Warbirds

With maker’s serial number 1774 it was put into WW11 US Navy service as Bu48412. Sold as surplus in the 1950s’ it first took up the US marking of N10024, later it became N96R. It then took up a number of YV- registrations before becoming N7238Z.

RCMPT members heard about the Catalina via the internet when the machine turned up on E-bay. A first bidder won the machine but then failed to complete the deal. The RCMPT stepped in and bought the machine for some $20,000.

Previously used to ferry dredge crews on the Orinoco River in Venezuela it has been languishing at the San Juan airport for some years.
The plan is to get the aircraft shipped to Australia and then put into storage while a hangar-museum building is built for it at the former RAAF Rathmines seaplane base. The RCMPT plans to set up a memorial to the use of Rathmines and its Catalina aircraft during WW11. The new Catalina will be a static display at the museum. The building will also be used to house and display Catalina PBY-6A, VH-CAT, of the Catalina Flying Memorial. VH-CAT is currently at Bankstown airport slowly being brought back to airworthy condition. The two aircraft will compliment each other.

In November last year some 15,000 spectators visited Rathmines Park and watched Catalina VH-PBZ of the HARS as it touched down on Lake Macquarie as part of the Catalina festival, the aim of which is to both raise funds for the memorial and raise awareness of the pending memorial-museum at the Rathmines Park.

The RCMPT now has to arrange the big task of dismantling and shipping the Catalina from Central America to Australia. Once that is done then comes the big task of restoring the aircraft in order that it resemble a famed Black Cat the likes of which operated from Rathmines during WW11.

Hars Neptune And Connie Grounded?

The Wings over Illawarra Airshow at Albion Park, NSW, on Sunday May 5 had a number of interesting aircraft on display, both on the ground and in the air, but two aircraft that did not fly were the Lockheed Constellation, (Connie) VH-EAG and the Lockheed Neptune VH-IOY.

No information was forthcoming as to why the two flagships of the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) were not flying. The Connie graced the cover of the airshow program and spectators had expected it to fly.

Both aircraft are reported to have structural or mechanical issues.

The Neptune was the subject of a recent CASA Airworthiness Survey Inspection titled Aircraft Survey Report (ASR) N0.300714 reports fellow aviation magazine, Aero. In short the ASR stated that the aircraft had to have spar and other inspections and until the inspections and any repairs were carried out to the satisfaction of CASA the aircraft was not to fly.

At the March Avalon International Airshow this column writer was told by a HARS representative that there were no issues with CASA regarding the Neptune.

In the US the FAA has become concerned with the airworthiness of the Neptune where the ex US Navy aircraft type had been used for fire bombing.

One aircraft was found to have a cracked spar and as a result all Neptunes in the US were required to undergo a detailed inspection of the critical areas. The FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2012-03-51 E for US aircraft in February 2012 requiring that inspection.

Here in Australia CASA had been concerned with the airworthiness of the Neptune type and had issued a like AD, No.AD/P2V/1, back in November 2002. It was however a requirement to inspect the wing lower surface between the fuselage and the inboard engine nacelle.

The FAA AD was more concerned with the spar following the discovery of that more recent significant crack in the principle wing structure. The CASA ASR took a keener interest in the Neptune spars, the doubler straps and the production joint in that area of between the fuselage and the engine nacelle. A detailed inspection is required.

Meanwhile an ASR was raised by CASA for the Connie to be inspected to confirm that all hydraulic lines were of the correct material. It is reported that the critical area was that of the elevator controls. The control surfaces are hydraulically boosted at pressure up to 1700 psi.

During the airshow the media was advised that the aircraft was undergoing routine maintenance and that a leaking hydraulic line was being repaired but that they (the maintenance engineers) ran out of time.

HARS was contacted by this column in the week before the airshow to ask if the Neptune and Connie were to fly in the show. There was no reply. A later email was again sent to HARS in the week before the airshow saying that it was reported that the Neptune and Connie were grounded and could HARS please comment. Again there was no reply. The two aircraft did not fly at the airshow. In an interview by the Illawarra Mercury newspaper of May 5 HARS said that the ‘aircraft were not grounded but were undergoing inspection and maintenance”.
HARS was taken to task by the Shellharbour City Council at a recent meeting where it was revealed that the organisation had not received an occupational certificate. In effect the museum and workshop was still a construction site and should have treated as such but was having numbers of the public moving through it. No mention was made of the privately operated aircraft restoration workshop within the HARS complex.

