Warbirds

TAVAS has imported four aircraft: a Fokker Dr. 1 triplane that is currently flying, a Fokker D. VIII that is about to fly, a Fokker E. III monoplane that will be finished later this year and a Fokker D. VII fighter that is currently being covered in fabric.

TAVAS founder and spokesperson Andrew Carter has commented that the organisation is bringing aviation from the past back to lifeand giving it a future. The timing is good, with the 100th anniversary commemorations of Australia’s involvement in the 1914‑1918 war already under way.

To make the aircraft as authentic as possible, genuine Gnome rotary engines have been obtained and will be installed in two of the aircraft.

Rotary engines revolve around the crankshaft and use castor oil for lubrication, offering a fascinating glimpse of what it was like to operate these aircraft 100 years ago. The rotary engine was widely used in WW1, but today there are fewer than a dozen in Australia, with TAVAS operating two of the four known to be in working order.

The Fokker Dr. 1 was the type that Manfred von Richthofen – the famed Red Baron – was flying when he was shot down by Australian troops on April 21 1918.

There is another replica in Australia that was brought into the country by Neil Cottee for his Old Bowral flying museum. That aircraft was operated by the RAAF Museum for some time and now resides in the Museum of Australian Army Flying in Oakey, Queensland.

The Fokker D. VIII, meanwhile, is recognised as the last fighter to enter the Great War.

The TAVAS collection is based in Caboolture, a 45-minute drive north of Brisbane on the Bruce Highway.

A tour of the organisation’s facilities can be arranged by appointment.

Contact TAVAS via its website www. tavas. com. au

De Havilland Chipmunk crashes

Chipmunk VH-UPD was effectively destroyed in a crash just south of Coffs Harbour, NSW on June 29. The pilot suffered serious head injuries, while the passenger escaped with minor injuries.

The ATSB reports that the aircraft – a de Havilland DHC-1 T Mk10 Chipmunk – had been engaged in aerobatic flight at about 4,000ft. An aerobatic manoeuvre was attempted and the aircraft entered a spin. Witness video showed the aircraft in a slow upright spin that continued until impact.

The initial ATSB report said that no pre-existing mechanical issues with the aircraft or its systems had been found.

The Chipmunk has been the subject of controversy over the years in relation to its ability to recover from spins. Several tests have been conducted to check and re-investigate the aerobatic characteristics of the type.

Beaufighter wreck found off WA coast

A 70-year-old mystery has been solved with the recent discovery ofthe wreckage of a RAAF Bristol Beaufighter a few kilometres off the coast of Broome, WA.

The wreck, which was found by wreck hunter Jim Miles assisted by Broome historian Dion Marinis, is believed to be that of Beaufighter MkXIc A19-163 (previously JM164).

The aircraft, from 31 Squadron, crashed on the night of September 18 1944 soon after taking off from Broome runway 28, straight out off the coast.

It is believed that the aircraft suffered an engine failure. Given the lack of reference points in the pitch-dark – the black hole effect as it is called today – the aircraft probably flew into the water at speed.

The crew of two, pilot Sergeant Ronald Kerrigan and observer Sergeant Ronald Smith, were listed as missing in action. They had been tasked to assist with providing protective cover for a Catalina flight.

B-24 Liberator and hangar recognised

A ceremony recognising the importance of Australia’s last remaining B-24 Liberator and the timber hangar that houses it took place on July 13.

Engineering Heritage Victoria (EHV) has recognised that the B-24 and its hangar are the last of their type in Australia. “Engineers Australia is proud to recognise these two excellent examples of Australian history and engineering ingenuity,” said Owen Peak, chairman of EHV.

The B-24 is the first aircraft to be recognised under the Engineers Australia Heritage Recognition program. As the last remaining B-24 that served with the RAAF during WW2, the aircraft has been lovingly restored to its former glory by a team of volunteers from B-24Liberator Memorial Restoration Australia Inc. Many members were present at the ceremony.

Both the 30m span hangar that houses the B-24 and the nearby 40m hangar were recognised. The American-designed hangars were modified by Australian engineers, with the use of plentiful hardwood allowing the hangars to achieve similar spans to their steel equivalents.

