Register Update

REGISTRATION/TYPE/SERIAL NUMBER/DATE/OWNER OR OPERATOR/PREVIOUS REGISTRATIONS
EBR Airbus A330‑202 1251 2/9/11 Jetstar Airways, GPO Box 4713 Melbourne Vic 3001
F‑WWKK
EBS Airbus A330‑202 1258 2/9/11 Jetstar Airways, GPO Box 4713 Melbourne Vic 3001
F‑WWYS
EDQ Kavanagh E‑240 E240‑437 30/8/11 Global Ballooning, 1/173‑175 Swan St Richmond
Vic 3121
EES Kavanagh E‑240 E240‑431 30/8/11 Global Ballooning, 1/173‑175 Swan St Richmond
Vic 3121
EFW Beech A36 Bonanza E‑2672 21/9/11 Findelta, 38/195 Prospect Hwy Seven Hills NSW
2147 N2672 VH‑XSG N111SG N5SG N8246A
ELG Vans RV‑7A 72205 2/9/11 Peter Harlow, PO Box 237 Black Rock Vic 3193 N383LG
FFX Air Tractor AT‑504 504‑4011 16/9/11 Field Air (Holdings), PMB 25 Ballarat Vic 3351
FHD Kawasaki BK117B‑2 1103 20/9/11 Trecked, PO Box 214 Georges Hall NSW 2198
JA6698
FJP Embraer EMB‑500 Phenom 100 50000237 7/9/11 China Southern WA Flying College,
PO Box 263 Willetton WA 6155 PT‑TDL
FLD Air Tractor AT‑502B 502B‑2761 30/8/11 Field Air (Holdings), PMB 25 Ballarat Vic
3351 N2358G
FVL Aerospatiale ATR‑72‑212A 974 14/9/11 Skywest Airlines (Australia), PO Box 176
Cloverdale WA 6985 F‑WWES
HHB Robinson R22 Beta II 4527 7/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
HTA Robinson R44 Raven II 13173 23/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
JAP CubCrafters CC18‑180 Top Cub CC18‑00052 20/9/11 Braeburn Properties, 17
Maleela Ave Balwyn Vic 3103 N1075P
JGO Bell 206L‑1 LongRanger II 45480 5/9/11 Aero Assist, 2/7 Millennium Cir Gaven Qld
4211 N3890B
JGU Cessna 210R Centurion 21064980 21/9/11 Wrightsair, 53 O’Neills Rd Melton Vic
3337 N7839U
JNW Air Tractor AT‑802A 802A‑0421 20/9/11 Bundambar, PO Box 167 Warren NSW 2824
N8520K
JRP PA‑28‑181 Archer III 2843569 19/9/11 John Pullen, 10 Brumbys Run Clifton Grove
NSW 2800 N3000W
JSO Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 525‑0670 5/9/11 Colin Joss, PO Box 7079 Albury NSW
2640 VH‑LDH N5161J
JYN Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel 9021 26/9/11 Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation,
PO Box 371 Katherine NT 0851 VH‑NGH P2‑NGA VH‑EFT VH‑WFX VH‑ECW
KSJ Robinson R44 Raven I 2138 7/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
KZE Agusta AW119 Koala Mk II 14775 22/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW
2198 N301YS
LOT Thrush S2R‑G10 Turbo Thrush G10‑171 21/9/11 Southern Aerial Agriculture, PO Box
1170 Naracoorte SA 5271 N7004Z
LYH Eurocopter AS332L1 Super Puma 2468 8/9/11 Lloyd Helicopters, PO Box 1413 West
Perth WA 6872 C‑GGKX PR‑FNT LN‑OMT
NYU Robinson R22 Beta II 4528 7/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
POK Cessna TU206G Stationair U20603537 16/9/11 Petes Parachuting (NW), PO Box 810
Jurien Bay WA 6516 N8785Q
PTG Air Tractor AT‑502B 502B‑0451 5/9/11 Field Air (Holdings), PMB 25 Ballarat Vic 3351
ZK‑PTK VH‑PTK
SEK Air Tractor AT‑502B 502B‑2759 5/9/11 McNauls Aerial Crop Services, “Cummins”
Wakool NSW 2710 N23579
SHD Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel 3423 9/9/11 Aeropower, Hangar 14B Nathan Rd Redcliffe
Aerodrome Qld 4021 JA6449
SJO Thrush S2R‑T34 Turbo Thrush T34‑350 15/9/11 Callaghan Agricultural Services,
Farm 608 Coleambally NSW 2707 N70191
STK Robinson R22 Beta II 4525 2/9/11 Gulf Aircraft, PO Box 81 Gatton Qld 4343
SZW Cessna 206H Stationair 20608198 14/9/11 Panoy, “Wollogorang” Tennant Creek NT
0860 N245SA
TEF Cessna 206H Stationair 20608327 22/9/11 Timothy Kirkwood, “Disney” Clermont Qld
4721 N9105F
THQ Robinson R22 Beta II 4225 1/9/11 Gulf Aircraft, PO Box 81 Gatton Qld 4343 VH‑STK
VH‑RWC
TUY Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster 208B0769 23/9/11 Acena Nominees, 607/147 Pirie
St Adelaide SA 5000 P2‑TZZ VH‑UZB EC‑IKU N106VE N51666
UHN Air Tractor AT‑504 504‑4012 13/9/11 Gerard Higgins, PO Box 761 NSW 2680 N5001N
VBT North American T‑28A Trojan 171‑27 29/8/11 Timothy Berry, PO Box 9472 Wilsonton
Qld 4350 N221LH N3336G 50‑221
VLF Steen Skybolt DG001 20/9/11 Roberto Franco, 7 Honeyeater Cir Wembley 6014 N540DG
