mark_pilkingtonBristol Freighters in Australia
Australian Freighters
A recent acquisition by the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin from the defunct Airworld Museum has removed the uncertainty over the future Mark 31M VH-ADL (intended to be returned to the UK by bidders in the Wangaratta sale process, when that sale did not proceed there was suggestions scrappers may move in). It is an ex Pakistan Airforce aircraft that played an instrumental role in the challenge to the Airline duopology that existed for many years in Australia.
http://www.aarg.com.au/freighter.htm
For many years the RAAF Museum at Point Cook has had the Mark 21E A81-1 (VH-SJG) on display at Point Cook (this aricraft flew in support of the WRE weapons trials at Woomera.
http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/raaf2/html/mk21e.htm
This brings to two the count of survivors in Australia of a total of @12 remaining world wide.
Unfortnuately the remains of Australia’s third “surviving” Freighter VH-TAB? which has sat derilict at Melbourne Airports fire training dump has finally succumbed to the scrapper.
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonCambridge – was/is? the name of the UK manufacturer, more well known for scientific/electrical laboratory or test equipment rather than aero instrumentation
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonCambridge Exhaust Gas Analyser
This instrument was built by an established Electrical instrumentation company in the UK rather than a mainstream aviation instrumentation company, the instrument works on a wheatstone bridge resistance measurement principle whereby a small sample of engine exhaust gas is injected into a gas analyser chamber in the engine compartment and changes the conductivity in an aluminium mesh chamber, the change in resistance compared to a standard arm in the “bridge” is measured on the indicating instrument, I assume it therefore measures unburnt fuel content? lean mixture etc (I cant recall the units of scale as I no longer have my examples,
Australian CAC Wirraways were fitted with such instruments in the front cockpit)
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonDave,
Yes I know John, he is Melbourne Australia based, PM me about this and I can give you his contact details
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonDave,
“A Thousand skies” has arrived in tape from to me, will let you know when yours is in the mail!
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonMyself (the young long haired, skinny one at the back) and a friend after acquiring my CAC Wackett Trainer fuselage many years ago.
(Formerly VH-AGP/A3-167)
The Wackett is currently bare bones in mjy workshop about to commence its full restoration, where-as I am not “bare bones” and am badly in need of full restoration.
If this forum and the internet remains in service long enough I would hope to post an update picture of us both where the Wackett is fully restored to original condition and so am I!
(my friend has’nt changed a bit, as all good friends do)
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonVicky,
yes it was a tight fit but I “squeezed” it on :D,
(usually the “size” problem occurs when you think the thing “should” fit on the trailer,and it doesnt!, rather than thinking it wont fit, and it will!, but I guess in this case it has proven that old myth true that “size doesnt matter”)
I had’nt realised I had a better shot of it! below
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonElliott,
“Thanks for posting. Have you got any more assuie wreck pics? ‘Poochie’ perhaps?”
Sorry, not exactly sure what a ‘Poochie’ is :confused: unless you mean as in the Bulldog? (and yes I have many more pics of that both in situ and recovered, and can post some more of those if you are interested)?
In regards to other wrecks, I have’nt been to many, I have assisted other people in parts recoveries on a Beaufort and some Battle wrecks but unfortunately I left photography to others in those days and dont have any pics of those myself.
I have found and recovered the “remains” of Wirraways, Anson, P40, Boomerang and Wacketts sold off surplus to farmers etc but in most cases the items havent been that significant “historically” to bother photographing in situ so I only have “after” recovery pics like the fuselage frame posted elsewhere here.
but I will try to put some more of the bulldog up in the next day or so.
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonJV,
The parts have suffered 60 years of oxidation from lying in the bush, and have suffered shattered spar boxes etc in any case.
I dont think the parts could/would form anything but an “as-is” display, they could only form patterns for either a static or flying rebuild.
A full size flying replica with new welded steel tube frame is underway in the USA and I suspect that will be the only way we will see a third intact “Bulldog”, and one in the air (1x MkII in RAFM, 1x MkIVA in Finnish Air Museum and the Flying Replica project).
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonnot much to hold you up there either, it sways its tail around corners, but maybe thats because the metal is bit thinner? these days!
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonDave,
Charles Darby’s RNZAF 1937 -’46 page 19 with associated pics confirms your info above that 11 ex FAA Walrus’s (or is that Walrii?) entered service between 1943 and 1944, although only 10 received RNZAF ID’s, NZ151 – NZ160, including L2222 which returned back to RNZAF as NZ151 after a brief spell with the RAAF.
Look forward to seeing a Walrus reunion one day if an airworthy NZ a/c could ever visit Point Cook’s recently restored example (we would promise to let you take it back to NZ!!)
