Phoenix, September Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page x

QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE AUSTRALIAN HISTORICAL FLYING MUSEUM HARS HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT RESTORATION SOCIETY, INC. Spring 2006

In this edition: • End of an era • Church parade • President's report • Hangar developments • Certificate of Approval • Logging onto the web • 2006 USA tour • The Curtiss/Langley conspiracy • Southern Cross replica aircraft • HARS away visits • Rathmines flyover • Take two • Chipmunk news • Smile, action... Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 2

HARS Contact Details HARS Sponors Editor's Message Phoenix HARS gratefully acknowledges our sponsors, past I first heard of an aircraft called Julie Hourigan - Editor and present, and welcomes new names to this “Connie” as I sat and watched a Email: [email protected] or honour roll: television documentary on Discovery [email protected] Adecs (Aust); ADC Krone; Aero Club of Arizona; Channel some years ago. The Aero Weigh; Air BP; Aircraft and Aerospace documentary told of the work of a HARS web site Magazine; AirServices ; group of Australian aviation www.hars.org.au Mr. Bill Andronicos; Ansett Australia; Anzol Paints; enthusiasts who were set on restoring Now with more information than ever AOPA; Mrs. S. Arms; Australian Aviation Magazine; a Super Constellation that was Australian Native Landscapes; Australian Steel discarded in the Arizona desert. Associated web site Mill Services; Australian Timken; Aviation Trim & www.notebookpub.com.au Upholstery; Barloworld Coatings; Barker Lawyers; I remember thinking about the Bartrans; Bellinger Instruments; The Family of the dedication and commitment of these All correspondence late Mr. Ron Bennett; Ian Berryman; BlueScope enthusiasts and what they achieved. (including claims and invoices): Steel; BlueScope Water; Boom Logistics; HARS Inc. Around November last year, when my Boral Portable Buildings; Mr G Boyd; Bristol PO Box 1071 husband Mike and I were travelling Paints; Mrs. J. L. Brooker; Chemetall; Chevron Albion Park Rail NSW 2527 from Sydney to Nowra for the Nowra Companies (Calif); Cleary Bros; John and Jenny Airshow, Mike suggested that we call Regional Airport Cleary; Coates Prestige Hire; Collins Avionics in at Albion Park to see if we could Phone: 02 4257 4333 Sales & Service; Colourtrue Labels; Country Fire see Connie. We were welcomed and Fax: 02 4257 4388 Services; Geoff Cuthbert; Daltrans; given the grand tour of HARS by Jim Capt. R Darwell; Mr. T. Dean; Mr. R. De La Hunty; President Hayes. Being an aviation tragic, Mike Mr. N. Dennett; Dual Electrical Services asked a lot of questions and was gob Bob De La Hunty, OAM (Melbourne); Ecolab; Eric Fordham Engineering; Phone: 02 9894 5818 smacked by what was happening at Fish Internet; Flightpath Magazine; Frejak Albion Park (I just listened because Home: 02 9894 5775 Constructions; Mr. R . George; GNB Battery Mobile: 0408 235 682 my knowledge of aircraft was Technologies; Mr. W. Goodhew; Goodyear Air somewhat limited). One question Fax: 02 9894 6630 Treads; Gossamer Threads; Graham John Signs; Email: [email protected] led to another and the next thing you Mr R. Greinert; Mrs M Greinet; Gordon McDonald know Mike was filling in an application Executive Vice President - Marketing (Elect W’salers); Hatch Associates; Hazelton for membership. John Brooker Airlines; Cpt. R. Heiniger; Hexcel Interiors; Earlier this year, after a number of trips Phone: 02 9939 7513 Hurdis Plumbing; Icon Internet; IMB Foundation; to Albion Park, Mike suggested that I Fax: 02 9905 9496 Independent Locksmiths; Industrial Maintenance might like to become a member also. Email: [email protected] Systems; Jecani Pty. Ltd.; Jeremy Flynn Memorial Trust; Mr. B. Kelly; Mr. S. Kennard; Kiama I did, and began to meet some of the Secretary Municipal Council; Lockheed Aeromod Center Inc people that I had so admired when I Robert Greinert (Tucson); Mr. G. Loudon; Mr. D. Lowy; Lysharts; watched the documentary on Connie, Phone: 02 9451 2619 Mr. J. McAlpine; Mainpac; Mascot Steel; along with a whole lot of other people Mobile: 0414 512 619 Mrs. M. Massey; Metro Products & Company; with a shared interest and stories to Fax: 02 9451 4369 The late Capt. B. Millis; Minden Air Corp (Tucson); tell. Email: [email protected] Geoff Morris; NCR Australia; Nostalgair Models; I can now tell you a lot about the Notebook Publications; Oilcheck; Olex Cables; different aircraft that HARS operates, Treasurer Oxley Graphics; Pam Karcaji Signs; as well as paint concrete, fit windows, Maureen Massey Mr. G. Paramour; Peter Ryan Earthmoving; hang gyprock, degrease and wash Mobile: 0400 818 557 R. J. Petitt; Pima Air & Space Museum (Tucson); aircraft and become the new editor of Protector Safety; Qantas Airways; Qantas Flight Phoenix. Director Administration Services Hostess Club; Qantas 20 Club; QBE Aviation; Rees Hughes Reflex; Reliable Pest Control; Rivers Locking As a recent blow in, my knowledge Mobile: 0409 104 910 Systems; Riverstone Printing; D.C. Roberts of HARS is still in its infancy. I will be relying on the knowledge and General Manager Maintenance Aircraft Co; Robyn-Lea Services; Rockwell Systems Australia; Sharp Direct; Shell Australia; generosity of members to provide Malcolm Hallowes me with information, articles and Phone: 02 9868 4463 Shellharbour City Council; Miss T. Smiley; Mr. D. Smith; Snap Printing Auburn; Mr. G. Squire; photographs, covering all aspects of Mobile: 0410 498 081 HARS activities to publish in Phoenix. Email: [email protected]. Mr. A. Stinson; R. R. Szabo; Mr. A. Tait; Tattersalls; Taubmans Paints; Telstra; TPE Integrated Services; Mike and I have found our relatively Manager Engine Workshop and Port Transfield Constructions; Transfield Services; short association with HARS most Kembla Facility Triangle Refrigeration; Trimble Navigation; Trojan rewarding and we look forward to Kevin Taylor Workforce;Trump Property Maintenance; Valspar doing whatever we can for the Society Phone: 9520 6946 Corp (formerly Anzol Paints); Weekly Trading in the years to come. Mobile: 0422 902 545 Post; Mr. K. Weldon; Weston Printing; White Email: [email protected] Knight Paints; John Whitmarsh; Ms. Gina Wilson; Julie Hourigan Wiltshire Engineering; City Council. Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 3