VMY Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S10991 16/9/11 Aeromil Pacific, Friendship Dr Mudjimba
Qld 4564 VH‑BGM N5260Q
VSV SOCATA TBM700B 173 30/8/11 Colin Joss, PO Box 7079 Albury 2640 VH‑JSO N22WZ
VVU Robinson R66 0048 23/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
VZT Boeing 737‑838 34186 6/9/11 Qantas Airways, 203 Coward St Mascot NSW 2020
VZU Boeing 737‑838 34187 6/9/11 Qantas Airways, 203 Coward St Mascot NSW 2020
VZV Boeing 737‑838 34189 6/9/11 Qantas Airways, 203 Coward St Mascot NSW 2020
VZW Boeing 737‑838 39359 22/9/11 Qantas Airways, 203 Coward St Mascot NSW 2020
WGN Cessna 180J Skywagon 18052450 26/9/11 Guy Kendell, 9 Dylan Ct Sandstone Point
Qld 4511 VH‑NDD N52030
WHD Eurocopter EC120B Colibri 1639 13/9/11 Asian Pacific Building Corporation, 14/1
Queens Rd Melbourne Vic 3004 VH‑XKK
WKX Robinson R22 Beta II 4526 7/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
XHZ Cessna 206H Stationair 20608270 8/9/11 Beatrice Mahlberg, PO Box 702 Mackay
Qld 4740 N141RL HI-863 N6026F
XRQ MBB Bo105LSA‑3 2016 7/9/11 Helibits, 2 Harvard Rd Jandakot Airport WA 6164
TC‑HCR 4K‑AZ34 N204LF N7035P C‑FCRM C‑GERG (D‑HLSP)
XRX MBB Bo105LSA‑3 2033 2/9/11 Helibits, 2 Harvard Rd Jandakot Airport WA 6164
N315LS N911SY N911SV N911MB N81MB C-GCJT
XTN Diamond DA20‑C1 Eclipse C0054 29/8/11 John Barnes, 22 Hunter St West Rockhampton
Qld 4700 N954CT
YGN Cessna 172R Skyhawk 17281578 30/8/11 Singapore Flying College, 22 Compass Rd
Jandakot Airport WA 6164 N90900
YGQ Cessna 172R Skyhawk 17281580 30/8/11 Singapore Flying College, 22 Compass Rd
Jandakot Airport WA 6164 N9091G
YGU Cessna 172R Skyhawk 17281581 30/8/11 Singapore Flying College, 22 Compass Rd
Jandakot Airport WA 6164 N9092Y
YJD Robinson R44 Raven I 1651 19/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall 2198 N13DT
YML Cessna 162 Skycatcher 16200059 8/9/11 Darren McPherson, 8 Nairn Ct Greenvale
Vic 3059 N6031N
ZGP Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 525A‑0054 8/9/11 Avesco, PO Box 3068 Mackay North
Qld 4740 OO‑SKA PH‑ECL (PH‑EDL) D‑IAAS N5161J
ZHT Robinson R44 Raven I 2135 7/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
ZSE Colomban MC‑15 Cri Cri SD2 7/9/11 Isak van Heerden, 29 San Miguel Dr Leeming WA
6149
Aircraft Returning To Register
ZFB Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma 2 2695 30/8/11 Bristow Helicopters Australia, 130
Fauntleroy Ave Redcliffe WA 6104 9M‑STX VH‑ZFB G‑ZZSO
Deletions
BGM Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S10991 16/9/11 Reregistered VH‑VMY
CZQ Evektor EV‑97 SportStar 20060701 20/9/11 Transferred to the RA‑Aus register
DSA Cessna 177 Cardinal 17700460 26/9/11 Damaged at South Grafton NSW 15/8/11
JSO SOCATA TBM700B 173 30/8/11 Reregistered VH‑VSV
LDH Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 525‑0670 5/9/11 Reregistered VH‑JSO
LYJ Sikorsky S‑92A Helibus 920057 12/9/11 Exported to Norway (LN-OQN)
NDD Cessna 180J Skywagon 18052450 26/9/11 Reregistered VH‑WGN
NGH Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel 9021 26/9/11 Reregistered VH‑JYN
NSH Bell 407 53376 2/9/11 Crashed into sea at Talbot Bay WA 25/9/08
NTV Aerospatiale AS355F2 Twin Squirrel 5380 18/9/11 Crashed at Lake Eyre SA 18/8/11
OCM Cessna 210N Centurion 21064466 12/9/11 Crashed at Kununurra WA 18/8/11
OJR Boeing 747‑438 25547 20/9/11 Withdrawn from use and scrapped at Marana USA
POJ PA‑28‑180 Cherokee C 28‑2593 14/9/11 Crashed near Horsham Vic 15/8/11
RNT Beech C33 Debonair CD‑844 26/9/11 Withdrawn from use
STK Robinson R22 Beta II 4225 1/9/11 Reregistered VH‑THQ
TJT Boeing 737‑476 24445 29/8/11 Exported to Kyrgyzstan
UUM Cessna 180 30707 23/9/11 Exported to New Zealand
UYJ Aerospatiale ATR‑42‑512 571 8/9/11 Exported to Denmark (OY-EDL)
WJW Dassault Falcon 10 134 1/9/11 Withdrawn from use
XKK Eurocopter EC120B Colibri 1639 13/9/11 Reregistered VH‑WHD
ZHD Embraer ERJ‑170‑100LR 17000227 12/9/11 Exported to USA (N749CZ)
ZRO Canadian Car Foundry T‑6H Harvard IV CCF4‑153 21/9/11 Exported to USA
ZZH Bombardier BD700‑1A10 Global Express 9167 20/9/11 Exported to USA (N877AB)
Changes Of Owner Or Operator

