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AVIATION HISTORICAL GROUP OF AUSTRALIA.

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MOITHLY NOTES NO. 7* HOVEMBEH, 1959

Now that the State Government has sanctioned in principal the floating ''heliport'* plans of Trans-Australia Airlines and Anaett-ANA on the River Yarra, Melbourne, seirvioes may start as early as January i960. As yet T.A.A. have not submitted detail plans for their project, but the Ansett-ANA plan envisages use of a BELL 47J RANGER.

Rockhampton, Queensland, has recently received considerable attention from helicopter opOTators. On 15*10 HILLSl UH-12C VH-THC of T.A.A. and BELL 47G2 VH-PV3, xmder charter to Ansett-ANA from the Bell agents, Helicopter Sales (Australia) Pty. Ltd., briefly visited the airport on there way to the Barrier Reef Festival. Both helicopters were fitted with pontoons instead of the normal skid/wheel undercarriage. A favourable impression was created by T.A.A. by flying a local resident from Brisbane to her home and then to Rockhampton. On the way, a certain amount of sightseeing was indulged in something that the helicopter is suited for. Ansett-ANA representatives inspected two areas on the river bank and on 27*10 conducted tests from the more suitable area. Latent business in the area does not warrant permanent location of a helicopter at Rockhampton but the Mayor has promised his councils support for the Ansett-ANA site if the Department of Civil Aviation approves it. D.E.J.

Sharks are the greatest menaces to swimmers on Australian beaches. Already aircraft have been used to patrol certain portions of the coastline and on 28.11 a BELL 47G VH-UTA was used by the Royal Life Saving Association to patrol 30 miles of coastline between Palm Beach and Cronulla, Sydney. As the Association was given free use of the helicopter, a large advertisement was attached to it to offset operating costs. P.R.

A sea food company has constnicted a DOUGLAS DC-3 size runway at Green Head (I50 miles north of Perth) less than one mile from the sea. Crayfish will be flown to Perth and in doing so, losses experienced with road transport should be greatly reduced. E.P.

As a result of repeated criticism by air travellers, T.A.A. and Anaett-ANA intrc^uoed modified breakfasts on all services on 11.11. On 10.11 Senator Paltridge, Minister for Civil Aviation, is reported to have stated "I frequently examine menus that are provided by overseas airlines and can assure the Senate that what is now provided on Australian airlines is at least equal to that provided on domestic airlines of any other country".

Another Senator then pointed out that he (Sen. Paltridge) was on a diet*

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Today, Air Racing is relatively rare (as distinct from reliability and navigation trials). On 31*10 the annual BP Air Trophy race was held at Albion Park, near Wollongong, H.S.W. One of the 35 entries was from 17 year old Miss Lynette Clancy, the youngest woman pilot in Australia, who flew AUSTER J2 ARROW VH-APD. The South Coast Aero Club organised the 21 mile event and entries ranged from a KLEMM L25-P11 VH-UUR to a DRUIITE TUHBULERT D31 VH-PM, as well as the normal TIGER MOTHS etc. Several of the competing aircraft were racing numbers s- BE HAVILLAHD TIGER MOTH (VH-RSA) (1‘ PERCIVAL PROCTOR 3 VH-BXU BEECHCRAPT BONANZA VH-GPA (2 PERCIVAL PROCTOR 1 VH-BXE SI PIPER PA-24 COMANCHE VH-PJM (3) AUSTER J1 VH-AYJ (10 DE HAVILLAND CHIPMUNK VH-BAX (4) AUSTER J2 ARRO?/ VH-AFD (11 PERCIVAL PROCTOR 1 VH-DUL (7) B.H. CHIPMUM VH-MCC (18 Finishing order was COMAHCHE 7H-PJM, PROCTOR VH-BXE, PROCTOR VH-DUL, TIGER MOTH YH-RSD, CHIPMUHK VH-MCC, CHIPMUNK VH-BAX, PROCTOR VH-BXU, but after allowing for the handicaps the winner was CHIPMUNK VH-M3C (piloted by Mr. David Cosh of Mandalay, Croppa Creek, via Moree) then CHIPMUNK VH—BAX and PROCTOR VH-BXU. P.R.

