Warbirds

The machine was built by North American in 1944. It served with the USAAF as 44-74829. Then with the Royal Canadian Air Force as serial 9265. Imported into New Zealand in 1985 by Sir Tim Wallis it took up NZ registration of ZK-TAF with the colour scheme and ‘serial’ of RNZAF Mustang NZ2415. A trust later obtained the machine and more recently with Graham Bethell as owner. The price? First realistic offer was being asked. GST applicable if sold in New Zealand. 

AVIATION TRADER SOLD

The industry classified adverts newspaper, Aviation Trader, has been bought out by Sandhills Pacific. The publication will continue as Aviation Trader but in a magazine format. With the change of ownership there has been a subtle change in format with more block adverts but the line classified adverts maintained although reduced in recent times due to the effects of the COVID-19 virus. 

The format and layout of the publication has taken a change in that it appears more like its American cousin, Controller, a like aviation adverts publication from Sandhills. The publication is available in both online and printed format. 

Aviation Trader has been produced by Kevin Gosling at Lismore, NSW, for 34 years. For those wanting to sell aircraft or to see what is being sold, Aviation Trader has been the go-to publication. Warbirds, antiques and classics all featured for sale. The publication is on sale at newsagents as well as being distributed to Australian aircraft owners for free. It has been the go-to publication for some years for potential buyers of antique, classic and warbird aircraft. 

AAAA TEMORA FLY-IN A SUCCESS

The Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia (AAAA) held its annual fly-in gathering at Temora this year. The gathering replaced the scheduled 2020 gathering at Wangaratta but that was knocked out by the COVID-19 virus and limitations on gatherings.

The fly-in over the weekend of 26-28 March was attended by some 70 antiques and classic aircraft, and not a Cirrus in sight!

There were six Austers, no less than six Cessna 180s, now a real classic, three DHC-1 Chipmunks turned up, Cessna 120 and 140s VH-KXN, VH-TMO. Cessna 180s VH-CRB, VH-CXA, VH-MTF, VH-AOM, VHWCV, VH-SOH. Cessna 170 VH-SLY & VH-COS. Beagle 109 VH-UEH, Austers VHBYF, VH-RIE, VH-SAH, VH-KAZ, VH-CRR, 24-7588. DHC-1 Chipmunks VH-AFL, VH-MMS and VH-SSJ. Tiger Moths VH-AZF, VH-ABL. DH85 Leopard Moth VHUUL. Cabin Ryan SCW VH-SCW. Stinson Reliant VH-ISR. Boeing Stearman VH-INK. N-A T-6 Harvard VH-TXN. Taylorcraft BC-12D 24-8422, Piper L-4 VH-ODY. Porterfield 24-8081. CT4 VHWCT, VH-SZK. Nanchang CJ6A VH-NNC. Luscombe 8A 24-8800. Cessna 305 VH-UXX. 

Taylor J-2 VH-UYL. This aircraft ex Tyabb had just been bought by Matt Gray and was its way to be based at Wedderburn south of Sydney. It took out the AAAA award for Grand Champion Antique Aircraft. Gray said he had owned the aircraft for just 11 hours!

Two PL-12 Airtruks from Albury along with Mustang VH-SUV/’A68-750’ from the RAAF Museum did a cameo appearance on the Sunday afternoon. 

It was considered that the numbers were down due to the COVID-19 virus plus the floods on the NSW coastal belt. 

A good laid-back event for attending owners, pilots and enthusiasts of antique and classic aircraft. The next AAAA annual fly-in will be at Wangaratta, Victoria. 

CLASS E AIRSPACE PROPOSAL ISSUES

Recently, Air Services Australia put out a revised proposal to lower E Class air space up and down the east coast. The revised proposal replaced an earlier proposal that had the E airspace coming down to 1,500 feet above ground level.

The AAAA joined with other non-airline organisations in commenting on the proposals. 

Class E airspace in the main exists down to 8,500 feet. To fly in Class E airspace would require all aircraft to have and use a transponder and have at least one radio. 