Membership has trebled since those elevated us to new heights of quality End of an Era early days when I first joined. Sadly, as a professionally printed magazine. Gary Squire – some well-loved members have been taken from us. But the Society has Unfortunately, personal and work outgoing Phoenix Editor grown in strength and has long since issues demanding more and more of my time led to a lapse in my capacity My role as Phoenix editor started with passed the point where it is dependent on any one person. to produce Phoenix over the last the July 1992 edition – over fourteen year. The development of our hangar years ago. HARS was based in A strong management committee and the complete shift of location to Mascot on the edge of Sydney backed by an able and devoted Illawarra meant that I could no longer Airport in a Qantas building now membership guides and nurtures be as close to HARS activities as long demolished and with a small HARS. From an unknown group of was needed to accurately report on collection of aircraft based at barely twenty people in the late 1970s events and progress. Bankstown and Nowra. Our largest we are now known in State and Federal exhibits were the two Neptunes Governments, business circles and Enter Julie Hourigan. Hailing from 273 and 566. In the United States around the world. Our influence on the Canberra, she and her husband have sat a forlorn Super Constellation preservation and display of Australia’s been devoted and regular crossers- waiting for us to rescue her from rich aviation heritage extends well of-the-Great-Divide to join the band pigeon droppings and red tape. beyond our own fleet and locale. of volunteers at HARS at Illawarra. Illawarra Regional Airport was only With experience and expertise in occasionally in our thoughts as Throughout my fourteen years Phoenix publishing, Julie has agreed to take an interesting destination close to has carried the responsibility to on the challenge of continuing the Sydney with a terminal area that was report and advertise our activities to a publication of Phoenix. I look forward once served by regional airlines in the number of very influential people and to seeing what she will do with the days of DC3s. organisations, as well as informing and, magazine; I am sure she will bring hopefully, entertaining our members. fresh ideas and new vision to Phoenix Haven’t things changed? Not only My first edition was similar to those and I am excited by the prospect of does HARS boast six of the largest preceding it, a simple, photocopied receiving the next edition. historical aircraft operating in black and white A4 newsletter with few Australia (indeed, the southern photos. We quickly moved to introduce Thank you to all who have supported hemisphere) but has an undercover colour and in this format we continued Phoenix over the past years and my home for all of them. Illawarra is now until late 2002. Our October-December very best wishes and unreserved our home base and the headquarters issue of that year was the first of our support for its future under Julie’s of our operational museum. close association with Westonprint, who guidance.

we wither and die. That is why many in projects like Connie and the Cat, also HARS on parade with HARS are older people who still have the vision of 4 hangars here at Albion a life and purpose, they get involved Park to house the aircraft and work from." both wing and prayer because they haven't lost the ability He went on to say that it was also a The inaugural church parade of the to dream dreams and to have visions time to remember those members Historical Aircraft Restoration Society of what might be. It is that ability to who have passed away. This will be a (HARS) was held in July at the see the impossible that has achieved regular event each July. Shellharbour Village Uniting Church. Conducted by newly appointed chaplain Pastor Grahame Abrahams, the service attracted plenty of interest from members and friends of HARS. Grahame, an enthusiastic pilot and member of HARS, focused his address on history, something for future generations to build on, with a particular emphasis on the restoration of historical aircraft.

Illustrated by slides of some examples of restored aircraft, Grahame's words touched upon the importance of maintaining visions for tomorrow and making dreams of what could be into possibilities. Grahame went on to say "vision is where everything worthwhile starts, as human beings without vision HARS members who attended the church parade in July Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 4 President's Report

HARS as you know is a voluntary including Cement Australia and organization but what has been Bluescope/Lysaght and many others. achieved is more like a public • The Terminal Building operation has company with full time staff, resources been extremely successful with the and funding from business activities Aviator Lounge, run by Mark and and shareholders. Kerry Bright, being recognized as a As a voluntary organization you all major tourist and eating place in the have achieved an incredible level of Illawarra. They have established development of our operations from a great reputation for food and aircraft and aircraft maintenance service and support of HARS. The to building and airport terminal Qantaslink service has now been management. running for over a year, with 14 Terminal Building with Qantas as a services to and from Melbourne each The next steps in our progress are subtenant and the Aviator Lounge as week and in their first year carried very exciting and as usual with many well as housing our shop and some more than 17,000 passengers. challenges. of our administration functions. We We are proud to be supporting their We come from a background of all wish John and Jenny all the best operations and helping them grow challenges where many said what we in building their Van 10 aircraft and the potential that exists to service have achieved could not be done, look forward to seeing them as both the tourism and business whether it be recovery of the Super ordinary HARS members going community in the Illawarra. Constellation or building a major forward. • Over the last 12 months Michael hangar facility. • We would also like to welcome Hough undertook the training of tour There is no one major financial source Professor Michael Hough, AM who guides. Although we are still and all of our sponsors have been very has accepted the position as effectively a construction site, the helpful in putting all the bricks together Chairman of the Museum company. intense work put in by Barry Whiteley, to ensure that we are in the sound He has picked up the ball from Adele Kelly, John Martin and Judy position we have grown to enjoy. John Cleary and is running hard to Woodward, with help from many others has seen many bus tours and This President’s Report will miss a lot take our development to the next in excess of 5,000 visitors which for of things as there are probably too level. Michael is working closely effectively a two day a week many to detail, so in dot point I have with the Committee to achieve this. opportunity is remarkable. Our set out a number of items that I would Robert Greinert, our HARS Secretary, thanks go to all of those involved. like you to know. has picked up the actual construction project management and has Further tour guide training is planned • After 15 years as our editor and recently signed the contract for our and as the Museum building publisher of the Phoenix magazine, builder, Ian Berryman to have the develops it will lead to a seven day a Gary Squire, due to family and Museum building structure rising week need to man the tour business pressures, has taken leave from November onwards, with operations. On that basis the from that position and handed it over Hangars 2 & 3 also having been potential is enormous to finally to Julie Hourigan who will very soon signed to follow on. We will be Continued next page produce her first Phoenix. We deeply looking to our sponsors for major thank Gary for his development and support in fitting out these buildings View from inside the Aviator Lounge located in the commitment to this communication Terminal Building magazine which has been highly acclaimed and welcome Julie to the challenges that producing a newsletter/magazine present. • We have seen some changes in personnel in recent times when John Cleary decided he needed to return to retirement after almost five years of driving the Museum company forward, culminating in Hangar 1 with the launching pad primed for the museum building to go ahead. We thank John and Jenny for their great commitment and contribution to our progress, including the negotiations for us to manage the Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 5

