Warbirds

The pilot, the sole occupant, suffered some injuries and was transported to hospital, but it is unfortunate to report that during the landing the aircraft collided with a large log, causing substantial damage to the forward right side of the aircraft and both lower wings.

Still, photographs of the aircraft suggests that the damage could be repairable.

The Staggerwing, powered by a 450hp (333kW) Pratt & Whitney R985-AN-1 Wasp Junior, has had an interesting life. Built in 1942 with c/n 3108 it has had a number of owners over the years. It first carried the marking Bu12342 in the military then NC397 followed by N1532M inthe USA. It then came to Australia in 2006 and here it became VH‑UUV. Unsold it went back to America where it again became N1532M. It was then shipped back to Australia in 2007 where it became VH-FNS. In recent times it has been owned by Shine Air of Dardanup, WA.

The aircraft visited the eastern states earlier in the year when it was noted at the RAAF centenary celebrations at Point Cook.

Moorabbin museum kickstarts Beaufort restoration

The Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin Airport has commenced a fund-raising project for the restoration of their DAP Beaufort, A9-13.

The drive to raise funds commenced in early May and the initial goal was achieved but more, much more, is needed to really get the restoration project up and fully underway.

The museum is asking readers to consider dropping a dollar, or two, or more, into the restoration fund. Every dollar counts. Details of the drive can be found at www. kickstarter. com/projects/moorabbinairmuseum/raaf-beaufort-a9-13-restoration.

Beaufort A9-13 is the oldest surviving Beaufort bomber in the world. There are only a handful left, and none are flying, but this is an important aircraft to preserve given its age and the fact that it flew with 100 Squadron.

When completed the Beaufort will sit alongside its bigger counterpart, the DAP-built Beaufighter. And this alone is an incredible achievement to attain.

Stage one of the project involves a relatively simple area – the stern frame (rear section). It needs to be checked for structural weaknesses and corrosion, and all missing parts catalogued, before being sent for beadblasting and returned for assembly and priming prior to painting. It needs as many of the original parts as possible retained as the aircraft is in line to be added to the heritage register. The help of readers, no matter how big or small, will make this project become a reality and preserve a unique twin-engined bomber for future generations to admire and appreciate.

Every project has a challenge or three! In this case, lack of parts, blueprints missing, or even original parts that are beyond saving pose a potential problem. However, the museum has a staggering archive of plans, drawings and photos, and under the guidance of Ashley Briggs, who is one of the best restorers and parts manufacturers, the project should be able to overcome any potential issue with relatively little holdup.

Rathmines Catalina all go

The Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association is breathing a sign of relief after its PBY5-A Catalina project, Our Girl as she is now called, has arrived in Australia and is now in local storage. The fuselage and wings arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico via Jacksonville, Florida by cargo ship. The fuselage was transported in the cargo hold while the wing centre section was transported on top of a number of containers. From the docks to Lake Macquarie the heavy haulage division of Daracon, as well as Borger’s Cranes, showed their professionalism in getting the dismantled aircraft to the memorial’s care without any damage.

The fuselage is now at Toronto, Lake Macquarie while the wings are at Kilen Bay. Already work on the fuselage has commenced with sheet metal repair work underway.

In addition to the sheet metal work the association members have also to audit all the various spares that they obtained in the purchase. Much of this material will be invaluable in the restoration project.

The long-term aim of the association is to restore the Catalina and display it, under cover, as a replica of one the many Catalinas that operated from the Rathmines base during the war. At the heightof the war over 3,000 people were based there.

Watch out for the annual Rathmines Catalina Festival, by the way. This year’s event is set for Saturday October 25.

Register news

From New Zealand we learn that Piper J-3C-65 N6429H, c/n 19612, has been imported to become ZK‑ALY on May 20 to C A Morris of Pukehoe.

In Australia Piper PA-22‑150 c/n 22-3662, built in 1956, previously N4310A, became VH‑UCE on May 20 to James Grenfell of Nundah, Queensland.

An interesting first of type is Interstate S-1A N28317, which became VH-VCQ on May 20 to Peter Harlow of Black Rock, Victoria. Detailed in Register Review this issue (p97), the last time we saw one of this type was at the Avalon Airshow in 2001 landing on the tray of a truck! We now know that the English Piper PA-18-150 that became VH-YUP (see June Warbirds) previously carried the UK registration of G-CUBP. The aircraft was registered on May 1 to David Berger of Kalang, NSW.

In the change of ownership Boeing PT-13D, VH-DNN, c/n 75‑5620, moved to Peter Harrison of Moffat Beach, Queensland on May 6.

Tiger Moth VH-SNR changed to new owner, Daniel McCarty of Torrington, Queensland on May 26.

Museum happenings

The Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra has finally taken delivery of its Bell Iroquois, A2-310. Although allocated to the museum over a year ago the helicopter only made it to the museum on May 20. The aircraft was loaded onto a low loader of Clayton’s Transport atDamascus Barracks near Brisbane Airport. It had been stored there since it was retired.

Another recent addition to the QAM collection is the Max Holste Broussard, VH-HFA. The only one of its type in Australia it can be well described as a twin-tailed DH Beaver, and powered by the same engine, a P&W R985 radial engine. As Warbirds went to press the aircraft was being dismantled for road transport to the museum at Caloundra.

On the subject of the Bell Iroquois type, former Army Iroquois A2-278 was noted recently at Seymour, Victoria being spray painted in preparation to be displayed at the Seymour Vietnam Walk Precinct.

Martin Mars demise

While Australians at large have long had a love affair with the Short Empire flying boats that were flown by Qantas and later Ansett Airlines, the Americans have a keen interest in the huge Martin Mars flying boats that survived their wartime use and until recent years were used for forest firefighting. Only seven of the huge Martin Mars flying boats were built, as a large, four-engined cargo transport for the US Navy during World War 2. They were retired in 1956.

The aircraft are big with a wing span of 60. 96m and a length of 35. 74m. Loaded weight is 40,820kg.

Today only two remain. Converted into water bombers they are owned by Coulson Flying Tankers and are based and maintained at Sproat Lake near Port Alberti, British Columbia, Canada. The aircraft can carry some 27,276 litres of water and each drop can cover an area of up to 1. 6 hectares.

In August 2012 the Coulson Group announced that one of the Mars, Philippine Mars, wouldbe retired due to its lack of use, and that it would be flown to the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida to become a static exhibit. As of 2014 the aircraft had still not been delivered.

The other remaining Mars, Hawaii Mars, is up for sale due to a lack of contract work but to date the aircraft has not had any bids for it. That leaves the future of the aircraft uncertain.