Dc-2 "Uiver" memorial at Albury needs YOUR Help (Zombie from 2005)

In 1984 KLM sponsored a reinactment of the Uiver flight by the US owned N39165 (s/n 1404) which was chartered and flown to Australia in KLM PH-AJU “Uiver” colours

I shot this pic after NC39165 flew to Oz and back, and before she went back to the US. The aircraft was still owned then by Colgate W. Darden, the man who eventually sold his DC-2 to the Aviodrome museum.

But he main reason for this photo-plug :p is in the caption.

Tillerman.

Mark, I got news from Down Under that the Albury DC2 is now for sale, most likely to be scrapped, saving the nose section. Who should be contacted in Albury to get the plans changed?

I believe the scrapping part was a proposal, and that a single vote in the council meeting saved the DC2 from that stupid idea.

From what I can tell, it’s in limbo at the moment. (Some reading might reveal more details of its future.. I just haven’t done that yet)

Mark, I got news from Down Under that the Albury DC2 is now for sale, most likely to be scrapped, saving the nose section. Who should be contacted in Albury to get the plans changed?

MarkP

Good News.

A shot of the DC-2 at Albury on a very murky day in May 1987.

Mark12

Albury DC-2 to be restored

As reported in the Albury Border News

26/07/2006

DC-2 Uiver plans relief for its fans

BACK in 1934, strong young men hauled the DC-2 Uiver plane from the mud at the Albury Racecourse.

It flew on to take second place in the London-Melbourne Centenary Race and was given a permanent place in Albury’s history.

The news today that the Uiver memorial plane is to be restored by aeronautical experts in Albury is welcome.

This is not only because the old bird could potentially have broken up on the way to some distant repair shop, but because the work will involve genuinely interested local people.

While this is not the original plane, it is a similar, rare DC-2 of the 1930s and therefore has its own history as a military and civilian plane.

The Uiver Memorial Community Trust reckons the full cost of restoration could be $300,000.

It is encouraging that KLM, the Dutch Government and restoration groups around the country are supporting the decision for it to stay.

But we shouldn’t forget the many people who saved the icon, from Herman, Geesje and Gerry Blom to the Albury West Rotary Club.

© 2006 The Border Morning Mail Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

****************************

In separate news, another Australian DC-2 A30-9, long stored dis-assembled at Tyabb, and donated to the Australian National Aviation Museum was moved successfully today from Tyabb to the Museum’s site at Moorabbin.

Australian National Aviation Museum DC-2

regards

Mark Pilkington

Martin,

Thanks for that update, that really is great news.

I think the back is broken in that the City will fund the building apparantly, and its only the aircraft restoration costs that they were shying away from.

your news is confirmed in the local paper

Border News

The paper was inundated with emails/letters from overseas enthusiasts and I am sure this gave the local efforts both moral and physical support to argue the case.

I had received an email and letter myself from the Mayor of Albury in reply to my own letter/email, indicating they were seeking a satisfactory outcome to the aircrafts future, it seems that is being delivered, thanks to all who took the effort to write and support this important aircraft’s retention and preservation, its still a long road to under cover display but at least its being given the chance! it deserves!!

regards

Mark P

Some good news. 🙂
Whilst not expending any of their own funds Albury City Council has agreed to the preservation of this aircraft and will support the formation of a trust to look after her.
More details at
http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/news/ACC_News_23-Aug-05_1299.htm
Not quite out of the woods but certainly facing a rosier future than back in May.
I hope that the eMails sent by forumites to the Border Mail and the Albury Council have helped in some way.
Thanks Martin

As reported on propliners.com

“After a 1.5 year period of maintenance and inspections the only flying DC2 left in the world took to the sky ones again last Friday the 27th of May.

First a short flight around 12:00 for 15-20 minutes after which everything was checked again.

Then around 16:00 a longer flight which included 3 touch ‘n goes.
The 70 year old bird performed flawless.

Willem

WTH Photography can be found here: http://www.honders.net”

One “Uiver” safe and sound, one “Uiver” to go!~

regards

Mark Pilkington

A photo of the Aviodome (now Aviodrome)’s own Uiver after its flight to Holland from the USA. Photos from the Dutch website.

Another photo of A30-11 at Albury following its removal from its pedestal.

