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Post by FlyNavy on Mar 28, 2007 14:26:44 GMT 12
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 28, 2007 14:49:07 GMT 12
Yep, I thought the clear skinning on the wing was pretty odd too, but I guess they thought it would appeal to some of the punters who visit the museum. I have to admit I didn't have a good look at the signage around the displays, so maybe there was an explanation there?
I assumed the white biplane was a Sopwith Camel or Pup, but I'm not 100% sure.
Not sure what the go is with the Catalina, but I think this must be a work in progress too.
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jb
Squadron Leader
Posts: 132
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Post by jb on Mar 28, 2007 15:26:26 GMT 12
An explanation on the status of the Catalina's wings can be found here. I wonder when its wings are completed if it will even fit in a Bellman hangar ( the only type at Point Cook ) so they are probably in no real hurry to assemble it. The white b-plane is a Pup replica. The lower Walrus wing is covered in Mylar, im not sure if im a fan, but it seems to be fairly comon on restorations of this type in other museums. www.defence.gov.au/RAAF/raafmuseum/exhibitions/b_scenes.htm
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Post by JDK on Apr 12, 2007 19:58:22 GMT 12
Nice pix! Couple of corrections - the Mosquito restoration is to static, not airworthy, as the Museum's policy is only to fly aircraft that are replicas or duplicates in the collection. As A52-600 is the only surviving PR.XVI, and the only RAAF wartime operated Mosquito with combat history, they're also aiming to retain as much of the original aircraft as possible. The Walrus restoration took eight years - this one will take longer. It's not a replica Maurice Farman Shorthorn, it's an original - one of only two left worldwide. The survivors are both ex-Aussie machines from a chap called Carey's collection who flew them from Fisherman's Bend near Melbourne in 1919 for advertising flights and pleasure flying... The other one is on show in the Canadian Aviation Museum, Rockliffe. The Museum's free entry, donations welcome, and a reasonably comprehensive website is here: www.defence.gov.au/RAAF/raafmuseum/ - you can look up individual aircraft histories, and Boston Jessica, the Long Tan Iroquois and the Walrus all have very interesting stories behind them. Most important (if I can mention again) the Museum flies an aircraft at 1pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, free viewing, meet the pilot, see the flight and ask as many questions as you like afterwards. The Museum operates five airworthy aircraft - Sopwith Pup replica (currently grounded) Tiger Moth, Winjeel, CT-4, and CAC Mustang. As well as these there are guest aircraft, which have recently included other examples of the above types, plus Birddog, Harvard(s) Chipmunk and others. Some answers - As regards the Walrus wing (and tail) they are clear covered, and you'll be surprised at how many people find that very interesting to see how it's made - most assume they're all built like the car they arrived in. The upper wing tank is usually fabric covered as well, of course. The museum has the (unrestored) wing and floats of the Cat, floats have had some work done, but yes, it'd be waay too big for a Bellman - which is, incidentally, why the Freighter and others are outside - they don't fit. The A model Herc is used for school tours, while the Hs748 and H model Herc are cocooned. HTH, James (RAAF Museum volunteer guide & aircraft cleaner!)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 12, 2007 20:59:08 GMT 12
Cheers James. Thanks for the interesting insight and answers.
Is the Winjeel a completely stand alone Australain design? Because to my untrained eye it vastly resembles the Percival/Hunting Provost, and I wondered if there is any lineage there or whether they developed completely independently and just look alike.
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Post by JDK on Apr 12, 2007 23:42:03 GMT 12
Is the Winjeel a completely stand alone Australain design? Because to my untrained eye it vastly resembles the Percival/Hunting Provost, and I wondered if there is any lineage there or whether they developed completely independently and just look alike. No problem, Dave. The Winjeel and the (Piston) Provost were, I understand, completely independent designs to fulfil a similar (then-currently) fashionable requirement by the RAAF and RAF at the same time. There's physically nothing in common - in fact CAC planned their own engine, before settling on an American unit, but they certainly look very alike. www.defence.gov.au/RAAF/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A85.htmIt's interesting to note a similar thing has happened with trainers at other times - the Tucano vs PC-7/9 family, and the Dornier Alpha Jet, Hawk, and others of the 1990s, which have similarities and varying amounts of difference.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 12, 2007 23:50:54 GMT 12
Cheers for that. On another note, the name Piston Provost must have been an afterthought I'd imagine, or were the piston and jet versions desined simultaneously I wonder? And were both derived from the Fw183?
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Post by JDK on Apr 13, 2007 12:19:51 GMT 12
Rather like coins marked '55BC' and 1930s references to 'The First World War' - to be treated with suspicion. I did rather like the "Fw-183's" ability to change allegiance (in flight no less) from Nazi Germany to the Sultan of Oman Air Force, thanks to the easy peel markings...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 13, 2007 13:18:20 GMT 12
Is that what the markings were, I thought it was Portugese. Either way, very neat. I loved the siren!
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