Warbirds

The second Sea Fury is VZ345 a T. 20S two-seater, which was onceused as a target tug in Germany. In 2008 it was sold by a UK Ministry of Defence tender ‘as is’ and was bought by the Fighter Collection at Duxford. The aircraft then came to Wangaratta for a rebuild but that did not proceed.

Now both Sea Furies have been exported, reportedly to the US, but time will confirm or deny that location.

HARS acquires a 707. . . in part

The Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) has acquired a Boeing 707, well at least the forward fuselage of one.

On July 23 the forward fuselage section of the former RAAF 707 A20‑627 Windsor Town was transported from RAAF Richmond to its new home with HARS at Albion Park by a Lampson Transport low-loader, no doubt making an interesting spectacle for motorists on the highway! The aircraft was built for Qantas as a 707-338C with the registration VH-EAG (the same as HARS’s Connie, as it happens), and entered service in 1968 named City of Hobart (it was renamed City of Alice Springs in 1974). Acquired by the RAAF in 1979 it was originallyused for VIP transport and was later converted to become an aerial refuelling tanker. The aircraft last flew in 2001 and was held at Richmond for use as spare parts to assist in keeping other RAAF 707s in service until their retirement. It was then scrapped in 2009, with only the nose section retained.

HARS plans to restore the internal forward section of the Boeing as a civilian airliner. Externally it will be painted on one side with Qantas markings and the other side in RAAF colours to recognise its former roles in Australian skies.

HARS will be a fitting home for this historic aircraft, the last 707 in Qantas service, the first 707 in RAAF service, the 707th 707 built, and the record holder for the most passengers carried by a 707 when helping evacuate people from Darwin after the devastating Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Catalina update

The Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association reports that work on its Catalina Our Girl as it calls her, is progressing. The aircraft has recently been paint-stripped using soda blasting. Meanwhile the port engine has been stripped completely, cleaned, repainted as required and reassembled. Sheet metal work has been carried out on the hull door. Work will soon commence on resheeting sections of the hull.

At Bankstown, the Catalina Flying Memorial’s Catalina VH‑CAT recently fired up the engines for the first time in three years. After lots of pre-oiling they were started to the excitement of all and accompanied by the expected cloud of white oil smoke as the cylinders gradually all picked up. The rear of the keel has recently had a newly-manufactured section installed as part of the ongoing work to get the machine back in the air.

Warbirds Downunder approaching

The big warbirds airshow this year is going to be the Temora Aviation Museum’s Warbirds Downunder Airshow to be held on the evening of Friday November 20 and then a full airshow the next day, Saturday November 21. Temora will be showcasing its full catalogue of warbirds but there will also be visiting warbirds on display plus serving RAAF aircraft displayed in the air.

Display aircraft will include machines from WW2 right through to current serving aircraft. This promises to be as good as or even better than the last Temora Warbirds Airshow. Accommodation might be hard to acquire in town but camping will be catered for on the airport. Information and tickets can be obtained from the website warbirdsdownunderairshow. com. au

Fiat for sale

Lynette Zuccoli’s Fiat G-59 4B VH‑LIX, previously MM53278, is up for sale via Platinum Fighter Sales, ‘price on application’.

Sales information advises that the aircraft was last flown in 2008. During an annual inspection corrosion was found in the lower port spar cap. The aircraft was grounded, engine inhibited, and the aircraft stored in the owner’s climate-controlled hangar. A new set of wing spars have been manufactured by Madlener of Germany and will be supplied with the aircraft.

Vale Bill Riley

Well known aviation enthusiast and businessman Bill Riley passed away on April 8. He was aged 91.

Bill served with the RAAF on Sunderland flying boats during WW2 and later became an electronics engineer. With a keen interest in aviation and flying he got into importing aircraft and gliders. He founded the Tocumwal-based Sportavia gliding school and was the importer of the Blanik sailplane that launched many gliding clubs around Australia. Bill operated a Lake amphibian for a number of years until it was destroyed by fire at Holbrook.

In his latter years Bill donated a number of his vintage glider collection to the Bacchus Marsh‑based Australian Gliding Museum.

Register news

The CASA register website has been down of late, but we can report that Auster J-5G Cirrus Autocar VH-MRD, c/n 3064, was taken off the register in June and then put back on the register on June 23 as an amateur-built Beach Hawk, c/n 1, to Don Brown of Kongwak, Victoria.

It would appear that the original Blackburn Cirrus Major III engine has been replaced by a 180hp (135kW) Lycoming IO-360, giving the aircraft a long pointed nose. The machine is a former RAN aircraft with the serial A11-301.