Warbirds

A21-022 was retired from service on 14 May 2020. It had completed 30 years in service and some 6,100 hours of flying time. 

The initial order of 75 Hornets was placed in November 1981. The order consisted of 57 single-seat F/A18As and 18 two-seat F/A-18Bs. The aircraft was advanced for its time. 

Earlier this year, 46 retired F/A-18 Classic Hornet fighters were sold to American air combat training company, Air USA. Some have also been sold to the Canadian Armed Forces. 

Based at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, the F/A-18A/B Hornets have been operated by No. 3 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown, No.75 Squadron at RAAF Base Tindal, No.77 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown, and No.2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown for pilot training. 

SERPENTINE WA GATHERING 

Western Australia was fortunate in that the lockdowns and the effects of the COVID-19 virus were not as devastating as the rest of the country. That was good for aviators to enable them to attend the annual Serpentine Sport Aircraft Builders Club flyin that was run on 25 October. It was a well-attended event. 

Aircraft of special note included a good bunch of RA aircraft reflecting the continuing growing interest in these aircraft. Other aircraft noted were: 

• DH87B Hornet Moth SE-AGE 
• DHC-1 Chipmunk VH-XBS 
• Silver Centenary VH-USC 
• Sopwith Pup replica VH-NHD 
• Stearman VH-PJS 
• Pietenpol VH-UCP 
• DH83 Fox Moth VH-USJ 
• Stinson Reliant VH-UXL 
• CASA Jungmann VH-FBJ and VH-KIL 
• Focke-Wulf Fw-44 VH-FBU 
• North American T-28B VH-KAN 
• Auster J4 Archer VH-KFF 
• Stinson 108 VH-KSM 
• Nanchang CJ-6A VH-MAN 
• Cessna 170B VH-BVH
• Scottish B.125 Bulldog VH-CHU 
• DH82a Tiger Moth VH-CXL 
• CT4A VH-DPV ex A19-038 
• Tiger Moth VH-FAS 
• CT4A VH-ANH, ex A19-041 
• Auster J/1BL VH-AYJ. 

For aviation enthusiasts of all interests, the Serpentine event was a great event to attend and appreciate the variety of aircraft on display. 

TEMORA AIRCRAFT SHOWCASE

Probably the first flying display after the COVID-19 restrictions nationwide were imposed was the Aircraft Showcase at the Temora Aviation Museum. The Showcase day took place on 11 September to a spectator audience limited to 500 visitors. 

The number and type of museum aircraft displayed was limited as a number of the pilots that regularly flew the aircraft hailed from Victoria and therefore were unable to enter NSW. 

Aircraft that were flown and displayed included DH82a Tiger Moth, Ryan STM, Wirraway, Cessna O-2, Spitfire Mk.16, and Lockheed Hudson. Visiting aircraft that were displayed included Winjeels the BT-13, David Salter’s Gipsy Moth and two O-1 Bird dogs. As always, it was a great display day. 

OLD AEROPLANE. NEW BOOK 

For those with an interest in really old aeroplanes then a new book in part scribed by writer and aircraft builder, Andrew Willox, will be of interest. 

The book is titled BE2a and covers the history of the Royal Aircraft Factory BE2 series of early WWI biplanes. 

The aircraft type was one of the early WWI aircraft and was used for training, for reconnaissance, as a fighter plane and as a bomber. 

Some 3,500 BE2 variants were built by 20 manufacturers but only a handful remain today, some original, some replicas. One less flyable machine after the spectacular spin-crash of a BE2c in the UK on 2 September. The accident was a non-fatal accident in part due to the slow speed of the machine and the large wooden structure that absorbed the impact. 

Willox built a replica BE2 that today features in the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victoria. 

The BE2 was built in the UK by various firms and operated in the UK, France and Australia. In Australia, three were operated by the Australian Flying Corps at the Central Flying School at Point Cook. 

Willox coupled with UK aviation historian Paul R Hare to write the book. There are some 190 printed pages and includes both colour and B&W photos. The hardcover book measures 260 by 260mm. It covers every known BE2a known to have served especially in Australia. 

