Belfast in Cairns
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,863
Likes: 444
From: QLD - where drivers are yet to realise that the left lane goes to their destination too.
Looks like a game of pass the parcel...
This is the aircraft history:
N1819S Bank of Utah Short SC.5 Belfast (planespotters.net)
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 309
From: Australia
its not inconceivable that the aircraft has some value. with the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia the continued operations of the Antonovs in the west for outsize cargo is probably over....if HARS got that Constellation going (im pretty sure it doesn't have a full C of A either ) i don't see why the Belfast couldn't be made flyable ....its not like it would be being used for flying pax. The RR tynes are probably simpler and more reliable than the turbo compound Wrights on the Connie too. good luck to them ! If the owner is who i think it is im sure he could do it
The engines wouldn’t be the main problem as they could be overhauled, whereas removing the intergranular corrosion in the airframe might present some structural problems, together with a lot of other problems such as old hoses, wiring and seals.
It would be great to see it be dismantled and moved to an aviation museum.
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne
The owner has the ability and tickets to get the aircraft flying.
The owner has a huge supply of spare engines and props.
The airframe is in remarkable condition and airworthy
The aircraft sits on a new undercarriage, brakes, tyres, hydraulics, the lot.
The aircraft is FMS equipped for serious IFR flight
The aircraft has a triple redundant full auto land capability
Stalls and Spins ... Yes you do know him very well as did your grandfather!
The owner has a huge supply of spare engines and props.
The airframe is in remarkable condition and airworthy
The aircraft sits on a new undercarriage, brakes, tyres, hydraulics, the lot.
The aircraft is FMS equipped for serious IFR flight
The aircraft has a triple redundant full auto land capability
Stalls and Spins ... Yes you do know him very well as did your grandfather!
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 149
Likes: 24
From: Martian
its not inconceivable that the aircraft has some value. with the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia the continued operations of the Antonovs in the west for outsize cargo is probably over....if HARS got that Constellation going (im pretty sure it doesn't have a full C of A either ) i don't see why the Belfast couldn't be made flyable ....its not like it would be being used for flying pax. The RR tynes are probably simpler and more reliable than the turbo compound Wrights on the Connie too. good luck to them ! If the owner is who i think it is im sure he could do it
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 309
From: Australia
The owner has the ability and tickets to get the aircraft flying.
The owner has a huge supply of spare engines and props.
The airframe is in remarkable condition and airworthy
The aircraft sits on a new undercarriage, brakes, tyres, hydraulics, the lot.
The aircraft is FMS equipped for serious IFR flight
The aircraft has a triple redundant full auto land capability
The owner has a huge supply of spare engines and props.
The airframe is in remarkable condition and airworthy
The aircraft sits on a new undercarriage, brakes, tyres, hydraulics, the lot.
The aircraft is FMS equipped for serious IFR flight
The aircraft has a triple redundant full auto land capability
I can just imagine the fun in getting the AOC to operate it commercially, in any country let alone Australia.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 17
From: Cairns
Post # 89 ... the "poster" is suggesting a Helicopter operator maybe a part owner of the Belfast. Given the world wide nature of their operation, the Belfast would be a good choice.
A quick Wiki look at the aircraft would suggest a purpose built military aircraft with a floor designed to take Tanks.
I'm guessing this would be ideal for a bunch of fire fighting Bell 214's ??? and Refuelling vehicles, spare parts and a service vehicle.
This to me would suggest a PRIVATE operation with no AOC required.
One thing is certain; the aircraft will fly again and I believe it will be very successful for the owners/operator.
A quick Wiki look at the aircraft would suggest a purpose built military aircraft with a floor designed to take Tanks.
I'm guessing this would be ideal for a bunch of fire fighting Bell 214's ??? and Refuelling vehicles, spare parts and a service vehicle.
This to me would suggest a PRIVATE operation with no AOC required.
One thing is certain; the aircraft will fly again and I believe it will be very successful for the owners/operator.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 309
From: Australia
Post # 89 ... the "poster" is suggesting a Helicopter operator maybe a part owner of the Belfast. Given the world wide nature of their operation, the Belfast would be a good choice.
A quick Wiki look at the aircraft would suggest a purpose built military aircraft with a floor designed to take Tanks.
I'm guessing this would be ideal for a bunch of fire fighting Bell 214's ??? and Refuelling vehicles, spare parts and a service vehicle.
This to me would suggest a PRIVATE operation with no AOC required.
One thing is certain; the aircraft will fly again and I believe it will be very successful for the owners/operator.