The majority of aircraft owned and flown by members of the AAAA do not have a transponder. A number do not have a radio or an electrical system. To be forced to fly at 1,500 feet or less, AGL brings to mind safety aspects in terms of the altitude available in the event of an engine failure.

The aspect of having no radio and/or a transponder would also affect aircraft being owned and flown by members of other flying organisations. 

Currently VFR aircraft are entitled to operate in Class G airspace without being equipped with a transponder and up to 5,000 feet AMSL without being equipped with a VHF radio. A substantial proportion of airspace on the eastern seaboard is Class G and is used extensively by non-transponder equipped aircraft, including many AAAA member aircraft. 

The replacement of around 35 per cent of the Class G airspace with E Class airspace will exclude all non-radio equipped and virtually all non-transponder equipped VFR air traffic. There was no risk assessment with the proposal from Air Services. 

The AAAA submission to Air Services made the comment that if this proposal is to go ahead then the E Class airspace lower limit should be no lower than 6,500 feet AMSL. The AAAA submission closed by saying that it could not support the revised Class E proposal.

TWO WARBIRDS DOWN

While the main theme of this column is that of Australian aircraft there have been two serious accidents involving warbirds overseas that will be of interest to readers. 

In the UK, a Hawker Sea Fury T.20, G-RNHF/ VX281, broke up during a forced landing due to engine issues. The accident site was at Limington, Somerset, near RNAS Yeovilton. Photos show that the aircraft broke up during the crash with the rear fuselage inverted and the engine detached. Amazingly enough, the two crew members were taken to hospital for observation but to not have suffered any major injuries. 

The aircraft was operated by Navy Wings. It had been on a training flight. The aircraft had recently been put back in the air following a gear up event on 31 July 2014. The aircraft was if flight when it suffered an engine issue at the RNAS Culdrose Air Day. On landing the gear collapsed and the aircraft and the engine suffered damage. The pilot was unhurt.

In the US, a Grumman TBM Avenger was participating in a four aircraft formation at an air show at Cocoa Beach, Florida, on 17 April. The aircraft engine started to emit a smoke trail indicating an engine issue. The aircraft was subsequently ditched in shallow waters parallel to the beach. There were no injuries to the pilot. The aircraft was later recovered, a little bit wet. It is expected to be rebuilt. The aircraft, N108Q, was built by General Motors Corporation in 1945. It served with the US Navy and later was a fire bomber. It was the subject of an 18-year restoration. Now it is for another restoration. 

It is owned by Florida-based Valiant Air Command. The ditching was filmed by a number of beach spectators. 

RAAF 100 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS CANBERRA FLY PAST

Canberra was the place to be on Wednesday, 31 March in order to see the cavalcade of RAAF aircraft, present and past, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the RAAF. 

It was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle with 60 aircraft flying overhead the Parliament House building displaying military hardware in a way never seen before at Canberra. 

The display commenced with a S-70A Blackhawk towing a huge flag of the RAAF past the ground borne audience. 

The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), the newly re-formed RAAF 100 Squadron based at Temora and Point Cook and other flyers all commenced their flight in formations. The aircraft included four Lockheed C130J Hercules, four P-8A Poseidon’s, the F-35A Lighting II, the Roulettes in their new Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, Boeing E-7A Wedgetail, C-27J Spartan and C-17A Globemaster. Of the older aircraft there were a Douglas C-47, Lockheed Hudson, CAC Wirraway, CAC Boomerang, North American T-6 Harvard, Lockheed Neptune, Lockheed P-3C Orion, Supermarine Spitfire and DHC-4 Caribou. It was a spectacle to appreciate.

For the pilots involved it will be one to remember, all the organisation, the pre-flight planning in the proceeding weeks for the formation flying and the timing of the various aircraft to join the parade. All done with military precision. 

Canberra Airport would have been a sight to be seen with aircraft placed here and there ready to take off on a certain time or be dispersed after the event. 

It was certainly an event to see, never to be seen again in our lifetime. 

HISTORIC HORNET MOTH TO FLY AGAIN

DH87B Hornet Moth VHAMJ looks to fly again. The aircraft has been in storage near Gympie, Queensland, for some 20 years. It has recently been sold and with a new owner is to be restored to airworthiness standard. 

