Register review

The Gemini is of all metal construction using an aluminium stressed skin covering internal ribs, longerons and bulkheads to distribute the loads. It is fitted with a bubble cockpit, tail wheel and retractable main gear which folds backwards into the engine nacelles leaving the wheels slightly exposed in case of a wheels-up landing.

CHT Aviation’s Beech 18-3TM has been in the country for several years, lately a resident at Murwillumbah, NSW, and having survived the devastating floods of late March has now been registered BHS. There have been 16 Beech 18s of various models registered in Australia over the years but only six survive with BHS bringing the total to seven.

The first Beech 18 “Twin Beech” flew on January 15 1937, just as a second world war was looking likely. It was a twin radial engine, low wing, tail wheel design with twin tails and designed as a 10 seat light utility aircraft for private use but with war becoming imminent Beech also saw the possibilities as a military transport. In fact it was converted not only to a military personal transport but also a light bomber, crew trainer and photo reconnaissance platform. Over 9,000 Beech 18s were built at Beech’s Wichita, Kansas, facility between 1937 and 1969 (over 32 years – a world record at the time).

The aircraft was available as a taildragger or tri-gear, and floats and skis were also able to be fitted. The primary user of the 18 was the US military but Canada, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Netherland, South Africa and most of the South American and African nations have used the type over the years. The type was extensively used by Air America during the Vietnam War. Initially ex-military examples were used but then the CIA airline obtained 12 Conrad conversions which had increased performance and load carrying capacity. Air America then had Volpar convert 14 aircraft to turboprop power by fitting two Garrett AiResearch TPE-331 engines.

BHS was one of 280 Beech D18s built for the Royal Canadian Air Force during 1951 and given the name Expeditor. The basic aircraft were delivered as navigational trainers with two trainee stations in the cabin and an astrodome in the roof however some were fitted with floor lugs to accept seats and some incorporated both. BHS was one of 44 built as model 3TMs which had transport seats but had the necessary wiring, plumbing and fitments, including provisions for fitting an astrodome, for conversion to a navigational trainer if required.

Revesco Aviation’s Embraer Phenom 300 NJC is the first 300 to be registered in Australia and joins three smaller Phenom 100s all operated by Revesco. The Phenom is a light private jet with a swept low wing, a tee-tail and powered by two pure jet engines mounted one each side of the rear fuselage. The original Phenom 100 seated four passengers with two crew. If the aircraft was operating with only one pilot then the co-pilot’s seat could be utilised for a fifth passenger.

The Phenom 300 was developed during 2007 as a competitor to the larger Learjet 45, Citation CJ and Hawker 400 but still retaining the short field performance of the earlier model enabling it to use airports such as London City and Telluride Regional in Colorado, USA. The 300 can seat nine passengers and again during single pilot operations an additional passenger can be carried. It is powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW535E jet engines and is built using 18% composite materials, has winglets but no thrust reversers.

NJC was built during 2012 and was delivered to Premiair in Indonesia in June of that year as PK-RJD. Premiair operate a range of aircraft on VIP and corporate charter from a Boeing 737 BBJ down to a Cessna Caravan and a Eurocopter EC145 helicopter.

Kavanagh Balloons have been busy over the last few months with six new examples shown in this month’s listing, all delivered to loyal Kavanagh operators. Hot Air at Cairns have received four new examples to add to their 20 strong all Kavanagh fleet whilst Global Ballooning and The International Balloon Flight have taken delivery of one each. Global Ballooning now operate 25 Kavanaghs with one Cameron and one Ultramagic also in its fleet and The International Balloon Flight have 13 Kavanaghs and one Cameron. Kavanagh Balloons have also delivered a balloon to New Zealand and another to Kenya recently.

Dassault Falcon 50 FJQ was the last of 252 Falcon 50s built before the upgraded 50EX became available so it retains the Honeywell TFE 731-3C engines rather than the TFE 731-40 engines of the later model. FJQ was built during 1996 and carried the French test makings F-WWHE. After an American sale fell through the aircraft was delivered to Transportacion Aerea del Norte in Mexico as XA-TDD who operated the aircraft for ten years before returning it to Dassault for refurbishment. It then returned to Mexico, this time with Aerolineas Ejecutivas as XA-RUY for a further eight years before a short spell back in the US as N959DM before coming to Australia.

Robinson R44 Raven LZW is the only Aircraft Returning to the Register this month. It was revoked by CASA only two weeks before due to lack of paperwork after the helicopter changed hands.

Quite a large Deletions section this issue with 40 entries although 10 of these have been reregistered within Australia and can also be found in the New Allocations section under their new markings.

Kawasaki BK117 ACZ has been exported to PNG, Dash 8 BBU and AgustaWestland AW119 are now in Canada, Cessna 182 CLQ has gone to China and Midget Mustang DFN is now flying in Brazil.

MD 600N EPY, Piper Seminole DUP and Cessna R172Hawk XP have been exported to the US with N977PM and N739AL respectively being reserved for the latter two aircraft. Seabird Seeker OPV has also gone to the US after the sale of the Seabird company to America.

Sikorsky S-92 Helibus NBP has returned to its parent company CHC Helicopters in Aberdeen, Scotland, and is now marked as G-CKII and Virgin ERJ-190 ZPL has returned to its leasing company in Ireland.

Professional Helicopter Service Schweizer 300CB is now in New Zealand along with the only Reims Cessna F337F Super Skymaster to come onto the local register. Reims Aviation built 31 F337Fs during the early 1970s from parts supplied from the Cessna factory in the US. Most of these aircraft remained in Europe but one escaped to New Caledonia to become F-OCQO with Commerciale d’Entreprises Automobile Aerienne et Aquatique at Noumea. It came to Australia and became FCO during April 2006 but now becomes the only Reims F337F Super Skymaster on the New Zealand register.

Three aircraft have been deleted due to accident damage including PA-31 Navajo JBI which crashed at Carrum Downs, Victoria, in June 2010 and Robinson R22 WDB which came to grief at Congararra Station near Bourke, NSW, on May 23 2014.

The R22 was being moved to a cleared landing area near a stockyard with the pilot intending to conduct a slow, quiet approach to minimise disturbance to stock grazing nearby. On final approach the pilot felt a violent shudder and began to conduct an autorotational landing. Unfortunately the aircraft rolled to the right on landing and was substantially damaged.

Enstrom Shark YHD was destroyed 5km NW Redcliffe, Queensland, during a flight from Caloundra to Redcliffe. Whilst navigating along the coastline to Redcliffe there was a loud bang and the engine stopped. The pilot manoeuvred the helicopter away from people on the beach and conducted an autorotational landing on the sand. Unfortunately the skids dug into the sand, the aircraft tipped forward and the blades impacted the sand. Fortunately there were no serious injuries sustained in either accident.