Warbirds

Big transports were Lockheed Connie VH-EAG from HARS, along with Douglas DC-3s/C-47s VH-OVM, VH-TMQ, VH-AES and VH-AGU in its first public outing in a camouflage colour scheme. Smaller transports were Lockheed 12 VH-HID, which is reportedly up for sale and DHA-3 Drover VH-AND.

The RAN had Bell UH-1B Iroquois helicopter ‘898’ VH-NVV/N9-3104 on static display.

There were a number of ex-RAAF trainer types present. Some flew while others were on static display. Tiger Moth VH-COA received the award for Best Tiger Moth/Tube & Fabric aircraft. DH94 Moth Minor VH-HFM took the award for Best Ex-Warbird Trainer.

If you like fighters there were more than a few present. Gloster F8 Meteor 851 VH-MBX flew along with CAC Sabre A94-983/VH-IPN.

Both types are rare in the warbird flying world. Sopwith Pup replica VH-PSP was in a group formation flypast while CAC Boomerang A46-122/VH-MHR was a pleasing sight and had a distinctive sound in the dive. Jeff Trappett flew his CAC Mustang VH-AGJ/A68-119 and the Temora Aviation Museum Spitfire Mk. VIII VH-HET as always cut a fine figure in the sky. Oh for the sigh of a Merlin (engine)!

Former Singapore Air Force Siai Marchetti S-111 VH-DZJ ‘381’ in an orange and white colour scheme was on static display. Soko G-2A ‘Galeb’ VH-YUE/23177 confused a few people who thought it was a Macchi jet trainer. Canberra ‘232, in a camouflage colure scheme, gave an idea of what RAAF bombers were like before the F-111.

In the antiques and classics area we saw Auster VH-WWG, Globe Swift VH-BYB, Cessna 120, 24-7934, Cessna Birddog, VH-UXX and former Army Cessna 180 VH-TVA/A98-340. Pride of place in the antiques was Guy Bourke’s recently imported Waco AGC-8, NC66026.

This radial engine-powered cabin biplane took the Antique Aeroplane Association plaque for Managers/Executive antique aircraft along with the Grand Champion Trophy and tickets to the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow in New Zealand.

Saving the best to last. In the air were the two bright orange Boeing 75 Stearman biplanes of the Breitling wingwalking act. With 336kw (450 hp) Pratt & Whitney engines they had adequate power to safely carry out the aerobatic wingwalking display complete with display smoke. The two aircraft, N5057V #1 and N707TJ # 3 had been brought from the UK for display complete with three petit lady wingwalkers. Unfortunately Stearman #3 suffered a reported cracked cylinder while in the air and had to make a precautionary landing without any damage. It did not fly again and left Breitling Stearman # 1 to continue the display flying as a real crowd-pleaser.

In the oddball department there were a few other aircraft of interest. USAF Boeing B-52H 61-0012 was on static display. It was built in 1961 and still has a few years to continue flying. Beech B95 Travelair VH-FDX built in 1960 was on static display in the Antique Aeroplane Association antique and classic aircraft park along with a 1963-build Ayres 600 Thrush 600 agricultural aircraft VH-LGZ. As the years fly by aircraft become classics.

No Buried Spitfires In Burma

That is now the conclusion after a dig failed to reveal any sign of the so called squadron of buried WWII Supermarine Spitfires.

For some years a British aviation historian had become convinced a large number of surplus WWII Supermarine Spitfire fighters had been buried in several locations in Burma in 1945. The historian, David Cundall, who has spent some 17 years chasing the Spitfires, managed to get approval from the Burmese Government to try and locate the buried aircraft. He claimed there were a number of Spitfires buried at former RAF air bases from the days when Britain was the colonial power in Burma at the end of the war.

It was said the aircraft had been covered in tar paper and buried in wooden packing crates that would preserve the machines.

Digs at several sites failed to find any sign of the buried aircraft. Before the dig commenced skeptics and those with aviation knowledge were pouring cold water of the project saying that if any aircraft had been buried then tar paper, wooden crates and nearly seventy years of wet conditions would have reduced the aircraft to corroded hulks, if they existed.

With a lot of aviation enthusiasts around the world taking a keen interest in the proceedings, further research failed to disclose any photos or contact with anyone who had been directly involved in the burial of the Spitfires. It now appears that reports of the buried aircraft began as a rumour and as the years passed the rumour got bigger and better.

