Centaurus
6th Sep 2019, 07:07
I am researching the loss of an RAAF Winjeel near Canberra in 1956. An instructor and another RAAF pilot were killed when recovery from a spin was left to late. At the time there was speculation that the instructor may have forgotten Canberra was 1800 ft amsl with higher terrain nearby, compared to his home base of RAAF Uranquinty, NSW where the aerodrome altitude was much lower and that the practice spin near Canberra may have been started at a lower altitude. That was only one theory. Another possible cause was a "rogue" Winjeel that had different spinning characteristics to other Winjeels.
As part of the accident investigation, an RAF qualified test pilot from ARDU at Laverton travelled to Uranquinty and conducted spinning trials on all Winjeels to see if there were any unusual differences in spin recovery between individual aircraft. Each aircraft was climbed to 8000 ft amsl then spun eight turns in either direction before recovery was initiated. This writer was involved in two of the trials which produced nothing unusual.
Question: Due to lack of documentation I have been unable to find the height above sea level of RAAF Uranquinty aerodrome which was about 14 miles from Wagga. Anyone able to help on this one?.
As part of the accident investigation, an RAF qualified test pilot from ARDU at Laverton travelled to Uranquinty and conducted spinning trials on all Winjeels to see if there were any unusual differences in spin recovery between individual aircraft. Each aircraft was climbed to 8000 ft amsl then spun eight turns in either direction before recovery was initiated. This writer was involved in two of the trials which produced nothing unusual.
Question: Due to lack of documentation I have been unable to find the height above sea level of RAAF Uranquinty aerodrome which was about 14 miles from Wagga. Anyone able to help on this one?.