President's Report continued Museum Hangar Development support our operations through visits. We have done no marketing other at Albion Park than letters to some clubs and on site presentations to Probus, Rotary Robert Greinet and other clubs around the state which have lead to the bus tours and As the newly appointed construction/ living on a temporary supply hookup individual visitors. project manager for the Museum which is just barely adequate and will Building and Hangars 2 and 3, I have prove totally inadequate when the • Aircraft maintenance operations lead been reticent to talk too much about planned air conditioning, computers by General Manager Maintenance, the project and just try and get on and all the other powered gadgets Malcolm Hallowes and supported by with the job. My greatest fear being we have, start to appear in Hangar 1. Director of Quality Control, Frank that major pronouncements can go Bowden, Ross Warden, Warren wrong on a time wise scale and one I recently attended a briefing from Goodhew and other licensed ends up with a severe amount of egg Ron Bull on the planned computer engineers, even through this on one's face. operations and was prompted to construction phase, have been able go out the next day and order a to keep the vast majority of our Recently, the Committee authorised substation from Integral Energy. aircraft in the air to attend events me to enter into manufacture and Fortunately we are imbued with throughout Australia representing erection contracts for the Main some substantial talent in HARS HARS's contribution to our aviation Museum Building and Hangars 2 and and John Davis has risen to the heritage. 3 for a total value of $1.7 million. The challenge and is spearheading our main Museum Building is scheduled operational requirements in this area. • The Vampire project is proceeding to commence erection in November without Gina’s involvement. After with cladding in December. There are many of you out there who 10 years on the project she decided, are all contributing to this program due to health and family reasons, We are still chasing up some design and I am reticent to single out any that she would like a break and to do aspects of the building including a particular individual. However, I her own thing. We are very grateful revision of the facade and internal extend a special thanks to Mike for her long contribution to Australia’s layout. Time has induced some De La Hunty for his never ending aviation heritage and wish her well operational experience into Albion enthusiasm and ability to take on in her new direction. The Vampire Park and we can now plan a more jobs without hesitation. restoration team will be announced practical layout based on our shortly and will take over from the operating experiences. Currently, most of our requirements very significant stage that Gina has are being met in the areas of established for the project. Hangars 2 and 3 will commence materials and contractors but we are around March 2007, the exact date looking for a passenger lift to install • HARS continues to support other still subject to negotiation with the in the museum building. All and any aviation museums, squadron builder and his own operational suggestions welcome. associations and school activities constraints in regards manufacturing and in the next issue of Phoenix capacity. Further updates will be provided on some details about our community the website as they occur. support including Anzac Day and One of our major concerns is the War Memorial functions will be a supply of electricity. Currently we are feature. For all who have been in regular attendance supporting Mike De La Hunty and others in the construction of the facilities so far thank you. All members are invited to come and enjoy the facilities, including dining at the Aviator Lounge, and helping where you can in developing HARS to a truly must see destination for both national and international visitors. Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 6

To ensure ongoing compliance, CASA Certificate of recommends that the International Accessing the HARS Standard ISO 9000 be observed as Approval guidance in maintaining these activities. web page HAP, the HARS maintenance group, is Mike De La Hunty Frank Bowden the holder of our Certificate of Approval Often in our discussions we make and maintains a Procedures Manual for For some time this Society has been mention of our Certificate of Approval. this purpose. operating a first class web page that is What is a Certificate of Approval and sadly underutilised by our membership. A copy of the HAP Certificate of The web provides instantaneous no why do we have one? Here is a simplified Approval is included in this manual. explanation with references to the cost communication, as long as various requirements. To confirm compliance with regulatory members look at it on a regular basis. requirements and internal procedures, We have some 400 members with about The holder of the certificate of occasional auditing or internal registration or the operator of an 45 logging on regularly. Previously, evaluation is carried out. This gives to notifiy members we would have to Australian aircraft must not permit any confidence to management and CASA maintenance to be carried out on the dispatch 150 odd emails to individual that the organisation is operating as email addresses. This is a time aircraft by a person unless that person desired. holds certain qualifications. (CAR 42 ZC) consuming process and with so much Minor non-compliances can usually be happening, with the construction of Minor maintenance can be carried rectified without too much trouble but our new facilities, we do not have the out by a LAME (Licenced Aircraft significant non-compliance could result people to do this on a regular basis. It Maintenance Engineer) or a pilot in the loss or limiting of the approval. is a much simpler and straightforward endorsed on the type. This work is process if members take 60 seconds limited to that specified in Schedule 8 and log on a couple of times a week. of the CARs (Civil Aviation Regulations) Item from the Qantas Retired and covers things like replacement of Staff Club News Sep 2006 If you have never logged on or have spark plugs, replacement of wheels experienced difficulties in doing so, the and seats and generally cosmetic In contrast to the previous outing, process is as follows: work on the aircraft. However, it must the weather for our visit to the HARS • access your web browser or be understood that to do any work facility at Albion Park Airport south Internet Explorer the person must have approved data of Wollongong on 18th July 2006 • type in the search area at the top of (manuals) available and special or was cold and wet with a good solid the page www.hars.org.au and up calibrated tooling specified in the southerly wind blowing. will come the home page with listings for all sorts of things, maintenance manuals. Certification This did not dampen the enthusiasm of including public info and a heading must also be made in the logbook on the 71 members who attended. Groups called MEMBERS LOG IN completion of the work. (CAR 42 ZE) of 10 people were assembled and • click this and move onto the Work that cannot be carried out by each, lead by a HARS guide, had a members only area. There you will these people is listed in Schedule 7 of good tour of the facilities and aircraft. see USERNAME and PASSWORD. the CARs and this includes the issue of All returned to the restaurant for a very Your username is your name in a Maintenance Release, the complete enjoyable lunch and we all agreed that lower case and as one word, aircraft jacking, structural repairs etc. this was one of our best events yet. e.g. fredsmith. If unsuccessful try A Certificate of Approval issued by fredricksmith. The initial password CASA is required to do this increased can be accessed by calling the level of maintenance. (CAR 30) Up coming events Administration Office any Friday or To gain and maintain a Certificate Saturday on 02 4257 4333, or Saturday 21 October and of Approval, an organisation has Rees on 0409 104 910 or Sunday 22 October 2006 to demonstrate initial and ongoing Mike on 0418 473 175 Richmond Airshow compliance with the respective • then you will access the page that airworthiness regulations. These Friday 3 November asks for your new individual include, but are not limited to: Saturday 4 November and password and other information. • ownership or lease of facilities that Sunday 5 November 2006 Once this is completed you will have are adequate for the intended work. Members' visit to Temora • approved data to cover the complete access to your HARS email maintenance (CAR 2). Thursday 9 November 2006 account, membership forums, updates, • tooling and equipment which is Laurence Hargrave Schools' Day and upcoming events so you can plan within a controlled calibration period. your participation with HARS and be • storage and control of parts. Saturday 9 December 2006 advised of special activities where we • sufficient qualified personnel to HARS Christmas Party at the may require your assistance. Aviation Lounge. Cost is $40 per inspect appropriate stages of If you still have problems after following person and numbers are limited, maintenance and to make the the directions above call the webmaster, so get in early. necessary certifications for the Mark Bright, on 0418 449 432 and he completion of these stages. will walk you through the process. Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 7 2006 USA Aviation Tour Jim Hayes In July this year five HARS members including myself joined an aviation tour of the USA. There were 27 people on the tour which was organised by a Sydney company called Torii Tours.

