Warbirds #394 | Airshows, DC-2 restoration, NZ Tiger Moth Club

Another notable announcement: a sneak peek at the Tempest sixth-generation fighter jet. BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi have partnered with the governments of the UK, Italy and Japan to unleash a new concept model of their planned next-generation fighter jet, currently dubbed ‘Tempest’. After 18 months of initial design progress, the prime contractors and respective government partners, collectively called the Global Combat Air Programme, showed off the latest update in their design.

The aircraft boasts a larger triangular wingspan to improve aerodynamics, angled air intakes for increased stealth, and a mechanism to reduce forward radar signature. I believe it goes without saying, that the jet will also see state-of-the-art aeronautics, an AI-driven largely autonomous augmented reality virtual cockpit, and a radar that is said to be 10,000 times more powerful than current systems. The three-country consortium has set an ambitious goal to have the newly conceptualised fighter plane fully operational and in service by 2035.

It also would not be Farnborough without a mention of the simply outstanding air displays, which included the historic Biggin Hill Spitfire, while the UK’s Royal Air Force showed off some quick manoeuvring in the Boeing F-15QA.

Air shows galore Down Under!

Closer to home, Australia has plenty to rival the likes of Farnborough, if you ask me. In late May, we celebrated the Central Coast Airshow, which if you missed it, included motorbike rider Tom Richards performing a mid-air backflip on his bike, as aerobatic legend Paul Bennet flew the Wolf Pitts Bro underneath – yes, underneath – the flipping (literally) motorbike. If you missed it, check out the Central Coast Airshow Facebook page for a video, I assure you it will not disappoint.

Other incredible flight displays included the likes of the RAAF Roulettes and Sky Aces, a Stearman biplane, a classic Mustang and Kittyhawk, a Hawker Sea Fury, and the list goes on. After all that I would certainly say that Farnborough should keep one eye out for the small and mighty challenger that is the Central Coast Airshow.

Meanwhile, Aussie crowds prepare for another massive event, with the second annual Pacific Airshow Gold Coast scheduled for liftoff on 16 to 17 August. Based on its wildly successful Huntington Beach sister show of the same name, the Pacific Airshow will boast local talent such as the RAAF and Matt Hall, as well as major US influence, with two US Air Force Raptors, multiple heavy-duty US military planes, and a demonstration from the US Navy Parachute Team – the Leap Frogs.

HARS to begin restoration works on ex-ANA DC-2

The HARS Aviation Museum has revealed the details of its latest restoration project: a near-90-year-old Douglas DC-2. The plane is one of only 156 DC-2 aircraft that were built before the type fell out of favour due to the popularity of its larger successor, the DC-3. This particular aircraft boasts a unique history in Australia and has certainly lived many lives since it was first built in Santa Monica in 1935.

Originally operated by KLM in the then Dutch East Indies, the plane was evacuated to Australia during WWII in 1942, where it was operated by the US Air Force and was later damaged in a bombing raid on Port Moresby.

From there, the plane was internally reconfigured from 14 seats to 17 and flown by Australian National Airways (ANA) under the registration VH-ADZ. It performed its first passenger flight in January 1944. The plane was sold in 1947 and changed hands a few times in quick succession before being acquired by Marshall Airways, a Bankstown-based joy flight company. Its registration was changed to VH-CDZ.

In 1957, the undercarriage was damaged badly upon landing, and the plane was stored and removed from the CASA register. Over the coming decades, it would again change hands numerous times, with numerous restoration attempts, the last of which was led by Qantas in 1990.

However, the plane has now passed into the capable hands of the HARS Museum. Or at least, the fuselage now has. The wings and remaining parts of the aircraft are arriving separately in the coming weeks, with restoration work set to begin as soon as practical – though it is expected that this plane will unfortunately not fly again.

Tiger Moth Club of NZ celebrates 2024 fly-in

It appears fun was had across the Tasman this quarter, with the Tiger Club of New Zealand putting on its annual Fly-In weekend in late May. Those present report that a total of nine Tiger Moths made the journey to Taupo Gliding Club on the North Island, or perhaps 10 if you count the one Thruxton Jackaroo – a four-seat biplane developed by Jackaroo Aircraft in the 1950s, which was based on the de Havilland Tiger Moth. The Jackaroo, ZK-PHZ, is one of just five of its kind still flying worldwide. Another 10 other light planes joined the festivities from around the country, to share in food and games, as well as the Club’s Annual General Meeting and a friendly air race of course. The next fly-in is currently planned for October.