AFH PA‑28‑161 Warrior II 28‑7916267 5/9/11 Douglas Fuss, 4 Hargrave Ct Wallan Vic
3756
AQF Agusta Bell 206A JetRanger 8128 12/9/11 New Day Aviation Services, 216‑220 Perry
Rd Keysborough Vic 3173
ASJ Cessna U206G Stationair U20605867 1/9/11 Stephen Baker, 115 Richmond St
Gordon Park Qld 4031
ATP PA‑31‑350 Navajo Chieftain 31‑7405447 7/9/11 Air Freight Today, PO Box 6943
Shepparton Vic 3632
AUS DH.82A Tiger Moth 1074 9/9/11 Gregory Shaw, PO Box 595 Esperance WA 6450
CFL Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 208B0434 26/8/11 Clark Butson, PO Box 772 Port
Hedland WA 6721
CMF Diamond DA20‑A1 Katana 10291 8/9/11 Garth Barnes, 658 Belmont Rd Glenlee 4702
CVZ PA‑28R‑200 Cherokee Arrow B 28R‑7135107 22/8/11 Robert Thomas, 8 Tunnel Rd
Cessnock NSW 2325
CWE Robinson R22 Beta II 4522 19/8/11 Bill Scott Rural, “Buderygar” Quilpie Qld 4480
CWL Cessna 210‑5 2050148 19/8/11 Cropcair, PO Box 42 Cecil Plains Qld 4407
DLH Rihn DR‑107 One Design 85‑295 16/9/11 Christopher Taylor, 614 Blackwell Rd
Millmerran Qld 4357
DPM Cessna A188B Agwagon C A1 18801524 22/8/11 Robert Richards, PO Box 425
Wonthaggi Vic 3995
DUH CZL Aero 145 20‑001 8/9/11 The Old Aero Club, 366 Wombeyan Caves Rd Mittagong
MSW 2575
EJA Cessna T210M Centurion 21062569 26/8/11 Woodharvesters, 4 Seaton Park Cl
Cundletown NSW 2430
EPM Cessna 337G Super Skymaster 33701507 19/8/11 Noel Seletto, 3 Highton Gr Balwyn
Vic 3103
ERU Cessna 210E Centurion 21058520 21/8/11 Lacy Contracting Services, 10 Carlson Pl
Usher WA 6230
ESA Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S10314 16/9/11 Darren Webb, 54 Lakeside Dr Point
Cook Vic 3030
EVH Vans RV‑4 Q75 10/9/11 Michael Bray, PO Box 1032 Gordonvale Qld 4865
FEJ PA‑34‑200T Seneca II 34‑7970010 21/9/11 David Marley, 223 Croudance St New
Lambton Heights NSW 2305
FRU Cessna 150M 15077064 15/9/11 Simon Helps, PO Box 266 Mullumbimby NSW 2482
HCF Robinson R22 Beta 1254 22/8/11 Cloncurry Mustering, PO Box 322 Cloncurry 4824
HEY Bell 47G‑3B 3286 7/9/11 AMT Helicopters, PO Box 857 Caboolture Qld 4510
HFM CAC CA‑25 Winjeel CA25‑40 31/8/11 Darren Craven, PO Box 386 Lara Vic 3212
HHV Robinson R44 Astro 0491 12/12/10 Executive Aviation Services, PO Box 122 Yarra
Glen Vic 3775
HOU Robinson R44 Raven I 1673 7/6/11 Arafura Helicopters, PO Box 4816 Alice Springs
NT 0871
HSS Robinson R22 Beta II 3033 19/9/11 Walter Cooper, “Tanamera” Longreach Qld 4730
HYV Cessna A188B Agwagon C A1 18801296 12/8/11 Middlebrook Air Services, PO Box
317 Gunnedah NSW 2380
HZX Cessna 150F 15063685 7/9/11 Warren Matthews, 278 Burra Rd Tullamore NSW 2874