The fourth COMMONWEALTH CA-28 CERES, VH-CED c/n CA28-4, agricultural aircraft has been sold to Aerial Panning of New Zealand LM. and will be exported to N.Z. in the near future. P.R.

Aero Services Pty. Ltd., Maylands, W.A. have received the three DE HAVILLAND TIGER MOTHS, ex Royal Newcastle Aero Club, on I9.8. All have been re—regiatereds VH—RNO as VH—WPN, VH—RNR as VH—WPD and VH—RNW as VH-WPP (see pp.21 of Monthly Notes No. 5)* E.P.

D\iring August the Royal Aero Club of Tasmania at ?/estern Junction, Launceston, have placed on sale DE HAVILLAND TIGER MOTHS VH—BSD and VH—BSE (both with cabins as on Canadian built D.H.82Cs) and DE HAVILLAND CHIPMUNK VH-BSQ and during October another CHIPMUNK was placed on sale. To compensate for these aircraft, SAAB 9IC SAPIR VH—AHA was pxirchased on 27*10, while on 7.11 STINSON VOYAGER VH-AKI was purchased from a Queensland owner. 1 Also during August the Aero Club of Southern Tasmania offered TIGER MOTH A17-704 for sale and during early November it was registered as VH-ABP. N.W.

■: t: Despite statements by the Department of Civil Aviation that VICKERS VISCOUNTS cannot regularly land at Connor Park Airport, Rockhampton, such landings are being made. On 25.10 an Ansett-ANA VISCOUNT 832 landed to pick up passengers from a disabled CONVAIR METROPOLITAN and on 23*11 a T.A.A. VISCOUNT flew in two engineers to help repair a faulty PCKKER FRIENDSHIP engine. D.E.J * B.O.A.C. began the first DE HAVILLAND COMET 4 service from Australia to London with G—APD on Nov. 4* Qantas have chartered a B.O.A.C. COMET for their London-Singapore service, conneotingat Singapore with a LOCKHEED SUPER CONSTELLATION from Sydney, Some form of Qantas marking is believed to be incorporated in the colour scheme.

Ansett-ANA will import a third LOCKHEED 1.188 ELBCTSA. 31/ • • ♦ • r

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Three more of Qantas's LOCKHEED SUPER GOIJSTELLATIOMS have left for America. VH-EAH "Southern Sky" left Sydney as 1I9716C on 14.11, VH-IAL "Southern Breeze" as H9719C on 11.11, and VH-EAI "Southern Sun" was due to leave as K9719C on 1.12. All were L.1049S series aircraft. A recent T.E.A.L. advertisement indicates that they have one of Qantas'a SUPER COHSTELLATIOH'S under charter for the Tasman Sea service. P.R.

Qantas have received their first three LOCKHEED L.l88C ELECTRAS: VH-ECB "Pacific Explorer" on 7*11», VH-ECA "Pacific Electra" on 8.11., and VH~BCC "Pacific Endeavour" on 28.11. Tasman Empire Airways Limited also took delivery of their first aircraft during Ilovemher and will inaxigvirate the Tasman Sea service early in December. The Qantas aircraft are painted similar to their BOEING 707s but the T.E.A.L. aircraft will have a new colotir scheme of white, turquoise and dark blue. P.R.

The purchaser of the DOUGLAS DC-43 VH-EBM and -EBP was not the Plying Tiger Line but was Incorporated of , , U.S.A. P.R.

AVEO LANCASTER W.U.16, coded 931, left Sydney on 19*11 has been replaced by LANCASTER ¥/.U.27, coded 932, at Pairey Aviation’s workshops at Bankstoijvn (see pp*17 of No. 4 Notes).

Two B.A.F. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CANBERRAS, WJ991 and WT48O, from the Central Plying School have visited Australia to check on standards of instruction in the R.A.A.P. They arrived at R.A.A.P. Pearce on 14*10 after a 3 hour 45 minute flight from Darwin. On 17*10 they departed for eastern Australia and New Zealand and will rettirn to England via Burma, Siam and India. B.P.

