Just to add to FL's history of the aircraft
(pinched in part from the Mil thread)
A68-192 G-HAEC " Big Beautiful Doll "
Type: CA-18
PR.22
Serial #: A68-192
Construction No: 1517
Delivered 1 AD ex CAC on 08/03/51. Never issued to operational unit. In storage at 1 AD and Tocumwal until sold 23/04/58. Registered VH-FCB 06/11/59 to 17/10/66. Exported to the Phillipines as PI-C651 and later to the UK and flying as G-HAEC.
1951: RAAF
1958: VH-FCB (F.C. Braund)
1961: (Jack McDonald)
1969: PI-C651 Philippines (Prontino Inc.)
1973: crashed on landing, rebuilt using 44-72917 (ex-Phillippine AF P-51). Some records say most of the bits and pieces used in the rebuild came from 44-72917 but the owners elected to keep the Australian identification.
1981: VR-HIU (Hong Kong)
1985: rebuilt "CV H", shipped to UK
1985: G-HAEC, "Ding Hao", "Missy Wong from Hong Kong", "RAAF A68-192"
I remember the early sixties when Jack McDonald used to display the aircraft at airshows in Australia. Painted bright red, and the attached photo does not do it justice.
