RAAF Richmond Flying Club

[Gne]

I'm assisting the team assembling a static display focused on memories of an ex RAAF member as a means of highlighting veterans issues and hopefully win awards at a major horticultural show. The designers have located a PA-28 which has "RAAF Richmond Flying Club" on the fuselage. Not too sure of the rego but it looks like TBZ - I'll update in a couple of days when I have a chance to look at the airframe.

Anybody out there have any information on the history of the aircraft, particularly names of folk from the 1983 and earlier period with RAAF connections who may be able to contribute to the story?

Gne

[KRviator]

Not TPZ is it?

Photo courtesy of the Derelict Aircraft Preservation Group FB page

[Gne]

Certainly is. Any history or info? The Landscaper has made arrangements to use the airframe but I'm looking for background and contacts who may have flown it to help with assembling and verifying memorabilia for the static display.

Gne

[Hercfix]

It was flying in the Richmond club in 2005. It was involved in a taxing incident removing one of its undercarriage and subsequent prop strike.

[Gne]

Thanks.

Do you have any contacts who may have been in the Club around the mid 1980's?

Gne

[Clinton McKenzie]

I was a member from about ‘86, but don’t remember much about that aircraft. My logbook shows some time in a different PA 28 (BYE). Most of my time in Club aircraft was in Comanche 260B - AZK - flown with 3 other RAAFies in the Bicentennial Round Australia Air Race. Dave McKinnon (then WNG CDR), Alex Archer (then SQN LDR), me (a nobody) plus one other, whose name escapes me, were the team. Haven’t kept in contact with them, though.

Merv Mudge might have been a good source of info as he was at Richmond at the time (we were both posted in at the same time for the same project in ‘81) but he tragically passed away in a Jabiru forced landing last year.

Jon Johanson at a stretch? My recollection is that he owned/part owned the Comanche. That’s when I met him. I think he was working as a nurse in the Richmond area at the time.

[Gne]

Thanks Clinton.

I thought Murray Warfield (ex QF and 33SQN) may have been involved but (he tells me) OiC Home Command (at the time) wouldn't approve him joining.

Gne