Mark Pilkington

In 1984 KLM sponsored a reinactment of the Uiver flight by the US owned N39165 (s/n 1404) which was chartered and flown to Australia in KLM PH-AJU “Uiver” colours, here is a picture of that aircraft visiting the “Uiver” Memorial DC-2 “A30-11” (s/n 1286).

N39465 still flies in its KLM “Uiver” colours, now owned by the Aircraft Guaranty Trust with the Aviodrome Netherlands, as the only flying example of the DC-2 remaining in the world. see remaining photo’s below:

N1934D (s/n 1368) remains “airworthy” but stored for static display with the Museum of Flight – Seattle USA, (final photo below)

while s/n 1376 PK-AFL/VH-CDZ remains under long term restoration to airworthy status by International Air Parts in Sydney, creating the opportunity of at least 2 if not 3 flying DC-2’s into the future.

regards

Mark Pilkington

Seems that the cost of repairs of the DC-2 at Albury have been estimated at between $70,000 and $500,000, I would assume the second price is to return the airframe to near airworthy condition while the $70,000 is to stabilise it for static display.

The Council has known this since 2002, and not proceeded with either?, yet in September 2004 they could spend over $900k of proceeds of a land sale on various projects including $68,000 on upgrading the “Uiver” Tennis Club!!, and as JDK identified earlier they are now planning a $10M “Cultural Arts Centre”

regards

Mark Pilkington

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Sat, Dec 07, 2002

City reviews options for Uiver plane

By HOWARD JONES

Border Mail 2003

ALBURYS Douglas DC-2 airliner Uiver memorial will not be going back on its poles outside Albury airport.

Albury City Council will now consider options for displaying the plane either outside or inside the airport or at an alternative location as a memorial to the Uiver that figured in the 1934 landing in Albury.

A report to the council on December 17 will outline options ranging from $500,000 for a full restoration to $70,000 to preserve the plane as it is but taking steps to stop further deterioration.

Two separate reports on the Uiver have been made for the council.

One is by Albury-based company World Aviation and the other by an aviation museum at Nowra.

Airport manager Mr Leigh Ashford said yesterday he thought the council would want to keep the Uiver display at or near the airport.

“But it wont be going back on those poles that is not an option,” Mr Ashford said.

Mr Ashford said the memorial garden around the Uivers poles would have to be remodelled or relocated depending on what option was chosen.

He expected a committee with community representatives would be needed to work through the issues.

One possibility is that a modest renovation is undertaken in the hope that aviation enthusiasts might want to do a full restoration as a voluntary project later.

Community attitudes would probably prevent the council considering a sale of the plane.

The DC-2 suffered corrosion in 23 years of display on the three poles until the plane was removed to Worlands hangar in August.

The Dutch Government has provided some of the $45,000 the council had budgeted for repairs.

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Border Mail 2004

Tue, Sep 28, 2004

Playground to be a city work of art

By HOWARD JONES

WEST Albury children will get the best playground in the city a $274,300 showcase designed by renowned landscape architect and playgrounds expert Ms Mary Jeavons.

The playground will be part of a $915,000 swag of projects to be built by Albury council from funds it received from selling public land to Lutheran Aged Care in 2001 for|its 52-bed Dellacourt hostel.

Ms Jeavons, of Melbourne, specialises in playground design and has designed many for child care centres around Australia.

The West Albury playground will encompass elements for children of all abilities with an emphasis on children aged 8 and under.

The area will also include shade shelters, barbecue facilities, a small sports field, tree plantings and public amenities.

Councillors last night accepted recommendations from a group that included neighbours who had opposed the loss of public land.

As well as the playground, the council approved:

l A multipurpose court at Bonnie Doon Reserve including facilities for basketball, netball and tennis ($65,000);

l Shared pedestrian and cycle pathways in West Albury from Padman Drive to Kremur St and Banksia St to the Pemberton St car park. ($70,000 plus State funds to be sought);

l Upgrading Uiver Park Tennis Club ($68,000);

l Westside Community Centre upgrades, mainly security fencing and lighting ($25,000); and

l Bonnie Doon Reserve playing surface upgrade and training lights ($20,000)

The council has already spent $360,000 on a new road to serve Dellacourt and the reserve and has allowed more than $32,000 as a contingency fund.

The Bonnie Doon work is supported by the |Westside Community Centre and Albury Community Health who would like to start programs and competitions at the court.

