Warbirds

Queens Birthday Honours

The 2017 QBH of Monday June 12 awarded honours to two persons involved in the historic aviation scene. Colonel Raymond R. Harding of O’Connor, ACT, became an officer in the general division of the Order of Australia (AM). For significant service to the veteran community through preserving and documenting the history of modern army aviation in Australia.

Mr Peter J. Meehan of Richmond South, Vic. was awarded the Order of Australia medal (OAM) in the general division. For service to the community through a range of roles. Peter is also known for his long term involvement with the Australian International Airshow held at Avalon, Victoria, and before that at Schofields and Richmond, NSW. At the AIA Peter has been the lead commentator and master of ceremonies. He has been involved with the ADF in a number of MC roles as well as MC at industry functions. Peter was a Squadron Leader (Ret’d) Specialist Reserve in the RAAF and was a keen supporter of the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. A former radio station host he operates his own corporate communications business for media training.

Death of Pilot and Aviation Historian

It is unfortunate to record the death of pilot and aviation historian, Paul Daw, in the crash of Cessna 441 Conquest, VH-XMJ, on May 30 at Renmark, South Australia.

Paul was the consummate aviation enthusiast who turned his hobby into a career. Learning to fly at Parafield at a young age he obtained his commercial pilots licence and flew with various companies as he built up his experience. He then left Australia to fly with KLM out of Amsterdam flying Fokker F.28 Fellowships all over Europe. On return to Australia he joined CASA and became a pilot examiner.

His enthusiasm led him to fly the replica Southern Cross tri-motor and was able to successfully land the disabled aircraft when it suffered an undercarriage problem. Paul was an active member of the South Australian Aviation Museum at Port Adelaide where he held the position of Collections Manager. In recent times Paul was the chief pilot with the Bruce Hartwig Flying School. At age 65 he elected to step down into part retirement and was undertaking a company check flight in the Conquest when it crashed soon after take-off at Renmark. Also killed in the accident were the chief pilot of Rossair and a CASA flying operations inspector. Paul leaves behind his wife Anne, daughters Emma and Rachel and son Simon.

Archerfield Warbirds Auction

As reported in the last Warbirds column in the June AA five warbird aircraft once owned by Steve Hart’s Flying Fighters were auctioned off by way of an online auction that ran from May 1 to May 30.

The aircraft were 1993 Yak 3M, VH-YZK, 1983 Yak 50, VH-YAX, 1944 North American T-6 (SNJ-5), VH-USN, 1985 Yak 50, VH-YAY and DH 82a Tiger Moth, VH-WEM.

It has been reported that the aircraft went for the following figures: VH-YZK $335K, VH-YAX $32,500, VH-USN $120K, VH-YAY $20K and the Tiger Moth for $69K. It has been reported that the Yak 3M has been bought by American interests and will be exported. Given that all the auction aircraft have been sitting for some years it can be expected that they will all require at least an annual inspection and possibly engine overhauls given that they have not been run during that period.

Super Connie Arrives at Longreach Museum

The biggest load on the highway leading to Longreach, Queensland, arrived on Wednesday May 24 when the fuselage of Super Constellation, N4247K, arrived at the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach.

The fuselage, on a massive multi wheeled trailer, was accompanied by other trucks and trailers carrying various other sections of the aircraft. The museum is excited to receive the machine that came from Manila, Philippines, having taken 10 days to be shipped to Australia. It came into the country via Townsville.

The story of the acquisition of the Connie goes back to 2014 when the museum became the successful bidder for the Lockheed Super Constellation then derelict at Manila International Airport. The aircraft had not flown for 25 years.

The museum in its Facebook page has said that the assembly of the machine and to turn it into an exhibit at the museum will take some two years. Volunteers are welcome to assist in the re-assembly and should contact the museum direct.

The Super Connie represents yet another type that Qantas operated in years gone by and which the museum was keen to obtain a former Qantas aircraft and if not then a representative sample. It is slowly achieving that aim. The museum is situated at Longreach airport and is worth visiting. The collection is already interesting and will get bigger with time.

Temora Aviation Museum Happenings

The TAM has announced that its English Electric Canberra and De Havilland Vampire will be returned to service. The aircraft, that have not flown for some years, will be brought have to flying status over a period of time. The return to flying of the two aircraft will probably be in time to enable them to fly at celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the RAAF, 1921 to 2021.

In another move the TAM has appointed former Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Geoffrey Brown AO (Retired) to the Temora Aviation Governing Committee.

The regular flying programs for the TAM are to spark up in October and November this year. In October, on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15, two days, there is to be flying by all serviceable TAM aircraft. This will be not unlike the old ‘all aircraft’ flying days.

Then on Saturday November 11 there will again be all serviceable TAM aircraft flying during the one day event. This means a change to the flying events whereby only a few selected types flew during the day and perhaps a visiting aircraft or two. Worth attending.

Register Updates

Nothing to report from New Zealand but that will change next month. From Australia we have a few changes worth noting. New addition is VH-BHS, Beech 3TM, a Beech D18S variant. Built in 1952 it has a c/n of CA198. Previously N6127 and before that 1598 with the RCAF, it was registered to CHT Aviation Pty Ltd of Teralba, NSW on June 9. The aircraft has been at Murwillumbah for some time.

Tiger Moth, VH-KPQ, c/n T5458 was registered to Keith Powell of Narromine, NSW, on June 2. It was previously VH-KBX with the same owner.

North American T-28B VH-RPX, c/n 137743, was added to the register on April 6 to Ross parker of Kowloon, Hong Kong. The operator is Warplanes Pty Ltd of Brookfield, Qld. The big Trojan is ex VH-ZSH.

Piper J3-C65 Cub, VH-TUC, c/n 5526, was struck off the register on May 25. The last owner is listed as Walker Trusco Pty Ltd of Armadale, Vic.
Grumman HU-16A, VH-MAH, c/n G-368, 142361 (USN) and ex N143DB, had a change of owner from Saferight P/L to Gordon McCormack with the operator as Catalina Airlines Pty Ltd of Belmont, WA. This brings to two of the type in WA.

This aircraft was previously with Air Champagne with a Deniliquin, NSW, address. Boeing A75N1 Stearman VH-URE, c/n 75-1934, had a change of owner to Terry Healy of Bonogin, Queensland on June 8. Still with the change of owners we saw Nord 3202, VH-IWD, go to Frank Wright of Lesmurdie, WA, on May 2. Yak 18T, VH-SMH went to new owner Pandrac Pty Ltd of Wamboin, NSW, on May 2. CA-25 Winjeel VH-WJE, c/n A85-427, changed ownership on May 25 with the new owner as Matt Henderson of Kyneton, Vic. Matt is the President of the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia. No doubt we will in future be told that a Winjeel is better than a CT4A.

Last but not least is Chance Vought F4U Corsair, VH-AQU, c/n 02608. This went from Bob Jarrett of Adelaide and the Classic jets Fighter Museum to BRB Enterprises Pty Ltd of Melbourne on May 10. This aircraft is understood to be a rebuild project.

A last note is that Harvard VH-HVD is reported to have been acquired by the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. It will allow for tailwheel training and for some, to graduate to the museum’s Mustang that is to go back in the air very soon.

Contact Dave by email: [email protected]