IFU Grumman AA‑1C Lynx AA1C‑0108 5/9/11 Margot Rayner, “Paro” 44 Kelly Rd Bingi
NSW 2537
IWI Ayres S2R‑T15 Turbo Thrush T15‑007 22/8/11 Hargreaves Aviation, PO Box 1211
Leeton NSW 2705
JDH Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17267879 9/9/11 Paul Bromley, 15A Bowman Cl Alice Springs
NT 0870
JMK Cessna 550 Citation II 550‑0289 29/8/11 JM Kelly (Project Builders), PO Box 5115
Rockhampton Qld 4702
JQF PA‑44‑180 Seminole 44‑7995291 15/9/11 Moorabbin Aviation Services, 21 First Ave
Moorabbin Airport Vic 3194
JSG Auster J/5G Autocar 3173 1/9/11 Grayden Long, 881 Dunolly‑Avoca Rd Mount Hooghly
Vic 3472
JUH Robinson R44 Raven II 10181 7/9/11 CQ Corporation, 388 Raymond St Sale Vic 3850
KGI Cessna 210N Centurion 21064169 17/9/11 Horsham Aviation Services, PO Box 626
Horsham Vic 3402
KIW Kawasaki BK117A‑3 1002 16/9/11 Heli Holdings, PO Box 3271 Auckland 1140
KJO PA‑28RT‑201 Arrow IV 28R‑8218004 12/9/11 Benson Chemicals, PO Box 2142
Brighton North Vic 3186
KNC Cessna 210‑5 2050144 1/9/11 Middlebrook Air Services, PO Box 317 Gunnedah NSW
2380
KPW Spitfire Replica 2/2008 25/8/11 Autopilot Cairns, 144‑146 Newell St Cairns Qld 4870
KWI Cessna 172H Skyhawk 17254966 25/8/11 Stretton Pastoral, 1550 Neuman Rd
Woodford Qld 4514
KXW Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S10679 16/8/11 Curtin Flying Club, PO Box 12 Bull
Creek WA 6149
MEN Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17267816 31/8/11 Peter McNamara, PO Box 661 Nanango 4615
MON Cessna 172M Skyhawk 17262138 25/8/11 Michael Fisher, “Kilberoo” Bourke 2840
NGH Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel 9021 25/8/11 Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation,
PO Box 371 Katherine NT 0851
NTE Beech 200 Super King Air BB‑529 9/9/11 Air Phoenix International, 1 Baron Way
Jandakot Airport WA 6164
NYR Cessna 150M 15078484 2/9/11 David Fisher, “Brindingabba” Bourke NSW 2840
ODR Air Tractor AT‑502 502‑0108 1/9/11 Neit, 5 Kennedy St Jerilderie NSW 2716
ONE Bell 206B‑2 JetRanger II 1240 2/9/11 The Experiences Group, 45 Wellington Pde East
Melbourne Vic 3002
PIW Robinson R44 Raven I 2127 9/9/11 Wombat Hollow Farm, PO Box 378 Kyneton 3444
PRZ Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17273250 26/8/11 Great Southern Aviation, PO Box 1172
Albany WA 6331
PVM Aerospatiale AS350BA Squirrel 2058 28/8/11 Radford Harvesting, 95 Wrights La
Moriarty Tas 7307
RBI Robinson R22 Beta II 3952 15/8/11 Luke Kingsley, “Mount Mulgrave” PMB 59 Cairns
Qld 4870

