DH82 VH-WPK - or is it VH-WPO?

[tail wheel]

The Toowoomba, Queensland newspaper The Chronicle publish a historical photograph each week, from the Toowoomba - Darling Downs region.

Today, Monday 5 December 2011 they published the following photograph:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Woomera/PPRuNe/TheChronicleMondayDecember52011S.jpg

With the caption:
"SPRAYING TIME: Workers loading a spray plane with DDT to spray grubs in linseed crops at Pirrinuan 1956"

Pirrinuan is a small farming community about 13 miles north of Dalby, on the Dalby - Jandowae Road.

I immediately noticed the Tiger Moth carried the registration VH-WPK on the top wing and VH-WPO on the rudder.

Out of totally idle curiosity at a time I should have been working, I wondered how the aircraft ended up with two registrations; whether it was VH-WPK or VH-WPO; and who owned and operated the aircraft?

Google gives:
Ser No 84529 DH82A TIGER MOTH T8256 G-AOFG VH-AWI VH-WPK N5676 N38KH

DH82A TIGER MOTH A17-? T.113 VH-WPK VH-API

Does that perhaps indicate VH-WPK was a UK built Tiger Moth and ended up on the US FAA Registry, or Australian built Tiger Moth ending up as VH-API? (VH-API is now an RV-6). By coincidence I guess, VH-WPK is still an agricultural aircraft, a Piper PA-25-235, based at Gatton, only a few miles east of Toowoomba.

Ser No DHA129 DH82A TIGER MOTH RAAF as A17-132 T.229 VH-AQX VH-WPO

ADF Serials (http://www.adf-serials.com/2a17.shtml) lists A17-132 only as:

A17-132 DHA129?

Presumable VH-WPO came to grief at some stage and was written off?

I am aware that in the post War era and into the early 1950s, a number of "pecularities" occurred with aircraft registrations!

[sycamore]

Could be that either the wing or rudder may have been taken from the other one and fitted,if the `other` one was damaged...

[Planemike]

Certainly looks like a case of a "borrowed rudder or borrowed wing": over the years think "borrowed rudders" have been more common.

Have done a little sleuthing, both aircraft are listed as survivors: see Tiger Moth Stuart McKay & Tiger Moth Alan Bramson.

84529 G-AOFG VH-WPK is current in the USA as N38KH. Charlotte NC.

DHA 129 A17-132 VH-WPO. Cannot access an Australian register so cannot confirm its status.

Planemike

[tail wheel]

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (http://casa-query.funnelback.com/search/search.cgi?collection=casa_aircraft_register) aircraft register:

VH-WPO:
Manufacturer: DE HAVILLAND CANADA
Model: DHC-1 T MK 10
Serial number: DHB 614

Whilst I can't find any record of the demise of DH82 VH-WPO, that registration is now allocated to a Chipmunk.

[David Eyre]

There were two Tiger Moths registered as VH-WPK, but only one Tiger Moth registered VH-WPO.

VH-WPK (1) (construction number T113) was built in Australia by De Havilland Aircraft at Bankstown, and initially registered to William P Kemp (hence the registration WPK) in Queensland on 8 October 1956. On 22 March 1960, it was re-registered VH-API, and was cancelled from the register on 30 December 1964 (reason unknown).

VH-WPK (2) (construction number 84529) was built by De Havilland in the UK and allocated the British military serial T8256. It then joined the British civil aircraft register as G-AOFG. It became VH-AWI on 8 November 1957. On 5 Oct 1960 it was re-registered as VH-WPK to William P Kemp, Corinda Heights, Qld. VH-WPK was exported to the USA in 1969, initially registered there as N5676 and then N38KH.

VH-WPO was built in Australia by De Havilland Aircraft at Bankstown, and allocated RAAF serial A17-132. On 4 July 1947, it was registered VH-AQX. Initially based in NSW, it was registered to an owner in Queensland in March 1956, but still registered as VH-AQX. On 19 January 1957 it was re-registered as VH-WPO, to the same owner as VH-WPK - William P Kemp. On 31 December 1963, it was cancelled from the register as withdrawn from use, due to a Department of Civil Aviation policy.


Based on the above information, if the photo was taken in 1956, it is likely to have been the first VH-WPK (cn T113).

regards,
David Eyre

[Planemike]

Think it has to have been taken later than 1956 as VH-WPO was not registered until 19 January 1957.

Planemike

[Feather #3]

I'd contact the bloke at Gatton. Fair bet it's a family connection!

G'day ;)

[N707ZS]

Possibly WPO was robbed for parts after it was WFU to keep WPK 2 in the air. Just a thought.

[Planemike]

Tiger Moth for sale. N38KH is part of the Edgar Cato Aircraft Collection now for disposal following the death of the owner. The aircraft was completely overhauled by Aero Fabrication of Bartow, Florida, in 2006. Gipsy Major engine rebuilt by Ed Clark, 20 hours run. New Sensenich W79CFL-60 propeller, Slick magneto conversion, electric starter, new Bruntons rigging wires, Becker radio and new hydraulic braking system. Asking US$85,000.

N38KH currently offered for sale, see above...........

Planemike

[tail wheel]

Found this:

TIGER MOTH DH-82A – Serial No.T-8256
de Havilland Tiger Moth built in 1941 by Built by Morris Motors in Cowley, England. She was delivered to R.A.F. as T8256 to EFTS Sywell on April 27, 1941. After wartime service she was stored at 10 MU Hullavington on August 9, 1945 until sold to Willis Hole Aviation of Croydon on March 22, 1951. The airplane was stored until sold to R.F. Saywell who overhauled it at Shoreham as G-AOFG. Registered September 17, 19566 and received U.K. Certificate of Aviation on November 16, 1956.
The aircraft was exported to Australia and registered as VH-AWI on November 8, 1957 to Airwork Co. Pty. Ltd. of Archerfield, Queensland and re-registered on October 5, 1960 AS VH-WPK to W.P. Kemp of Corinda Heights, Queensland. She was re-registered on August 3, 1961 to Chemicals and Air Services Pty. Ltd. Moorooka, Queensland then re-registered to P.J. Pastoral Co. of Goomeri, Queensland. The registration was canceled September 18, 1967.
In 1968 the airplane was purchased by Leo Gay, shipped to the U.S. and registered as N5676 to Dr. Ace Powers of Albuquerque, New Mexico then sold to Keith Harvey of Stockton, California and registered as N38KH.
In October 2005 Edgar Cato purchased the airplane after a pre-purchase inspection was completed in Stockton, California by Frank Rezich. The following day the airplane was disassembled, placed on a truck and transported to Aero Fabrication, Bartow Florida.
Over the next twelve months the airplane was totally disassembled and painted. There is a re-built Ed Clark engine with 20 hours; a new Sensinich W79CFL-60 propeller; Slick Magneto conversion; electric starter; new Brunton stainless steel flying and landing wires; Becker radio and new hydraulic brake system.
For the past four years she has been maintained to the highest standards and used sparingly. She has been flown from Florida to South Carolina on two occasions and always kept in a hangar. Asking price: $85,000.

CHEMICALS & AIR SERVICES PTY. LTD was registered 03/08/1961, became NOBLE CHEMICALS HOLDINGS PTY. LTD and was deregistered 29/11/1990.