smiles,

TT I think you will find this is the aircraft that is about to fly in NZ that DragonFlyDH90 was chasing “Proctor 1 pilots notes” for, it is a former Australian Proctor with an early Vega Gull flat sloping windscreen fitted, and has been under restoration to fly in NZ.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=62503

regards

Mark Pilkington

I have a reproduction AP 1708C Pilot’s Notes for the Proctor III Aeroplane which was produced by Air Data Publications St Annes on Sea.

The museum library has both this same Proctor III pilot notes and Proctor V Flight Manual.

I am awaiting an email back from Leigh Giles who has a number of Percival projects and records etc, but he has previously indicated to me various minor internal differences (such as dual control or radio positions) as being the primary differences between the 3 early wartime Proctors.

regards

Mark P

to my knowledge the differences between the Proctor I, Proctor II and the Proctor III were primarily internal equipment fit out where as the Proctor IV and V is effectively a different aeroplane, the Proctor III notes would seem quite useable?, however I will make some further enquiries in the mean time with our museum library in regard to the Moorabbin Proctor I and other Proctor restorers here in Australia.

http://aarg.com.au/Proctor.htm

regards

Mark Pilkington

Oz_rb,

I will post an update regarding Point Cook later this week as things unfold, but at this stage no reversal on the Hangar evictions at this stage.

In regard to the other models the Comet is sold to someone in Sydney who will continue to fly in it competition model races, the DC-4 is still for sale at this stage. (it is fully operational with engines/retractable u/c etc. – I assume a hand set would need to be purchased? or pre-owned)

regards

Mark Pilkington

you hear rumours of rarre aircraft hidden away in a shed?…….

…..I got an email to go and look at an aircraft for sale, stored in a shed…….

……it hadn’t flown for years……..but I just had to have it!!

I will post some pics of it being dis-assembled for recovery….

Here is how it looked when I found it….

regards

Mark Pilkington

ANOTHER POINT COOK MUSTANG IS “GROUNDED”

Today the civilian tenants on the Southern Tarmac were given 30 days to vacate their Hangars by the Defence Department, while nearby Asbestos work is undertaken and their own Hangars are repaired or demolished.

No alternative accomodation is being offered either temporarily or permanently, no plans or proposals for the tenants to re-occupy the Hangars at a later date, it now appears clear that the RAAF intends to close the airfield to civilian use in the longer term.

No public consultation on the future strategy!

I understand at least 3 businesses and the local Flying Club are likely to be put out of business, and up to 35 aircraft pushed off the site, activities now in doubt include a flying school, vintage Tigermoth joyrides and the major private Warbird operators including long term (35 year) Point Cook resident Flying Mustang “A68-104” of Bob Eastgate.

A number of the Bellman Hangars being vacated are rumoured to be targetted for demolition!!

It seems “Duxford Downunder” is being FLUSHED down the drain!

regards

Mark Pilkington

Fran Bailey Parl. Sec. for Defence (February 2004)

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.”

(Don Heyward Sitrep4 April 2005 advice of TEG “progress” ) “In particular, the RAAF study may well result in a slightly different management structure than the one originally envisaged by the TEG; however, I hasten to add that we have been advised that, whatever the outcome, the original intent of the Trust will be preserved”.

(AVM McLennan Memo October 2005)
“To address the RAAF’s enduring requirement for the preservation of the RAAF Museum and the important heritage buildings and other structures at Point Cook, the Chief of Air Force has formed a RAAF Heritage Advisory Council. This Council will be responsible for providing the Chief with strategy and policy advice to engage the ongoing community interest in preserving the RAAF heritage values of Point Cook. I have the honour to be the first Chairman of the Council…………To ensure the widest possible consideration of ideas for the preservation and future development of RAAF Point Cook, the Council will be seeking proposals from individuals and organizations with an interest in the site. Once the new administrative arrangements are in place I will be contacting you again to seek your advice and proposals”.

(Teresa Gambaro November 2005 advice of future Defence Use of Point Cook)”As a further step to engage the ongoing community interests in preserving RAAF heritage at Point Cook, Chief of Air Force has decided to form a RAAF Heritage Advisory Council for Point Cook…..I consider that this arrangement will be able to address all of the issues of concern to my predecessor, the Hon Fran Bailey MP, when she sponsored the establishment of a National Aviation Museum Trust.”

682al & Doc

682al Funnily enough, I was chatting to a bloke at the War and Peace Show last week who reckoned a “friend of his” had seen such a beast in Russia only recently….

I said “Don’t you mean a Lancaster?”, and he was adamant that it is a Stirling.

Frankly, I was too hot (and hung over) to pursue it much further!

Perhaps the aircraft existing in Russia today is a copy of the 12 FTU Aircraft that was reverse engineered post war and fitted turboprops, in a similar way to the B29? rather than being the original Short built aircraft?

If in fact the one seen in Russia is found to be a Chinese made “Ster”w”ing”, rather than a Chinese made “Wancaster” it may in fact be related to the same Chinese Stirling long referred to in this forum as being found in China and intended for recovery and display at Legends?

I think therefore there is strong possibility this is indeed a rare surviving example of a post war Chinese Sterwing (or this pronounced in Chinese as “Stirring”?)

regards

Mark Pilkington