Warbirds

In other HARS news the organisation’s Catalina, VH-PBZ, was due to fly home in mid- February. The Black Cat, dubbed Felix, had suffered an engine issue when about to do a demonstration at the Rathmines Catalina Festival in October. The big water bird diverted to Maitland and had been stuck there while a replacement engine was fitted.

After engine runs on February 1 the Cat was scheduled to fly home to Albion Park on February 3, but this was delayed due to unfavourable weather.

Readers can help keep Felix in the air by making a donation to HARS – https://hars.org.au/ donations/catalina/

Eighty Years Young

A new Ryan has been imported, a model ST-A, c/n 118, with the registration VH-ROM reserved. The machine was purchased by Peter and Sarah Nelson of Brisbane and has arrived at Caboolture for assembly and to be put on the Australian civil register.

The future VH-ROM was built in 1936 and was used as a trainer with the Ryan School of Aeronautics at Lindberg Field, California with serial #13 registered as NC14986. In later years it became N1151 and then N14986. It was bought by Alain Grisay of Kemble in the UK, where it was flown under its US Registration.

Yak Resurfaces

An oldie but a goodie! Yak‑11 VH‑YII was struck off the Australian register a decade ago on December 20 2007 as sold overseas. After all this time it has finally turned up, added to the US register on October 23 2017 to Artemis Aviation Group, Wilmington, Delaware as N525YK. The real owner and base is unknown at this time.

The Yak first came to Australia from the Czech Republic in 1998, acquired by David Saunders of Western Warbirds, Perth as part of a deal to send a former RAAF CAC Sabre to Prague. Restoration of the Yak began at Jandakot but its condition was poor and instead it was sold on as a project to Archie Knappstein of Lenswood, SA to be registered as VH-YII in November 1999. It is unclear if the aircraft actually flew in Australia.

In other Yak news, Jim Wickam’s Yak-9UM, VH-YIX, c/n 0470409, has changed hands. Previously based at Tyabb, Victoria, the aircraft is now hangared at Latrobe Valley, Victoria. The change of owner is recorded as January 22 to Keith Astrella, Berwick, Victoria. It was noted flying the circuit at Latrobe Valley on February 2 with many spectators on the ground watching On.

Winjeel Returns

CAC CA-25 Winjeel VH-NSJ previously A85-404 with the RAAF, has returned home to Australia.

Built in 1955, after its RAAF career the machine was exported to New Zealand and became ZK‑WJL with GC Aviation of Taupo. Returning to Australia last year it was put back on the register on April 21 to Stephen Botwell of Morayfield, Queensland. It made its first flight back in Australia on December 20 after being returned to airworthiness by Aerotec at Toowoomba.

The machine is in the unique colour scheme of orange and white, sometimes described as the Fanta can scheme after the soft drink. Also now at Toowoomba is CAC CA-25 Winjeel VH-WIJ. It has been acquired by the Zucolli Aircraft Collection and arrived in Toowoomba in late January.

Museum News

Former RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion A9-756 is now taking pride of place with the South Australian Aviation Museum.

Dismantled and transported by low loaders from Edinburgh to Port Adelaide, the big aircraft arrived at SAAM in December and is now the pride and joy of the museum, albeit with one wing on and one wing off for display.

The Orion is now part of the museum’s large and ever expanding collection. Everything is undercover and there are steam and maritime museums nearby – well worth visiting.

Moving further north to Longreach and the Qantas Founders Museum received a big boost in December when Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced that the Federal Government had allocated $11.3 million to cover the cost of building what is called an airpark roof. This covering will better protect the museum’s aircraft and provide shade for visitors, some 40,000 of whom passed through its gates last year.

The Qantas Founders Museum is home to a Boeing 747, Boeing 707, DC-3, Catalina and Lockheed Constellation. At present the aircraft are on static external display in the elements. While rain is not a major issue the aircraft are exposed to the sunshine.

Warbirds on the Move

North American AT-6D VH‑XNA changed hands last year, with its new owner Richard Mason of Mildura, Victoria. The former South African Air Force machine was first registered in Australia in May 1997. Since then it has been sighted at Tyabb, Caloundra and now Mildura – well travelled in recent times but little flown.

Built in 1942 the trainer has a constructor’s number of 88-9754, the USAAF serial of 41-33274 and the SAAF serial 7086.

A second Harvard is Canadian‑built T-6 VH-JSZ, c/n CCF-4-542, which was struck off the register on January 9. It will most likely return to the register in due course.

Former Eastern Bloc trainer Iskra TS-11 VH-ISK these days can be seen at Lethbridge, Victoria. Previously based at Essendon Airport the red and white painted Iskra has been re-engined with a Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 22 engine. First built in Poland in 1970 it has serial 1H0608 and is registered to Saario Holdings of South Melbourne. It has not been sighted in the air.

Taylor J-2 VH-FZL, c/n 1754, had a change of owner to Christopher Sharp of Prospect East, SA on December 13, while Aero L-39C VH-ITJ took up a new owner on December 18 to Charles Camilleri of Raglan, NSW.

A new entry on the register is SNCAN Stampe SV-4B VH‑SGV. With c/n 633 this 1947-built aircraft is owned by Chris Harrison of Heyfield, Victoria. It previously held Canadian registration C-FXME.

Finally, Wright Model A replica VH‑SOF was struck off the register on November 14. It was last registered to Wright Bros Aircraft Project Inc of Narromine, NSW.

The aircraft was built at Narromine with limited flying being conducted by the late Col Pay. It will no doubt be a part of the Narromine Air Museum located on the airport.

Contact Dave: [email protected]