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25.01.2022 another locally-built Sabre . . . A94-983, ain 27-83 when still in use with the R.A.A.F. . . . it was regd as VH-PCM on 02 May 1988 : recorded on 02 November 1986 at East Sale, Vic.

24.01.2022 a rare bird . . . Gloster Meteor U.21 WK879, owned by the U.K. Ministry of Supply . . . built as a standard F.8 model, it was DEL on 28 January 1953 . . . CONV 15 September 1960, and shot down over the Woomera Range on 06 December 1963 : this image recorded c. May 1962 at Banksown, N.S.W. after mods. at the Fairey-Clyde workshops - note form serial number takes

22.01.2022 now in the R.A.N. Museum, here is a view of the Bell 205A Iroquois N9-3101 . . . airframe 3101, built as a UH-1C-BE s/n 64-17621 . . . recorded 04 November 1968 at Nowra, N.S.W.

22.01.2022 over the years many and varied were the visiting aircraft that passed through Essendon Airport . . . this Boeing 345-2 RB-50F-BN 47-0146, ain 15830 was one such - it was one of three of the type undertaking the official survey of the Papua-New Guines border for the United Nations, and had come down for T.A.A. to do some maintenance on an engine : recorded on 14 September 1963 outside the T.A.A. hangars at Essendon, Vic.

22.01.2022 and now for a few items from the air display held on 14 March 1965 at Swan Hill, Vic. up on the north-western border . . . there a number of us (recovering from the previous night in the bridal suite of the Planet Motel - do NOT ask!) had an "open go" during the display, and recorded a great many interesting images, many of which were of aircraft now long departed this life! first-up is the DH-82A Tiger Moth airframe 1014, the former VH-GME and A17-579 . . . had been regd in January 1961, as was i n use until as recently as 27 January 2012, when it was written off in a crash at Maryborough, Vic. [p1234-0670]

21.01.2022 some examples of the Mighty Tiger Moth! . . . an English-built example, VH-CFA was originally A17-11, then Instr.#1 before becoming VH-RIN for a brief period from 17 April 1959, until 30 June 1960 when it went to Civil Flying School - hence the VH-CF . . . on 20 June 1963 it became VH-DBE . . .

21.01.2022 something a little older now - and a glorious sight to see! . . . this view of the C-47A-50-DL VH-ANT, ain 10078, the former 42-24216 : regd 13 March 1946 to Australian National Airways and named "Wandana" - SOR 11 August 1968 after sale as XW-TDK : recorded 29 September 1959 at Essendon, Vic.

20.01.2022 yet another quite rare bird, a Fairchild 24R-9, ain 416 . . . imported pre-War as VH-ACV, it saw impressment as A36-1, then postWar return to VH-ACV . . . after a problem with spares for the Ranger engine, it was fitted with a Warner radial and re-regd as VH-BVF on 06 July 1956 . . . seen here on 06 June 1961 at Moorabbin V. in a nice mid-blue-and-white scheme . . . SOR 21 October 1971 as WFS . . . it was rebuilt and is current as VH-JCG (from 11 December 2000) with John Gallagher . . .

20.01.2022 and always a delight to the eye - DH-82A Tiger Moth VH-CJW, ain 812 . . . formerly VH-VJW, A17-772 (DX755) . . . regd 26 July 1950 and still on the current register : recorded on 06 December 1975 at Point Cook, Vic.

19.01.2022 an unusual sight! . . . Convair 440-61 Metropolitan VH-BZN, ain 449 in full Airlines of South Australia markings . . . former N8445H, regd 06 December 1957 - CANX 27 April 1973 after sale as N103KA : recorded 05 October 1969 at Bathurst, N.S.W.