A quick Wiki look at the aircraft would suggest a purpose built military aircraft with a floor designed to take Tanks.
I'm guessing this would be ideal for a bunch of fire fighting Bell 214's ??? and Refuelling vehicles, spare parts and a service vehicle.
This to me would suggest a PRIVATE operation with no AOC required.
One thing is certain; the aircraft will fly again and I believe it will be very successful for the owners/operator.
Fully loaded with choppers, ground support equipment and all the rest of it and it goes U/S in a foreign country!
The owner will require extremely deep pockets!
Commercial risk? Obviously nothing!
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 4
From: melbourne
a positive cheerful and proactive lot to be found here !
the slowest aircraft is still an order of magnitude faster than a boat
how did HARS manage the intragranular corrosion on the constellation?....that had decades worth of corrosive bird crap in it when they recovered it ....corrosion is always a possibility in any aircraft but its not an inevitability.
anyway the Belfast was only buillt in 1964 so its only midlife by Australian GA standards ....being a such a specialized aircraft it probably doesn't have that many hours on it either.
guess who ultimately pays for all these contract fire fighting helicopters?
its probably the only civilian aircraft capable of doing this...there would be extra $$$ for the operators in being able to get from one fire season to the next ASAP
Would it get there in time.....It wasn't known as the Belslow for no reason....
Think your dreaming.
The engines wouldn’t be the main problem as they could be overhauled, whereas removing the intergranular corrosion in the airframe might present some structural problems, together with a lot of other problems such as old hoses, wiring and seals.
It would be great to see it be dismantled and moved to an aviation museum
The engines wouldn’t be the main problem as they could be overhauled, whereas removing the intergranular corrosion in the airframe might present some structural problems, together with a lot of other problems such as old hoses, wiring and seals.
It would be great to see it be dismantled and moved to an aviation museum
anyway the Belfast was only buillt in 1964 so its only midlife by Australian GA standards ....being a such a specialized aircraft it probably doesn't have that many hours on it either.
What could possibly go wrong?
Fully loaded with choppers, ground support equipment and all the rest of it and it goes U/S in a foreign country!
The owner will require extremely deep pockets!
Commercial risk? Obviously nothing!
Fully loaded with choppers, ground support equipment and all the rest of it and it goes U/S in a foreign country!
The owner will require extremely deep pockets!
Commercial risk? Obviously nothing!
its probably the only civilian aircraft capable of doing this...there would be extra $$$ for the operators in being able to get from one fire season to the next ASAP
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 278
From: Melbourne, Victoria
It must be cleaned up at least a little if the owner is showing folks like Dave Soderstrom around:
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/progra...port/102881228
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/progra...port/102881228
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 191
From: australia
All hats off to those who have the business foresight and $ to go with it to refurb and put Hector to good use.
Better for it to be worn out with use than to be reduced to scrap.
I look fwd to some pix of it back in the air soon and read about it’s chopper shifting travels.
Go well, Hector !!
Better for it to be worn out with use than to be reduced to scrap.
I look fwd to some pix of it back in the air soon and read about it’s chopper shifting travels.
Go well, Hector !!
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32
Likes: 2
From: North-West of Watford
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 495
Likes: 163
From: Port Moresby
G-CLAW, yes it is, although hardly recognised as an aircraft. Still registered in Fred Marten's brothers name.
Rotted out, holes from corrosion, head towards to Belfast, the Chieftain is in the rubbish dump.
Rotted out, holes from corrosion, head towards to Belfast, the Chieftain is in the rubbish dump.
Joined: Feb 2006
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 36,137
Likes: 5,738
From: Falling off the end of the thread
Think your dreaming.
The engines wouldn’t be the main problem as they could be overhauled, whereas removing the intergranular corrosion in the airframe might present some structural problems, together with a lot of other problems such as old hoses, wiring and seals.
It would be great to see it be dismantled and moved to an aviation museum.
The engines wouldn’t be the main problem as they could be overhauled, whereas removing the intergranular corrosion in the airframe might present some structural problems, together with a lot of other problems such as old hoses, wiring and seals.
It would be great to see it be dismantled and moved to an aviation museum.
I wonder if this is linked to the sale of 3 ex German C-160's, and a large number of spares to Australia? Of course both share the same engines, could be completeley unconnected of course.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 4,330
Likes: 485
From: England
There is one in a museum in UK. I reckon the chances of getting that airborne are better than Hector. After all, the UK one has spent some 15 years in a hangar, and possibly more before that.
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 278
From: Melbourne, Victoria
