Transporting a DC-3 by road in Australia
DC-3 coming to Caboolture Air Museum I hear possibly from Mareeba!

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If it's from Mareeba there could be two possibilities:
The one at the late Sid Beck's museum or
The one at Mareeba strip done up in USAAF 'Jungle Skippers' scheme.
It's been a few years since I was there but the latter would be the more likely prospect for resto to flying status, I think.
The one at the late Sid Beck's museum or
The one at Mareeba strip done up in USAAF 'Jungle Skippers' scheme.
It's been a few years since I was there but the latter would be the more likely prospect for resto to flying status, I think.
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Here is the response from the guy asking the question.
It is the one from the Mareeba Museum.
It is fully complete but has not flown for a number of years. The people at the Caboolture airfield are going to restore it, paint it in its WW2 colours and use it for air shows including historic paratrooper displays.
I am involved in the Caboolture Warplane Museum and have moved a few aircraft over the years and they have just asked me to source a means of transport for it.
They are a nice aircraft to fly. I flew mainly Nomads when I was in the PNG Air Transport Squadron but we had DC3's also so I got to play around with them occasionally too. I had a fly of the South African Air Force turbo-prop conversion DC3's and they were really good with 50% more power but with pointy engine cowls they just did not look right.
Lang
It is fully complete but has not flown for a number of years. The people at the Caboolture airfield are going to restore it, paint it in its WW2 colours and use it for air shows including historic paratrooper displays.
I am involved in the Caboolture Warplane Museum and have moved a few aircraft over the years and they have just asked me to source a means of transport for it.
They are a nice aircraft to fly. I flew mainly Nomads when I was in the PNG Air Transport Squadron but we had DC3's also so I got to play around with them occasionally too. I had a fly of the South African Air Force turbo-prop conversion DC3's and they were really good with 50% more power but with pointy engine cowls they just did not look right.
Lang
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CWS ON THE MOVE
Last month, after languishing at Bankstown for the best part of a decade, CWS was dismantled and shipped to Korea. It will be reassembled for static display at The Independence Hall of Korea, Cheonan. (global.i815.or.kr)
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In the background of the lower pic is VH-XUX, which took to the air for the first time in 37 years on 25 Nov from Bankstown. As a result, its right hand engine has been changed due low oil pressure. Its next test flight is soon. Ultimately, it will be ferried to China for display at the Flying Tiger Museum.

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In the background of the lower pic is VH-XUX, which took to the air for the first time in 37 years on 25 Nov from Bankstown. As a result, its right hand engine has been changed due low oil pressure. Its next test flight is soon. Ultimately, it will be ferried to China for display at the Flying Tiger Museum.


Daks on the move
The Beck Collection machine going south.? Believe that destination is QAM, Caloundra...static ?
NQ warbirds late 2015 to Caboolture ..to fly again. Good one.
Interesting to see pics and hear of the fates of others...far and wide.
NQ warbirds late 2015 to Caboolture ..to fly again. Good one.

Interesting to see pics and hear of the fates of others...far and wide.
Moderator
If its for a static display at a golf course...I'd give Qantas a call...

