The Home of Photos in Dunnunda! Mk I
400hp Commanche? The Townsville Refueller used to have one - but I never managed to talk my way into it!
Is the Commanche the only aeroplane where the nosewheel is larger than the mains?
Dr
Is the Commanche the only aeroplane where the nosewheel is larger than the mains?
Dr
400hp Commanche? The Townsville Refueller used to have one - but I never managed to talk my way into it!
Reckon the Comanche was one of the best things that Piper ever did. It's a true GA classic
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Guess where I was and what I saw on the weekend?
OK- I'll have a go........ Maroochydore and a Cessna C-34???????
S28-BE
Article ex the Australian:
S28-BE
Article ex the Australian:
New home for nation's first Cessna: C-34
But the first Cessna to fly in Australia -- and one of only two C-34s in the world -- has made it through three-quarters of a century to find a new home in Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Aeromil Pacific boss and Cessna dealer Steve Padgett acquired the rare aircraft, VH-UYG, from former Ansett captain Greg Cox last December.
"In the end it was a bit hard for him to hang on to, for all sorts of reasons," Mr Padgett said this week. "I was very keen to get hold of it to preserve the history as the first Cessna in Australia.
"And we're going to really look after it and probably put it in showroom-type environment on the Sunshine Coast Airport, but also keep it flying."
The aircraft, part of what would later become known as the Airmaster series, was the second last of 42 C-34s to be built in 1935-36.
Described by Cessna historian Edward H. Phillips as "the right airplane at the right time" , the affordable C-34 saved the Cessna Aircraft Company after it had been forced by the Great Depression to close its doors in the early 1930s.
It was designed by a young aeronautical engineer who was also the nephew of Clyde Cessna, Dwane Wallace.
Wallace had been working with Walter Beech, of Beech Aircraft fame, when he began designing a new aircraft and teamed with his brother Dwight to wrest control of his uncle's company.
Work quickly began on the C-34, a plane featuring a full cantilevered wing, a four-seat cabin and powered by a Warner Super Scarab radial engine.
Costing $US4985 and with a cruise speed of 145mph (235km/h), the plane won the Detroit News Trophy Race for overall efficiency and the first production aircraft was delivered to a customer in November 1935.
The Australian plane came off the production in December 1936 and was shipped to Australia in January 1938 to be registered with Airflight Ltd, at Mascot, in July.
It would suffer a series of forced and crash landings over the next two years before being pressed into service as a communications aircraft by the RAAF.
A forced landing due to a partial engine failure and difficulties servicing the radial engine would see the RAAF offer it to civilian buyers and it was sold for pound stg. 50 to the president of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA Section), Harold Dicks.
Dicks used the aircraft to fly from the Maylands Aerodrome to do medical work in rural Western Australia.
The aircraft would be sold again in 1947 and go through a series of owners based in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. It was taken off the register in 1973 and transferred to Albury, NSW, in 1977 to be dismantled and stored.
In 1991, new owner Kim Ryan picked it up from Albury on a purpose-built trailer and took it back to Cairns. Mr Ryan was lucky enough to find 74-year-old retired aircraft engineer John Lucas, whose woodworking skills allowed the wing structure to be reconditioned.
Because the Super Scarab was missing, the aircraft was initial fitted with a W670 Continental engine when it again took to the skies in 1993.
It was subsequently replaced by a Super Scarab acquired in Sydney and aircraft was re-registered that year.
The aircraft was bought by Mr Cox in 2000 and flown privately until Mr Padgett acquired it last year.
- Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
- From: The Australian
- April 30, 2010 12:00AM
But the first Cessna to fly in Australia -- and one of only two C-34s in the world -- has made it through three-quarters of a century to find a new home in Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Aeromil Pacific boss and Cessna dealer Steve Padgett acquired the rare aircraft, VH-UYG, from former Ansett captain Greg Cox last December.
"In the end it was a bit hard for him to hang on to, for all sorts of reasons," Mr Padgett said this week. "I was very keen to get hold of it to preserve the history as the first Cessna in Australia.
"And we're going to really look after it and probably put it in showroom-type environment on the Sunshine Coast Airport, but also keep it flying."
The aircraft, part of what would later become known as the Airmaster series, was the second last of 42 C-34s to be built in 1935-36.
Described by Cessna historian Edward H. Phillips as "the right airplane at the right time" , the affordable C-34 saved the Cessna Aircraft Company after it had been forced by the Great Depression to close its doors in the early 1930s.
It was designed by a young aeronautical engineer who was also the nephew of Clyde Cessna, Dwane Wallace.
Wallace had been working with Walter Beech, of Beech Aircraft fame, when he began designing a new aircraft and teamed with his brother Dwight to wrest control of his uncle's company.
Work quickly began on the C-34, a plane featuring a full cantilevered wing, a four-seat cabin and powered by a Warner Super Scarab radial engine.
Costing $US4985 and with a cruise speed of 145mph (235km/h), the plane won the Detroit News Trophy Race for overall efficiency and the first production aircraft was delivered to a customer in November 1935.