Our tour started at Sydney International Avro Lancaster Terminal where we met our guide Brian Stevens. There were people from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, New Guinea and Sydney, while others joined the tour at Tucson.

At Tucson, we were treated to a tour of Heavy metal at Tucson the “graveyard” or AMARC where the aircraft are long term stored. On the day we were there I am told that there were 7400 aircraft on site in various states of disrepair. Then it was on to the Pima Air and Space Museum. Being July it was seriously hot but that was ignored as there was so much to see. After that we went out to the missile silo to see the last remaining silo that was in use during the cold war. It has been disabled so that it can Missile Silo B17 no longer be used and the Russian satellites check that it remains in that condition. The next day was a transport day as we flew to Phoenix and boarded another aircraft to Washington DC. All the domestic United Airlines aircraft that we flew on had the air traffic control fed through the headsets on channel 9 which made for some interesting listening! We had a day to go through the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and a day free to RAAF B737 in Seattle explore Washington. ground. I was walking about 20 kms a then went to the Wright Patterson We departed Washington on an day and still did not see it all. The flying Airforce Museum, a huge complex with afternoon flight which gave us time to each day was different, with one day many very rare aircraft and difficult go through the new Museum at the a flypast of about 50 Mustangs. There to see all in one day. I noticed that a Dulles airport. This contains famous were visits from the Canadian Lancaster, space was reserved for a Beaufighter aircraft like “Enola Gay” and the first and lots of war birds. A P38 flew daily with the signs already in place. B707. The museum is only three years and there were flying displays of a old and well worth a visit. After Dayton we went back to Chicago Mitchell, a Liberator and a B17. The B17 again and then to Portland Oregon We then flew to Chicago, then Appleton, was carrying fare paying passengers where we visited the Spruce Goose then by coach to Oshkosh where we and both Frank Purvis and I managed at the Evergreen Aviation Museum at stayed at the Wisconsin University. As to get a flight on it. There was just about McMinville. This is a private museum we were going to be there for a week continuous entertainment as well as and well worth a visit. it was time to catch up on the washing many seminars. duties. From there it was a coach ride to After 15 days of Oshkosh we flew back Seattle, Washington where we visited At the Oshkosh Air Show there were to Chicago then on to Dayton for the Boeing factory. There we saw the about ten thousand aircraft and another airshow and a day visiting the something like 650,000 people on the site of the Wright Bros first flight. We Continued page 8 Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 8

2006 USA Aviation Tour public flights in France in 1908, which The Curtiss/Langley led to world-wide acclaim and financial continued from page 7 Conspiracy success. 767 production line and the In 1903, the only other serious contender preparations for production of the Brian Van de Water for being the first to fly a powered 787 Dreamliner which should begin aircraft was Samiel Pierpoint Langley, in the new year. After that we went to The scientific achievement of the an eminent US scientist and Director of the Seattle Museum of Flight which Wright brothers is almost beyond the prestigious Smithsonian Institution. contains the very first B737 and B747 belief. These two men, with only high With a grant of $50,000 from the US and the last Concorde to fly. While we school education and using their Government (equal to about $1 million were sitting outside the café having a own limited funds from their bicycle today) and a large staff, he built his coffee and looking past a B47 to the business, over the three years Langley ‘Aerodrome’ but, despite airstrip a brand new B737 flew in all 1900-1903 accomplished the following: his eminence and credentials, his painted up in Virgin Blue colours as it piloted hundreds of glider flights; approach to flight was barely scientific. was being picked up for delivery. There constructed and operated a wind tunnel He flew models of his aircraft, but there was also a visit by the RAAF B737 to investigate the most efficient wing were no manned glider flights nor wind awaiting delivery. Then the Blue Angels and aerofoil shapes; proved that the tunnel tests and his propeller was a landed in preparation for an airshow mathematical lift tables compiled by crude paddle blade affair. It was a the next day. When the coach picked previous pioneers were incorrect; tandem wing design which, if it had us up we went to the seaplane base designed and built their own engine; flown, would have had only limited two- and all of us got a 45 minute ride in mathematically designed a propeller axis control so that the aircraft could either an Otter or a Beaver over Seattle. which recent computer studies show have done little but fly in a straight line A very pleasant way to finish the tour. to be amazingly efficient; designed with the ‘pilot’ as a passenger. Before a structure which was light, but with a large audience, the ‘Aerodrome’ was The only thing that spoilt the trip was sufficient strength for maneuvering launched over the Potomac River in the level of security at all airports. It flight; developed and refined a three- October 1903 but the aircraft plunged was getting tiresome after 21 days and axis control system; and determined into the water. In a second attempt in on the last night when we were at San from flight trials that, in a banked turn, December 1903, the structure failed Francisco, it took me nearly 30 minutes coordinated rudder must be applied to during the launch and, ridiculed by to get through after getting thoroughly counter the increased drag of the rising the nation’s newspapers, Langley checked for the presence of metal and wing. abandoned his quest for flight. Despite drugs. Not a pleasant experience! That last item is a particularly advanced this, the Smithsonian could not accept Overall, it was a most enjoyable tour concept which shows that, by the end that two uneducated bicycle makers with everything organised to the finest of 1903, the Wright brothers had almost had succeeded where one of the detail and no, we did not get sick of complete mastery of the mechanics of nation’s greatest scientists had failed. looking at aircraft. flight – and this was confirmed with their Satisfied that Langley had ‘invented first powered flights on 17 December the flying machine’, their refusal to 1903. By 1905, the brothers were flying recognize the Wrights’ achievement led Glenn Curtiss flying (or riding) the reconstructed for half an hour in completely controlled to a bitter controversy which lasted for Langley ‘Aerodrome’ in 1914. Note the 1914 vintage three-axis flight, but their flights were forty years. V8 80 hp Curtiss OX engine near the front of the not publicised – and they did not fly machine. again for three years until their first In addition to the Smithsonian, from Painting by Brian Van de Water 1908 the Wright brothers were faced with another fierce opponent, Glenn Curtiss who, backed by a group which included Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, flew an aircraft based almost completely on the Wright design with the one major difference, that roll control was via ailerons instead of wing-warping. The Wrights had patented their three-axis control system following their first flights and maintained that the Curtiss ailerons violated their patent. Curtiss was soon producing and selling his aircraft and, failing to convince Curtiss to pay royalties, the Wrights initiated a legal dispute which would extend for several years. A number of court cases ensued which, by 1914, had all