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Hasherucf,
Are you sure it was a Dak you saw?
The information I have is that the item going south from Cairns to Caloundra on the low-loader would be a Neptune, not a Dak.
aroa,
QAM already have DC3 VH-ANR nicely restored as a static display. I somehow doubt they want another one.
.
Are you sure it was a Dak you saw?
The information I have is that the item going south from Cairns to Caloundra on the low-loader would be a Neptune, not a Dak.
aroa,
QAM already have DC3 VH-ANR nicely restored as a static display. I somehow doubt they want another one.
.
Last edited by Stanwell; 6th Feb 2016 at 03:44.
Folks
The DC-3 that would have been seen on the road at Cairns is VH-SPY (formerly A65-102). One report had it heading for Edmonton which I believe is a suburb of Cairns. Another report has it going to Innisfail. I would like to know where it turns up eventually but it's definitely not going to QAM.
Just today a crew from QAM departed for Mareeba to recover Neptune A89-277 which has been purchased from the Beck Museum. This aircraft will be trucked to Caloundra in the coming weeks.
Rgds.
The DC-3 that would have been seen on the road at Cairns is VH-SPY (formerly A65-102). One report had it heading for Edmonton which I believe is a suburb of Cairns. Another report has it going to Innisfail. I would like to know where it turns up eventually but it's definitely not going to QAM.
Just today a crew from QAM departed for Mareeba to recover Neptune A89-277 which has been purchased from the Beck Museum. This aircraft will be trucked to Caloundra in the coming weeks.
Rgds.
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Hasherucf,
Are you sure it was a Dak you saw?
Are you sure it was a Dak you saw?
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Pics, courtesy of fnqskies.********.com, of Geoff Leach's DC3 VH-SPY, moved off Cairns airport last week. The future of the adjacent Belfast, also owned be Geoff Leach, is not looking good. The landlord wants it gone as well.



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It's going to be quite an undertaking to relocate that Belfast off airport if it's non-airworthy.
That must be the radome of the Belfast showing on the very far right side of the top photo in the post above. It would be a tragedy for that rare aircraft to end up in the smelter. Only 10 were ever built.
http://binged.it/1RvDZ8f
That must be the radome of the Belfast showing on the very far right side of the top photo in the post above. It would be a tragedy for that rare aircraft to end up in the smelter. Only 10 were ever built.
http://binged.it/1RvDZ8f
Last edited by wanabee777; 12th Feb 2016 at 10:58.
No aircraft could have been as well-travelled (by air and road) as this old Dak.
I well remember her outside the MacDonalds restaurant in Midland in the 1990's. My workshop was only a kilometre away from MacDonalds.
I was thrown a little by this discussion, as I always thought this one really was an MMA aircraft - but it was just repainted to resemble VH-MMF when it was located at MacDonalds.
She still sits on the property of Blair Howe ("Dakota Driver") at Myalup, W.A.
VH-ANW Douglas DC-3
http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...ld-dakota.html
I well remember her outside the MacDonalds restaurant in Midland in the 1990's. My workshop was only a kilometre away from MacDonalds.
I was thrown a little by this discussion, as I always thought this one really was an MMA aircraft - but it was just repainted to resemble VH-MMF when it was located at MacDonalds.
She still sits on the property of Blair Howe ("Dakota Driver") at Myalup, W.A.
VH-ANW Douglas DC-3
http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...ld-dakota.html
Something strange with the dates.
I was part of that assemble at the Midland McDonalds and that was pre 90.
I don't recall exactly but I think it was when I was doing my pre-apprenticeship at Midland TAFE with Warnock, Collie and Cousins that would make it 1986. I don't think it was during my apprenticeship with the same TAFE as they were short blocks with exams but that ended 89 anyway.
The instructors were for and against the project at Maccas but agreed as it was a once in a life time for many to do up 365 bolts.
Bendy
VH-ANW was part of the McDonalds restaurant at Midland, Perth from 1987 to 2000 so your memory fits.
Getting back to the former VH-SPY, I believe that Pacdak is trying to contact Geoff Leach.
VH-ANW was part of the McDonalds restaurant at Midland, Perth from 1987 to 2000 so your memory fits.
Getting back to the former VH-SPY, I believe that Pacdak is trying to contact Geoff Leach.
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SPY at Edmonton, Cairns. Not sure when.
December edition of Australian Aviation magazine reports, "It is understood there is a dispute over storage fees so the fate of the machine is in doubt."
Also reported is that the Beck War Museum, Mareeba is selling its collection, including a C47.
December edition of Australian Aviation magazine reports, "It is understood there is a dispute over storage fees so the fate of the machine is in doubt."
Also reported is that the Beck War Museum, Mareeba is selling its collection, including a C47.


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VH-SPY
About 12 months ago VH-SPY was stored at Edmonton (a southern suburb of cairns) with wings and propellers removed near my dads work. Yesterday i saw VH-SPY sitting in the same condition at Innisfail Aerodrome.