The Australian plane came off the production in December 1936 and was shipped to Australia in January 1938 to be registered with Airflight Ltd, at Mascot, in July.
It would suffer a series of forced and crash landings over the next two years before being pressed into service as a communications aircraft by the RAAF.
A forced landing due to a partial engine failure and difficulties servicing the radial engine would see the RAAF offer it to civilian buyers and it was sold for pound stg. 50 to the president of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA Section), Harold Dicks.
Dicks used the aircraft to fly from the Maylands Aerodrome to do medical work in rural Western Australia.
The aircraft would be sold again in 1947 and go through a series of owners based in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. It was taken off the register in 1973 and transferred to Albury, NSW, in 1977 to be dismantled and stored.
In 1991, new owner Kim Ryan picked it up from Albury on a purpose-built trailer and took it back to Cairns. Mr Ryan was lucky enough to find 74-year-old retired aircraft engineer John Lucas, whose woodworking skills allowed the wing structure to be reconditioned.
Because the Super Scarab was missing, the aircraft was initial fitted with a W670 Continental engine when it again took to the skies in 1993.
It was subsequently replaced by a Super Scarab acquired in Sydney and aircraft was re-registered that year.
The aircraft was bought by Mr Cox in 2000 and flown privately until Mr Padgett acquired it last year.
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If I didn't know better I'd say that was a Spartan Executive - surely must be one of the nicest looking aircraft ever built. And as for location - somewhere in the U.S. judging by the rego on the 210 in the background. 
PK
PK
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Gee there are some clever kids on PPrune. You are on the money PK, the original business jet.
This is a bit of a teaser for Oshkosh, check out how cheap flights are, you'll likely be surprised.
Can anyone tell me where in the States and the next type?
This is a bit of a teaser for Oshkosh, check out how cheap flights are, you'll likely be surprised.
Can anyone tell me where in the States and the next type?
Can anyone tell me where in the States and the next type?
- Arlington WA, in which case the photos are a few months old
- Watsonville or Merced, CA, in the past couple of weeks these each have had vintage fly-ins. The terrain in the background does not resemble either of these Californian ports though.
Failing that, I'm stumped.
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Tinpis
The 400 is owned by the Mills family of King island. Bought BRAND new by the late Ernest (EDM) and passed down to his son now. Old Ernie just flew where ever he wanted....he through the regs out the window, no rules, jusr fly.
The 400 is the "poor mans" Mustang, although not so much the poor man anymore as they cost a lot to run and maintain. However a true rocket in every sense of the word. Love 'em!!
The 400 is owned by the Mills family of King island. Bought BRAND new by the late Ernest (EDM) and passed down to his son now. Old Ernie just flew where ever he wanted....he through the regs out the window, no rules, jusr fly.The 400 is the "poor mans" Mustang, although not so much the poor man anymore as they cost a lot to run and maintain. However a true rocket in every sense of the word. Love 'em!!
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Oh yes Doc, the Comanche did sit nose high, which produced unfavourable landing characteristics (controlled crashes) so some smart guy bought out the small nose wheel tyre STC which helps. I have always said that anyone who bitches about Comanche landings......simply can't fly 'em properly.
Not being bias but the Comanche was one of the greatest aircraft ever produced. My old girl was the last twin co to leave the factory, fitted with a Robertson STOL.....full fuel, 4 bums, full luggage, approach stall slower than a 172 and take off/ land in the same distance.
Not being bias but the Comanche was one of the greatest aircraft ever produced. My old girl was the last twin co to leave the factory, fitted with a Robertson STOL.....full fuel, 4 bums, full luggage, approach stall slower than a 172 and take off/ land in the same distance.
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You're getting warmer, it is on the Western side of the continent.
How's that for the price of Avgas?
Cheap speed.
More glass than a glazier.
Globetrotter.
180 for sale. Cheap. Apply within. Freight organised.
Se* on a tail wheel.
Yaw compensating.
Retardos Vehicularos.
Why Australian GA is dead.
How's that for the price of Avgas?
Cheap speed.
More glass than a glazier.
Globetrotter.
180 for sale. Cheap. Apply within. Freight organised.
Se* on a tail wheel.
Yaw compensating.
Retardos Vehicularos.
Why Australian GA is dead.
Vh-EDM PA24-400
Used to see EDM in Rocky in the mid-seventies, I believe it would arrive direct from Tassie, good to see it still on the scene, my old company operated two PA 24-260's, nice machines....
Grandpa Aerotart
Slooowly -after a big spurt in Nov/Dec/1st week of January + a week in March, when I was off in BN, I have only had three days in BN - last Tuesday/Saturday and Sunday and the hangar aint open on weekends.
The engineers have been busy and short staffed so nought has happened since March.
Don't remember what pictures I posted last but here is a few recent ones.
One day
The engineers have been busy and short staffed so nought has happened since March.
Don't remember what pictures I posted last but here is a few recent ones.
One day
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 9th Jun 2010 at 02:59.