RMT PA‑31 Turbo Navajo B 31‑7401216 12/9/11 Dasap, PO Box 5 Burketown Qld 4830
RVD Beech B33 Debonair CD‑458 18/8/11 Andrew Pratt, PO Box 1050 Sale Vic 3853
RWO Cessna 150G 15064556 28/8/11 David Spence, PO Box 81 Wandin North Vic 3139
SJA Cirrus SR20A 1353 20/8/11 Ian Carfrae, PO Box 138 Taylors Lakes Vic 3038
SZS Seabird SB7L‑360A Seeker 070012 1/9/11 Seabird Airborne Surveillance, 8 Dawnie
St Toowoomba Qld 4350
TVU PA‑36 Pawnee Brave 300 36‑7760088 7/9/11 Neit, 5 Kennedy St Jerilderie NSW 2716
UBL Cessna 210N Centurion 21064712 16/9/11 Katherine Aviation, PO Box 2109 Katherine
NT 0851
UFQ Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17270329 30/8/11 KVA Helicopters, 17020 Mitchell Rd Saint
George Qld 4487
UGX Cessna 172M Skyhawk 17263865 22/8/11 Neil Dunn, 7 Playford St Glen Osmond 5064
VGC Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S10278 13/9/11 SA Aviation, PO Box 483 North
Adelaide SA 5006
VMY Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S10991 16/9/11 SA Aviation, PO Box 483 North
Adelaide SA 5006
WAR Robinson R44 Raven I 2131 17/9/11 Robert McGavin, 5 Kurweeton Rd Derrinallum
Vic 3325
WIE Gyrodyne Xron Optimized 4009 12/7/11 Coax Helicopters, 2/4 Cunningham St Moorebank
NSW 2170
WNH Robinson R22 Beta II 4521 12/9/11 RMH Holdings (Qld), PO Box 451 Goondiwindi 4390
WRS Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17270427 5/9/11 Autopilot Cairns, 144‑146 Newell St Cairns
Qld 4870
WZZ PA‑31 Turbo Navajo B 31‑775 10/8/11 Fred (NT), PO Box 133 Berrimah NT 0828
XCX PA‑28R‑201 Arrow III 28R‑7837049 19/9/11 Faye Warren, PO Box 603 Warragul 3820
XLX Liberty XL2 0111 22/6/11 Geelong Aviation, PO Box 156 Tocumwal NSW 2714
XRN Gyrodyne Xron Optimized 4008 12/7/11 Coax Helicopters, 2/4 Cunningham St Moorebank
NSW 2170
YLM Robinson R22 Beta II 3324 29/8/11 GB Helicopters, “Mount Gregory” MS 163 Clermont
Qld 4721
YRN Gyrodyne Xron Optimized 4015 18/7/07 Coax Helicopters, 2/4 Cunningham St Moorebank
NSW 2170
YYT Embraer EMB‑500 Phenom 100 50000029 30/8/11 Best Western Group, PO Box 138
Aberdeen NSW 2336
ZGN Robinson R22 Beta II 3965 23/8/11 Bankstown Helicopters, PO Box 29 Georges Hall
NSW 2198
ZOE Ayres S2R‑T34 Turbo Thrush T34‑131DC 1/8/11 Ross Wickens, PO Box 2013 Geraldton
WA 6530
ZVB Robinson R44 Raven I 1763 5/9/11 Heliflite, PO Box 121 Georges Hall NSW 2198
ZVC Robinson R44 Raven II 13170 1/9/11 Glenample Air, “Glenample” Princetown 3269