Built in 1936, the square winged ‘Moth, c/n 8066, was put on the British register as G-ADMJ. It was one of 164 Hornet Moths built. During WWII it was impressed as W9389 with the RAF. After the war it again became G-ADMJ. Exported to Australia it was put on the register here as VH-AMJ on 21 January 1952. 

A few owners followed and in the period 1955 to 1964 it was owned by famed aircraft model shop Hearn’s Hobbies, Melbourne. On 26 June 2006 it was struck off the register. 

Put up for sale by owner Malcolm Bone of Gympie, in early 2021 the machine was bought by Alan McVinish who is the chief engineer of Aviation Specialists of Toowoomba Airport. It is reported that the machine was then moved by road to Warwick to be restored to airworthy condition. 

During the period that the aircraft has been off the register the registration, VHAMJ, had been acquired by a Piper PA32-300 Cherokee Six. Therefore, it looks as if VH-AMJ the Hornet Moth will take up a new Australian registration when it flies again.

WANGARATTA HISTORIC MOTOR SHOW & FLY-IN

This was the third such event at Wangaratta, Victoria, and a success it was. There were vintage restored trucks, vintage tractors and steam engines, military vehicles, retired police cars, old ambulances and an array of antique and classic motor vehicles. 

For the aviation enthusiasts there were some 60 interesting aircraft that flew in plus GA visitors and with a good Unicom operator running the air there were a few fly pasts. Interesting aircraft included the Focke-Wulf 190 VH-WLF as a static display aircraft, DH94 Moth Minor VHCZB, three North American T-28 Trojans’, several T-6 Harvard’s’, Lockheed 12 VHHID, Beech D-18S VH-FID, BT-13 VH-JKV, Stinson L-5 VH-BFR, Curtiss J-1 Robin VH-JUV, the RAAF Museum Mustang VH-SVU, half a dozen CAC Winjeels, a pair of DHC-1 Chipmunks, Stinson 108 VH-STH, three Austers, VH-KCW, VHCRR and VH-JSG. Local Nanchang CJ-6A VH-LNM, painted up in a Chinese Navy blue colour scheme, cabin Ryan SCW VH-SCW, And three Curtiss P-40 fighters, VH-ZOC, VH-HWK and VH-PFO. 

With good weather there were a number of fly past presentations. The Curtiss Robin, the Lockheed 12 and the Beech 18 together, a Winjeel and the BT-13, the Mustang VH-SVU and solo aerobatics by a Curtiss P-40. 

The big item of the day was the formation fly past of the three Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks. This would have been the first time since WWII that three Kittyhawks had made a formation flight! 

For the aviation enthusiast with a camera, it was a good day for photos. For those with an interest in vintage machinery there was plenty to see of both aircraft and ground vehicles. Look forward to next year. 

IN BRIEF

Pickles Auctions is selling off used ADF hardware. In its March auction, it had a number of RAAF aircraft. These comprised incomplete Macchi A7-063. There were two sailplanes that had been used for giving youngsters flight experience with the view that they might take up a career with the RAAF. These two aircraft were ASK-21 sailplanes VH-NQG and VH-NQI. Of most interest were the seven Pilatus PC-9 two seat trainers. Two were complete; A23-005 and 013. On pallets disassembled were A23-012, 018, 044, 046 and 050. 

It has been reported that two of the aircraft were purchased by an Albury aviation identity. 

REGISTER REVIEW

From New Zealand comes a few interesting items this issue. 

Pacific Aerospace CT-4E ZK-PTI was taken off the ZK register on 3/2/21. It turned up on the VH register as VH-PTX on 2/3/21 c/n 208 with Ned Restom of Davistown, NSW. ZK-RAJ a Folland Gnat T1 FL94 was put on the NZ register on 21/1/21 to Red Arrows of Auckland. It is ex N7CV. 

