Warbirds #391 | Restored Boomerang eyes first flight

The monoplane was moved from Archerfield to Toowoomba, where it saw a new propellor and ailerons fitted by Aerotec, with safety and regulatory checks including weight and balance already well underway.

Early checks found a faulty altimeter, which has since been swapped out for a functional one after no less than four altimeters were procured to be later discovered as also faulty. With that matter settled, engine runs are now on the cards in the near future, alongside, of course, the first flight.

Meanwhile, another Boomerang project, A46-77, has seen a fresh green, brown and sky-blue paint job, and is ready for its internal fitout. The third project, A46-55, has had its newly rebuilt cockpit tube frame X-rayed and found to be totally sound, so was also treated, primed and painted. Next up, the aircraft will have its vertical tail fin converted from Wirraway to Boomerang configuration.

Rare flying ex-NZAF Mosquito to take flight in USA

One of just four flightworthy WWII-era de Havilland FB.MkVI Mosquito aircraft, formerly operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, is scheduled to take flight in California on 4 November. The demo forms part of a dedicated ‘hangar talk’ air display put on by the Planes of Fame Air Museum, based in Chino Airport just outside of Los Angeles, which will include a presentation on the history of the Mosquito – considered to be one of the quickest and most powerful aircraft of WWII. The aircraft has been made available to the museum by its current owner Charles Somers and will be kept at the Museum until 20 November.

The aircraft, serial number PZ474, was manufactured in England, and delivered to the RAF in early 1945. As the war was nearing its end, the Mosquito was passed around second-line units, including No.19 Maintenance Unit in Wales, No. 80 Operational Training Unit at RAF Morpeth, and No.132 Operational Training Unit at RAF East Fortune. Within a year, the aircraft was placed in storage, and eventually sold to the Royal New Zealand Air Force on January 23, 1948, and awarded the new serial number NZ2384.

The aircraft was assigned to 75 Squadron, and little is known of its operations during this time. It was later moved into storage at Taieri Aerodrome, before being sold, along with five other Mosquitoes, to US owners in 1953.

The plane was left abandoned by 1970, where it changed ownership a small number of times, before being acquired by Rod Lewis of Lewis Air Legends in 2014, and a full restoration to airworthiness took place. Part of the restoration work took place in New Zealand as a nod to the plane’s RNZAF history.

1943 Catalina Restoration

Eight TAFE NSW students have launched a new restoration project on a 1943 flying boat Catalina aircraft in Newcastle. Working under an apprenticeship with BAE Systems, the students are learning crucial skills in the field of aeronautical engineering as they work on the project in BAE System’s Williamstown facility.

The PBY Catalina is regarded as the most successful flying boat to ever be produced. It’s not yet clear if the current project is being performed on one of the 168 Catalinas ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force during WWII, or perhaps one of the 4,000 amphibious Catalina’s produced for use by the United States Armed Forces.

Despite being relatively slow-moving compared to other WWII-era planes, the Catalina’s range and water capabilities made it a useful frontline aircraft by the RAAF for missions around the Pacific. From 1942 until the end of the War, Australian Catalinas assisted allied forces with mine-laying missions in enemy harbours, detecting Japanese naval vessels, and rescuing allied troops from the ocean.

Pacific Airshow wrap-up

Time sure is flying! It’s already been three months since the inaugural Pacific Airshow Gold Coast, which saw nearly 300,000 aviators flock to Surfers Paradise over three days for a glimpse. Attendance was still a far cry from the three million visitors that regularly attend the show’s California counterpart, however organisers Code Four believes the Australian branch has plenty of room to grow in coming years. The three-day affair included flight displays by RAAF Super Hornets, the Roulettes, flypasts from a C-17A Globemaster and a C-130J Hercules, and aerobatic performances by Matt Hall.

 Matt Hall takes to Californian skies

On that note, the Australian Red Bull Air Race Champion jumped across the Pacific Ocean just weeks after his Pacific Airshow Gold Coast performance to show off his aerobatic skills to millions of American punters at the original Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, California. Alongside his teammate Emma McDonald, Hall lit up the Californian sky in his MXS-R. While the event marked Hall’s second appearance at the Huntington Beach show, it was the inaugural appearance for McDonald – another notable Aussie.