Warbirds

The Firefly was participating in ‘Wings over Gillespie’ airshow at Gillespie airfield, El Cajon, California on June 3, which celebrated the Centenary of the Marine Corps and the 70th anniversary of Gillespie Field. The aircraft was landing when the undercarriage collapsed and the big fighter bomber slid off the runway. The pilot and owner, Captain Eddie Kurdziel, was unhurt.

The Firefly was a popular feature on the Australian warbird scene in the late 1980s until it had an engine failure and crash landing near Camden, NSW on December 4 1987. The aircraft was partly rebuilt using major sections of the Griffith Firefly-on-a-pole WD518. The machine was exported to the USA and rebuilt to fly again, with its first flight in the US on April 6 2002. Since then it has been a feature on the US airshow circuit, but now it looks like it is back to the rebuild shop again.

Cabin Ryan Being Imported

The last two decades or so years have seen a number of Ryan STA and STM trainers exported from Australia to around the world but soon the tide will change with a Ryan SCW-145 Sport Coupe cabin monoplane being imported.

The very unique Ryan, one of only 12 factory-built SC models, is being imported by new owner, Steve Carter.

Steve’s aircraft is importing is unique in several ways. With c/n 211 it was built on June 18 1938, the 11th aircraft built, and initially allocated US registration, NC18916. The first owners were a Doc Booth and Al Henning. It was powered by a 108 kW (145 hp) Warner Scarab radial engine. It was flown out of Dallas and Okalahoma City before being impressed into the US Army Air Force in 1942 and allotted the serial of 42-107412 with the type designation of L-10. It was the only such Ryan to be impressed into the USAAF.

Disposed of in 1944 it took up the civil registration NC46207, later N46207, with owner listed as being Roland Egger of Houston, Texas. Some time after 1976 ownership changed to Dr Kenneth L Senter then of Glendale, California.

On July 9 1989 the Ryan was damaged when it suffered an engine failure for undetermined reasons on takeoff from Santa Paula airport, California. Both wings were damaged. Dr Senter, the pilot and only person on board, was not injured. The SCW entered a long rebuilding period, with Alan Bucher in Fresno completing the airframe restoration while Richard Hulme rebuilt the Warner engine at Santa Paula in 1996.

New owner Steve Carter, from Ballarat, wanted a 1930s antique aircraft that was capable of transporting two people in comfort. The Ryan, which can seat three, meets his needs. The aircraft is being imported as this column goes to print but it will bring out the crowds at the fuel bowser when it taxies in at any airfield. With a blue and gold colour scheme the radial engine has a helmet (bumpy) cowl around the radial engine. It is a very unique looking aircraft.

Grumman Mallard Import

Following the recent import of a Grumman Albatross to WA comes news that a Grumman G-73 Mallard is also being imported. The aircraft, registration as yet unknown, is to come out of Florida, and was due to depart the US in late May or early June. Well known ferry pilot Jim Hazleton, will be aboard. The aircraft, powered by radial engines, is for Peter Lynch and will be based at Evans Head, NSW. Peter Lynch is the head of the Evans Head Airpark Consortium that aims to redevelop and revitalise Evans Head as an aerodrome and airpark. An air museum is part of the projected redevelopment plan.

Peter Lynch is a private pilot and flies his own Piper PA30 Twin Comanche. He is a leading mining executive.

Hawker Prop Disappearance

Agatha Christie where are you? That is the call from an aviation historical researcher who is trying to find the location of an aviation artifact, the propeller that was used on a 1914 Sopwith Tabloid biplane. The aircraft was being flown by famous aviator Harry Hawker when it suffered a damaged propeller at Melbourne’s Caulfield racecourse during an exhibition flight. The damaged propeller was reportedly given to the Moorabbin City Council. By the 1960s the propeller and a fragment of it were on display in the Harry Hawker Memorial pavilion at Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport.
Then the propeller disappeared.

It is reported that a person claiming to be from the Moorabbin City Council collected the propeller and from there the trail has gone cold. Did it end up and forgotten with the council or did it end up in the collection of a private collector?

No one seems to know.

If any reader has any knowledge of the location of the missing propeller the Moorabbin Airport Corporation would be pleased to hear them.

General News

In New Zealand DH.82a Tiger Moth c/n 827 took up the registration ZK-SSA on April 30. The aircraft was previously VH-SSA. The new owner is a Mr F Frost of Nelson.

As noted in the May issue of AA Beech G18-S VH-NWB was damaged when it left the runway at Hollister Airport, California, on a test hop the day before it was due to be ferry flown to Australia. The twin Beech, c/n BA-546, was struck off the Australian register on May 18 as a result of the accident damage.

Hawker Siddley Fury FB10, VH-ORN, serial 37534, was struck off the register on May 17 as having been sold to a European buyer. Miles Messenger, VH-WYN, has been acquired by Brett Redway (previously with the RAAF Museum). Brett intends to restore the wooden structured aircraft back to airworthy condition. The last local Messenger rebuilt from scratch was VH-BJM. It was later exported to New Zealand where it flies as ZK-CMM.
Cessna L-19A Bird Dog VH-UXX has a new owner, Leo Canteri of Melbourne. The machine was previously based at Camden.

Percival Vega Gull VH-BQA has been sold to the UK. The aircraft arrived in Australia in 1938 for then federal treasurer (and later gorvernor-general) R G Casey, registered as VH-ACA. During WW2 it was impressed with the RAAF as A32-2. After the war it became VH-BQA. With c/n K98 the aircraft was struck off the register in 1959. The UK owners are brothers Gerry and Alan Smith of Kent, and the aircraft will be in for a total rebuild.

Beech C17B VH-UXP has flown! Following a rebuild by the New Zealand Croydon Aircraft Company at Manderville the Staggerwing cabin biplane took to the air on May 12 at the hands of owner, Cam Hawley. Painted up in a pre-war colour scheme complete with the registration on the upper wings the aircraft will stay in New Zealand until 2013 when it will make a public debut next Easter at the Classic Fighters show at Omaka.

Vultee BT-13 VH-JKV made its first Australian public showing at the Temora Aviation Museum fortnightly Showcase Day on Saturday June 2.

In Brief
● The Supermarine Spitfire is to be the subject of the annual George Merz Memorial Lecture to be held by The Friends of the RAAF Museum on Friday September 14 in the Officers Mess at RAAF Williams, Laverton. The gathering starts at 7.30 pm with the lecture to commence at 8.00 pm. The guest speaker is yet to be announced. Entry is free but bookings are essential to ensure entry past the security guard house. Photo ID will be required. E-mail bookings can be made via [email protected]

● The next Catalina Festival will be held at the former RAAF base at Rathmines, NSW on November 3.

● June 23 marked the 65th anniversary of the first flight of East-West. The airline took to the skies in 1947 with Avro Anson, VH-ASM, operating Tamworth-Sydney-Tamworth.

Contact Dave by email at [email protected]