Antarctic Austers
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If anyone has any, and I mean any questions about PBYs world wide, go to CHUCKELLSWORTH.COM. He is a 25,000 hour pilot who has flown just about anything with wings and rotors and is a recognized expert on PBY's.
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RileyDove,
She's very close to the harbour -- hundred yards or so. It's a gently sloping, completely sheltered volcanic beach. One of fthe BAS ships could get her home, no sweat. The wings and tail surfaces are in the hangar, the fuselage outside.
QDM
She's very close to the harbour -- hundred yards or so. It's a gently sloping, completely sheltered volcanic beach. One of fthe BAS ships could get her home, no sweat. The wings and tail surfaces are in the hangar, the fuselage outside.
QDM
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Why retrieve it ?. There are plenty still flying , a few in museums, even an Antarctic one in Brussels. Why not just leave it there as a memorial if you must, like any of the huts that are supposed to be left alone and all the other bits and pieces: Hercs all over the Domes, Mils on the Ronne, Hueys in the Dry Valleys, Twotters all over the place. Endurance at the bottom of the Weddell. Spend the DHC money on something else - leave it be. Not meant to be remotely rude.
Silas.
Silas.
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Silas - Interesting points . However Deception is indeed historic but far more for Norwegian whaling and the British use of the Island for surveillance on enemy shipping during WW.2.
The FIDS and later BAS base at Deception was only open for eight years and was used for maintainance and wintering.
Some would argue that the Otter is another part of the detritus
that we enflict on the enviroment.
The Otter as a type is indeed plentiful but I would suggest
plentiful at $500,000 . If however you want one for a museum
well your pretty much left out in the cold. The work carried out
by FIDS/BAS in aerial exploration is little understood in the U.K.
The aircraft itself was paid for by the tax payer - I would suggest
that a better use for her would be to be restored and appreciated in the U.K.
Whilst the idea of a aircraft museum on Deception is romantic - the stark reality of public liability insurance on a
semi active volcanno might well make it untennable.
The idea of leaving an aircraft out to rot is okay except for a couple of factors - the nature of people to remove souvenirs
and the fact that the corrosion that grounded her in 1967
hasn't stopped since. If saved and brought home now she could
form a fitting tribute to Antartic exploration and the people
who died carrying it out. If left there she will remain a curiosity
to a few weathy travellers who will continue to post pictures
on websites of 'abandoned RAF plane on Deception' which hardly
tells the story of why she is there.
The FIDS and later BAS base at Deception was only open for eight years and was used for maintainance and wintering.
Some would argue that the Otter is another part of the detritus
that we enflict on the enviroment.
The Otter as a type is indeed plentiful but I would suggest
plentiful at $500,000 . If however you want one for a museum
well your pretty much left out in the cold. The work carried out
by FIDS/BAS in aerial exploration is little understood in the U.K.
The aircraft itself was paid for by the tax payer - I would suggest
that a better use for her would be to be restored and appreciated in the U.K.
Whilst the idea of a aircraft museum on Deception is romantic - the stark reality of public liability insurance on a
semi active volcanno might well make it untennable.
The idea of leaving an aircraft out to rot is okay except for a couple of factors - the nature of people to remove souvenirs
and the fact that the corrosion that grounded her in 1967
hasn't stopped since. If saved and brought home now she could
form a fitting tribute to Antartic exploration and the people
who died carrying it out. If left there she will remain a curiosity
to a few weathy travellers who will continue to post pictures
on websites of 'abandoned RAF plane on Deception' which hardly
tells the story of why she is there.
Last edited by RileyDove; 9th Feb 2004 at 07:16.
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For what it's worth.....
During a doco film on satellite TV on Australia's Antarctic bases, there was the briefest colour clip, maybe only a few second, of what appeared to be a float equipped Auster landing alongside a supply ship. It was obviously all over orange and had roundels.