By the Way ask Ross Ewing if he is a member of the Ewing family in the USA?
– cant he just ask “JR Ewing” to “fund” the whole damn thing (or get “Jeanie” to “blink” it back together and into the air??)
BTW A thousand Skies is located and apparantly on its way to me!
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonThe remains of the aircraft were recovered in 1993, including a complete lower starboard wing (still with silver dope fabric remanents, fuel tank, partially complete upper port wing, and remains of the other two main planes, and fuselage remanents were recovered, the bulk of the fuselage was apparantly recovered following WW2, and many other parts were scavenged by locals once fire roads were cut into the ranges and the site become a favourite picnic spot in the 1950’s.
This is the first time I have published my photos’ or details of the recovery, the story of the crash is well documented in various books, the parts have since been donated to an Australian Museum and are currently in storage, however I do not think many people would be aware of these remains or the recovery.
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkington(hmmm!! “attachment” works better when you try attaching little JPEGs rather than bloody big BitMaps!)
mark_pilkingtonCrazyMainer/Rob,
the two a/c we know of, which were taken into RAF/RAAF service in Australia are:
WW353 44-62049 s/n 11526
Arrived in Australia 23/09/52, A76-1 not taken up. Used by ARDU for Testing/trials. Storage 16/05/56. Struck off 05/09/56. Sold for scrap, 23/10/56. Scrapped Tocumwal 09/57.
WW354 44-61963 s/n 11440
Arrived in Australia 12/12/52, A76-2 not taken up. Used by ARDU for Testing/trials. Struck off 05/09/56. Sold for scrap 18/01/57. Scrapped Edinburgh 10/57.
But other sources suggest a further FOUR USAF service B-29’s were also in Australia assisting in the A Bomb Tests, and its possible Setters bare metal/balck underside piece of wing is from one of those that may have scrapped due to contamination. (The RAAF “Washington’s” were silver doped without black undersides whereas bare metal and balck undersides was very common for USAF B-29s)
In regard to A bomb tests at Woomera etc, Parnell/Boughton “Flypast” page 234 describes the two RAAF “Washingtons” being acquired and allocated along with RAAF Percival Princes and later with RAF Valiants, page 243 describes also at least 4 USAF B29s being involved including 2 tracking the radio active cloud and 2 to take air samples.
So it would be interesting if you can identify those 4 aircraft and their eventual fates? as possible sources of Setters parts here in Oz.
regards
Mark Pilkington
mark_pilkingtonPoint Cook
Setter,
totally agree with your view, many of us have been campaigning for such an outcome for a few years, we are now heading in the right direction, but we do need all Aviation Enthusiasts in Australia to get behind this and forget about state rivalry and make sure our Government follows through on this important National outcome for the sake of future generations, and in honour of past generations: (its hard to believe Australian’s played such an important role in the early trail blazing, Smith Brothers, Hawker, Hinkler, Kingsford Smith/Ulm, Taylor, Mollison, Scott yet those exploits are now unknown to most Australian’s and hardly acknowledged anywhere in our Nation?) We have lost a number of important historic aircraft to export, and while the international “market” is responsible for putting value of such things and causing many to be recovered and restored that would otherwise be still rotting into dust, a Nation should try to retain representative examples and ensure they are preserved and displayed, we cant rely on volunteers to do all this on a shoe string.
http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Baileytpl.cfm?CurrentId=3578
POINT COOK TRUST TO BE ESTABLISHED
Point Cook will be retained in public ownership with the airfield and majority of the land being leased for 49 years to a not-for-profit National Aviation Museum Trust, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey announced today.
Today’s announcement coincides with the 90th anniversary of the first flight at Point Cook in a Bristol Boxkite on 1 March 1914.
The National Aviation Museum Trust will
manage the aviation activities on the site for educational, recreational and commercial purposes;
oversee the development of a National Aviation Museum at Point Cook;
preserve the heritage buildings;
ensure the local community and veterans’ organisations are consulted.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence said the Government had decided not to proceed with the sale of Point Cook, following the need to support the RAAF College operations until its relocation and representations made by the veterans community and aviation enthusiasts.
Fran Bailey said the establishment of a Trust will ensure a bright future for Point Cook is matched by its proud history.
“For over 90 years, the Royal Australian Air Force has trained thousands of personnel at Point Cook. These airmenpersonnel fought for Australia’s freedom in two World Wars and have guarded our skies ever since. The establishment of a Trust will ensure a lasting legacy is made to these veterans,” Fran Bailey said.
“Point Cook will have a strong future providing training for aviation students, supporting recreational aviation and tourism. The Trust will also oversee the development of a National Aviation Museum concept in cooperation with the existing RAAF Museum.”
regards
Mark Pilkington
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