Warbirds

The S211, largely unknown on the east coast of Australia, has been replaced in Republic of Singapore Air Force service by the Pilatus PC-21 (a development of the RAAF’s PC-9). The RSAF trains out of Pearce RAAF base in WA using the recently introduced PC-21. The end result is that the S211s’ have been made surplus and that could be to the benefit of the Australian warbird movement.

The S211 two seat trainers are fully aerobatic and are powered by a single P&W JT15D-4C turbofan engine and have a true air speed in excess of 400 kts. They are being billed as great warbirds, a military chase plane or for further use with a foreign military arm. Prices start at $200,000.

The aircraft for sale have RSAF serial numbers 338, 339, 340, 342, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 380, 381, 385, 386, 389, 391, 392, 394, 396, 398 and 399.

The aircraft has an airframe finite life and the documentation from IAP shows that some aircraft have over 2,000 hours remaining while at the other end of the scale a few have less than 400 hours to run.

The S211 has a max. take-off weight of 2500 kg. a wing span of 8.43 m, a max. speed of 413 mph and a service ceiling of 40,000 ft. The aircraft can be equipped with four hardpoints under the wings. The cockpit is equipped with two Martin Baker Mk10 zero-zero ejection seats. The seats are in tandem with the rear pilot looking over the head of the front pilot. The aircraft look very similar to the BAe 127 Hawk currently in RAAF service save for the shoulder mounted wing.

IAP is saying that the JT15D-4C engine is essentially the same as that in the Cessna Citation and is very supportable, cheap to operate and fuel efficient. It is also reported to be a quiet engine and as such should avoid a lot of the noise problems associated with some warbirds. Need a fast tourer or an adventure jet warbird then the S211 could be just the machine.

Kittyhawk Bent

Bad news from Queensland is that Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk, VH-MIK, was damaged during a landing at Mareeba on Sunday August 16. There were two persons aboard.

The aircraft was landing and had touched down when an undercarriage leg collapsed. The warbird then veered some 500 metres off the runway to the right ending up in a shallow ditch. Photographs of the recovery operation show the left gear leg extended while the right gear leg is almost retracted into the wheel well. The engine cowlings were damaged as well as the three bladed propeller. The aircraft had only just gone back into the air following an engine problem on the first test flight.

Pilot and owner Mike Spaulding and his passenger were apparently not injured in the incident. The Curtiss fighter had been rebuilt over a period of four years and at an unknown cost. The Kittyhawk had been recovered in 2004 from the bush near Lae in PNG. It was reportedly shot down in 1943. Initial reports indicate that the warbird is repairable. All readers will no doubt wish Mike and North Queensland Warbirds all the best in the repair job of a great aircraft.

Book Review: Australian Built Aircraft

Complied by author Keith Meggs over a 50 year time span one can only say Wow! This recently released book, Australian Built Aircraft and the Industry, in fact Vol.1 is two massive books, covering 1884 to 1939, can best be described as the best reference we will ever see on the subject of Australian built aircraft. It covers homebuilts to factory production lines. Several more volumes are to cover the period 1939 up to 1985. Printed on quality glossy paper with numerous B&W photos, sketches and diagrams this first volume is a long very interesting read. In the books author Keith has not only covered the basics of Australian built aircraft but has also covered the progress of Australian aviation in that period. Being a former charter pilot Keith has managed to bring out detail that makes such a publication so accurate and worthwhile. Published by Finger-Four Publishing of Seymour, Vic. these books will fast become valued collectors items.

A Djinn Sling

It pays to advertise and such is the case with the Queensland Air Museum (QAM) telling the world that the newest aircraft to arrive for its collection was the only Djinn helicopter to come to Australia.

Following the article in the July AA reader Heath Sandow of Melbourne contacted the QAM to say that about ten years ago he spotted the Djinn manuals in a garbage skip at Essendon. He retrieved the manuals and has now offered to give them to the museum. Checking the manuals Heath discovered that he also had the flight manual for the machine and that will also be going to the QAM. All this came at a time when a QAM engineer was trying to obtain copies of the manuals from France where the Djinn was built. The historic helicopter will be restored to static display condition and displayed at Caloundra.

Register News

Another Curtiss Kittyhawk has been added to the register. VH-AJY, a P-40E, s/n 41-35974, was added on August 12 to Peter Smythe of Greenwith, South Australia. When the aircraft gets into the air it will increase the expanding SA warbird numbers. Classic Convair 440 VH-PDV was struck off the register on August 10 as having being exported to Canada.

From New Zealand we learn that Polikarpov 1-16 type ‘Rata’ 24 ZK-JIO serial 2421234 was taken off the New Zealand register on July 23 as having been exported. This was the last of six such aircraft in the Alpine Fighter Collection at Wanaka. How many readers visited Warbirds over Wanaka and recall seeing these amazing little fighter aircraft? History.

From the UK we note that former RAAF Spitfire G-RAAF was added to the UK register on April 22. The aircraft, Spitfire VIII was built in 1943 for the RAF as JF872 and later transferred to the RAAF as A58-328. It ended its days at Oakey, Queensland. It is a restoration job at present.

You Can Bank On It

To celebrate the anniversary of the first controlled heavier-than-air flight in Australia the Royal Perth Mint has struck a limited issue of 5,000 $1 silver proof coins. The striking of the coins is to celebrate the December 1909 flight of George Taylor at Narrabeen beach in New South Wales. The flight was a major turning point in the course of Australian aviation. The cost of an anniversary coin is A$89.95. Details www.downies.com. Real collector’s items to remember an historic event.

Airways Museum Funding Secured

The Civil Aviation Historical Society Inc. has entered into a three-year funding agreement with Airservices Australia. This partnership will enable the CAHS to lease building space and cover operating expenses for the Airways Museum, located at Essendon Airport, Melbourne.

The CAHS is responsible for preserving and recording the history of Airservices Australia and its predecessor organisations, dating back to the beginnings of regulated civil aviation in 1921. The CAHS also operates the Airways Museum, a unique collection of preserved airways equipment including Air Traffic Control, Aeradio and Flight Services consoles, radio navigation aids and communications equipment.

The collection of over 1,000 items includes two way navigation aids which were developed in Australia. These are Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), which was in operational use until 1995, and the Interscan Microwave landing System (MLS).

The CAHS also maintains an archive of photographs, films and documents dating back to 1921 which trace the evolution of civil aviation in Australia.

In Brief

● The RAAF museum at Point Cook will be holding an Air Pageant on February 28, 2010. Always an event to attend. Plan to be there.

● The Bendigo Aero Club will be holding another dedicated aviation parts and memorabilia swap meet at Bendigo airport, Vic. on the weekend of 13/14 March. Details, George Martin at [email protected]

● Going to the North Island of New Zealand during February? The Classic FlyersNZ airshow at Tauranga on February 6/7 will have a range of aircraft types on display and in the air including classic piston types, jet fighters and aerobatic teams. Classic FlyersNZ operates an aviation museum, and a military collection at Tauranga airport. Details www.taurangaairshow.co.nz.

Contact Dave by email at: [email protected]