Register Review

The New Allocations listing this issue has a decidedly agricultural look. Six new Air Tractors and two Thrushes are shown, and together with two Air Tractors, a Thrush and an Eagle DW1 in last month’s issue, the aerial agricultural industry in Australia appears to be booming.

With heavy rain earlier this year, especially in Queensland, farmers are predicting bumper harvests and the aerial agriculture industry is ramping up for a busy season. New aircraft are being imported by the larger companies to replace older machines which are then being passed on to smaller firms, creating a healthy turnover of airborne crop sprayers.

Field Air at Ballarat, the local Air Tractor agents, is planning to import a new aircraft each fortnight for the next few months, while Statewide Aviation at Moree is expecting five new Thrushes in the very near future. Statewide started as a maintenance facility five years ago specialising in ag aircraft in the Moree area. Since then, its customer base has extended to cover most of New South Wales and Queensland, and in June it became the authorised dealers for the Thrush range including the T34/400 and 510 models, as well as the T660 fitted with a massive 2500 litre hopper.

The Thrush lineage goes back to 1951 when Leyland Snow designed his first dedicated crop spraying aircraft. During November 1965 Rockwell acquired the company, but in March 1970 production was moved from Olney, Texas, to Albany, Georgia, and at this time Leyland Snow decided to leave Rockwell and set up his own company, Air Tractor, in competition to his previous employer. During November 1977 Rockwell sold its agricultural division to the Ayres Corporation, which had been converting Snows and Rockwells to turbine power for some years. The smaller Cessna Agwagon and Piper Pawnee were no match for the big turbine powered Ayres and Air Tractors, and by the early 1980s the two companies ruled the market.

While Air Tractor concentrated on developing and improving its designs, Ayres diversified into the overnight parcel express market with its inhouse designed Loadmaster, and into the regional turboprop market by obtaining 93 per cent of Czech company Let, intending to build the Let L420 in the US. Unfortunately the startup costs for the Loadmaster and the growing losses that Let was accumulating proved too much for Ayres, and the company closed down in 2001.

Two years later the assets of Ayres were acquired by Thrush Aircraft, which put the T34 back into production in an updated series 400 and 510 form, and developed the T660, believing that ‘bigger is better’.

Statewide Aviation began its Thrush assault into the local marketplace with a T660 late last year and a T34 last month.

With a T34 and a T10 listed this month and two more T660s and another T10 arriving soon, it seems that competition between Air Tractor and Thrush (nee Ayres) is again hotting up.

Isak van Heerden’s Colomban Cri-Cri, ZSE, is the smallest manned twin aircraft in the world. The Cri-Cri (Cricket) was designed by Frenchman Michel Colomban in 1972 and is scratch built from plans. It is mostly metal construction with a small amount of foam. It features a T-tail and its engines are located on stub wings protruding from the nose and forward of the main wing. There are around 30 Cri-Cris active in the US and over 100 throughout the world, and as with most amateur built aircraft, builders have experimented with different engines and airframe modifications over the years. One French Cri-Cri is fitted with jet engines while another is powered by electric motors.

