was Delivered in September 1958. Number 2 Squadron Continued to Fly Canberras in the Photo Survey Role Until June 30 1982.

During the Vietnam War A84-307 Was Used for Training Pilots in Low Level Bomber Roles That They Undertook While Flying Out of Phan Rang Air Base With Number 2 Squadron Raaf. It Was Retired From Service in August 1973.

Water Birds Book Release

Queensland Author David Jones Has Released a New Book Entitled Wings on the River, Tracing the History of Flying Boat Activities on the Brisbane River and Redland Bay.

The Book Covers the Period Between 1920 and the Mid 1970s When the Last Ansett Short Sandringhams in Australia Were Sold. Redland Bay Was Used as an Airport After Other Water Traffic on the Brisbane River Indicated a Change of Location in the Interests of Safety. After the Change of Location a Lot of the Landings Were Made at Night. Initially 100 Movements Were Made Each Month but This Tapered Off as Land Based Airports Improved and It Became Apparent That the Days of the Large Flying Boat Were Drawing to a Close.

Wings on the River is Priced at $24. 95 Plus $3. 45 P&p From Good Book Shops or the Author via Daveheath@ Aapt. Net. Au. A Recommended Book for Those Who Like Radial Engines and Big Water Birds.

Obituaries Queensland Air Museum Founding President Richard ‘dick’ Hitchins Passed Away in Brisbane on Friday September 14.

Born in the Uk, Richard and His Family Migrated to Australia in 1970. When the Queensland Air Museum Was Inaugurated in 1974 Richard Became Its First President.

By 1989 the Qam Was Well Established at Caloundra and Richard Stepped Down in Order to Be Able to Devote More Time to His Quality Control Consultancy Business. In 1996 He Was Awarded the First Qam Honorary Life Membership.

Richard Leaves Behind a Rich Legacy in the Preservation of Australia’s Aviation History.

Noted Us Warbird Collector, David Tallichet, Passed Away on October 31. A Ww2 B-17 Pilot He Flew 35 Combat Missions Over Germany. After the War He Became Involved in the Restaurant Trade and Started His Own Chain of Aviation Theme Restaurants, Aero Squadron, Typically With an Aircraft and Later an Aircraft Replica Outside the Building.

Over the Years He Bought and Sold Many Warbird Aircraft, Contributing to the Health of the Us Warbirds Scene.

Paul Tibbets, the Pilot of the B-29 Enola Gay That Dropped the First Atomic Bomb on Japan, and Thus Brought About the End of Ww2, Passed Away on November 1 Aged 92. He Had Been in Poor Health for His Last Few Months. As a Colonel Tibbets Flew the Historic B-29 Which is Now on Display at the Smithsonian Institution at Washington. After Tibbetts Left the Usaf as a Brigadier General in 1966 He Went on to Operate an Air Charter Firm.

He Retired in 1985 to Live in Columbus, Ohio.

Register Update

Register Changes Include the Consolidated Pby-6a, Vh-dul, Having a Registration Change on October 8 to Vh-cat. The Owner Remains the Same, the Catalina Flying Memorial.

Fairchild F24-46a, Vh‑abz, Changed Owner to Ian Kearsley of Five Dock, Nsw, on September 6.

Winjeel A85-428, Better Known as Vh-dkk, Had a Change of Owner to Neil Johnston of Avalon Beach, Nsw, on October 17.

In Brief

• the Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown Has Been Assigned Lockheed 10a Ansertes, but a Decision Has Been Taken to Not Allow the Aircraft to Fly, Nor to Dismantle It in Order to Surface Transport It to Bankstown.

Consequently It Will Remain at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra for the Time Being.

• the Queensland Air Museum Has Acquired Yet Another Aircraft, a Piper Pa- 25 Pawnee. Donated to the Museum by Greg Ackman, the Partially Restored Aircraft, Zk-cel, Was Trucked From Archerfield to Caloundra on October 5.

• Keith Gaff Has Been Appointed the Secretary of the Friends of the Raaf Museum. O Contact Dave at Flyer02@ Optusnet.Com.Au