Antiques Galore At Echuca

The weekend of April 12 & 13 saw a large number of antiques and classics in attendance at Echuca, Vic. for the annual Antique Aeroplane Association (AAAA) gathering. A fly-in this year instead of an airshow probably attracted more members with their aircraft allowing the ability to stroll, talk and look over the 120 plus aircraft present.

This year the AAAA celebrated the year of the Luscombe. The Luscombe is an American all metal two seat aircraft built from the late 1930s’ through until the mid fifties. A small number of the type have been imported into Australia. The gathering was fortunate to have one sample in attendance, an RA registered machine, 24-5184.

From Sydney Roy Fox brought his BA Eagle, VH-UTI, a three place wooden construction machine with retract gear. Roy also brought his DH89 Rapide, VH-UTV. There was a good swarm of Austers with no less than twelve present.

Warbird fans noted four CAC Winjeels including rarely seen VH-DKK. Wirraway VH-WWY flew in and did several display flights.

One of the biggest interest aircraft was the Cessna 195. Six of the marque turned up. Powered by a radial engine 195s’ VH-AAI, KES, KXR, ONF, ONV and VLD created much interest.

Warbird enthusiasts were pleased to see Siai-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer, VH-DZJ. Previously with the Singapore Air Force and used out of Pearce AFB in WA the type has been sold as surplus in recent times. Several have gone to the USA while a few remain in Australia. It carried a distinctive orange and white colour scheme.

Guy Bourke’s Waco AGC-8, NC66206, was a noteworthy visitor. Recently imported from the USA the aircraft looks like it stepped out of a sales brochure.

A deep red colour scheme drew attention to the machine as the Jacobs radial engine gave the distinctive sound that only a radial engine can do.

A number of other interesting types were in attendance. Cessna Bird Dogs, VH-FAC, FXY and UXX. CT-4As’ VH-MCT and WCT. DH87 Hornet Moth VH-UXY. Ercoupe 24-8004. Globe Swift VH-BYB. Avro cadet VH-AGH. Auster look a like, Beagle A.61 VH-WFM. Stearman VH-JQY and HCJ. DH82a Tiger Moths VH-AKE, AQJ, AZF, BBC, CCD and NWM. Nanchang CJ-6A, VH-NNC. Piper J3 Cubs VH-ZBO and 24-5421. Piper PA20/22 VH-DNW, PKP, RDB and TPH. Ryan ST3 VH-RPT.

Stampe SV-4B VH-BVU was present with new owner Kevin Bailey flying the aircraft to WA. Previously owner by the late Dick Knell WA flyers are now to see the Stampe that Dick flew to so many events on the east coast.

At the Saturday night dinner awards were presented to a number of aircraft owners and pilots. Best Classic went to PA22/20 VH-DNW. Best Antique went to DH82a Tiger Moth, VH-NWM. The Presidents Choice award went to Cessna 180, VH-TVA. The aircraft still flies in the marks it carried in Australian military service. Reserve Grand Champion went to Cessna 195, VH-KXR. The Grand Champion went to Guy Bourke for his Waco AGC-8, NC66206.

The next AAAA annual gathering will be at Temora, NSW, in 2014.

Registration Data Update

New Zealand has several new aircraft starting with a Classic Waco YMF biplane, ZK-CFL. With serial F5-019 and previously N60JG in the US the aircraft was registered on April 16 to Classic Flights Ltd of Wanaka in the south island.