Ms Jeavons is a landscape architect with almost 20 years experience in the design of childrens environmen

Yes all please do save her

I too hope she can be saved Mark 🙁 , and complete and flying if possible.

I had watched the one taken down from display at Melbourne Airport, and fly again(go’s over my place sometime’s, she’s a beauty) 🙂 .

I was sitting under this Aircraft about 3 year’s ago, one very late night, smoking a joint with a fellow M.S. sufferer from Albury, seemed to us a great place to chillout 😎 .

We were both hopeing the old bus could be lucky like the one from Melbourne, and spread her wing’s again :rolleyes: .

We sat there for quiet a few hour’s talking and sort of dreaming of her many travel’s.

She smelt Old and Oily, Just like an old bird should, and we enjoyed it to the max.

Good luck with this quest Mark 😉 , she deserve’s to be preserved Mate.

Let’s try to keep as much of History as we can :dev2: .

Great thread Guy’s 🙂

Old Props website DC-2 page with type history and census of survivors

Old Props DC2

regards

Mark Pilkington

Dutch site with all DC-2 aircraft histories listed

http://www.wimparmentier.nl/index.html

regards

Mark Pilkington

Not obvious to many in its ‘Uiver” colour scheme is the major modification undertaken to A30-11 by Australian National Airways for the RAAF in April 1942 to modify it from standard left hand passenger door to cargo door configuration for transport duties.

This modification was undertaken to replicate similar door configurations existing on 5th Airforce USAAC C-39 Aircraft serving in the South West Pacific.

in all, 3 of the 10 ex Eastern Airlines DC-2s serving in the RAAF were modified inthis way, A30-10, A30-11 and A30-14 – (A30-14 still exists today in storage with the Dutch Dakota Association)

Pics of these 3 aircraft below show:

s/n 1286 A30-11 during its restoration as “Uiver”
s/n 1372 A30-10 during wartime service
s/n 1288 A30-14 currently stored by DDA

regards

Mark Pilkington

….and as an aside can anyone explain whats going on in this photo?
http://www.uiverfoundation.org/rotary/rotary%20large/l.jpg

I’d guess this was the filming of “The Great Air Race” in the late 80s – looks like they were simulating a forced landing.

….and as an aside can anyone explain whats going on in this photo?
http://www.uiverfoundation.org/rotary/rotary%20large/l.jpg

I think the Albury City Council needs a little education regarding the historical significance of this aircraft. If they do scrap it it would be nothing more than an act of gross vandalism. Setter has posted some good recent shots of this aircraft at
http://community.webshots.com/album/257988549mtASzc
It certainly doesn’t look like it needs the attention of the scrapman.
I am sure there are folks on the forum more qualified than me but surely it can’t be too difficult to stabilise the corrosion and make it structually sound for static display. I wonder if something along the lines of a steel girder “spar” could be the answer.
Anyway I’ve sent letters to both the Albury City Council and the Border Mail Newspaper and urge our overseas friends to do likewise, maybe then they will realise there are people interested in this aircraft.
Martin Edwards

A town council with a major cultural project on their plate, with a lot of dollars to be spent on it.

“Museum facilities” Hmmm. “Major cultural icon” Hmmm. One rusting and neglected on one side, on the other… There’s an angle here, I just know it.

http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/visitors/cultural/index.htm

“Albury’s Cultural Experience.

Since the early 1950s AlburyCity has aspired to a long-held dream. To bring life, colour, movement and energy into the heart of the City and to create a place where people can meet, share and enjoy the City’s diverse cultural heritage and all that it has to offer in the visual, performing and literary arts.

That dream is now a major priority for AlburyCity Council.

The Cultural precinct project is a multi-million dollar development which will transform the heart of Albury’s Central Business District.

The precinct will comprise visual arts, performing arts, theatres, convention facilities library and museum facilities, public open spaces, restaurants and cafes, outdoor entertainment venues and the Conservatorium of Music.

This visionary project will transform the City Square bounded by Dean Olive, Swift and Kiewa Streets into a vibrant destination and through its theme of a meeting place will promote wide and diverse community use.

The first stage of the Cultural Precinct development is the building of a new Museum Library Complex.

The $10-million complex, at the corner of Kiewa and Swift Streets will see the creation of one of Australia’s first regional integrated Museum Library facilities.

Melbourne architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall have prepared the innovative designs responding well to Council’s request for a City icon.”