Continued page 10 Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 9 Southern Cross Replica Aircraft John Brooker

The origin of the Southern Cross Replica Aircraft is a fascinating story of one man's desire to historically preserve Australia’s most famous aircraft, the Fokker FV11B-3M Tri-motor, Southern Cross. Whilst the original Southern Cross aircraft resides in a building at Brisbane Airport, its last flight being over fifty years ago, Mr. John Pope, a Chief Flying Instructor, saw the need to present to people all around Australia just what a remarkable aircraft it was and the deeds attributed in it by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith. It all began in 1977 when John decided to allocate six months of his time to developing the project. As we all know in the aircraft restoration field six months can easily extend into two years as was the case with John who is still seeking sponsorship. It was not until September 1979 that John’s dogged efforts in seeking support with the help of federal politicians received its reward when the Federal Government agreed to support the project to construct the Replica. John then established the Famous Australian Aircraft Company (FAA) on 3 December 1979 to build the aircraft. The premise for the work was a “de-commissioned” Army store at Parafield Airport Wing being fitted to fuselarge for the first time (1981) (Hangar 54). Whilst there were many controversies, cost escalation concerns and successes in the building program, including a 44 month delay in construction, the aircraft was officially completed on 3 September 1987, seven years five months after commencement. Actual construction time was three years nine months. The main sponsors for the project were the Federal Government, ANZ Bank Ltd, Fokker Aeronautics (Holland), Ansett and Esso. The initial owner of the Aircraft was the Federal Government and they operated it through the Southern Cross Museum Trust (SCMT), which was formed on 17 January 1980. The Trust was wound up around 1996/97. At this time the SCMT advised the Federal Government that it was financially unable to renew its lease on the aircraft. In the ensuing 27 months a series of events took place and many suggestions were discussed on what to do with the aircraft. A considerable effort was made, particularly by three South Australians, Mr. Bill Antel, CEO Antelco Pty Ltd, Mr. John Ross, then Wing with rock 'n' roll being used as a support stand. Lady in foreground President of the Local Government Association of SA and Mr. Pope gives an indication of the size of the wing to secure the aircraft, culminating in the Howard Government offering to gift the aircraft to the South Australian Government. Finally, in November 1998 ownership of the aircraft was transferred in a Deed-of-Gift to the South Australian Government. At the end of March 1999 the aircraft was leased to the newly formed Southern Cross Replica Association Inc. It had been incorporated as an Association in South Australia only days before. As a result of a landing accident at Parafield Airport in May 2002 the South Australian Government issued an advertisement in the press in November 2002 for organisations wishing to respond to an ‘Expression of Interest’ in repairing and operating the aircraft under a Deed of Gift. HARS immediately registered their interest and three years later, in December 2005, letters of agreement were exchanged between the SA Government and HARS. We are grateful to Mr. Pope, a current HARS member, for providing Wing being turned showing rock 'n' roll rig in use (1981) this historical background to the Society. Continued page 10 Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 10 The Curtiss/Langley Conspiracy which, by 1914, Curtiss was producing Southern Cross Replica Aircraft in substantial quantities – and Curtiss continued from page 8 did attempt to visit the Wrights to reach continued from page 9 concluded in favour of the Wright patent a compromise but the Wrights refused. Update (Wilbur Wright died in 1912 but Orville The two sides never met. The details continued the struggle). of the ‘Aerodrome’ deception did not The replica Aircraft has been become public for a number of years disassembled ready for transportation By 1914, Curtiss, desperate to overturn and the battle lingered for another thirty from Parafield Airport in South the judgements, conceived and years and was only resolved as a result Australia. It is intended that the executed a plot to convince the courts of a desperate move by Orville Wright. fuselage will be transported to the that the Wrights were not the first to fly The names of the two bitter enemies, Airport in Murray Bridge SA where it and that their patents were consequently Curtiss and Wright, would later be will undergo repairs to the damage invalid. His plan was to reconstruct the linked in a common enterprise which caused in the accident in May 2002. Langley ‘Aerodrome’ from the wreckage would survive until the 1950s and the In addition, we believe that the main which was still held by the Smithsonian 1903 Wright Flyer would spend five undercarriage may need to undergo and to fly the aircraft to prove that years underground in England. a level of redesign to ensure stability Langley and not the Wrights was the and reduce the high level of tyre wear These later events comprise a story inventor of the aeroplane. Supported previously experienced. by funds from the Smithsonian, of their own which I hope to relate in reconstruction was completed in another issue of Phoenix. The aircraft’s three Jacobs engines are August 1914 and the machine, fitted to be sent to Peter Brook in Brisbane with floats, was flown by Curtiss on where they will be completely bulk Lake Keuka in New York State. Tests stripped and inspected for damage. continued for months during which Peter was involved in the final stages some flights extended for a few hundred Shop and tour of bringing the Replica Aircraft to flying metres. condition and his familiarity with the report type makes this an easy decision. The Smithsonian was ecstatic and published the following statement Guided tours of the HARS complex It is almost certain that at least two new which, in view of later disclosures, are becoming increasingly popular, propeller sets need to be acquired with was an extraordinarily fraudulent act