Warbirds

It was then back into the repair shop before being sold via Platinum Fighter Sales in later 2017.

The machine has an interesting history in that it was built in 1945 but saw no combat action. It became a gate guardian for a number of years until acquired by the late Doug Arnold of Warbirds of Great Britain in 1984. It had several owners while still under restoration before crossing the Atlantic to the USA to be worked on. Now it is in Australia and hopefully it will have restoration work completed in order to be at the Temora Airshow later this year.

But there is more! Fighter Pilots AF has advised that it is seeking a two seat Tr.9 Spitfire in order that it can offer adventure flights in the aircraft.

There are some five Tr.9 Spitfires registered in the UK and the USA. Which one is being sought will be revealed at a later date.

Now there is yet more Spitfire news with not one but two Spitfires under rebuild at Scone with Vintage Fighter Restorations. There two Spitfires, both mark Mk.IX models, MH603 and MH415, are being worked on. In all the world of Spitfires is looking good in Australia.

Tyabb Airshow

The airshow season with warbirds as the feature aircraft got off to a great start with the biennial Tyabb Airshow. Held on Sunday March 11 the show was run under the banner of Paul Bennet Airshows. The show featured a number of aerobatic displays often with Pitt’s aircraft. The show opened with Paul Bennet in his Wolf Pitts followed by the ever popular Southern Knights with their four ship Harvard T-6 formation aerobatics. Plenty of radial engine noise complete with smoke and all the time staying in front of the spectators.

For warbird enthusiasts there was plenty to see and experience. Paul Bennett Airshows brought with them the Grumman Avenger VH-MML and the Wirraway VH-WWY, painted up as A20-176.

As a single engine warbird the Grumman is a very big machine and indeed it dwarfs the Mustang or Spitfire when alongside those machines. It created quite a sensation when, without other assistance, the pilot proceeded to unfold the wings and lock them in place ready for take off.

Mustangs are always a favourite at airshows and the show was not lacking with two Tyabb based machines, the Judy Pay/Dick Hourigan VH-JUC and the newly returned to flying status Peter Gill VH-URZ. The two aircraft made several dual flight displays. Some airshows elect to have bulk warbird flights but with Tyabb they have chosen to have just a good representation. There were two North American T-28 Trojans, a B and D model, VH-NAW and VH-CIA. The rumble of radial engines.

Over the years there has been great interaction between Tyabb based warbirds and the Temora Aviation Museum. Warbirds from one location would help with displays at the other location. This year was no different with visiting Temora Aviation Museum aircraft in the form of the CAC Boomerang, VH-MHR, Lockheed Hudson, VH-KOY and Spitfire VH-HET. It is hard to believe that the Hudson is a world war two combat machine and still flying after all these years. It is the only Hudson still flying and may it continue.

World War One buffs were not to be disappointed with the display of three Sopwith types. The Sopwith Snipe, VH-SNP, with owner/builder Nick Caldwell was flown in company with the RAAF Museum Sopwith Pup, VH-PSP, with pilot Chris Tulk and Sopwith Pup, VH-SOR, flown by Dave Marshall. The two Pups were built by Transavia many years ago. When one sees these aircraft flying at cruise speed it brings home that WW1 combat flying was not a high speed exercise. There were four Tiger Moths to give representation to the famed world war two RAAF trainer plus Ryan PT-22, VH-RPT (Ryan Primary Trainer!) and Boeing Stearman Kaydet, VH-PUD, now with a P&W R-985 engine showing the spectators what the Americans trained in during the war.

There were two group fly pasts, that of RAAF trainers with a number of CT-4A trainers, Winjeels and a Harvard that will be used to help train the next RAAF Museum Mustang pilot. The second group was that of world war fighters and a bomber. The Hudson, both Mustangs, the Boomerang, Wirraway and the Kittyhawk. A scene not to be forgotten and probably not to be repeated.

In addition to the airborne acts there was more than enough to be seen in the static displays of military aircraft, antique aircraft, trade displays, re-enactors, vintage cars and military vehicles.

The Tyabb Airshow continues to set the benchmark in airshows and organisation.

Mustang Sold

It has been reported that the Peter Gill CAC CA-18 Mustang, VH-URZ, has been sold to an interstate buyer. The aircraft was for sale via Platinum Fighter Sales.

The North American T-6 Harvard has always been said to be the aircraft to get time in before moving to a Mustang. The reported new owner already owns a T-6 so the conversion should be an easy one. Good to see the aircraft remain in Australia. More details as they come to hand.

Albury Dc-2 Restoration Continues

At Albury, NSW, the restoration of Douglas DC-3, A30-11, ‘PH-AJU’ continues. Chair of the Uiver Memorial Community Trust Mr Peter Mol has said that it is too soon to say when the restoration would be complete. “It’s very much a long-term project but we’ve made some significant progress over the years thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers”, he said. Mr Mol also said that even after 84 years there is still interest in the event and the ties continue between the people of Holland and the City of Albury.

