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A restored historic aircraft has taken pride of place at the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s (RFDS) new base in Mount Isa.
The 1950s de Havilland “Drover”, which was previously on display at George McCoy Park after being originally restored in the 1980s by combining two different aircraft, has been gifted to the RFDS after a five-month overhaul, and now can be seen from the highway as visitors approach the airport.
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The “Drover” is believed to be one of a handful remaining in the country, with only 20 in total having been produced.
“This type of aircraft played an important historical role in the RFDS’s growth across the north west of the state in years gone by,” said RFDS (Queensland Section) chief executive Meredith Staib.
“We feel it’s important to remain connected to our history and this restoration has become a highly visible way to do that.
“I’d like to thank John Larkin and engineers Jim Shannon and Brian Adamson along with the wider project team, who’ve done an incredible job restoring the ‘Drover’ to its former glory.”
According to Larkin, head of tourism at RFDS, the restoration was a challenging process that took hundreds of hours of work by aviation enthusiasts and volunteers.
“We had to manufacture many parts and panels including a complete rear left stabiliser. The trying weather conditions, which included many 40-degree-plus days, made processes such as painting the plane a difficult task,” he said.
“The community spirit has been overwhelming throughout the project with local companies like Jotun Industries providing the paint while Linmar Cranes, Jason Heavy Haulage and Woodsbey Transport did all the lifting to move the plane to where it was needed.”
Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae has dubbed the restoration “an excellent result for the city, the RFDS and the whole North West community”.
“Many people have been very interested in the future of the ‘Drover’ as it was falling into disrepair over decades in its previous location,” she said.
“Its restoration and new home preserve part of our history in a more prominent and relevant location.”