and since the beginning of the year the third to be completely overhauled. by a supposedly reputable scientific approx 2000 people have visited This is as a result of two of the engines organisation: “Without modification our Albion Park complex. being stopped when the propellers hit the ground. and with it’s original structure and Organised bus tours provide the power ... the Aerodrome was capable largest groups, including Probus The wing is perhaps the major concern of flying with pilot and several hundred and Lions Clubs, whilst visits by in the restoration process as it is pounds of useful load ... and is the first car clubs are becoming more and a massive all wood structure. The aeroplane in history of which this can more popular. wingspan is 21.6metres with the cord truthfully be said.” measuring 3.7 metres and is nearly With the option of having morning Fortunately for history, unfortunately 1 metre thick. As a result of the tea, lunch, or perhaps just a quick for Curtiss and the Smithsonian, this accident nearly 1.8 metres was torn off tour of the HARS facility, bookings distortion of the truth was uncovered the starboard end of the wing. are on the increase as people and because Orville Wright had placed It is intended that the wing will be clubs look for different venues and a spy in the Curtiss camp! A Wright transported by road to our new HARS alternatives to keep their members associate, Griffith Brewer, posing as Restoration Centre at the Illawarra interested. It is not unusual to hear a reporter, had closely followed the Regional Airport, Albion Park NSW. people say that they have visited reconstruction of the ‘Aerodrome’ and A team will be assembled to undertake the site before and decided to had taken many photos which showed the repair. For this to happen it was come again to see if any of the that, in fact, the Curtiss Aerodrome was necessary to construct a specially exhibits have changed. so extensively modified that it bore only designed jig to hold the damaged wing superficial resemblance to the original. More schools are coming on line in place for transportation. The wings had different chord, camber and the feedback is very positive, We are most fortunate that the and aspect ratio, the structure was including the educational and Replica’s designer, Mr. Bill Whitney, has redesigned – a much more powerful entertainment aspect. offered his consulting services in the and current engine was used, an repair of the wing. efficient propeller was employed and The shop is well maintained by the ‘pilot’ was relocated to a completely Judy and Adele, many thanks different position and provided with an to them for their efforts and NUMBERS ARE LIMITED active two-axis control system. dedication. HARS Christmas Party The only thing to be said in favour of Barry at the Aviation Lounge Curtiss is that the Wrights were Saturday 9 December 2006 demanding a totally unreasonable Cost is $40 per person twenty percent royalty on his aircraft Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 11 Watt's Bridge roll up and use a carnet. Both crews HARS away visits found the heavy smoke a considerable Listed below are the main away visits Sandy Howard challenge between Coffs and Casino, but dusk had both aircraft tied down undertaken by HARS over the last The weekend of 26/27August saw 12 months. and the bus awaiting the trip into HARS’ de Havilland fleet far to the Toogoolawah. Connie North attending the Queensland Vintage Aeroplane Group’s annual We’ve lucked upon an innovative Kalgoorlie, Broken Hill, Adelaide, arrangement with the Toogoolawah Leonora, Temora, Brisbane and Sydney. Festival of Flight fly-in at Watt’s Bridge aerodrome, east of Toogoolawah in the Motel! They have a cottage next door C47's upper Brisbane River valley. and again gave us free [well, not quite?] Arkaroola Wilderness Resort in the reign, with transport for a pittance. The main celebration was the 75th Flinders Ranges (SA), Broken Hill, Peter, the manager, has upgraded his anniversary of production of the DH-82 Nowra, Temora, and Canberra for the Toyota Coaster to a major size Denning Tiger Moth and as we’d attended the Australian War Memorial Celebrations. coach [Timmsy would love it!], so the 70th Birthday with QVAG in 2001, a HARS team travelled in style all Drover and Tiger Moth return visit was in order. However, weekend. Watt's Bridge (Qld) nothing is easy with an aircraft which has 2 hours range plus reserves at This was one of the biggest weekends, Catalina 70 knots. Refuelling locations becomes with an overall attendance of 209 aircraft. Swan Hill (Lake Boga, Vic), Temora, a major logistical exercise and as in The Tiger was able to take part in a Bankstown, Nowra, and Canberra for comedy, timing is everything! We’ve “birthday flypast” and the Saturday the Australian War Memorial decided that for any long-distance night hangar dinner was thoroughly Celebrations. flights with the Tiger, a two pilot crew is enjoyed by all. the preferred option as the days are The evening was slightly curtailed by long, but the added bonus of an the need to get the Tiger away by 0700 on-board prop-swinger and handler on Sunday to make Albion Park in the reduces fatigue considerably. Thus, day. The high-pressure system giving Thursday 25th saw Brian Acker as pilot us a nudge on Friday was favourably and Russell Field as copilot depart placed to provide a 10 knot tailwind Albion Park for Port Macquarie in order all the way down the coast on Sunday. to get a head start. Watt’s Bridge was overcast and some On Friday 26th, the Drover team of cloud over the McPherson Range John Brownjohn, Tony Duggan, Sandy [nemesis of the 1930’s Stinson Tri- & Marj Howard and Frank Purvis motor] caused some heartache, but Brian Acker ready for take-off departed to catch the Tiger by Watt’s it was clear the rest of the way. While Bridge. Lunch at Coffs Harbour for the Drover makes it with one stop at both crews was a separate affair as the Coffs, the Tiger [now with Frank Purvis Tiger boys certainly got the jump. It was as copilot] had to drop in to Lismore, sad to see the reduction in aviation Coffs, Taree and Warnervale to arrive activity requiring us to make specific just behind the Drover. arrangements with fuel and food A trip enjoyed by all but a bit lengthy suppliers instead of just being able to for a regular sojourn!

