More of James and Johns Excellent Adventure!!!

T-6, CHECK
WIRRA, CHECK
BEECH 18, CHECK

WOO HOO!

TT

Hi Ron

John, the Mosquito is news to me. I know we have a few bits and pieces but nothing substantial that could be described as “a Mosquito”. I have to think that it was another organisation. (Considering that several years back some fellow imported a Dove into the country under our name I suppose anything is possible!)

Well as I went through the Caboolture mob recently and they have a Narromine 4 Blade Merlin engine on display perhaps I got confused – whoever it was got a pretty complete set of metal and a wing – All the cockpit and instruments went with it. I was at the time negoiating to buy her and was a bit nonplussed when she went but thought she went to a good home!!! Be nice to find all that stuff now !!

As for the Venturas, we are always interested but we went down this road several years ago and we found that the owners have a very well defined wants list for which the Venturas are trading stock. Please let me know if circumstances have changed.

Not the SAAFM ones but the two plus parts at Kruger wildlife park – just sitting there really looking for new homes – The SAAFM ones will I imagine come up with more reasonable conditions eventually as they are not being mobbed with Swap offers ?

On the subject of government support (or lack thereof) for QAM I must state for the record that state and local governments have always been very helpful but the Commonwealth govt just won’t lift a finger to help. Despite 30 years in the game I’m still at a loss to understand why it has to be that way.

As a Director in the State Government I am please to hear we are helping

As a former Senior executive in the Commonwealth Govt I am not surprised !!!

What about that Coffee / Drink !

Kindest regards
john P

James & John

Thanks for your further kind words.

John, the Mosquito is news to me. I know we have a few bits and pieces but nothing substantial that could be described as “a Mosquito”. I have to think that it was another organisation. (Considering that several years back some fellow imported a Dove into the country under our name I suppose anything is possible!)

As for the Venturas, we are always interested but we went down this road several years ago and we found that the owners have a very well defined wants list for which the Venturas are trading stock. Please let me know if circumstances have changed.

On the subject of government support (or lack thereof) for QAM I must state for the record that state and local governments have always been very helpful but the Commonwealth govt just won’t lift a finger to help. Despite 30 years in the game I’m still at a loss to understand why it has to be that way.

Hi Ron

It’s a cracking museum – especially considering the Government contribution you haven’t had!

I try to push your cause in all forums when I get the chance – let me know next time you are over Paddo way and we can have a coffee

As an aside many years ago I was living at Narromine and a Mosquito on a property called the Angle was collected by your museum and I have never heard any more about it – do you recall this and if so does the museum still have some Mossie remains ?

PS I still have access to the South African Venturas and parts if you are interested.

Regards
John P

Hi Ron,
Likewise I’m sorry we didn’t hook up. There will be a next time. I’d like to add that the QAM could well be held up as an example of what a non-national collection can do – it is clear to see that progress has been made, is being made, and that a plan is being followed; unlike some collections discussed here.

Your points are all too poignant!

Cheers

James & John

Sorry our paths didn’t cross during your excellent tour of SEQ. Your kind words about the QAM are much appreciated. We’ve come a long way in 30 years but we are the first to admit that there’s still a lot to be done.

The mystery cockpit is Meteor TT20 WD647 which, I like to point out to visitors, was a gift from the British Ministry of Defence in 1975. Sometimes this prompts visitors to ask which aeroplane(s) had been contributed by our own government. Sadly I have to point out that there isn’t one.

Your photos of the “Southern Cross” remind me that I recently heard from a retired policeman who was present at the unveiling of the new building which now houses the “Old Bus”. He tells me that he overheard someone, who he described as “an architect”, express his regrets that such a fine new building should be wasted on such an old aeroplane! Presumably the fool thought it should be used to display a new aeroplane.

Last but certainly not least was a visit to ‘The Old Bus’ Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s Fokker Trimotor. This amazing aircraft set a bunch of world recordsand is a saliatary reminder to those of us who can take international travel for granted. It’s in a air conditioned glass box, and for those others of us that think aircraft preservation is easy or cheap, I include a photo of the kit that does this job.

A great time, and a big ‘Thank You’ to Setter for putting myself & Mrs JDK up in Brisvegas and taking us about the Queensland sights.

Now, where’s the next old aeroplane event?

It’s not just about aircraft – so assuming that some of our viewers like all things-that-go other than just liking flying-things (and for those that are totally dedicated) we present some aviation related marine stuff.

First up is the only surviving German W.W.I operational tank ‘Mephisto’ in the Queensland Museum. It’s a fascinating exhibit, with an intriguing history and is almost unphotographable in a glass box.

Second is HMAS Diamantina, the only surviving River Class Frigate in the world. Just squeezing into the end of W.W.II she’s a very impressive exhibit and centrepiece of the Queensland Maritime Museum. Devoid of many of the items from her upperworks (stashed ready to go on in due course) you can tour over the whole ship, including the engine room full of cool brass dials and up n’ down & round n’ round stuff.

Back in the gallery, there was a deap sea diver’s air pump just like in the Tintin adventure Red Rackham’s Treasure. Even more cool.

The racing dinghy is an example of Linton Hope construction. “So what!” I hear from the cheap seats. Well, Linton Hope construction methods were used by a number of marine aircrtaft designers, in particular Saro and Supermarine. Another fine example of this build method is a certain award winning Supermarine Southampton in the RAF Museum.