Far too fleeting to see any other markings, but my guess it was an ANTARE civil contractor.
Later......
Maybe not civil?? Just found this: "...RAAF serials A11-1 to A11-56, replaced in 1959 by C180..."
The doco clip would definately have been in the late 50's I suspect, as the ship looked like one of the Dans - Nella Dan, Kista Dan etc.
Still later still......
From another site: In addition, two Auster Mk 6 aircraft A11-200 and A11-201, accompanied the 1953/54 Antarctic Expedition, and Sqn Ldr Leckie again used A11-201 on the 1955/56 voyage. Also, Auster J-5G Autocar aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy carried the RAAF prefix A11 and were numbered from A11-300.
Hybrid Auster on sea ice at Horseshoe Harbour 1954. RAAF photo
When both aircraft were damaged in a shipboard incident two days after arriving in Horseshoe Harbour, one was cannibalised for spare parts. The repaired hybrid aircraft was jettisoned from the Kista Dan later in the same summer, after breaking its tie-downs and fouling the lifeboats.
Interesting Auster Story. Names changed to protect the guilty.
Learn something everyday.
Time to get back to work! 
During a doco film on satellite TV on Australia's Antarctic bases, there was the briefest colour clip, maybe only a few second, of what appeared to be a float equipped Auster landing alongside a supply ship. It was obviously all over orange and had roundels.
Far too fleeting to see any other markings, but my guess it was an ANTARE civil contractor.
Later......
Maybe not civil?? Just found this: "...RAAF serials A11-1 to A11-56, replaced in 1959 by C180..."
The doco clip would definately have been in the late 50's I suspect, as the ship looked like one of the Dans - Nella Dan, Kista Dan etc.
Still later still......
From another site: In addition, two Auster Mk 6 aircraft A11-200 and A11-201, accompanied the 1953/54 Antarctic Expedition, and Sqn Ldr Leckie again used A11-201 on the 1955/56 voyage. Also, Auster J-5G Autocar aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy carried the RAAF prefix A11 and were numbered from A11-300.
Hybrid Auster on sea ice at Horseshoe Harbour 1954. RAAF photo
When both aircraft were damaged in a shipboard incident two days after arriving in Horseshoe Harbour, one was cannibalised for spare parts. The repaired hybrid aircraft was jettisoned from the Kista Dan later in the same summer, after breaking its tie-downs and fouling the lifeboats.
Interesting Auster Story. Names changed to protect the guilty.
Learn something everyday.
Time to get back to work!
Last edited by Woomera; 9th Feb 2004 at 11:56.
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Woomera:
The RAAF operated two ex-British Auster AOP.6s on behalf of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition in 1953-54, RAAF serials as noted. On that expedition they flew 64 survey sorties, logging about 80 hours in the hands of (then, later Sqn Ldr) Flt Lt Douglas Leckie of Ivanhoe, Victoria and Flt Sgt Ray Seaver, of Newcastle, NSW.
The big batch of RAAF Austers you mention were WW2-era Mark IIIs.
From memory I think the RAN had two Autocars.
Incidentally, for any of you who make models, Airfix have just re-released their long unobtainable and highly-prized (read 'very expensive if you can find one') plastic kit of the Auster Antarctic, for a modest £3.99.
The RAAF operated two ex-British Auster AOP.6s on behalf of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition in 1953-54, RAAF serials as noted. On that expedition they flew 64 survey sorties, logging about 80 hours in the hands of (then, later Sqn Ldr) Flt Lt Douglas Leckie of Ivanhoe, Victoria and Flt Sgt Ray Seaver, of Newcastle, NSW.
The big batch of RAAF Austers you mention were WW2-era Mark IIIs.
From memory I think the RAN had two Autocars.
Incidentally, for any of you who make models, Airfix have just re-released their long unobtainable and highly-prized (read 'very expensive if you can find one') plastic kit of the Auster Antarctic, for a modest £3.99.