Isak’s Cri-Cri has taken around two years to build, is fitted with two German 20hp (15kW) Limbach engines, and is expected to have flown during the life of this issue.

In a strange twist Colomban refuses to sell plans of the Cri- Cri to Americans, as some years ago a US aircraft manufacturer copied the design and after a few minor changes made their own plans available to the home builder. The finished American design had some flutter problems, and after a few accidents Colomban wanted nothing to do with the American market.

Eurocopter Super Puma ZFB is the only Aircraft Returning to the Register this month. The Super Puma has been flying with Malaysian Helicopter Services for the last seven months, but has now returned to Bristow Helicopters’ Australian fleet.

Still marked as 9M-STX, it arrived at Broome from Kupang in late August.

Exports account for around one-third of the Deletions this issue, with Qantas Boeing 737-400 TJT now flying with The Sayegh Group Aviation in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan – so its subsequent registration may take a while to come to light. Sikorsky Helibus LYJ is now in Norway, ex MacAir ATR-42 UYJ is in Denmark, and Cessna 180 UUM has crossed the Tasman to New Zealand. Harvard ZRO is on its way to the US, while Global Express ZZH is now registered N877AB with Wells Fargo Bank.

Virgin E-170 ZHD in now N749CZ and has joined its three sisterships in the Compass Airlines fl eet, but operates in Delta Connection colours and titles. As the name implies Delta Connection is a feeder airline for Delta Airlines, although Compass was sold last year to Trans States Holdings.

Cessna 210 OCM and Cessna 177 DSA were both written off during August, when the Cessna 210 landed short of the runway at Kununurra and the Cessna 177 suff ered engine failure on approach to South Grafton.

Aerospatiale Twin Squirrel NTV was the helicopter involved in the much publicised crash at Lake Eyre that killed well known pilot Gary Ticehurst, along with ABC reporter Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean.

Th e helicopter had departed a small island in the Cooper Creek Inlet when, for reasons yet unknown, it crashed killing all onboard.

Another highly publicised accident was to Cherokee POJ which crashed near Horsham during August. Th e fl ight was arranged by Angel Flight to ferry two people from Melbourne to Nhill via Bendigo, but encountered bad weather en route with all three occupants perishing in the accident.

Qantas Boeing 747-400 OJR has been in open storage at Marana, Arizona, since November last year, but will now be reduced to spare parts.

A survey of the PNG register reveals the subsequent markings of three helicopters not previously reported in this column.

Bell 407 CUX is now registered ex AyreS Central Highlands Aerial Services Thrush S2R-T34 WNN was listed in the New Allocations section in the October issue of AA. (Statewide Aviation) P2-HFQ with Helifi x Operations at Port Moresby, Bell 205A NNN is fl ying as P2- HBY with Heli Niugini of Madang, and Eurocopter Squirrel THU is now with Pacifi c-Rim Air Services at Boroko and marked as P2-PPM.

Further afi eld, GippsAero Airvan CVX, listed in the September issue, is now with Cercle Para at Noerttrangle- Wiltz, Luxembourg, marked as LX-MDT, and Kavanagh EX-65 balloon ZXX is in Austria fl ying as OE-ZIX with Erster Osterreichischer at Graz. Th e EX-65 is a highly manoeuvrable balloon specifi cally designed for competitions, and is very popular throughout the world with another example, YMS, now known to be operating in Japan as JA-A1358. Two recent Bell 407 exports have been URS which is now fl ying in the US as N395LB with Microseal in New York, and MAR which is now in the Czech Republic with Blue Sky Service as OK-ALB.

Finally, as detailed in Warbirds in September AA, CAC Mustang D-FBBD at the Imperial War Museum’s Flying Legends air display at Duxford, UK, during July. Th e Mustang was registered FCB between November 1959 and October 1966 before export to the Philippines. Th e Mustang collided with Douglas Skyraider F-AZDP during a display, and although there were no injuries and the Skyraider managed to land without serious damage, the Mustang is believed to be a complete write off .