The book was printed by Willox and Hare. It is an ondemand publication. For those wanting a copy you will need to contact Willox at [email protected] to obtain payment details. The price of the book including air mail postage from the UK is $103.00. 

‘For aviation enthusiasts of all interests, the Serpentine event was a great event to attend and appreciate the variety of aircraft on display’

Do include your full postal address such that the price of the publication and the postal cost can be correctly ascertained. 

The BE2 series were powered by several engines including the 52 kW (70 hp) Renault, 67 kW (90 hp) RAF 1a, the 67 kW (90 hp) Curtiss OX5 and the 111 kW (150 hp) Hispano-Suiza. The biplane is said to have had a maximum air speed of 63 knots at 6,500 feet. 

AUSTRALIAN MINT RELEASES AIR RACE CENTENARY COINS 

The Royal Australian Mint has released a collection of eight one dollar coins to commemorate the centenary of the 1919 England to Australia air race. The race was won by Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith in a Vickers Vimy, which is now on display at Adelaide International Airport. 

Each of the eight-coin sets feature aircraft that entered the race, although not all completed the event. The coins have on them illustrations of the following aircraft: Sopwith Wallaby, Vickers Vimy, Alliance P.2, Blackburn Kangaroo, Martinsyde A1, Airco DH-9, Caudron G.4 and a special air race coin. 

The Centenary of the Great Air Race – 2019 $1 Uncirculated Coin Collection is available in a limited mintage of 10,000 – retailing for $130. The coins are legal tender and can be purchased from the Mint’s website. 

The Australian Mint has also released another aviation related coin, in this case a one dollar coin to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the airline Qantas. 

The coin is available from post offices around the country. 

REGISTER UPDATE 

First from New Zealand we learn that ZK-JIT a DHC-1 Mk22 Chipmunk, C1-0640, was struck off the register on 10 September. One could suspect an Australian registration in the near future. An Australian built Eagle 150B, ZK-EGL, 019, was taken off the Kiwi registration on 6 October as exported. It became VHKKU on 9 October to Stuart Loganholmes, Queensland. The machine had earlier been VH-NZL. 

DHC-2 Beaver ZK-LAV, 1358, was put on the register on 14 October to GCH Aviation Ltd of Christchurch. It was previously DQ-GEE. Champion 7EC ZK-CXZ 7EC-682 was added to the ZK register on 4 September to C Reynolds of Alexandra. It is ex N7597E. CT4E ZK-PTB 201 was exported on 6 August. It became VH-CNZ on 13 August with the owner as Resources Pty Ltd, Green Hills, NSW. 

Now an interesting one. A short time back ZK-SSW was added to the NZ register as a Fokker D-IV replica. Someone realised that it was not a Fokker replica but in fact an import from the US as a Carl Swanson Siemens-Schuckert D-IV (replica) s/n S-10. The type was changed on 28 August with owners NZ Warbirds Association Inc Papakura. It is not often that such a big type change occurs. One wonders how all that occurred. 

Here in Australia, Cessna 170 18353 was added to the register as VH-MGF on 28 August to Robert Charlton of Pelican Waters, Queensland. It was previously N4034V. 

Auster J/1N 1857 VH-UXB was struck off the register on 19 August. Probably to return to the register further down the track. 

With the phasing out of BAE Systems from ADF basic flight training at Tamworth, NSW, the aircraft used was the CT4A/B and these have now been sold off to new civil owners. New owners have turned up for VH-YCK CT4B 106 on 4 September to Coolfare Contracts Pty Ltd of Port Melbourne, Victoria. VHYCS CT4B 090 on 3 September. VH-YCV CT4B 093, VH-YCW CT4B 095, VH-YCX 078 on 4 September. VH-YCT CT4A 058 on 5 September.

The Australian National Aviation Museum had three aircraft under VH registration that it removed on 28 September. Desoutter II D35 VH-UPR, BA Swallow L25C Srs. II 409 VH-UUM, and Pazmany PL-4A V59 VH-XAP. The latter was the last aircraft built by CAC and was also designated as a CA36. It last flew on 11 March 2018. As it was the last aircraft built by CAC, the museum deemed it too valuable to risk flying. This writer was the last to fly the machine. 