Many of us have heard of the exploits of the Cockleshell heroes. Their exploits were matched in S E Asia using boats like this folding dinghy set from the ship ‘Krait’ now preserved in Sydney. Google for more.

Finally, many aeronautical terms come from the world of the nautical – two being the term ‘rigger’ and the measure ‘knots’ as taken by a ‘ship’s log’ seen here. As we know, the term ‘log’ changed from the item towed astern to measure distance covered and time elapsed (thus speed) to mean where the information about the ship (or aircraft) was kept, rather than the measuring device itself.

Still, I think it’s all very interesting and beats working. 😀

The Forum is always with you.

We saw a classy restaurant clearly owned by our good friend Snapper.

Though apparently at Reno, Steve Patterson was also trying to avoid becoming catmeat on Setter’s deck.

we also visited Archerfield, on what proved to be a wild goose and duck hunt. We looked for the duck, and eventually found him, though Oscar was hardly wild and we had a good chat. The Goose, of Grumman flavour, proved more elusive, and when I’d checked ALL the alleys and corners, and was starting to look under manhole covers, John suggested it was time to go home. Rats. I hate to miss a seaplane. (John, I’m sure, will now post a pic to show what I missed…)

Favourite signs on the trip were ‘Wright Bros Caravans’ by Cubulture airfield (don’t sell the bike shop Orville), ‘Tropical Fruit & Vegetable World – Next Left’ (Wasn’t hard to go streight on, though they did try to tease us with a roadside giant(ish) avocado) and something I’ve clearly erased from my memory about Chickens.

There were a few Tweed signs too.

In the Flying Fighters Museum at Archerfield there was a host of interesting machines. Just a few intriguing photos.

Anyone want to see more, or something in the background, just ask.

Onto the Queensland Air Museum.

They are extending their cover – good for them – because it gets very HOT here. It was quite warm when were were there. That’s John taking a photo. I dunno, he only took 500. Hardly trying really.

The GAF Nomad shows the state of some of their aircraft ‘as recieved’. However, when you consider that the CAC Sabre had been blown up twice, including by a Claymore land mine (in training, since you ask) it shows what they can do. Nice Dove and a very old DC-3.

International Model Aircraft (who also made the FROG kits) made the target hanging from the roof, while back in the main hangar was a fuselage of a DHA Drover of the Royal Flying Docter Service, dealing with a “look my arm’s come off” case.

Finally, what’s the cockpit from?

Thanks Mark.

I was getting all confused, and confused tweed sure does your eyes in. It’s a kind of tartan.

Well, here’s a couple of pics from Cubulture. A prop, claining to be off a – well you tell me! Wirraways, and the CAC badge on the engine, a Demon frame hanging on the wall, the Snifter badge on the Mustang, and a training aircraft ‘frame’. Wonder what that was for?

The gunsight (in John’s collection) is an Aussie made one for turret use. Anyone know how common / rare they are? I’d like to believe it’s the same model as used in the Defiant – again anyone know?

Merger

JDK and Setter threads merged at JDK request.

Mark

Hi Dave

Thanks

Quite right too – I had forgotten that one – It has been a wonderful year for old aircraft – I have seen an awful lot of them and have the Pics to prove it !!! Actually seen 4 Dragons now I think about it

Regards
John P

No, you’ve seen two Dragons – remember Stan Smith has one at Dairy Flat too. I know what you mean though.

I had seen RIAMA in photos before but yours really shows it off in that sunlight. Do you know the significnce of the name? Sounds Maori.

Hi Dave she is indeed very nice and very well cared for and a bit different from the ever present Rapides – not that I don’t like them too but I have seen 10 of them this year and only one Dragon.

Regards
John p

PS yes we can go and look at it

That Dragon is simply gorgeous!

More of James and Johns Excellent Adventure!!!

Hi

JDK and I continued our recent aircraft adventures with a visit to Beautiful Caboolture airstrip north of “Bris Vegas” (Brisbane) where I live – A real little treasure cave it is with some great Warbirds and classic aircraft

The link to Webshots is here and it is the last Album in the list – There is a very nice CAC P51 , Some flying Wirraways a Winjeel and a beautiful DH Dragon. Yes they nearly all fly except the MiG 17 and the Demon (Airworthy slow motion restoration)

http://community.webshots.com/user/setter126007

Some samples

Kindest regards
John P

Kermit has one in Florida. Any relation to the Tutor?

Hi Nick. Not really. The Avro 626 and Tutor share a similar size & layout, but the Cadet is smaller all round and a differennt shape to the wings, tail etc.

Poignant!

Thanks for posting James, I certainly did enjoy! Did you by chance take any more pix of the wreckage of “Southern Cross Minor” ?

The Molesworth Avtar is ‘cos of my spellink. 😀

Yes, I do. I’ll post some later today.

What is a 1968 Fokker part doing in a WWII Beaufort??

Heh. I wondered if people were paying attention. It is a stamp on a metal press tool thingy. 😉

Wouldn’t be the direction to the restrooms would it?

You’d be surprised. We didn’t spot this rest stop due to it’s camoflage at first…

More later…

What’s the story with the Fokker data plate in regard to the Beaufort?

I was going to ask the same thing? What is a 1968 Fokker part doing in a WWII Beaufort??

Enlighten us please!

Wouldn’t be the direction to the restrooms would it? :rolleyes: