Warbirds

VH-JEB is an unusual and unique machine in that it is a CA-19. It is the last Boomerang built. 

As with lots of rebuilds, it takes longer to restore than it takes to build the machine back then. Do not expect the aircraft to be flying next week but based on previous projects that the Old Aeroplane Company has been involved with, it will take to the air again. 

Yet another interesting aircraft just put on the register is that of former RAAF Pilatus PC-9/A VH-YMK. This went on the register on 9 June to Arthur Pipe & Steel of Albury, NSW. 

This machine was one of the RAAF PC-9/As sold off from Avalon in the surplus sales conducted by Pickles Auctions. Built in 1991 by Hawker De Havilland Ltd at Bankstown, NSW. It is listed as c/n 557 and Warbirds, classic aircraft, museum and air show news was previously A23-057. It was last known to be based in WA with 2FTS. It carried a RAAF Roulettes colour scheme. 

It was said the time of the auctions that Arthur Pipe & Steel had bought two surplus PC-9/A aircraft. The second is reported to still be at Albury. 

Another ex-RAAF PC/9A is for sale in the UK. The aircraft is reported to be owned by Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc. Trustee at Binga, Suffolk. The machine is registered with FAA/US registration N625PC and c/n 533. It had some 9,545 hours total time when sold by ADF disposals. The aircraft was built in 1990 as A23-033. It now carries a grey colour scheme with ‘33’ on the nose section but no visible N registration. It comes with a spare P&W PT6A-62 turbine engine. The machine is for sale via Euro Plane Sales of Binfield, UK. Price? US$1.5 million. After arrival in the UK, the aircraft was assembled and worked on by Horizon Aircraft Services at St Athan airfield. Horizon specialises in ex-military aircraft. 

There have been two major sales of former RAAF PC/9A trainers. The first saw a number of the aircraft go to South Africa. Some also went to the US where two firms operate them working in conjunction with US military. The more recent batch saw a further number of the type sold by auction but apart from the Alan Arthur aircraft, the destination of these aircraft is unknown as yet. 

From New Zealand we see that Yeoman YA-1 Cropmaster, ZK-CTX, c/n 120 was added to the NZ register on 6 July to Craig Dowden of Gore. The aircraft is a restoration and has been off the register since November of 1973. 

ZK-MOM is yet another warbird rebuild by Pioneer Aero at Papakura. The Curtiss P-40E with serial 41-13570 went on to the ZK register on 14 May. 

NZ Aerospace Industries CT/4A Air Trainer ZK-LJH c/n 042 was struck off the NZ register on 4 May as exported and was added to the Australian register as VH-LAH on 5 May to Murray Joel of Gatton, Queensland. 

Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4E Air Trainer ZK-PTD c/n 203 was taken off the NZ register on 14 May as exported. It became VH-PVD on 17 May to Reha Ekinci of Narellan, NSW. 

North American AT-6D Harvard, VH-NZX, serial 8817011, changed ownership on 11 March to owner Harrison Flight Holdings of Moffat Beach and the operator as Cirrus Sunshine Coast also of Moffat Beach, Queensland. 

A sea fury that speaks Italian

The warbird movement is fascinating. Where aircraft come from and where they go to. One such example is that of Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk.11 D-CRZY. This ex-Australian aircraft has been a recent restoration by the German firm of Meier Motors. This Sea Fury has a chequered history. Reputed to be built as WJ298 it went to Iraq in 1952. Recovered by American Ed Jurist in 1979 it became N265F. It was bought by then well-known Australian warbird flyer Guido Zuccoli (D.6.3.97) and registered as VH-HFG. It stayed in the family after his death until 2006. It was then sold to American Walter Bowe in California and became N97SF in 2007. In more recent times it became D-CRZY and made its first flight post restoration on 21 September 2020. Recently the aircraft, now complete with folding wing mechanism, was flown from Germany to Italy. It is to be part of the growing warbird numbers in Italy. The aircraft is to be based at Ozzano Emilia airfield (near Bologna). In recent times there has been an increase in the number and types of warbirds in both Germany and Italy. The Sea Fury will be a first in Italy.