Now again an interesting one. It is reported that Alliance Airlines wants to have all of its aircraft in one registration block. The VHUY block is what they have been seeking. Alliance has some 30 aircraft with a spread of registrations. 

A lot of aircraft in the VHUY block are historic aircraft and some have carried the same marking for over 50 years. The airline has sought to buy and change the registration on aircraft in the VH-UY block. It has bought at least four at last count. 

It has also met resistance with some owners wanting to retain the marking on their aircraft. 

The four aircraft known to have changed their registrations are as follows. Great Lakes 2T-A1 SN2013GL VH-UYB became VH-UHB on 7 April. DH82a 83120 VH-UYE became VHWII on 24 September. YAK-18T 4200307 VH-UYU became VH-UDU on 17 July. Aerostar 60-0284-107 VH-UYY became VH-HRP 2 September. 

‘The year 2020 was devastating for pilots, aviation enthusiasts and event organisers’

Boeing A75N1 75-944 became VH-UJO on 17 September. It was previously N75307 and BuAer3167. The new owner is Ross Smith, Rolleston, Queensland. 

In the change of owners department, we find CT4B VH-YAB 085 moved from BAE to Skyhua Pty Ltd of Mudgee, NSW, on 11 September. Cessna 195B VH-ONA 7387 is now with Alan McVinish of Wilsonton, Queensland as of 8 September. CT4A VH-DAP 047 moved from BAE to Shane Brown of Toowoomba, Queensland on 11 September. Convair 340s VHPDW 086 and VH-PDX 126, both HARS machines, were struck off the register on 15 October at the owner’s request. Beech D18S VH-FID A-458 changed owners to Doug Hamilton, Whorouly, Victoria. CT4B VH-YCM 108 got a new owner on 16 September. Gary Thomas, Hillvue, NSW. 

Now the one that all warbird enthusiasts have been waiting for! Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.XVI TE392 VH-XWE became VH-RAF on 2 December 2019. The owner is listed as Bishopp Aviation Pty Ltd of New Market, Queensland. This aircraft has had a few registrations over the years. It is now VH-RAF. It was VH-XWE, N97RW and then with the RAF as TE392. 

COMING EVENTS 

The year 2020 was devastating for pilots, aviation enthusiasts and event organisers. COVID-19 restrictions prevented many aviation events and indeed flying at large. A lost year. The last major event was the Tyabb Airshow on 8 March. A week later aviation events across the country were postponed or cancelled. 

The next major event that took place would appear to be the restricted attendance Temora 17-18 October event. That was followed by the 25 October Serpentine, WA, fly‑in. 

Below is a listing of a few major events that are scheduled to take place in 2021, assuming that there is no resurgence in infections and subsequent lockdowns across the country. There are no doubt others that will be planned or resurrected. 

If you know of a major event, please drop Warbirds a note. 

• 2 January: Evans Head Drive-In Airshow, Paul Bennet Airshows. 
• 28 February: Serpentine Air Race, Victoria. A fly-in and show to celebrate the 1920 first official air race held in Australia. 
• 6-7 March: Warbirds Downunder, Temora, NSW. 
• 13-14 March: Hunter Valley Airshow, Paul Bennet Airshows. 
• 26-28 March: Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia, Temora. This is the annual antique fly-in that had been scheduled for Wangaratta, Victoria, in 2020. 
• 18 April: Wings, Wheels & Wine Mudgee, Paul Bennet Airshows.
• 19 September: Tocumwal Airshow, NSW. 
• 13-14 November: Wings Over Illawarra with the HARS collection on display. 
• 23-28 November: Australian International Airshow, Avalon, Victoria. To be the cornerstone to RAAF Centenary Year Celebrations. 

As always it is advisable to check in the weeks before an event that it will in fact be conducted. 

