Due to a broken Carby at Coffs Harbour, the Catalina never made it down to Albion park today, it will however be flying down here possibly Wednesday or Thursday. In the mean time a spare carby is being brought out from Parkes where the RAAF aparently have spares stored.
It was how ever, exciting when I arrived there HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society) has aquired a large amount of land at the airport for development into a major museum with both flying and static planes, this is a list of planes currently going there for display
2x P-2 Neptunes both pictures below, one is ex-RAAF and is the second flying example rebuilt from parts salvaged from the scrapping of the fleet, the other is an ex French Navy example and was brought over from Tahiti.
1x Super Constelation, Good old Connie
2x C-47’s both sister ships straight off the production line and delivered to the RAAF in March 1945 also pictured below. Numbers are A65-094 and A65-095 respectivly.
1x T-41
1X Cessna 172M
2x Huey Cobra’s possibly AH-1F models, both getting rebuilt to flying status and will be arriving here some time in the new year.
2x Winjeel’s
1x Cessna 180
1x Cessna 310
1x DH Drover
1x DH Tiger Moth
2x Vampires
1x Beaver
1x T-6 Havard (Ex SAAF model)
2x L-19 Bird Dogs
1x TS-11 Iskra
And of course the Catalina (When it gets here)
The pics I’ve got here you’ll have to excuse, they were taken with my digicam, all the good shots were taken on my Canon SLR and the film needs developing, but this should give ytuo a taste of what it down here now, enjoy and I’ll keep you all posted as to the events happening here!
Pictured here is A65-094 which is starting to look it’s age, it’s sister A65-095 actually flew in and was supposed to form up with the Cat as it came in.
By: mike currill - 29th September 2003 at 12:35
If those are a taste of the selection andf the ones from the canon turn out any better the I for one look forward to seeing them
regards
mike
By: Ja Worsley - 29th September 2003 at 12:30
Do any of you guys know the actual history of the French Neptune, squadron, or any other details? I’d like to know before I go back, all I know atm is that it was based in Tahiti.
By: Ja Worsley - 28th September 2003 at 11:50
Finally we had a treat today, a Yak-52 formaly of the Romanian Air Force still in beautiful condition flew in from Mittagong, only to find out that the Cat wasn’t coming, they too were hopping to form up with it for a fly over, got some great shots of it including a facinating cockpit shot, the guy was really nice. I’ll post them when they are developed.
I forgot to mention, the Catalina will be fully restored for flying displays around Australia and possibly New Zealand, I spoke with John Brooker (Director General of Hars) and Rees Hughes (Chief Engineer and former RAAF Catalina crew man) about the cat only to find out that it will be refitted with its blisters and forward turret and will be painted in the RAAF’s Black Cat scheme. Like I said will keep you all posted.
I have been invited back in a few weeks by HARS for a full story and photo session, by then they should have the Cat there with a few other planes. It is hoped by HARS that tourism for the area will increase, being only 1 hours drive south of Sydney.
By: Ja Worsley - 28th September 2003 at 11:37
Here is the back half of the French Neptune.
By: Ja Worsley - 28th September 2003 at 11:35
The French Naval P-2 which is a P-2V7 model, looking rather sad at the moment, but will be fully restored.
By: Ja Worsley - 28th September 2003 at 11:32
Looking into the Neptune’s weapons bay and I got a shock, see why?
By: Ja Worsley - 28th September 2003 at 11:30
Here is the RAAF P-2 in it’s final parking place.
By: Ja Worsley - 28th September 2003 at 11:26
Here’s Connie wioth the tail of A65-095
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September 28, 2003 at 11:25 am