18.01.2022 one of the earliest executive jets in Oz . . . Grumman G.159 Gulstream VH-ASJ, ain 52 and formerly N752G, N852GA . . . it was red on 09 September 1960 to "Associated Airlines" (B.H.P.s private airline!) and this view was recorded at Essendon V. on 24 August 1963 . . . it remained in use until SOR on 12 April 1983, when it was CANX after sale to N3858H

18.01.2022 the next 3 Tigers are of Australian construction . . . the first is ain 803, built as A17-653 - it became VH-AJV, then VH-TWC before finally as VH-DCW on 24 December 1962 . . . it was owned for many years by G.P.Evans at Coonabarabran, NSW where this image was recorded on 28 October 1968 - it crashed on 21 April 1971 nr. Baradine, N.S.W. and was cancelled on 20 June 1972. **airframe 861 was built as DX829, but became A17-631 and later Instr. #15 . . . it became VH-DFJ... on 25 March 1958 and this image was recorded at Berwick, Vic. on 23 February 1975; it remains current, regd to Borg Sorensen at Wheelers Hill, Vic. **airframe 1028 was built as A17-593, and later to Inst. 17 . . . it was regd as VH-CDM on 07 September 1960, and is current with T.P.Brownridge at Woodside, S.A. - this image recorded at Orange, N.S.W. on 05 February 1966. See more

17.01.2022 a rare sight . . . C.A.C. CA-15, ain 1054 A62-1001 instrument panel . . . recorded 1945 at Fishermens Bend, Vic.

17.01.2022 a Winjeel is a Winjeel is a Winjeel . . . C.A.C. CA-25 Winjeel ain 25-18 : REC 28 March 1956 - WFS 02 December 1977 : to A.A.R.G. xx May 1979 : image recorded 03 October 1976 at Point Cook, Vic.

17.01.2022 last for today is this rather forlorn image of the 3rd-last C.A.C.-built Mustang mk.22 A68-198, ain 1523 : owned by Fawcett Aviation with the intention of registering as a target-tug, it sat around for some time and was eventually sold in the U.S. of A., becoming N65198 : recorded on 11 April 1964 at Bankstown, N.S.W.

14.01.2022 time to add a few more aero-images . . . first up is a view of the DH-84A Dragon VH-AGC, ain 2045 and formerly VH-FDA, VH-ASO & A34-56 . . . it was regd on 07 August 1956, and SOR on 15 December 1979 after crashing at Point Cook, V. on 13 December 1979 . . . this view on 01 November 1968 @ Rutherford, NSW

14.01.2022 another airliner, but from a later time - Boeing 727-77 ain 20370, VH-RMT when operated by Ansett Airlines of Australia : regd 09 July 1970, it was SOR on 11 August 1976 after sale to C2-RN4 : recorded on 14 April 1974 at Tullamarine, Vic.

13.01.2022 next up is the spectacular airframe 469, the former A50-34 and S-33, when in use as VH-AHD . . . regd on 30 October 1946, it was eventually canx on 21 December 1981 when the regn lapsed . . . this image on 09 May 1964, nr. Jerilderie, N.S.W., on owner Val Chapmans property : after storage and a rebuild, it was re-regd as VH-AED on 19 August 2002 [p6595-0027]

13.01.2022 latterly there has been a few items on FaceBook in regard to the three Vickers Wellesleys flown out to Oz in late 1938, these being L2638, L2639 & L2680 . . . I enclose a few images and notes . . first up is L2638, recorded in November 1938 at Richmond, N.S.W. . . .

11.01.2022 a few more images to enthrall viewers . . . starting off today with one of the early production Sabres . . . A94-921, a mk.31 ain 27-21 : REC 27 June 1955 - WFS 19 July 1965 and CTC by September 1965 : recorded on 14 September 1963 at Laverton, Vic. in No.2 O.C.U. markings

11.01.2022 a rare bird . . . for a great number of years the only Cessna 195 in Oz, ain 7519 - the former N9341A - was regd as VH-BVD on 15 February 1957 . . . this view on 09 February 1964 @ Bankstown NSW and it is still current with E.M.Shipton

09.01.2022 the elegant and stylish Ryan ST-M2 type has long been a fascination of mine . . . and having dug out half-a-dozen odd images of the type, I am now placing them on this site . . . first up is airframe 459, the former A50-11 and S-23, when in use as VH-AGD . . . regd on 02 May 1945, it was written-off in a crash on 15 October 1967 at Mildura, Vic. . . . this image recorded on 09 March 1961 at Moorabbin, Vic. when owned by D.E.Bowd [p6595-0004]

09.01.2022 and here is a genuine C-47-DL, ain 6010, recorded on 27 December 1966 @ Essendon, V. . . . it was formerly VH-GAJ, VH-ANS, VHC-DH & 41-18649, and was regd on 25 January 1960 . . . it was SOR on 18 November 1968, then BU & SCR a short while later at Essendon, V.