The Vintage Aviator has been busy again and has two new WW1 replica types onto the register. They must have quite a production line going. ZK-SNI is a Sopwith Snipe replica. With serial 0112 it was put onto the register on March 22 to Vintage Aviator of Masterton. ZK-JNB is a replica Albatros D.11 fighter. Serial is 0094 and it was placed on the ZK register on April 23 to Vintage Aviator. There is a constant rumour going around in some circles that the next Avalon International Airshow may see some of these New Zealand built WW1 replicas flying at the event. Rumours are just that, rumours, but …

In the western Isles, as the Kiwis refer to Australia, there have been a few interesting movements. Siai-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer, ex the Singapore Air Force, VH-BZX, was struck off the register on April 24 as exported to the USA. BZX has serial 013/02-010. It was not on the US register by mid May but there are two of the type there already, probably ex Australia.

An aircraft titled a Beagle Auster J5G, serial 3276, has come onto the register as VH-LOO. It went onto the register on April 19 to Coll McLean of Robe, SA. Ex G-ASFK the aircraft has been in Australia since October 2010 with Chris Harrison of Heyfield, Vic. and was flying here under its UK registration.

Grumman G-111 Albatross VH-NMO went onto the register on April 16 to Catalina Airlines Pty Ltd of Belmont, WA. This aircraft is a former military HU-16 with the US registration N42MY and has serial 148329.

A few changes of ownership of interest. Ryan ST-M2 VH-AGM serial 465 went to Walker Trusco Pty Ltd of Armadale, Victoria on April 17. Piper J3C-65 VH-TUC, serial 5526, also went to the same new owners on April 17.

North American P-51D, VH-FST, went to Pay’s Air Service Pty Ltd of Scone, NSW on April 9. FST has serial 45-11526. See the last AA for more details on this aircraft.

Stinson 108-2, VH-AHW, serial 108-2772, changed ownership to Brian Moore of Leeming, WA, on April 15.

New Gnome Rotary Engine

If you cannot find them then what do you do? You make them! That is the word from New Zealand where Classic Aero Machining Service (CAMS) of Omaka, Blenheim, has commenced to manufacture a batch of five Gnome rotary aero engines.

The last time that a Gnome rotary engine was made was back in 1918.

Visitors to this years Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka airfield near Blenheim, New Zealand, were treated to a sight not seen since WW1 – a new Gnome rotary engine. The display engine at that time was not complete. It used the crankshaft and back case from an original engine but those have since been manufactured by CAMS. Owner and Chief Engineer of CAMS, Tony Wytenburg commented that there are a number of flyable airframes (replicas) that would look and sound great with an original rotary engine.

CAMS have been reverse engineering and manufacturing hard or impossible to get aircraft parts for many years. They have previously made Gnome cylinders and successfully reverse engineered an RAF-1A V8 engine.

The price of the Gnome was initially set at $50,000 but with the exchange rate changing the price would have to be reviewed Tony Wytenburg said.

When originally made in WW1 the Gnome crankcases were forged. This is an good way to manufacture large quantities of a particular part but requires quite a bit of setting up dies and stamping machinery. Given that today we have CNC manufacturing capability CAMS has been able to manufacture their rotary in batches of five with parts machined out of a solid billet of steel instead of being forged. CAMS is aiming to have the first new rotary running by the end of this year.

In Brief

● The Williamtown, NSW, Fighter World museum took delivery of F-111, A8-148, on May 5. The HARS at Albion Park, NSW, took delivery of F-111, A8-109, on April 8. Another addition to a growing collection.

● A Tiger Moth air race has not been held for a number of years but that looks about to change with several reports received that a Tiger Moth race is likely to be held early next year. More details as they become available but the Newcastle area is to be the base for the event.

● The recent Parafield air show looks to be the last held. Classic Jets Fighter Museum owner and airshow organiser, Bob Jarrett, has advised that he now wants to concentrate on the rebuild of the CJFM F4U-1 Corsair fighter that the museum has in its workshop.

● CASA has commenced a project to revise Civil Aviation Advisory Publication, CAAP 104-1(0). The CAAP has been amended to provide for maintenance of limited category aircraft that fall into categories of warbirds, historic or replica aircraft.

The project is to have the subject aircraft have a maintenance training and authorisation system that covers the differences between those aircraft and the aircraft types taught during category training. CASA believes that large warbirds should only be maintained with an aircraft maintenance organisation, no maintenance by an independent LAME.

Contact Dave by email at [email protected]