Uiver historian Noel Jackling received the surprise of his life in early March when Dutch ambassador Erica Schouten named him a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. The amateur historian received one of the Netherlands highest honours for his work championing the Uiver story and preserving and extending Albury’s Uiver Collection.

The DC-2 was bought in 1979 by the Albury Rotary Club and restored for display. It was on display outside the airport terminal until taken down in recent years. It languished until the Community Trust elected to take over the restoration of the airliner.

Today Albury airport in an inland port with four airlines operating services there.

The landing of the original DC-2 PH-AJU in 1934 was made at night, in poor weather, running low on fuel and by the lights of cars surrounding the race course. That race course is just on the north side of the current airport. When one looks at the size of the race course it is hard to understand how the airliner could have landed there given all those problems. But it did!

Casa de Havilland Spar Airworthiness Directive

CASA has released a revision to the DH60/82/83 AD Croydon Aircraft Company Limited components. There are numerous wording changes within the revised DCA/GEN/36A which appear to be more pragmatic but still impactful to affected owners/operators. The main change in wording is with respect to “return to service of affected parts”, allowing for an “inspection of affected components for conformity to acceptable technical data and an appropriate release to service”. The time frame of compliance have not changed.

It would appear that that the subject spars supplied by Croydon Aircraft Company are not to the exact dimensions as per the original DH drawings. Some owners are saying that while not to the exact same dimensions as per the DH drawings the spars are of the same strength value. No doubt this issue will take some time to resolve. In the meantime a number of DH 60/82 and 83 aircraft are grounded pending rectification and or a rebuild with new spars.

Hinkler Parade Car for Museum

In 1928 Bert Hinkler made a record breaking solo flight from England to Australia in 15 and a half days. On March 6 of that year he was accorded a hero’s welcome in a public parade along Queen Street, Brisbane. The vehicle used was an Armstrong Siddeley tourer with the registration plate Q1152.

The vehicle survived to this day and following restoration was presented to the Hinkler Hall of Aviation Memorabilia Trust in Bundaberg, Qld.

The restoration took some 3600 volunteer hours and close to $140,000. The restoration was completed over three years. The vehicle will add to the collection of Hinkler aircraft and memorabilia at the museum.

The museum asked for registration of Q1152 to put on the vehicle but were told that it would cost $5000 for its use. That was until a former member of parliament got involved and then the plates were donated by the State Government. A nice ending.

The Great World War One Flying Display

World War One may have finished in 1918 but for some the war lives on.

April 21 and 22 will see the Great War Flying Display – Centenary Commemorations of the Great War, take place at Caboolture, Queensland. The display is the work of The Australian Vintage Aviation Society (TAVAS).

Chair Andrew Carter has advised that the air display event will start with a re-enactment of the shooting down of the Red Baron followed by a flyby of the Bristol F2B Fighter and a current F/A-18F Super Hornet – and that’s just the beginning!

The Red Baron, Manfred Von Richthofen, was shot down on April 21 1918. The argument still rages as to whether he was shot down by another aircraft or whether he was shot down by an Australian machine gunner in the trenches on the ground below as the Red Baron flew low in pursuit of another kill of which he had already made 80. A fuel tank said to be from the Red Baron’s aircraft is a prized exhibit in the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin airport. The control column of the Fokker Triplane Dr-1 can be seen at the Australian War memorial. The rotary engine from the aircraft is held by the Imperial War Museum in London.

TVAS has the only flying red Fokker Dr-1 Triplane in Australia and it will be on display as part of the April 21/22 displays. Other WW1 types include a Fokker E.111 Eindecker, Sopwith Triplane, Nieuport 24, SE5a, Fokker D.V11 and Fokker D.V111.

Pre WW1 aircraft types to be displayed are a 1901 Whitehead No.21 (static), 1909 Johnson Monoplane, 1909 Demoiselle and a 1910 Farman 111.
There will also be a large collection of WW2, Korean War and Vietnam War aircraft types on display. A locally based Mustang fighter will be displayed.

The Australian Vintage Aviation Society (TAVAS) exists to raise awareness of the significant part Australians played in the first air war and how that developed our aviation industry after WW1. This event will also highlight the centenary of Australian Military airmen and their involvement in every major conflict over the last 100 years.

Dc-3 in a Backyard

Some people have a concrete gnome in their back garden but at Myalup, near Brusselton, WA. aviation enthusiast, Mr Blair Howe, has something more interesting, a DC-3!

The aircraft came up for sale and Mr Howe said he just could not pass it by. He bought the aircraft, had it dismantled and transported to his property and there it was re-assembled – in his back yard.

After airline service with Ansett as VH-ANW the elderly Douglas did service as the diner for a fast food chain before being taken off the menu and put up for sale. It was in 2003 that the dismantled aircraft was shifted from Caversham on three semi-trailers to Myalup. The 120 km journey took some four hours.

The aircraft now adorns his backyard but one thing is certain, it will never need watering. Mr Blair advised that he purchased the aircraft as he wanted to see it preserved it and was concerned for its future, if left in limbo.