‘From Southport to Toowoomba to Caloundra to Nelson, the parts of the jigsaw slowly came together’

MUSEUM NEWS 

From the Caloundra-based Queensland Air Museum (QAM) comes an exciting tale that reads like a detective novel. Back in 2011 the museum acquired a set of aircraft straight floats from a source in Toowoomba. They were considered old. Identification proved difficult as the floats had fittings removed and the identification plates normally found near the front of the floats were also missing. Research found that they were most likely EDO type 2130 floats that were approved for use under a Cessna 172. Given that as many as 13 Cessna 172s had been operated on floats in Australia it was considered most likely that the floats came from one of those aircraft, but which one? 

Two candidates come to the front. Cessna 172F VH-DNT, which had operated on the Gold Coast in the 1970s but converted back to a landplane in 1978. The other was Cessna 172M VHTUV. This machine had operated in south-east Queensland as late as 1978 but was subsequently struck off the register. Eventually the floats were restored and placed on display in the museum but their province remained a mystery. 

Then in July this Mr Australian Floatplane, Bill Lane, contacted the QAM and advised that the floats are EDO 2000 floats off VH-DNT, which he had operated from Southport in the early ’70s. VH-TUV on PK 2300 floats replaced VH-DNT. The book figures for the EDO 2000 floats are 4.8768 metres long whereas the EDO 2130 floats are 5.0800 metres long. 

Mystery resolved after nine years! And the punch line, Cessna 172F VH-DNT is alive and well with Ronald Molloy of Nelson, Victoria. He has had the aircraft since 29 April 2009. So, from Southport to Toowoomba to Caloundra to Nelson, the parts of the jigsaw slowly came together! 

The QAM has another acquisition story. It acquired the surplus Lockheed AP-3C Orion, A9-760, from the ADF and the RAAF. 

The aircraft was delivered to Sunshine Coast Airport, Maroochydore, for the QAM to collect. There the aircraft stood at the southern end of the airport for a time before the QAM could dismantle the big aircraft. Caloundra was just a tad too small for a safe landing. The QAM dismantled the aircraft and transported it south to Caloundra where it was reassembled. In September the tail was refitted to complete the aircraft. Now comes the task of outfitting the former submarine hunter such that it can be inspected by museum visitors. 

The QAM holds the largest aviation collection in Australia. That includes airframes, engines and a very large aviation themed library. The collection is deemed to have significance at the national and international level. 

The QAM has such a collection it is busting at the seams. The QAM is seeking to expand into a plot of vacant land adjacent to the current museum site. Negotiations have been going back and forth for some eight years with the Sunshine Coast Council without success. 

Now the museum is calling on the state government to assist with a positive decision on the land sought by the museum. Given the size of the museum collection and its increasing value to the local and state economy, one would have thought that decision would be simple. Let the museum have the vacant land with no further ping pong decision making. 

The QAM was the winner of the 2019 Queensland Tourism Awards’ “Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer Organisation”. It is a great museum to visit and appreciate the aircraft on display and their heritage. 

From Temora we recall that the Temora Aviation Museum entered into an agreement with the ADF in 2018 to transfer ownership of 11 historically significant aircraft to the RAAF. The aircraft, a Canberra, Vampire, Meteor, two Spitfires, Hudson, Wirraway, Boomerang, Cessna A-37B Dragonfly, DH82a Tiger Moth and a Ryan STM are located and maintained by the expert staff at the Temora Aviation Museum. As the RAAF approaches its centenary year in 2021, the agreement ensures that these historic aircraft, flown and supported during several conflicts in defence of our country and our national interests, can continue to be preserved remembered and displayed. The Australian International Airshow at Avalon in November 2021 will see a number of these aircraft on display. 

This column became aware that there are operational changes taking place at Temora. An enquiry to ADF media elicited the following response from a defence spokesman. The Air Force is still considering what organisational structures and command and control arrangements will be optimal for the management of the heritage aircraft fleets at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook and the Temora Aviation Museum. Details will be announced once decided and approved. 

(Ed.) Any changes can only be to the betterment and long-term safety of the Temora Heritage aircraft operations. 

At Longreach, the Qantas Founders Museum (QAM) is getting into the swing of things to celebrate the 100th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Qantas that turned 100 on 16 November. The museum planned to hold conducted tours of the museum on that day with no admission charge. QFM CEO Tony Martin said the Qantas Founders Museum is committed to telling the story of Qantas and there is no bigger milestone to mark than the centenary of Qantas. 