John Brownjohn checking the oil

Russell Field cleaning the windscreen Sandy Howard lets go of the prop just as the engine fired Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 12

HARS Cat attends acknowledged for providing the only flying Catalina to visit Lake Boga in 60 Rathmines flyover "Splash In" at Lake Boga years. Don Binskin Maureen Massey The weather on the Saturday was On Thursday 24 November 2005, HARS picture perfect, and the Cat looked took part in a flyover for the Heritage VH-PBZ “Felix” was invited to attend magnificent as Warren and Gordon Dedication Ceremony held atRathmines, a “Splash In’” at Lake Boga on 3, 4 did their routine over the lake, thrilling the WWII RAAF Seaplane Base at Lake and 5 March this year.The “Splash the thousands of spectators lining Macquarie, north of Sydney. Having had In” was part of the Air and Aquatic the foreshore. If HARS had a dollar my first ride in a Cat at Rathmines in Festival held at Lake Boga on the for every photo taken on that day, April 1951, I probably looked like Saturday, and on Sunday an Inland we would have Hangars 2 and 3 up someone who had won the lottery when Surf Carnival was held as part of a already! asked to be part of the crew for the Commonwealth Games supported flyover. event for the Swan Hill Rural City The HARS shop was set up on the edge of the Lake, and Pearsy, Geoff Ten minutes after leaving Albion Park, Council municipality. flying north along the coast at 500 feet, Cuthbert and Grahame Abrahams we passed the new Thousands of people came from were kept busy most of the day. built on the all over the state to take part in Many thanks to them. to replace the missing road section. As the activities and view the many we continued north into Victor One, the amphibious aircraft that landed on Sunday was a repeat of Saturday, low level coastal aircraft lane passing the lake. The highlight of the show and the feedback from the media and crowd on the Cat’s performance was Sydney, the view from the engineer's was our Catalina, of course. position in the wing support was unreal described as “spine-chilling”. After and the sound and sight of the 1830 We arrived at Swan Hill on the Friday, a very successful weekend, Felix radials at cruise power just eight feet and were greeted with pretty hot headed home on Monday. away gave me a very confident feeling weather and millions of flies, which about the aeroplane. It also makes you seems to be the norm in these parts. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of a team which brings so much understand why most of the aircrew After securing the aircraft, we were pleasure to people when they are came home as deaf as beetles because ear protection is a must. ferried to our motel in town to put able to visit the Catalina and recall our party dresses on for the formal the many memories and events which We arrived at the agreed holding point dinner which was due to start at have shaped their lives, and all come off Swansea at the entrance to Lake 6.00pm. The local Community Hall flooding back when they step back Macquarie a few minutes early only to was transformed into a ballroom, in time on our Catalina. The stories be advised that the flyover was to be and around 140 invited guests and recollections are endless and the delayed 35 minutes due to guests enjoyed a live band, dancing and smiles and sometimes tears, are a being late due to traffic. It must have great food, but most importantly, reflection of joy and great pride, and appeared to the crew of the numerous air conditioning! The evening was such a valuable part of our Australian coal ships anchored off Newcastle, as a great success, and HARS were aviation history. we orbited the area to the south, as if we were trying to work out where the hell Rathmines was. While we orbited the area, it brought back memories of the Swansea Channel Continued next page

www.hars.org.au Photo courtesy Newcastle Herald (copyrighted) Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 13 Rathmines flyover continued Getting ready for in the late 80's, when, as a Army Reserve coswain at the wheel of an Richmond LCM 8 Landing Craft, I came down that channel on an incoming tide for 5 days The last few months have seen steady in a row. progress in getting the Catalina and The LCM weighed sixty tonnes, Neptune ready for the Richmond carrying half that weight again in Airshow. The Catalina's tail has been the cargo well with equipment and painted in preparation for reassembly. supplies from our base at Woolwich Other activites include work on the oil Dock in Sydney. If you’ve seen the coolers and float motor, sheetmetal rate of the incoming tide down that and rudder fabric work as well as fuel channel, put yourself at the wheel of tank inspections. this sixty three foot long, fourteen foot Neptune 273 has had engine work wide steel landing craft heading for a completed and has had a cosmetic twenty five foot opening, pushed by a five knot current. The problem was, by make over with lots of polishing and the time we unloaded and arrived back paint touch up. It has also undergone at Woolwich to reload we were just that retraction tests as well as an annual much later each day. This matched inspection. the tide and each day as the bridge Thank you to members for the many opened I had visions of seeing myself many hours that they have spent in the Army News as the one who made getting these two aircraft ready. the Swansea Opening Bridge a fixed opening. It didn’t happen, but by the third day as I came in from the ocean the right side of my face and mouth started jumping with a nervous twitch. On being called in to start the display, we saw a large crowd gathered on the point near the memorial propeller, at the front of the old Officers’ Mess. This building is now the Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club building and contains much memorabilia and photos of the base as it was in the war years. It is worth a visit and the view of the lake will show you that a fully loaded Catalina taking off would certainly have needed both Pratt and Whitney 1830s doing their best. I phoned the Bowling Club the next day to ask how it looked from the ground. My contact said that to see a Catalina again at low level over Rathmines after all those years was an incredible sight and will be long remembered. When you see those turns at low level, looking good from the ground and feeling terrific inside the Catalina, spare a thought for Warren and Gordo, because with that long wing, short body and no power steering, what you see is straight muscle power. After our last pass we continued back out to sea over Swansea and down the coast, past Lion Island at the entrance to Broken Bay and passing through Victor One again to return to Albion Park. When flying over this country, I hope all Australians appreciate, as I do, what we have here. Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 14 TAKE TWO William Verity