“As with lots of rebuilds, it takes longer to restore than it takes to build the machine back then”

Movements

Corsair F4U-5N VH-III and Merlin powered Curtiss P-40F VH-HWK have both recently moved from Tyabb Airport on the Mornington Peninsula to take up hangar space at the Latrobe Regional Airport. They will be in a space at the Gippy Aero facility. It is understood that the aircraft have been moved to Latrobe Valley both from noise considerations and to use the longer runway. 

The Gippy Aero facility is no longer producing the GA-8 Airvan but is understood to be producing parts for existing aircraft. The Corsair is owned by Graham Hosking and is currently up for sale. The Kittyhawk is owned by Judy Pay, both from Mt Eliza, Victoria. It is one of six Kittyhawks on the VH register at present. 

Temora Canberra Flys

Probably the last Canberra to fly in the world took to the air again at Temora. The aircraft, VHZSQ, ex WJ680, is an English Electric Canberra TT.18. It took to the air again on 5 June after an 11-year no-fly period. There are three other variants of the Canberra still flying but they are the US-built Martin WB-57 model. 

VH-ZSQ is in fact a Handley Page built machine. There has been a three-year restoration to get the aircraft back in the air again. That also involved obtaining two new engines from the UK. The engines have had their cartridge starters replaced by electric starters that came from the engines of a Comet airliner. 

The Canberra will be an exciting part of the Australian International Airshow at Avalon in late November. It has been confirmed that the Avalon is to go ahead and not be shut down due to the COVID lockdowns. It is planned to display the Canberra at the scheduled Temora Showcase event on 9 and 10 October. 

Chopper Talk

When talking about warbirds we normally talk of fixed wing aircraft but now we can talk about rotary wing machines as well. 

Since the ADF elected to dispose of its fleet of Kiowa helicopters, a military version of the long-lived Bell 206 series, a number that were sold off as surplus have turned up on the register, with still more to follow. Built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne, one could say that the sold off helicopters were snapped up. The official title for the breed is a Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation B/A 206B-1. 

A check of the civil aircraft register has no less than 12 of the Kiowa’s carrying VH marks. They are; VH-XKH, VH-ZDI, VH-VJP, VH-NVO, VH-EJZ, VH-NKH, VH-LTL, VH-IKH, VH-JJP, VH-XKY, VH-JQN and VH-PWU. In the ADF, the helicopters carried the prefix of A17, the same prefix as the famed DH82a Tiger Moth of 80 years ago. 

Brisbane Airshow postponed

The much-promoted Brisbane Airshow, planned to be held at Watts Bridge aerodrome on 3 and 4 July, has been postponed. The postponement came about as a result of recent COVID-19 concerns. The Melbourne Formula 1 car races have also been postponed until next year. 

The air show has been postponed until 16 and 17 October this year. A huge disappointment for both the organisers and aviation enthusiasts both of whom had allocated a lot of time, money and organising to be at the event. 

The COVID-19 lockdowns have not been kind to the aviation sector in the year 2020 and now the year 2021. 

As this column went to bed there has been no word regarding any cancellations or postponement of the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport scheduled for 23-28 November. It is presumed to still be on. If for no other reason than this is the 100th anniversary of the RAAF. 

Spitfire Spitfire

Yet another Spitfire for Australia. The machine is Castle Bromwich 1944 built Spitfire Mk.IXe, G-IXCC, PL344. The aircraft was struck off the UK register as being exported to Australia. Shaun Brown is the reported owner. The aircraft is now at Albion Park, NSW. 

The machine has travelled a lot but not always under Merlin power. The aircraft was PL344. It became civil UK registration G-IXCC. It later was sold and went to the US where it became N644TB. Kermit Weeks was an owner. It returned to the UK and became G-IXCC again. It then went to the US again, and again became N644TB. Struck off the US register in November 2007 it returned to the UK and again became G-IXCC. In more recent times it was again sold again and has come to Australia. No Australian registration is known as yet. The maker’s serial is said to be CBAF.9590. 

