December, 1944 50 Years Ago… December 1 – Australia. 21 Beaufighters of 31 Sqn loaded with extra equipment and each carrying four passengers leave Coomalie for Merauke thence to Noemfoor, where they join the 1st Tactical Air Force. In seven days they will move forward to Morotai into 77 Wing. December 2/3 – Britain. P/O

Australian Spitfire Flys In The UK Australian Spitfire Flys In The Uk A Spitfire that was for many years the sistership to Col Pay’s Mk VIII MV239/VH-HET has taken to the air in the UK after a lengthy rebuild. The Spitfire Mk VIII, MV154, was owned by aviation legend Sid Marshall at Bankstown, NSW, between

A new age Beaverfrom the East Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Russians have been struggling to gain significant access to the lucrative Western general aviation markets. But, until now, many of their established civilian types have seemed somewhat outmoded, originally intended for captive quasi military users, and poorly suited to our more

Horriblis’ for the New Zealand Defence Force. The public airing of its dirty laundry, starting with intense media interest in over spending on the RNZAF Base Ohakea commander’s house, has put defence chiefs on the spot and raised new criticism of New Zealand’s general defence spending. For the New Zealand public, these matters have overshadowed