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Vol 16 No 3 2009 [Issue 71]
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In late June Matthew Denning took freshly rebuilt CA-12 Boomerang, A46-63, VH-XBL, aloft from Caboolture Airfield for a successful 20 minute flight. Having worked to this end since the partially restored airframe arrived in his shop in 2006; it was a proud moment, not only for Matt who has been instrumental in bringing Australia’s stop-gap fighter back to life, but for owners Jim Whalley and James Edwards. In this article Craig Justo takes a look at the long process that has seen another of Australia’s indigenous designs take to the air, and the accompanying air to air photos show that is just where it belongs!
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The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Lysander Mk III has taken to the skies for the very first time since the restoration started in 1983. This aircraft was manufactured in Canada and was rescued in 1973 from a wheat farm in Saskatchewan. Restoration began in the early 80s and this in depth article takes a look at the marathon of dedication and determination that has seen the aircraft return to the air. Doug Fisher’s lens has captured this lovely machine on one of its first sorties flown by Rick Rickards who also describes what the aircraft is like to fly. Finished in the striking high visibility ‘bumble bee’ target tug scheme which served a practical purpose then, and which will surely turn heads now!
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Two of Curtiss’s finest feature in this edition. Judy Pay’s P-40F is described, from the circumstances that led to its final flight, through to the aircraft’s recovery and resurrection. The long and sometimes frustrating journey to flight is complemented with period photos, pre and post recovery, restoration and of course those that feature her back we she belongs! Further to the north another, this time a more common Allison powered P-40N, has also returned to the air courtesy of Mike Spaulding’s ‘North Queensland Warbirds.’ Mike describes the elation of flying the aircraft for the first time intermingled with recollections of how he came to be in such a privileged position. |
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Our ‘mystery aircraft’ of the last edition is featured. The delightful mid wing monoplane was somewhat of a departure in design from what was being offered in the civilian sector in the late 1920s and although popular with builders of light, sporty aircraft, the wing placement was seen as controversial by the mainstream civilian market and the type never became popular. |
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