“When talking about warbirds we normally talk of fixed wing aircraft but now we can talk about rotary wing machines as well”

Another Spitfire of note is MH603, a Spitfire F Mk.IX. The machine is on its undercart and made its first engine run on 16 June. No doubt soon to take to the air. The aircraft was rebuilt at Scone by Ross Pay’s Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR). 

Yet another Spitfire of note is Spitfire LF IXb MH415/G-AVOJ. 

This was rebuilt here in Australia but was not flown here although it had engine runs. It went to the UK and made its first UK engine run in October 2020. A first flight is expected and may have already taken place. 

FAA Flight training case

In the US the FAA, the regulator, issued a cease-anddesist order against a warbird flight training company reports the US AOPA. A federal court declined to lift the order that had been imposed by the FAA. 

The story goes that a limited category Curtiss P-40N was being used by Warbird Adventures giving flight instruction. The FAA stating that the P-40N was not certified for paid flight instruction. Five groups including the EAA, the National Association of Flight Instructors, the International Council of Air Shows. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the North American Trainer Association opposed the FAA order. The group emphasised that historically limited category aircraft owners had paid instructors for training in their own aircraft just as they would in a standard category aircraft. 

The FAA makes the comment that a limited category airworthiness certificate is issued to operate surplus military aircraft that have been converted to civilian use. A condition is that ‘no person may operate a limited category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire’. The group opposing the FAA pointed out that the broad arguments advanced by the FAA asserted that anyone flying limited category aircraft must have an exemption for any training involving compensation. The court said that in support of the FAA that the FAA could have made an exemption to their regulation FAR 91.315 to allow flight instruction, but did not do so. 

It is to be pointed out that the FAA regulations and the Australian CASA regulations differ and there is no suggestion that CASA would impose an order here in Australia for like operations. 

Australian army flying museum

A recent addition to the Australian Army Flying Museum (AAFM) located at Oakey, Queensland, is that of Blackhawk helicopter A25- 103. Named ‘Armageddon’, it was added in March. It joined another Blackhawk, A25-220 ‘Hussar’ that was already on display in the expanding collection.

Rag & tube stuff

At Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Brian Turner and his son are to rebuild a DH94 from the ground up. The aircraft was last VH-AAM. Being a wooden construction aircraft, it suffered from the ravages of time and was taken out of the air when its structure started to deteriorate back about 1958. The aircraft was dismantled and stored by the Bunn Brothers near Albury. The rear fuselage has gone but Turner has the rest of the aircraft to reconstruct, an art that he has done well in the last few years. 

Turner has recently completed the rebuild of a Westland Widgeon. The aircraft was last flown as VH-UHU and then owned by Arthur Wittacker of Boort, Victoria. It went into the Wangaratta Air World air museum. When the museum closed down the Widgeon was bought by James Courtney and Brian Turner got the job to rebuild the machine. The aircraft is now to the stage of applying the fabric covering. There is one other Westland Widgeon in Australia. VH-UGI. That is owned by well-known aviator, Dick Smith. 

Turner has recently taken on yet another project to rebuild. An Auster J/5G Autocar, VH-PSM. The aircraft has not flown since the 1970s and is showing signs of being not having TLC over a long period. The aircraft has been in a shed/hangar near Bombala. Turner and his firm, Latrobe Valley Airframes and Welding, have a task in front of them but judging from previous rebuilds the job will be achievable. 

From the UK we learn that a second DH85 Leopard Moth has left our shores and is now in the UK. The aircraft, VHUUE, c/n 7109, is now with Jim Cresswell. The UK registration, if any, is unknown. 

Another DH 85 Leopard Moth, VH-USM, c/n 7086, is in the UK with David Reid for a rebuild. It is registered as G-CLSM. 