08.01.2022 Wellesley L2638 had the misfortune to force-land in a field of tomatoes out near Windsor, N.S.W. on 28 November 1938, and is seen here after dismantling and return to Richmond . . . it was later transferred to the Melbourne Showgrounds, No. 1 Engineering School, as an Instructional Airframe

08.01.2022 also quite rare . . . airframe 464, formerly A50-4 and S-28, when briefly regd as VH-ARR between 13 July 1946, and when it was changed to VH-BNG on 26 November 1948 . . . this image on 19 October 1946 on Belmont Common, Vic. [p6595-0019]

08.01.2022 and then there is the beautiful sight of a Mosquito . . . A52-89, ain 3089 - an FB.40 variant built at Bankstown : recorded on an unknown date probably at Laverton, Vic.

05.01.2022 the D.C.A. modernised in the late 1950s/early 1960s . . . and VH-CAY was one of a pair of Commander 680Es acquired - ain 815-76 and formerly N8497C, it was regd on 15 February 1960 . . . it was SOR on 14 July 1988, when it CR & BIF nr. Currie, King Island, Tas. . . . this view 31 March 1962 at Bankstown, NSW.

04.01.2022 we were lucky to see 3 of these Ryan ST-M2s on that day . . . this is airframe 469, the former A50-34 and S-33, when in use as VH-AHD . . . regd on 30 October 1946, it was eventually canx on 21 December 1981 when the regn lapsed : after storage and a rebuild, it was returned to the register as VH-AED on 19 August 2002 [p6595-0072]

04.01.2022 always a sight to stop one . . . DH-89B Dragon Rapide VH-IAN, ain 6655 . . . formerly ZK-ALB, NZ527 & HG656 . . . regd 02 August 1974 to Ken Orrman - RC 04 June 1999 to VH-UTV : image recorded 30 October 1977 at Penfield, Vic.

04.01.2022 not something one would normally see! . . . airframe 450, formerly A50-7 and S14, as VH-AHF . . . regd on 06 August 1947, it was canx on 15 July 1955 as withdrawn from use . . . it is seen here in the main street of Ballina, N.S.W. on an unknown date [p6595-0100]

04.01.2022 in all-over white with an emerald-green trim . . . airframe 475, formerly A50-9 and S-39, when in use as VH-AGR . . . the 2nd of 3 of the type to bear that regn, it was regd on 06 February 1955, and was canx on 14 November 1975 - fate unknown . . . image in the late 1950s at Bankstown, N.S.W. [p6595-0025]

04.01.2022 VH-DBB, one of the rarer Mustangs . . . former A68-193, regd on 12 December 1969 . . . recorded here on 24 January 1970 in the hangar at Moorabbin - owner Don Busch between mainj-wheels . . . he was killed in this when it crashed and was destroyed on 15 February 1970 at Bendigo, Vic.

03.01.2022 here is one of the more elegant types to grace Oz . . . an Aero 145, ain 20.001 . . . ? = 1961 at Bankstown, NSW . . . was added to our register as VH-DUH on 20 December 1960 and is still on - with the Old Aero Club P/L. at Woollongong, NSW

03.01.2022 ever-present at these shows were many examples of the mighty Auster tribe! . . . here is VH-KAS, airframe 2918, a model J.5B Autocar without previous identity . . . had been regd on 27 July 1951 . . . and is still on the current register [p0468-0287]

03.01.2022 here is CA-8 Wirraway II A20-367 at Deniliquin, NSW late in 1945 - R.A.A.F. photographer Stan Hodgson in foreground . . .

03.01.2022 this one is a rare bird . . . airframe 454, formerly VH-AGU, A50-27 & S-51, when in use as VH-WEB . . . regd on 27 June 1957, it was crashed and destroyed on 06 April 1961 nr. Taree, N.S.W. . . . this image recorded on 18 April 1958 at Canberra, when owned by W.E.Brown [p6595-0001]

01.01.2022 next, a unique item indeed . . . an S.I.A.I. FN.333 Riviera, airframe 0101 and formerly I-SAIO . . . a demonstrator, this had been regd on 04 September 1964 . . . after a 20-year gap in regn (24 October 1980 - 11 July 200), it is currently regd [p6812-0004]