Several U.3. Navy DOUGLAS R6Ds (DC-6s) visited Kingsford Smith Aerodrome this month. On 9*11 Bul28429 and Bul31577, and on 11.11 BUI28432 and BUI3I6OO, and on 13*11 BUI316O9 were sighted. With the exception of Bu131577 all aircraft used the code letters 'RZ* indicating that they were connected with "Operation Deep Freeze" but why they were in Sydney is unknown. P.R.

BELL 47G2 VH-F7S and DOUGLAS DAKOTA A65-IO3 were used at a NCO and Officer training school for the 42nd Battalion (A.M.P.) Queensland, in late October. On 2.11 DAKOTA A65-*103 gave 5® A.T.C. cadets from Rockhampton flight experience. Later the Rockhampton A.T.C. was disbanded due to insufficient numbers. D.E.J.

Pour NORTH AMERICAN AJ-2 SAVAGES were at R.A.A.P. Richmond, near Sydney, on 10.11 to I6.II and then proceeded to New Zealand. The SAVAGE, powered by two Pratt and Vfhitney Double Wasp R-28OO-48W piston engines and one Allison J-33A-10 turbo-jet, is the heaviest carrier borne aircraft to see service to date* P.R,

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12.11.59 - DE HA?ILLAND TIGER MOTH. VH-AIW. Collided with high tension power lines, crashed and was destroyed by fire near Heyfield, Victoria. The pilot received head injuries. The aircraft, a crop duster, was owned by Mclnnes Bros, of Tinamba, Victoria.

14.11.59 COMPER 3\fIPT. VH-UVC. Made a .forced landing in a market ii- garden and overtiirned. Damage to the aircraft was slight and the pilot - received a shaking. It had been rebuilt over a period of six years.

16.11.59 DE HAVILLAHD tiger MOm. VH-3CH. Struck power lines and apxm into the ground when crop dusting, near Ayr, northern Queensland. ",1 The pilot escaped with cuts, bruises and shock. a: 17.11.59 DE HAVILLAID VAMPIRE T.33. , A79-625.. . Was taking off with another VAMPIRE from R.A.A.P. East Sale (eastern Vic.) from gunnery practice when the engine failed at about 200 ft. The pilot attempted to return to the runway but crashed half a mile short of it. The nose section and engine separated from the rest of the airframe. Although the co-pilot was killed instantly, the pilot was still alive when pulled from the wreckage but died soon after. Both were qualified pilots and were undergoing a flying instructors course at East Sale.

19.11.59 DE HAVILLAND BEAVER. VH-RAZ. ?/hen taking off from a paddock at Cambell Park (92 miles from Adelaide) a wing brushed a fence and an airleron was tom off. The pilot attempted to land at high speed but the aircraft careered out of control, killing the pilot. Hobby’s Aircraft Co. Ltd. of Parafield, Adelaide, operated it as a crop duster.

22.11.59 - DE HAVILLAHD 6OX MOTH. VH-UGM. Engine failure forced the aircraft down in a paddock near Moorabbin Airport, breaking the fuselage and damaging the wings. The pilot and passengers were not injured. Three years were spent rebuilding the aircraft after it had been located in crates in a Reservoir (Melb.) garage and at the time of the accident it had flown for about two hours.

A mass training flight, of eight aircraft from the Royal Aero Club of South Australia, to Sydney and back to Parafield (Adelaide) struck trouble on 24.11 when bad visibility forced a D.H. CHIPMUNK down near Nhill, Victoria. Two hours later it took off safely. On 26.11 five CHIPMUNKS made forced landings 13 miles southwest of Goulhurn, southern N.3.W . > an AUSTER ADVENTURER reached R.A.N. Station Jervis Bay and a TRI-PACER and TRI-TRAVELLER reached Bankstown, the flights destination. Some of these aircraft were seen at Moorabbin (Melbourne) on 24.11. They were s-

DE HAVILLAND CHIPMUNKS VH-FJB, VH-BWE and VH-BWP

PIPER PA-22 TRI-PACER VH-31VP AUSTER J5 ADVENTURER VH-B\fS 4; -V CHAMPION 7FC TRI-TRAVELLER VH-B?T.

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