Scone Hunter fighter collection

The Scone Air Museum is taking place with two new additions. These being Mirage A3-44 and ex RAAF/RAN Macchi MB-326 A7-047. Both aircraft have arrived at the museum facility at Scone in the last few months. The airport was recently closed while runway alterations were made. 

A combination of the air museum and the Ross Pay Vintage Fighter Restoration (VFR) firm make an enthusiasts visit to Scone well worthwhile. 

Coming Events

• Tocumwal Airshow 18 September 
• Temora Showcase 9-10 October 
• Brisbane Airshow Watts Bridge 16-17 October 
• Wings over Illawarra 13-14 November 
• Tyabb Airshow 13 March 2022. 

In brief

Hawker Siddeley HS748 VHAMQ was effectively written off in an arson attack on 28 January. The aircraft was taken out of RAAF service in 2004. It had been A10-603. Flown to the UK and put up for sale it remained in storage at Southend Airport. It was stored alongside HS748 VHAHL, previously A10-606. 

Well-known aviator and writer, Rob Fox, has sold his Cessna (305) 0-1G Bird Dog, VH-FXY. It has been sold into the UK. The aircraft c/n 22913 had a serial of 51-12471. It was built in 1953. It entered the Australian register in December 1996. 

As reported in the last Warbirds, Auster J/5A VH-KSB c/n 2093 was sold into the UK. There it became G-AJER. 

Gordon Rich-Phillips, vice president of the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia, recently acquired DH82a Tiger Moth VH-PJI. The aircraft was obtained at Lilydale and ferried to a new home base, Tyabb. Rich-Phillips also owns a Beech F33A and is part owner of a Yak 52. 

At Winton, Queensland, Qantas chief Alan Joyce has cut a ribbon to celebrate a new sign on the entry to the town heralding that Winton was the birthplace of the airline. The huge sign is made of sheet steel in the shape of an Avro 504 biplane. 

Dubbo, NSW. In the terminal building a newly arrived replica DH83 Fox Moth, marked VH-UQM, tells all the flight passengers that the Moth was the way that airline flying was all about in the 1930s. Painted in silver and looking just like brand new, the machine is a fine rendition of the Fox Moth. 

AWM Lancaster moved

The famed Avro Lancaster I at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, better known as ‘G’ for George, has been moved. The four engine bomber with serial W4783 was operated by No. 460 Squadron during World War II. It was recently disassembled by a team from the Air Force History and Heritage Branch and the Australia War Memorial Collections Services during a four-week period. 

The reason behind the move is that Anzac Hall is soon to be demolished to make way for a new larger hall that will house displays that have been developed over the years but not having enough space to display them. 

The bomber carried out 89 operational sorties over occupied Europe with 460 Squadron during the war. When retired from bombing missions in 1944, the aircraft flew to Australia with an all-Australian crew. Here it played a major part in raising war bonds with flights around Australia. G for George will be reassembled and placed on display at the AWM Mitchell Annex, which will be open to the public in the latter part of 2021. The large aircraft will return to the new Anzac Hall when construction has been completed. 

Point Cook Mosquito moves

The Mosquito Aircraft Association of Australia (MAAA) has advised bad news. The aircraft that the group is restoring, DH98 PR Mk.XVI, A52-600, is to be moved. 

This apparently comes about as a result of the new 100 Squadron, which has now taken over all the historical flying aircraft associated with the RAAF Museum across Australia. The non-flying aircraft now come under the History and Heritage Branch within Air Force Headquarters in Canberra. 

“At Winton, Queensland, Qantas Chief Alan Joyce has cut a ribbon to celebrate a new sign on the entry to the town heralding that Winton was the birthplace of the airline”

As a consequence of the standing of 100 Squadron they have been allocated the hangars 186 (the machine shop) and 187 (the restoration hangar). The hangars are being cleared to make way for refurbishment and brought up to Air Force standard for housing flying aircraft. A52-600 is to be relocated to temporary premises along with associated assemblies, restored parts, work benches etc. 

The MAAA hopes that when things settle down and a new location can be found, they can resume work on the restoration of A52-600.