The project backers, online game company Wargaming, said the team in Burma now believes, based on clear documentary evidence, as well as the evidence from fieldwork, that no Spitfires were delivered in crates and buried at RAF Mingaladon during 1945.

“As a result we believe that the legend of the buried Spitfires of Burma is just that – a captivating legend about a beautiful and iconic aircraft”.

World War II aircraft continue to turn up around the world and the Artic, Russia and the South Pacific are but three locations. Here in Australia we have heard rumours over the years of Spitfires buried in a mineshaft at Toowoomba and squadrons of Corsairs on the seabed off the Queensland coast ready to raise and fly. All have turned out to be rumours and nothing else.

Hars Caribou Sponsor

Australian Aerospace and the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, better known as HARS, have entered into a partnership to support two flying examples of the venerable DHC-4A Caribou military transport aircraft.

Under the multi-year sponsorship deal Australian Aerospace will provide funding towards the upkeep of the Caribous which were allocated to HARS last year.

Both aircraft were on display at Avalon.

Australian Aerospace is better know for is role with the modern Tiger ARH Armed Reconnaissance helicopter for the Australian Army and the MRH90 Multi-Role helicopter for the Army and Navy. The company and its predecessor organisations had previously provided support for the Caribou while in service with the RAAF.

Speaking proudly of the Caribous and the Australian Aerospace partnership, Bob De La Hunty, President of HARS, said: “HARS welcomes the assistance of companies such as Australian Aerospace. For this, we are very grateful. We see ourselves as custodians of Australian aviation heritage and are very proud of what we have achieved”.

Narromine Aviation Museum

The Narromine Aviation Museum (NAM) has applied to Regional Development Australia (RDA) for a grant of $250,000 to extend the museum. The RDA grants are worth almost $1 billion over five years and are designed to boost economic and community development.

The NAM is keen to expand the museum to the stage it has a substantial number of aircraft on display as well as a refreshments area.

Although more funds are needed beyond what the RDA may grant, it is expected the Narromine Shire Council will assist with other fundings. Aircraft in the collection include a Corben Super Ace, a Wright flyer replica that has been flown, a 1953 Venture glider, a CAC Sabre fighter and a DH82a Tiger Moth.

Register Review

From New Zealand we learn that ZK-JET, an Aero L-29, was added to the register on February 12. With serial 294892 and ex-US registration N106AV the new owners are Double X Aviation Ltd. Of Mount Maunganui.

Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA ZK-TPK serial P3351 was struck off the Kiwi register on February 25. The last owners were the Alpine Fighter Collection at Wanaka. It is reported that the aircraft is bound for France. The aircraft has been for sale for several years.

DH89A Dragon Rapide ZK-SWR c/n 6853 was struck off the register on March 1 as having been exported to Germany.

The Australian register this month has turned up a few interesting registrations. VH-DEA is a Curtiss P-40N that was added to the register on February 22 with serial 42-104949 to Reevers Pastoral P/L of Magill, South Australia. The aircraft is understood to be a rebuild project. Reevers Pastoral also has a second Curtiss P-40E registered as VH-AJY. This has been on the register with Reevers since August 12, 2009.

A Fokker DR-1 with serial NA-1 was added to the register as VH-FXP on February 2 to Andrew Carter of Nundah, Queensland. The aircraft is ex-USA registration N2287B. The aircraft was built in 1970.

Chance Vought F4U-5N Corsair VH-III serial A10-353 was added to the register on February 14 to Graham Hosking of Mt Eliza, Victoria. Triple India as it will be known is under rebuild in Darwin. Engine runs were carried out in January. Systems detailing is now being attended to before the big day and a first flight takes place in the not too distant future.

In Brief

● Winjeel VH-HFE was recently noted for sale on EBay, not having flown since 2007 and currently with the wings off. Lockheed 12, VH-HID, also noted as being up for sale along with Mustang VH-FST. The Mustang has not flown for a few years.

● Following the success of the last event, the Rathmines Catalina Festival has elected to conduct its next event on November 9. The event serves to commemorate the significance of the former RAAF Base during WWII and pay respect to those who served at the base and lost their lives through the war effort. The festival continues to support the establishment of a hangar/museum at the site.

● The South Australian Aviation Museum has been granted the permanent loan of an F-111. The aircraft was to be road-freighted to Adelaide in mid-March and reassembled on site. Having the F-111 at the museum is expected to boost visitor attendance numbers.

Contact Dave by email at [email protected]