Greetings from Sydney! I am starting this thread with a small teaser. Went to a local Aircraft Museum and took this photo:
Who can tell me what aircraft this is off. (those experts on here will get this pretty quickly...............) We are going to Canberra to the Australian War Memorial Museum plus the HARS group in Albian Park (home of airworthy Constellation,DC4 etc etc) and Temora so when I get back i'll start the story. Been here since Sunday and only had one really fine day! Good for the Aussies though as its been pretty dry here. Had a news report showing flowers blooming in the outback for the first time in years. Been a 10 year drought!! Spied a Beaver while at the Sydney Zoo (yeah couldn't help but look to see what was making that lovely noise......... : Hope you lot are getting on without me ;D
The Auster should be recognised for what it is: a gentleman's aerial touring carriage and a nice aeroplane.
Baz, while you're there, see if you can discover the property where the ex Bankstown DC3's have ben moved to. Can't be too far away. A chocolate fish if you can negotiate me a cockpit section.
Whoop whoop intruder alert intruder alert!!!!I was wondering when I took those Otter photos ;D (Of course this won't make sense when the photos get moved but comedy cannot be restrained by little details ;D)
Peter I'll try to get back in touch with the Bankstown guys before I head North. They have 2 Dakotas and one is from the auction. Wish I'd read this earlier as I was on my second visit there yesterday!! Off to Temora tomorrow then try to visit the HARS museum at Albion Park before we leave NSW. Got a heap of photos so I think I'll be spending a lot of time on here feeding you guys aircraft porn!! (Even got a 748 for you Shorty ;D) Take care lads and will update again shortly.
The Auster should be recognised for what it is: a gentleman's aerial touring carriage and a nice aeroplane.
Greetings all. I am typing this on my parents PC which has a dialup connection. man its so slow! Anyway this is our last morning in Aussie and will be winging our way home on an A320 arriving midnight(in case some of you wish to greet us with a welcome home banner ;D) Then the mammoth task begins sorting all the photos into some order!! Fortunately Teresa has got each museum in its own seperate folder so I just have to weave them into my commentary (witty and informative it will be!)
EDIT: Right on with the show! Our first port of call was the Bankstown Aviation Museum at (funnily enough) Bankstown Airport south of Sydney. Only a 20 minute drive from where we were staying (Liverpool) with Teresa's brother and his wife to be Skye. Now we did two trips to this Museum as old clever clogs here didn't check the website and find out the times they were open and closing. We arrived at 3pm and they closed at 4pm!! Lucky for me I chose the only weekday (Wednesday) they are open to visit too!! They are also open Saturdays hours are 10am til 4pm. So when I upload the other photos you will see there is more to see than whats in the hangar. Just as well as it was raining outdoors. I think we got two totally fine hot days the 10 days we were in Sydney/New South Wales! I apologize for the camera shake in some of the photos but we only had the little digital camera and it could be a pain to keep nice and still! So the biggest (and fastest) exhibit in the hangar was this RAAF Mirage.
Apparently this one had a missile motor (wasn't a live one) explode causing enough damage for the RAAF to sell it. The story goes (as told to me by a guide there) that when the Aussies Government sold the Mirages to Malaysia (I think?) they were one short. Upon being told about the disposal they asked for it back. They were told no and so here she sits!
A very Australian aircraft was the DeHavilland Drover based on the Dove and they have a very nice one here. The drover originally had 3 Gypsy major engines (even then not the swiftest aircraft!) but some were modified with more modern Lycoming 0-360 engines (as this one has been)
And an interior shot:
The fuselage of a DH60 Moth on floats is resident and rather than have me prattle on you can read the Information board!
Some parts of a Mosquito are displayed (found another bit outside on the second visit) including the cockpit frame at the top of the thread. First a Merlin:
With an Allison for company:
Lower engine cowling and radiator with Merlin Cylinder Heads on the trolley beside them:
Another view of the Canopy :
Loving engines as I do my eyes were drawn to this Pratt and Whitney R2000 or 1830. Not quite sure which one it is as its partly dismantled and I didn't want to start lifting off the covers. There was no one round at the time to ask either. (And when there was I forgot to ask :
But I DO know this is a R2000 as it says so on the board resting on it. These engines powered the Caribou amongst others.
There were a few microlights or ultralights on display as well. Not really my cup of tea but there will be someone on here who would like to see them:
There are a few homebuilts too:
And even something for Zac. Not a topdresser as displayed but certainly as a type. And the name of it escapes me (Transavia Airtruck?):
Parked near the front is this Dove/Devon with the engines complete with props by the front door as you went in. Looks to be an ex-RAF or Royal Navy example.
I did ask if they wanted to part with the engines and props as I know a certain Devon down Ashburton way might like them. I got a polite laugh and that ended that.