“In 2020 we had planned a series of events throughout the year to celebrate the Qantas centenary, many of which were postponed or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are delighted that this event can go ahead,” said Martin. 

SOUTHERN CROSS REBUILD PROGRESS 

From Illawarra and Albion Park comes news that the Southern Cross replica of the famed Smithy tri-motor, VH-USU, is making good progress to go back into the air and be shown to Australians at large. A real piece of living aviation history. 

The large aircraft is in the HARS hanger at Albion Park. It suffered an accident at Parafield, South Australia, on 25 May 2002 in which it lost a wheel on take-off. In the subsequent landing, an outer portion of the one-piece wooden wing was broken off. The machine lay dormant for some years while its future was decided. HARS managed to obtain the aircraft and move it to its museum facility at Albion Park on the NSW south coast. First the wing was rebuilt. Then the three Jacobs R755A2 300 hp engines were rebuilt in Queensland. The third, the port or left engine, has been installed and joins the other two, which have already been installed on the aircraft. Some electrical work is yet to be done on the aircraft and that has had to take its place in the queue given other maintenance work on other HARS aircraft that is taking priority. The engines have already had some four hours’ run-in time and HARS intends to run then all for a further four to five hours probably around March next year, with flying sometime after that. 

HARS deserves full marks for it rebuild involvement with the Southern Cross, a piece of living history. 

The original Southern Cross is on display on Southern Cross Way at the entrance to the International terminal at Brisbane Airport. 

SNIPPETS 

The passenger carrying DC3 VHTMQ is still at Essendon airport at last count. It is currently registered to Aero Logistics Pty Ltd of Mayfield West, NSW. The change of ownership took place on 13 May 2020. 

By late October there were some 90 stored airline aircraft at Alice Springs Airport. Several airlines and a mix of types. Most will eventually fly again but when is the issue. The coronavirus has affected airlines around the world. It is anticipated that airline flying may take three to five years to get up to 80 per cent of what it was before the virus struck. Alice Springs has proven to be a good storage ground. Dry with low humidity and therefore little or no corrosion on the stored aircraft. 

Australia Post has released two prime new stamps. One, $1.10, features a Qantas Boeing 787 taking off from Sydney Airport. The second, a vintage DH50 G-AUAB of 1924 making a landing in the outback. The new stamps are to celebrate 100 years of the founding of Qantas and also the commencement of the Civil Aviation Branch of the Department of Defence, the regulator by an earlier name. 

The Civil Aviation Historical Society (CAHS), based at Essendon Airport, assisted in the design of the stamps. 

From New Zealand, a real barn find. Aviation enthusiast John Smith of Mapua, west of Nelson, collected a number of surplus RNZAF aircraft over the years. He passed away in August aged 84. Now his family is working with Marlborough’s Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre Museum to find new homes for the collection. The collection itself comprises a complete DH Mosquito, a North American P-51D Mustang that will most likely be rebuilt to fly again, a Tiger Moth, a DH Vampire jet and two Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighters. Truly an amazing collection! We learn that the Shaun Brown collection has been moved to Albion Park adjacent to the HARS museum collection. 

The North American P-51D VH-FST was recently serviced at Albion Park. Both the Spitfire VH-RAF (see register update), located at Archerfield and currently up for sale via Platinum Fighter Sales, and the Hawker Fury VH-SHF are also on the field and to be assembled. 

The Spitfire LF Mk.IXb MH415 was rebuilt by Vintage Fighter restorations at Scone. It had engine runs and then, without being flown here, was shipped off to the UK for flying displays there. The pandemic resulted in all the UK shows being cancelled and the aircraft has not been displayed there as yet. 

The Hawker Fury, VH-SHF, was originally part of the Steve Hart collection. After a period of non-flying and a change of ownership it was shipped to the UK to return it to airworthy status. Again, the virus got in the way and the machine was returned to Australia. It is now at Albion Park. 

Those going to Albion Park to view the HARS museum collection will also get the chance of seeing the Brown collection.