Fokker Trimotor "Southern Cross" Replica Runs Again

[Dave Homewood]

Huge congratulations are in order to Jim Thurstan and his team at HARS, they have run all three engines on the Fokker Trimotor "Southern Cross" after a very long restoration. What a magnificent achievement!

James Kightly and I were given a guided tour of HARS by our friend Peter Costigan six years ago, and we got to see the wing being worked on and to interview Jim for our Wings Over Australia series. It's come a long way since then. Nearly ready for a return to flight!

Peter sent me these photos today, taken by Mark Keech, and he asked me to post them here. The first shows Jim Thurstan in the cockpit running the engines.

[oj]

Beautiful.
Is this the same aircraft that did a tour of NZ in the 1970's?
We had it overnight in the NZAIL assembly-line hangar.
If so, why did it fall into dis-use and require restoration?

[Dave Homewood]

This is the one that toured here in 1990 as part of NZ's Bicentennial celebrations, sponsored by ANZ. It went all round the country. I saw it at Hamilton and Ardmore.

[Dave Homewood]

This aircraft was built between 1980 and 1987, when it first flew. It had an accident on the 25th May 2002 at Parafield South Australia when she lost a main wheel on takeoff. Landing on the one good wheel and the tail, the pilot kept the damaged wheel off the ground by keeping its wing high in the air. When the aircraft stopped the high wing came down and snapped off around 3 metres from the wing tip. HARS bought the damaged plane in 2000.

[Dave Homewood]

The accident is here on Facebook. When they took off something happened to the starboard undercarriage and so they landed on the port gear. I am not sure if there is a version online not on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1864605216956552

[oj]

Thanks Dave. I was 20 years out on the visit date! Must be the EOA kicking in.

[Mustang51]

HARS have done a magnificent job to complete the massive repairs and to get the machine almost ready for its post 'rebuild' flight. All there are to be congratulated for their Herculean efforts

[Dave Homewood]

I completely agree Ando. It was a very complex rebuild. Jim Thurstan's team have done awesome work.

[vultee43]

Remember going on her in the 90s. Great to see it going again.

[ZacYates]

I missed her first time around thanks to being only three(!) but have always had a soft spot thanks to her appearance in an Aussie airshow my Mum taped for me. It's so exciting to see her so close to flight again!

[ZacYates]

Fantastic video - from inside and out - of the New Old Bus’ return to life. Just magic!!

[Dave Homewood]

My goodness, this aeroplanes looks so good! Not long now till the test flight.

I have a question. When this replica was flying before, did it ever visit the genuine Southern Cross and get photos taken side by side?

[planecrazy]

While the replica could land quite close at Brisbane airport it would involve a
bit getting her alongside the original, would make for a great photo. here is
my little walk around of Southern Cross in her glass case.

[Dave Homewood]

I am not sure when that building was erected. I wondered if the replica perhaps visited before it went in there?

[ZacYates]

Oct 5, 2023 23:06:37 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I have a question. When this replica was flying before, did it ever visit the genuine Southern Cross and get photos taken side by side?

I've seen at least one photo of the two together, I'll see if I can find it.

[ZacYates]

I found it! The Old Bus (right) meets The New Old Bus at Brisbane, 18/11/1987. Photo by Ron Cuskelly.
New Bus meets Old Bus - Brisbane 19871118 by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[Dave Homewood]

Neat!