They also have a Wessex (or whatever the civilian designation is for one of these) used by a farmer until the operating costs (and the size) led him to get something more modern and smaller.
They also have replicas of a Fokker Triplane and a Se5A:
Right thats one Museum visit down. Our second visit here with some larger metal will be next. followed by Canberra"s War Memorial Museum, Temora, the Gold Coast War Museum and finally the Queensland Air Museum.
Great Photos Baz62 all are very awesome thanks for taking the time to share them all - cheers.
They also have a Wessex (or whatever the civilian designation is for one of these) used by a farmer until the operating costs (and the size) led him to get something more modern and smaller.
By the looks of your Pic VH-ORA is a Sikorsky S55 whirlwind
Ah ha thats what she is. Thanks for that ykato! Rightyho on with the show. After Teresa's Mum and Step-Dad were in-country we took them to Bankstown on a much nicer day(Saturday) and this time the hangar door was open and we could go and look at the airframes outside. Looming in the doorway was this Dakota:
Obviously these airframes are a work in progress. Because they are going to be moving to another location they aren't getting too carried away assembling everything as there is no point putting the wings on a Dakota if you are just going to have to pull them off again!
They actually have 2 Dakotas and for some reason each has one engine off. They have 2 more complete engines and props which came from an RAAF training school I believe.
I think its a Tomahawk in the foreground?
Close up of the logo on the engine cowling.
Teresa and her Mum NOT looking at the aircraft treasures!! Probably gas bagging about the upcoming wedding we were attending the next day!
Another fine DH product. A Heron:
Like the Drover this has been modified to take Lycomings in place of the original Gypsy Queens.
Heres another couple of shots of the Devon:
Now why I hear you ask have I got a dismantled hangar photo? Because this is the original hangar used by Sir Kingsford Smith. Now thats historic!
The father in law had the right idea! A Scottish Twin Pioneer behind him.
Here you go Shorty one HS 748! (Thats the one behind Teresa ;D) Apparently the prop on this side is actually a Friendship one.
It flew with the RAN (Royal Australian Navy) and I'm sure I saw one at Wigram once, a Navy one not a RAAF one. Be cool if it was this one!
We got to go inside this one, glad I wore an appropriate Tshirt thats day!
Now heres something you don't see everyday. A Mig 15 2 seater. This aircraft is quite complete and while under different ownership even had the engine run.
Not sure what this is. Piaggio? Looks like it should be in space!
Finally a nacelle from a Mosquito, its upside down and its where the undercarriage folds into with the engine firewall on the right.
One of the guides (Bob I think his name was) took us round the back and we saw some of the Boeing 747 sets used in Mission Impossible (2 or 3). There was also the nose radomes off a C130 and a Boeing 707 (ex RAAF VIP) As you can see we got a bit better with the camera! Next set of photos will be the Australian War Memorial Museum in Canberra. Bye for now.
The Auster should be recognised for what it is: a gentleman's aerial touring carriage and a nice aeroplane.
Now we took a drive to Canberra, approx 2 hours drive so spent most for the day on this expedition. Australians can be very proud as this Museum does a superb job in detailing the conflicts Australia has been involved in and displaying artifacts. Here I am near the steps leading into the Museum with the Parliament Building off in the distance.
Near by is this statue depicting Simpson and his Donkey. This medic carried many wounded back to safety on his donkey. Sadly he was killed but a New Zealander (Henderson)who was helping him took over the role.
I also found this impressive weapon (ahem ahem) ;D
It was from the No 2 turret on HMAS Australia and had been removed for repairs . Although the ship was heavily damaged during the war she survived it until being broke up around 1956. (Thanks Yak2!!) This next shot is the central section of the Museum and I found it quite sobering. The doorway in the far background is the entrance to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier containing the remains of a World War 1 Australian serviceman. It was very quiet and quite humbling and both Teresa and I found ourselves whispering. A little boy went to walk on the gravestone only to be whisked back by his father who obviously knew how wrong THAT would have been. Teresa reminded me to remove my hat!
And of course the lists of all the Australians lost in all the wars including the Iraq and Afghan conflicts. On the WW2 side the losses were recorded by unit (say Navy and the ship) even the RNZAF had an Australian loss (can't recall the number) Their names are recorded in the alcoves either side of the eternal flame memorial, WW 1 to the left and WW2 and later to the right.
Quite chilling to see space for more names to be recorded under Iraq and Afghanistan in the last shot.
And the eternal flame:
Since I'm mainly interested in aircraft the majority of the photos are of them. But I know you lot like other things as well so took a few things other than aircraft (at great restraint I should add) There are lots of very detailed dioramas including this one showing the Grand Harbour at Malta: I love the way they blended the background in including this Stuka who has lost his wing!
In the WW2 section I found a clever use for the Jeep.
