Cairns Aviation (bonus warbirds)
Jun 22, 2021 11:50:32 GMT 12
Dave Homewood, ZacYates, and 3 more like this
Post by planecrazy on Jun 22, 2021 11:50:32 GMT 12
Up in Cairns for a winter holiday with my family, they put up with my aviation
interest and allow me to persue my interest/obsession, thanks girls!
Along the cities foreshore is a monument to the Catalinas that operated
from the area during WW II. Over three thousand operational missions
commenced from Cairns.
There are a few Helicopters doing scenic flights out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Warbirds and vintage stuff are more “my cup-of-tea” around an hour drive west
up to the Atherton Tablelands you will find a small town called Maareba. On the
outskirts heading south at the local airstrip you will find North Queensland Warbirds.
As is probably known to some they have a Corsair very close to flying, on the day
of our visit she was covered in plastic having her tail markings applied.
This machine is a combat veteran flying missions off the aircraft carrier Intrepid
and flew operations over Okinawa with the Grim Reapers Squadron.
When first purchased from a museum in the States the main spar had been cut
so she could fit against a wall. Unable to source a replacement a new spar was
made. A complex “W” shaped single piece of alloy this has to be heated then bent
to shape! That is the spar in behind the plumbing behind the engine.
Another part getting some attention the complex main wheels disc brakes
were creating a bit of head scratching.
Looking like a piece of art the massive prop.
And a bit of wall art the prop off the Kittyhawk, now sold, she had a gear leg
collapse, they kept the bent prop as a souvenir.
Resident Winjeel.
Ex NZ1040 moved to Australia in 2000, be a nice photo getting an air to air of
her flying alongside the Corsair with the markings she wears.
They have three other Harvard projects in house, plans for all of these to return
to airworthy status. By the look of the markings they are look like they may be
ex American machines?
I’m taking a bit of stab here, would these be Harvard parts and if so be interested
to hear what would be their role within the airframe? Thank you………
As far as our visit was concerned I couldn’t get through on their direct line so I
called the local aero club, they were very helpful and told me to just roll up.
It is the first hangar off the road with a large Warbird Adventures sign on the wall,
the door was open so I called out and they were very welcoming, as always I
asked for permission to take photos.
Webb site
www.warbirdadventures.com.au
For those that mentioned they have plans to visit in the near future it is not far
from Cairns to Mareeba, 1 hours easy and quite beautiful drive. To keep the
other half or your family happy you could incorporate another hours drive to
some beautiful waterfalls near the town of Millaa Millaa as well, the Atherton
Tablelands is truely a beautiful part of the world, well worth a visit and the
bonus of warbirds as well!
interest and allow me to persue my interest/obsession, thanks girls!
Along the cities foreshore is a monument to the Catalinas that operated
from the area during WW II. Over three thousand operational missions
commenced from Cairns.
There are a few Helicopters doing scenic flights out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Warbirds and vintage stuff are more “my cup-of-tea” around an hour drive west
up to the Atherton Tablelands you will find a small town called Maareba. On the
outskirts heading south at the local airstrip you will find North Queensland Warbirds.
As is probably known to some they have a Corsair very close to flying, on the day
of our visit she was covered in plastic having her tail markings applied.
This machine is a combat veteran flying missions off the aircraft carrier Intrepid
and flew operations over Okinawa with the Grim Reapers Squadron.
When first purchased from a museum in the States the main spar had been cut
so she could fit against a wall. Unable to source a replacement a new spar was
made. A complex “W” shaped single piece of alloy this has to be heated then bent
to shape! That is the spar in behind the plumbing behind the engine.
Another part getting some attention the complex main wheels disc brakes
were creating a bit of head scratching.
Looking like a piece of art the massive prop.
And a bit of wall art the prop off the Kittyhawk, now sold, she had a gear leg
collapse, they kept the bent prop as a souvenir.
Resident Winjeel.
Ex NZ1040 moved to Australia in 2000, be a nice photo getting an air to air of
her flying alongside the Corsair with the markings she wears.
They have three other Harvard projects in house, plans for all of these to return
to airworthy status. By the look of the markings they are look like they may be
ex American machines?
I’m taking a bit of stab here, would these be Harvard parts and if so be interested
to hear what would be their role within the airframe? Thank you………
As far as our visit was concerned I couldn’t get through on their direct line so I
called the local aero club, they were very helpful and told me to just roll up.
It is the first hangar off the road with a large Warbird Adventures sign on the wall,
the door was open so I called out and they were very welcoming, as always I
asked for permission to take photos.
Webb site
www.warbirdadventures.com.au
For those that mentioned they have plans to visit in the near future it is not far
from Cairns to Mareeba, 1 hours easy and quite beautiful drive. To keep the
other half or your family happy you could incorporate another hours drive to
some beautiful waterfalls near the town of Millaa Millaa as well, the Atherton
Tablelands is truely a beautiful part of the world, well worth a visit and the
bonus of warbirds as well!
