Hi all
I have been asked to put up some photos of the Wangarratta Airworld site where Murray Griffiths and his team have been undergoing a massive expansion of their efforts to restore a large number of aircraft over the next few years. There was only one problem – I didn’t have any !!!
Well just a few anyway- until now.
Erstwhile UK poster Tony Andrews is on a wide ranging visit to Australia at present and has kindly agreed to let me post some of the SEVERAL THOUSAND shots he took there last week so I have started putting some up on my Webshots account at http://community.webshots.com/scripts/controlPanel.fcgi
Murray is working on
Several A20 Bostons
Several Vengances
4-5 P40s
2-3 Kingfishers
4-5 P39s
4 Ki61s
1 Corsair
Here are some sample shots
This is just the tip of the Ice Berg in what is an amazing project – there is activity everywhere and good organisation and hard work is evident in everything that is being done.
I wish them all the best in this fantastic journey
I also sought and was granted permission by Murray to post these photos so thank go to him and also to Mick Grinter one of the skilled trades people working on these aircraft who assisted Tony during his visit
Regards
John Parker
Sequence of photos hereunder is
P39 Aircobra
Ki61 Tony in Jig
Another P39
P40 Wing in new Jig
A20 Wing in New jig
P40 – 3rd in production line
Vengance parts
Kingfisher
Ki61
“Component Holdings”
_________________
Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce
By: Bert van Dalen - 8th December 2004 at 18:48
very nice to see, and so much to be looking forward to. :rolleyes:
By: croweater - 3rd December 2004 at 11:08
great photos Setter, it seems everytime you hear about Wangaratta they are taking on another awesome project.
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 3rd December 2004 at 09:32
I’m sure they would pay – ! Everybody needs an A-20 in their life!
Start campaign now!
By: Smith - 2nd December 2004 at 01:40
Wow – and thanks Setter for pointing me this way – I missed it the thread for some reason. Seems to me there’s an obvious visit here on the way to or from Temora for Melbournians (and persons flying from o/s).
Possible forum meet in Australia thread
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34988
By: setter - 2nd December 2004 at 00:24
Hi
1) James thanks for fixing the web link – You can see why I run the ICT strategy for a large Government – I am so good at it(IT) !!!
2)Texantomcat I can see no reason why Hendon couldn’t get a Boston – but it wouldn’t get it for free – perhaps they could get some Concorde funding redirected (Now Iv’e started it)
3)Phil I’d wait till the weather is a little kinder to you – it is very hot in the hanger and you don’t want to overdo it
4)Robbo James and Dave – It’s all part of my master plan to build the Duxford of the south – Planes Planes … build me more planes Baldrick!!!!!
More – many more photos going up in coming weeks
Regards
John P
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 1st December 2004 at 18:02
Superb – thanks very much – OH IF ONLY THE RAF MUSEUM COULD BUY A BOSTON!!! DO YOU HEAR ME HENDON!!!!!
By: STORMBIRD262 - 1st December 2004 at 11:51
Top Stuff Setter.
Thank you so much john 😎 😉 .
And please thank all involved in getting these to us mate 🙂 , I soon want to hit the Hume and drop in there for a sqize 😮 .
Is it now open and letting the general public though yet :confused: .
If I ever hit the States I would love to visit that Tom Reilly’s work shop guy from Hunting Warbirds 😎 .
Sound’s like his aproach is similiar to Murray’s place.
Just love his answer to why we all love warbird’s so much :p .
“They’re big, fat and ugly. They smell bad and they drip oil, and they have a heart and soul of there own”.
Cheer’s all, :dev2: Tally Ho! Phil :diablo:
By: JDK - 1st December 2004 at 10:15
Oi John,
You were meant to be keeping it quiet why I was off to Aus.
It’ll get crowded now! 😀
And you link don’t work…
This do: http://community.webshots.com/user/setter125
Cheers!
By: Stieglitz - 1st December 2004 at 09:23
Yes Robbo, it lookes like a lot of exciting projects are waiting for their revival there. Thanks for posting these very interesting pics John.
Greets,
J.V.
By: Dave Homewood - 1st December 2004 at 06:03
Cheers John. Lots of exciting things to come from Wangarratta I hope.
By: setter - 1st December 2004 at 06:00
Hi Dave
It’s both
Some are owned by the collection(at least one of each type) and the bulk are being restored on contract. Most of the aircraft will fly except those being rebuilt for museums.
Regards
John P
By: Dave Homewood - 1st December 2004 at 05:56
Very interesting indeed, thanks John.
Are these aircraft all owned by one collection? Or is this a restoration facility that contracts out to restore aircraft for other owners? I know I have seen bits and pieces in Classic Wings news pages but I’m not fully aware of how this place operates.
Will all those aircraft you mention be restored to flying or are many destined for static display? If it is all one collection, in a few years Wangarratta will resemble a wartime RAAF station.
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December 1, 2004 at 5:45 am