A Folland Gnat was imported into Australia some few years ago but never flew here. It was eventually exported to China supposably for a museum. As China has never had any involvement with the Folland Gnat one has to presume that the Chinese Military had a good look at the aircraft before it went to any said museum. Supermarine Spitfire LF XVI ZK-NLJ TB252 was struck off the NZ register on 15/3/21 as being exported. It was last with AvSpecs of Auckland. In Australia, Searey amphibian VH-IIL N479 was struck off the VH register on 4/2/21 as being transferred to the RA register. This aircraft was involved in an accident at Tyabb on 25/11/20 so one presumes that it is to be rebuilt.

Back to the land that it came from is Piper PA22-150 VH-UCE 22-3662, struck off the register on 2//2/21. It is going back to the US! Forney Aircoupe F-1 VH-LDN 5709 had a change of owner to Andrew Irvines of Huskisson of NSW on 9/2/21. 

Auster IIIF TAY-5811 was put back on the register on 16/2/21 as VH-BYS to Steve Fielder of Barden, ACT. This machine was involved in an accident on 8/2/61 at Mount Sanford, NT, and was said to be abandoned. Good to see it come back on the register. 

Cessna 170A VH-CAS 19090 changed owners to 2 Crowns, Ingham, Queensland. on 18/2/21. It is to be used as the commute aircraft to take a pilot and loader driver out to an ag strip to fly the more expensive to operate ag aircraft. 

With the virus effects slowly dissipating, aircraft have been changing hands. The following is a list of changes of ownership. Boeing A75 Stearman VH-YND 75-5362 to Tim Berry, Wisonton, Queensland on 8/2/21. Boeing A75N1 75-4522 to Clark Rural, Goulburn, NSW on 15/2/21. 

DHC-2 Beaver VH-AUH 137 to Southern Corporate Air Charter Beaconsfield, NSW on 22/2/21. 

Auster J1B VH-KBI 2684 to Kieran Gormley-Smith of Clontarf, Queensland on 1/3/21. 

Boeing A75 L300 VH-PJS 75-671 on 2/2/21 to Dataflow Australia, Kardinya, WA. DH82a Tiger Moth VH-BAL 82-561 on 9/2/21 to Michael Murphy, Cooranbong, NSW. 

Auster J5A VH-KSB 2093 was taken off the register on 11/3/21 as being exported to the UK. A photo on the web in 2018 showed the aircraft part dismantled at Rosedale, Victoria. DH82a Tiger Moth VH-AAR 038 changed owners on 22/3/21 Andrew Murray, Main Ridge, Victoria. Auster J5 VH-MSP 2898 changed owners on 25/3/21 to Dan Pluess, Pasadena, SA. North American AT-6D Harvard 8817011 changed to Cirrus Sunshine Coast, Moffat Beach, Queensland on 11/3/21. 

PC-9/A UPDATE

For those that have flown the RAAF PC-9/A and wondered what happen to their mount, we have run up a list of the fates of some of those aircraft. 

In March 2019, five of the aircraft were sold off by auction and went to South Africa, assumedly to fly again. The aircraft were A23-004, A23-043, A23-059, A23-066 and A23-067. The auction was held at Avalon airport where in future a lot of surplus ADF equipment will be auctioned off from. The prices of the aircraft went from $121,000 to $177,000. 

In more recent times, 11 of the aircraft were auctioned off and went to two firms in the states for combat training with the US armed forces. There they will carry civilian registrations. 

The first five went to the firm of AirUSA. 

N909XX manufacturer’s serial number (msn) 564 ex A23-064, N908XX 560 A23- 060, N907XX 515 A23- 015, N906XX 512 A23-012, and N905XX 511 A23-011. 

The other user in the states is Blue Air Training. This firm has six ex RAAF PC-9/A aircraft: N354BA 554 A23-054, N669BA 507 A23-007, N774BA 553 A23- 053, N775BA 545 A23-045, N776BA 552 A23-052, and N810BA 562 A23-062. 

It has been reported that ‘A23-012’, for auction at Avalon, shows a c/n plate of 509. Could it be that there has been a paperwork mix up and the PC-9/A for auction at Avalon should be A23-009? That would equate to c/n plate 509?