Mike De La Hunty, 57: Bob De La Hunty, 58: We grew up in Caringbah and Victoria. Our dad was the manager for a When we were kids, we were both footwear distribution business and interested in aircraft, putting pegs out a regimental sergeant-major during the window of our grandfather’s car the war. My brother was in the same battalion in Vietnam. The two of them with a prop spinning on the front of it, used to share war stories and I used to Biggles books and all that sort of thing. listen with great interest. I didn’t go on with aviation to the same extent that Bob did. I didn’t get involved The way we conduct our lives is with aircraft again until I joined the influenced by his disciplines, teachings and wise words. He gave us the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society encouragement to believe in ourselves in 1988, when the first Neptune came and have a respect for other people. along. Like most kids, we would occasionally Bob runs the place and I pick up the have a bit of a running battle, but most rubbish, so we have both ends covered. of it was very much supporting each We work pretty well together because other. I think I was occasionally a bit we have a good understanding of big brotherish but it hasn’t affected our what’s required. I was in sales and long-term relationship. marketing in the building industry but Even now, he very much commands retired about four years ago and now what he’s doing here. I try and spend a lot of time doing this. command what I am doing and we negotiate to make sure we don’t run We have had similar sort of background. into each other’s areas. The only thing Our father was very dominating but he we debate about is I am always turning taught us about life and he taught us the lights on and he keeps turning about business. them off. At the of 16 - Bob was 17 - we bought a Sibling rivalry can still come out boat between us and used to waterski. along the way somewhere, but I have Then he was transferred to Adelaide enormous respect for Michael and what he has done and his family life. with his job and I went to Vietnam with the army. That interfered with that. The fact that he went to Vietnam and I didn’t, made me enormously mindful We didn’t spend a great deal of time of the dangers. He wasn’t in the Battle together from that time until he bought of Long Tan, but he was in some pretty the Neptune. When he told me, I said: rough stuff. A lot of his mates were “You bought a what?” Now we have killed or wounded, but he survived. three of them, plus the Super I have the greatest admiration for his Constellation, plus the Catalina, Tiger contribution to Australian standards. Moths and more besides. I honour him on Anzac Day and I’m immensely proud of his involvement - Bob is a very charismatic person and I get emotional about it. very much a natural leader, people hang off his every word. He’s got the I admire his strength of character and ability to motivate people whether it’s his sense of purpose. If he wants to get motivating someone to sweep the floor something done he will bloody well get or motivating some business to give us it done and nothing will stop him. thousands of dollars or supplies. That’s the case with me, too, in doing what we have done with the I tend to jump up and down and make Brothers BOB (right) and MIKE DE LA HUNTY have worked together for Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. a lot of noise whereas he goes about almost 20 years to conserve Australia’s aviation heritage with the Historical People have said we wouldn’t get things very calmly. We have the same Aircraft Restoration Society. the Constellation, or we wouldn’t buy attitude to responsibility, motivation, Neptunes or build a hangar. dedication and doing the right thing, Anything we have got in life has been being honest. We were taught to have through hard work and inspiring people the courage of our convictions. and businesses about what we’re I have the dirtiest overalls in the outfit The only thing we debate about is trying to do. and the dirtiest flying suit. I like the There are more similarities than hands-on kind of stuff. Bob likes that I am always turning the lights on differences. We don’t clash in any long- too but he’s compelled to look after the term way. Someone said to Michael admin side. No-one can do it as well as and he keeps turning them off. once: “It must be difficult living in the he can. ‘ shadow of your brother”. That fired him up. I don’t want people to think he’s living This article was reproduced with the kind permission of the Newspaper, in the shadow of me, I want them to THE WEEKENER of Saturday 16 September 2006. ’ know that we’re doing this together. Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 15

bumped into it over the years in one Chipmunk News of these guises. It has never been Mark Fitzgerald a military trainer, although it did do “national service” with ARDU and The HARS Chipmunk restoration project CFS for a number of months in 1948 (VH-MCC) is making steady progress. when the RAAF was evaluating it as a The airframe is with renowned replacement for the Tiger Moth. It even Chipmunk restorer Tim Becroft at has its own service card! Tocumwal whilst the engine is with Terry Ryan at Luskintyre. HARS members Having trolled through the message board in the members’ area of the Grant Coles, Troy Bates and Mark The engine stripped down at Terry Ryan's hangar at Fitzgerald have been making regular Luskintyre HARS website I can correct a few pilgrimages to Tim’s toy shop for the misconceptions. Being a DHC-1A, past 15 months to play apprentices. DH Support in the UK does not support About once a month we don our the aircraft. A Canadian company worst clothes and proceed to cover called Viking holds the type certificate them in dust, grease, paint stripper and does a very bad job of supporting and occasionally blood as a stubborn this model Chipmunk. You can also nut finally lets go! The airframe is put away TNS138 as this does not completely stripped and has now apply to Canadian built aircraft. In fact commenced the rebuild process. The there is almost nothing on a Canadian control surfaces have been recovered Chipmunk that is the same as a British Grant, Troy and Fitzgerald children stripping the fabric one. It is made from different materials, and the starboard wing, which was off the port wing being repaired, is now ready for the wing attachment points are recovering. The port wing is expected different and the all up weight is very to follow suit shortly. different, with the Canadian models being much lighter. Being a “1A” ours HARS member Philip Gannon did a is also very different to later Canadian wonderful job restoring the instruments versions. It has a greenhouse canopy and these are currently being installed rather than a bubble one and the in the new instrument panels that were elevators and rudder are of a narrower ably crafted by Mark’s father-in-law. chord. Although the canopy looks Terry Ryan has stripped the engine like an English one it is of different and we are waiting on some testing to Side view of the cockpit dimensions (as is the windscreen and determine what needs to be replaced. the rollover bar). After much digging around and talking All of these differences mean that it is to Chipmunk nuts worldwide we have almost impossible to source parts for determined that MCC is the third oldest the aircraft and so far we have only Chipmunk still in existence in the world tracked down two people (one in the and when restored will be the second US and one in Canada) who have oldest one flying. It was the 22nd been able to source parts for it. Given aircraft off the Canadian production line that the aircraft is now in the “putting and arrived in Australia in December back together” stage this is the major 1947. The only older aircraft in existence impediment to progress. are No. 6 (which is currently a pile of We were amazed to find out that one parts in Canada) and No. 11, which is a of the DeHavilland Canada Chipmunk beautifully restored example that test pilots is still alive and an active participated in the Chipmunk 60th pilot. His name is George Neal, he is in anniversary celebrations in Canada this his 80’s and he still flies a Chipmunk. year. Tim Becroft and Keith Ainsworth doing some riveting He flew MCC when it came off the work on the wing at Tocumwal MCC was the first Chipmunk in Australia production line and we are eagerly and was also the first Chipmunk to awaiting a copy of his log book entry. enter service with an aero club in He is also prevailed upon regularly, Australia, being Newcastle Aero Club. along with the owners of No. 11, to Before being discovered in the back answer our myriad of questions about of a shed by Grant Coles the aircraft how bits go back together. had three owners, DeHavilland (as the With any luck we will have the old girl demo model in 1947), Newcastle Aero back in the air in 2007 in time for her Club and David Cosh (a farmer from 60th birthday. We’ll keep you posted on northern NSW). Over its life it had progress and look forward to sharing a number of identities (BFT, RNG, BBF Grant Coles in the rear fuselage (his is a job for the some birthday cake with you all next and MCC), so some of you may have skinniest member of the team) year. Phoenix, Spring Edition 2006 • Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc (HARS) • Page 16 Smile, action...

Bernie preparing the Neptune's surface Plucca washing Connie Pep taking a coffee break

Mike sanding the Neptune Bill, John, Bob and Mal replacing a tyre tube

Cocky addressing the Air League on flying matters. Mike might have managed to get the ocassional word in as well.

57 Shoalhaven Street Grahame degreasing the Neptune (PO Box 152) Kiama NSW 2533 Telephone: (02) 4232 1999 Facsimile: (02) 4232 3185 Marketing Pty Ltd Email: [email protected]