Warbirds

The machine was rebuilt by AvSpecs Ltd of Manukau and was registered as ZK-BCV on October 12 2018. It started out as PZ474 then became NZ2384 with the RNZAF. Later it became N9909F and then ZK-BCV. The machine is to be dismantled and shipped to the US where it will probably be reassembled at Chino in time to fly it to the EAA AirVenture 2019 gathering at Oshkosh for all to see.

It is notable that this third Mosquito rebuild took to the air much faster than the first or second aircraft. This shows that the experience gained on the earlier aircraft has helped accelerate the rebuild process to almost a production line.

Dh Drover for Export

In a move that will be disappointing to some De Havilland DHA-3 Mk 2 Drover, VH-ADN, has been sold and is to be exported to a museum in the USA.

Not stated but reported in some quarters is that the museum is Kermit Weeks’ in Florida. Kermit already has a collection of Australian-built aircraft.

VH-ADN was built at Bankstown in 1951 (c/n 5009). At one stage it was operated by Qantas. The aircraft is powered by three DH Gipsy Major 10 Mk2 inline engines of 145hp (108kW) coupled to fixed pitch propellers.

Since 1991 the aircraft has been owned by Charlie Camilleri at Bathurst, NSW and is registered with CASA as being owned by Bathurst Aircraft Maintenance Centre Pty Ltd. In recent times the machine has operated Panorama Airways sight-seeing flights out of Bathurst. It is one of only two of the type still flying.

In reply to one enthusiast who asked if it had been offered for sale in Australia the owners said it had been offered to Qantas and Australian museums but, sadly, with no reply.

Twenty Drovers were built by De Havilland Australia at Bankstown. Several complete and incomplete machines are in museums around Australia with one aircraft in the UK. VH-AND has over 12,200 flight hours and was at the 2017 Avalon International Airshow.

Richard (Dick) Gower AO

The 2019 Australia Day awards recognised many Australians for service to the country and the community. One aviation award that stands out was Officer (AO) in the general division of the Order of Australia to noted aviation pilot, instructor and antique aeroplane supporter, Richard Gower, known to all as Dick Gower.

The award came as a result of Dick’s significant long term ‘service to the recreational and historical aviation sector through a range of roles’.

Over the many years Dick has been a member of the Royal Victorian Aero Club and earned the position of Honorary Life Member. He was a long-time flying instructor with the RVAC and subsequently became the CFI at the Coldstream-based Yarra Valley Flight Training school. A chartered engineer, he put his skills to use to ease aircraft owners over various bumps that came to light in relation to maintenance issues.

He was the President of the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia from 1990 to 1996 and also served for many years on the steering committee of the AAAA. Dick was also on the Victorian RAPAC committee. He was an Approved Testing Officer (ATO) and is a member of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots Australia. He served on CASA technical committees and established a consulting company, Australia-Pacific Aviation Services. He is a world expert on the DH Chipmunk aircraft and owns Chipmunk VH-DCZ.

Known Australia-wide, Dick, who these days is located at Tocumwal, NSW, is a fitting recipient of the AO award. Congratulations.

The Corsair Engine Run

Friday January 24 saw the first run of the new engine in Vought F4U-5N Corsair VH-III.

The aircraft suffered an unfortunate gear-up landing at Maitland, NSW on January 28 2017. The pilot escaped injury and the event was put down to being distractions from circuit traffic and reduced visibility in the area.

The aircraft was transported to its home base at Tyabb, Victoria and airframe repairs carried out. A replacement engine was sourced and installed and the run on January 24 was its first with a second run the following day.

The owner has advised that there is still some sheet metal work to be carried out and that the first flight of the restored aircraft will be some months away. Warbird and Corsair enthusiasts look forward to it. The Corsair is a big and very interesting machine, even if only by way of the cranked wings.

Woof! Swan Hill Beagles Out of the Kennel

For some years three Beagle 109 aircraft have languished at Swan Hill, tucked away in a hanger, unloved.

Now the aircraft, VH-DCP, VH-DCS and a third as yet unidentified machine, have been bought and are to be moved to northern NSW for a survey and possible rebuild.

The Beagle A109 Airedale was an extension of the British Auster series of aircraft and was designed as a light tourer. The Beagle was a nose wheel aircraft, strut braced and with an American Lycoming 0-360 180hp (134kW) engine. It was meant to compete with the then growing number of American light aircraft being imported into the UK but missed the mark. It was of welded steel tube construction with a fabric covering in competition with the sheet metal American aircraft. The first flight of the type was on April 16 1961 and 43 Beagle A109 aircraft were built in all. Six were imported into Australia.

These days the Beagle A109 would be comparable to a Maule M7-180A Star Rocket with the 180hp (134kW) engine. The difference is that the Maule is much lighter and gives better performance as a result, in particular in STOL.

And the Beagles? One can only hope that these unique and now classic aircraft are rebuilt and fly again. Woof!

In Brief

VH-CPD Cessna A37B Dragonfly, s/n 43331, was struck off the civil register on December 20 as Withdrawn from Service.

The EAA and its annual AirVenture gathering at Oshkosh, Wisconsin USA, is to celebrate the Oshkosh 50th anniversary in 2019. As a result, the EAA is keen to gauge the level of interest in Australians attending AirVenture 2019, with the ambition to a bulk arrival of Australian’s in an “Oshkosh Express.” The past Oshkosh Express used a Qantas Boeing 747. The welcome on the tarmac at Oshkosh was memorable with all the Australian visitors wearing a red Oshkosh Express polo shirt. It was a flight and a visit to remember.

Want to express your interest? Contact [email protected] Oshkosh & AirVenture. It is an event all pilots should experience at least once in their lifetime!

The Wangaratta project Bell P-39F, 41-7215, which moved to Auckland, New Zealand for completion by Pioneer Aero, has had some register activity lately. Its identity is quoted as c/n 15-554. On November 20 2018 it was registered to Jerry Yagen, Virginia Beach with US registration N39FF.

Following that it became ZK-COB on December 14 2018 to Pioneer Aero Ltd of Auckland. As with a number of warbird rebuilds these days, one rebuild shop does a certain amount of work before the aircraft is moved to another rebuild shop that specialises in, for example, electrical wiring and final fitting out. Enthusiasts at large look forward to seeing a P-39 take to the local skies as the aircraft is considered a rare type.

The RAAF Museum at Point Cook has installed the rebuilt engine in its CAC-built Mustang, A68-170 but painted up as A68-750. The Merlin engine was rebuilt in the UK. With final checks and engine run the aircraft will go back in the air in the near future. It is part of an exercise to get the Mustang flying in time for the RAAF centenary in 2020.