A nice example of a Kubelwagon(??) as used by the Afrika Korps. Wonder if it came from the showroom floor with the extras inside?
Here's Teresa studying the displays about Tobruk
Here you go Lumpy a BMW motorbike!
Complete with sidecar. For some reason I was humming the theme from the Raiders of the Last Ark!!
This is a German 20MM anti aircraft gun.
These two photos are of artifacts recovered from Hiroshima after the Atomic Bomb attack.
In this shot the object in the rear was a cup and saucer but the cup melted!
On this table the Japanese signed their surrender of Singapore.
This boat was used to land Australian troops at Gallipoli.
And a nice touch for the ANZAC spirit formed at Gallipoli two soldiers side by side one from Australia and one from New Zealand.
Right then on with the aeroplanes. The big thrill for me was seeing Lancaster G for George. We also watched the audio visual display which was very impressive which you can see being played in the background.
This is a shot taken looking forward and underneath the starboard outer engine and you can see the radiator visible through the open cooler door.
Pointing its nose at the Lancaster was this Me109G still wearing its WW2 paint.
During the audiovisual show the guns in the nose flashed as if a nightfighter was attacking the Lancaster.
The Rear Turret turned as if to fire at the 109.
In a small alcove was a Me163 and this Me262 also wearing original paint.
Over the far side was another aircraft hall and audio visual display with a Se5a hanging before the screen. I watched the "movie" that was displayed showing the most incredible dogfight scenes and was trying to figure out what movie it was from. I should have guessed as I thought I recognised some of the Triplane markings. This was a small movie put together by Peter Jackson for the Museum. I tell you what I would LOVE him to make a full length version, it was fantastic. On the floor was this Avro 504K
An Albatross which was used as a template for the one that flies here now. It was scanned into a computer using a laser. Thats right a frikin laser!
I think this is a Fokker D7.
Also in the WW2 hall was a real V1 with a scorch mark on the side which was as found. (Obviously it wasn't sent off on its mission)
Not the easiest aircraft to photograph due to its position but here's the Australian built Mosquito!
Note 6 exhaust stacks instead of the usual 5 (the last one was a 2 into 1)
The last Australian Mosquito built? Isn't the MoTat one Australian built?
And a P40 Kittyhawk
And overhead the famous Zero
On display was the engine and prop of a RAAF Hudson
And yet another one but not sure if it was the same aircraft as it was in a different part of the museum. Front:
and rear, you can just see the supercharger impellor:
The nose of an Avro Anson with cockpit complete.
This Wirraway (a license-built version of the T6 Harvard) is more than an example of a famous aircraft as this one actually managed to shoot down a Zero (postwar records show this was actually an Oscar but still a great feat!) Probably due to a lack of room she is displayed wheels up and with one wing removed but a nice touch was having the access panels removed on one side.
And a very shiny CAC Mustang!
Under the Mustang was this beauty, a FB.II Hawker Sea Fury as used by the Royal Australian Navy.
I quite like this shot
And to top off the WW2 aircraft we have a MKIIa Spitfire again still in its wartime paint.
Postwar aircraft are also on display like the Sea Fury there is this fuselage of a Mig 15 (sorry its a bit dark............maybe it was a night fighter ;D)
And the cockpit of the RAAF Meteor fighter/bomber used in Korea
The Vietnam section had this audio visual display. Over the sound of the Iroqouis was the sound of battle and radio calls and if you stood by the aircraft you had a blast of air from above as if the rotor was spinning.
And from one wall a nose profile familiar to us, a Canberra.
And a few items from the Iraq conflict A sea mine
A GOLD plated AK47!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I hope that was of interest to you all. Next will be Temora!
Great photo essay Baz. One minor point re HMAS Australia. Although it suffered considerable battle damage, the ship survived WW2 and was eventually scrapped around 1956. The AWM also has an annexe (Treloar Centre) which visitors can tour. Lotsa interesting stuff in storeage. From memory Corsair67 did a report for the forum some time back.
Great photo essay Baz. One minor point re HMAS Australia. Although it suffered considerable battle damage, the ship survived WW2 and was eventually scrapped around 1956. The AWM also has an annexe (Treloar Centre) which visitors can tour. Lotsa interesting stuff in storeage. From memory Corsair67 did a report for the forum some time back.
Ahh thanks for that correction Rob, I'll go and fix that right now. I also forgot to mention they have the bridge from a retired frigate outside but which you can enter from inside the Museum. Not sure we took any photos (sorry navy fans!) Because we ran short of time there was a few things we didn't have time to look through so I recommend visiting twice!
The Auster should be recognised for what it is: a gentleman's aerial touring carriage and a nice aeroplane.
That gun may have been removed from HMAS Sydney during a refit Baz, rather than HMAS Australia. The Sydney was lost in a battle off the WA coast with a German raider, and the wreck was only recently found.