Warbirds

As noted in the last issue of AA, VH-FST was up for sale via Platinum Fighter Sales. There had been fears expressed in some circles there was no-one in Australia willing to buy the machine.

CASA records show VH-FST is the only North American-built Mustang on the register. It was originally owned by Bill Willie of Wyllie Aviation in Western Australia. It was imported into Australia in 1999.

Never registered in the USA, VH-FST was completed by Rob Poynton’s Panama Jack’s Aviation at Jandakot and made its first flight on February 9 2001. It has serial number 45-11526.

With the passing of Bill Willie the machine passed to Peter Croser and his business partner and was based at Parafield.

In October 2006 it suffered the collapse of a gear leg while landing at Point Cook, Victoria. Later repaired, the aircraft was flown to Parafield, South Australia, but has not flown since that time. An engine issue is reported to be the reason.

Ross Pay has advised AA that the engine, a Packard Merlin V-1650-7, was to be removed from the aircraft in the second week of April and taken to Scone for overhaul. When the overhaul is completed the engine will be reinstalled and the aircraft will have an annual inspection carried out and then be flown to Scone.

Register news

As expected, New Zealand-restored DH98 Mosquito ZK-MOS, an FB Mk 26, was struck off the register on March 19, having been shipped to Virginia for German-born businessman Gerald ‘Jerry’ Yagen who owns the Military Aviation Museum at Virginia Beach airport.

The aircraft carried serial KA114 when with the Canadian military. In NZ it carried the marking ZK-MOS. It took up the US registration of N114KA, a kind of reverse of its original serial, on March 26. The all-wood twin-engined fighter bomber is the only one of its type flying in the world.

From Victoria, VH-SNP, a Sopwith Snipe replica has been placed on the register, effective March 6. The aircraft is officially a Caudwell Sopwith Snipe with serial CSS-1. The builder-owner is Nicholas Caudwell of Mt Eliza. The aircraft is to be powered by a Continental W670 seven-cylinder radial engine. The original engine type was a Bentley rotary. They are a bit hard to find these days. All photos of the machine show it to be an accurate replica or reproduction.

Our loss is someone’s gain! That is the best way to view the loss of Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX VH-IXT, which was struck off the register on March 6. Last owned by Aviation Australia at Eagle farm, Brisbane, the aircraft is a restoration project and has been sold abroad to an unknown owner.

SAAB 91C Safir VH-BHG has been purchased by airline pilot Jim Mahon of Geelong. The aircraft, which was dismantled, is reported as being at Bacchus Marsh aerodrome and being restored to airworthy status. Built in 1953, the aircraft was remembered in more recent years with a colour scheme of royal blue and polished metal finish.

F-111s delivered to SAAM, HARS

The first of the F-111 fighter-bombers to be released into a private long-term ‘loan’ has arrived at the South Australian Aviation Museum (SAAM). Located at Port Adelaide, the aircraft, F-111C A8-134, was delivered and re-assembled by a RAAF ground crew.

The aircraft arrived at the SAAM on Sunday March 17 after a four-day trip from RAAF Amberley. The aircraft, on a low loader, created an unusual sight as it made its way across Queensland, central NSW and rural Victoria. Each stop created a large crowd of spectators.

The reassembled aircraft is resplendent in a camouflage paint scheme. While looking ready to fuel and fly the machine is lacking engines but a core with compressor stage and turbines is fitted for an authentic appearance. All inspection panels and refuelling panels have been sealed.

Meanwhile F-111C A8-109 has arrived at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) facilities at Illawarra Regional Airport near Wollongong.

A8-109 left RAAF Base Amberley on a low-loader in the early hours of April 6, reaching HARS three days later.

A8-109 is an ex-USAF F-111A that saw combat in Vietnam before being purchased by the RAAF in 1982. Shutdown for the final time on December 3 2010 following a flying display at the F-111 retirement ceremony, A8-109 was the world’s last operational F-111.

DC-2 to be rebuilt – at Albury

After much debate and discussion, the fate of the Albury-based DC-2 has finally been decided after a long period on display at the airport painted up as KLM DC-2 Uiver. The aircraft is to be rebuilt by the Mol family who operate the firm Smart Air, at both Albury and Bathurst.

The original Uiver put Albury on the world map when it landed in a storm at night on the Albury racecourse during the England to Australia air race in 1934.

In recent years the DC-2’s condition has been deteriorating while it has been in external storage.

At a March 25 Council meeting a last minute vote opted to accept the Mol’s offer of restoration of the aircraft. This will be under the title Uiver Memorial Museum Group. The group plans to restore the aircraft to static display standard within five years and have it housed in a purpose-built memorial hangar by 2022.

Another Sabre flies again – briefly

CAC CA-27 Sabre A94-959 has been on a plinth at Bettles Park, Raymond Terrace, NSW for three decades, but after all this time battling the elements the old fighter jet took to the skies again on March 9, but briefly, as it was taken down by a crane.

The aircraft was then trucked to its new home at Fighter World adjacent to RAAF Base Williamtown. The aircraft was transported intact to Fighter World, with an estimated 500 local residents on hand to witness the event. The Sabre was originally obtained and raised on the plinth by the Raymond Terrace Lions Club as a tribute to the pilots and operations at nearby Williamtown RAAF base.

At Fighter World the aircraft will be restored to static condition and put on display. The museum already has one other Sabre, A94-951, on display.

Contact Dave by email: flyer02@optusnet. com. au

Warbird Briefs

It is unfortunate to record the fatal crash of 5/8th scale Supermarine Mk XXVI Spitfire VH-VSF on March 17. The aircraft was being demonstrated by its owner-builder at an airshow at Parafield airport, South Australia when it reportedly entered a spin and crashed a short distance from the airport.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first military flight in Australia, the RAAF plans to hold an airshow at Point Cook. The event date has been set for March 1 & 2 2014.

A bushfire near Dereel, south of Ballarat, Vic on March 27 had a number of aviation enthusiasts concerned. Dereel is the site of Andrew Willox’s workshop where he built the replica 1914 Be2c that is destined for the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. It was pleasing to note that while the fires came near the property the replica aircraft had already been moved to Point Cook. There it will be erected and the rigging checked before it is dismantled and the fabric covering applied.

US-born but considered a New Zealand resident, Eric Hertz and his wife Kathy died on March 30 in their Beech G58 Baron, N254F, when it crashed in the sea off Waikato. Eric was the owner of Hawker Tempest MW376 that is being rebuilt by Pioneer Aero at Ardmore. He was also the owner of Beech G17S N80316 that took the EAA Oshkosh 2012 Bronze Lindy trophy for WW2-Era Champion. Eric moved to New Zealand to become CEO of 2degrees, a mobile phone company.