The B-24 is located in Werribee, Victoria, near the corner of the Princes Highway and Farm Road.

Warbird movements

Mike Spaulding of Cairns has sold his Mareeba-based Curtiss P-40N-5 Kittyhawk. The aircraft, VH-MIK, B-BU, c/n 28759, previously 42‑104977, has been sold overseas and is reported to be going to the US.

The Kittyhawk was shot down in PNG in September 1943. It was recovered in 2004, rebuilt at Wangaratta and finished off at Mareeba. It suffered a gear collapse accident on August 16 2009, but was repaired and is flying again.

Saunders Commonwealth CA-13 Boomerang replica N32CS, A46‑139, on the market for some years, has been sold and is off to Europe and the Classic Wings Nederland Museum at Uden, Netherlands. The machine looks like a CAC-built Boomerang but is understood to have considerable North American T-6 structure in it, hence its ‘replica’ status.

Register review

Starting with New Zealand, we see that Piper J2 ZK-AGD, c/n 1152, was struck off the register as it was withdrawn from service on June 24. The aircraft was originally put on the ZK register on May 9 1938. Given the historic value of older aircraft these days, one might suspect that it will return to the register in the future. Piper PA-22-150 ZK-PAT, c/n 4940, was taken off the register on June 24 having been destroyed. The aircraft, which had been converted to a taildragger some time back, was owned by Ardmore Taildraggers of Papakura. It is reported to have suffered an engine failure on takeoff at Pukehoke East on March 24 and overturned in the landing. Again, one would expect the aircraft to be rebuilt and put back in the air.

In Australia, Consolidated PBY‑6A Catalina VH-EAX, c/n 46644, was taken off the register on June 19. The aircraft, which was last registered to Qantas Foundation Memorial Ltd, will in future only be on static display at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, Queensland. Some had hoped that the machine would be kept airworthy and shown off here and there, but it is not to be.

Cessna 140 VH-HHN, c/n 14708, was taken off the register on June 12 and has been transferred to the RA-Aus register.

Auster J5P VH-BYU, c/n 3155, has a new owner as of July 5: Paul Gillies of Mapleton, Queensland.

Now one to grab your attention. Transavia PL-12/T300/A1 VH‑JDS, c/n NZ109, last owner John Jones of Kempton, Tasmania, has been sold in the US and was taken off the register on June 10. One would imagine that the aircraft has gone to the US more as a novelty item than for ag work.

Museum news

The South Australian Aviation Museum turns 30 this year. Now located at Lipson Street, Port Adelaide, it started out in a former wool store at Ocean Steamers Road. In recent months the museum has been able to expand its site. The new area will allow for additional car parking, as well as the popular engine runs and events.

From Queensland, we learn thattwo members of the Queensland Air Museum located at Caloundra were awarded Order of Australia medals in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours. One award was to Michael Hinsbey and the other to the late Bob Kelly, AFC. Bob was the author of a series of books on Allied air transport during WW2. The as-yet unpublished fourth volume was completed before his passing in 2012.

In brief

Well-known aircraft collector Kermit Weeks of Fantasy of Flight Museum fame in Miami, Florida has 10 former RAAF CAC-built CA-27 aircraft and 36 Avon engines in his collection. The aircraft and engines were acquired from Indonesia in the 1980s.

Following their RAAF service, a number of Sabres were donated to the Indonesian air force. One Sabre has been loaned to the Palm Springs Air Museum for display.

The Philippines Manila International Airport Authority is planning to auction a group of abandoned classic aircraft that have been sitting in the general aviation area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Of the 12 aircraft involved, there are five Douglas DC-9 airliners and three Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Of more interest is the Lockheed C-121J Super Constellation N4247K, c/n 4144, which is said to have last been owned by William Crawford.

The Super Connie is said to be operational, but photos of the aircraft show it up to its wheel axles in grass on the soft stand where it has been for some years. This aircraft was at one stage being looked at by the Qantas Founders Museum as a possible addition to its collection.