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I thought viewers here may be interested in two of the Australian National Aviation Museum's rare pre-war restorations.
Both are pre-war British designs from the VH-U## series of registrations that existed from 1929 to 1936, (prior to 1929 Australian aircraft used the uk allocated registrations of G-AU##, and in 1936 the consecutive VH-A## registrations were introduced).
Rare Desoutter II VH-UPR was restored to airworthy condition by a team led by AARG Life member Nelson Wilson and is currently on the register, UPR was first registered in December 1930, it is one of 3 surviving in the world, and 2 in Australia, the 3rd in flying in the shuttleworth collection.
http://www.aarg.com.au/DeSoutter.htm
The Australian National Aviation Museum acquired VH-UPR in derelict condition in the 1960's and it has been in storage for many years before being fully restored to airworthy condition by Life Member Nelson Wilson.
Quote:
Our aircraft VH-UPR was imported into Australia in 1930 and spent its early working life with Hart Aircraft Services at Essendon Airport. Hart Aircraft Services was the Australian distributor for Desoutter.
The museum’s Desoutter was used for charter work, pilot training and performed duties as an aerial taxi, flew out to meet and escort the entrants of the 1934 Air Race as they arrived over Melbourne, and took part in the search for the A.N.A. DH86 airliner “Miss Hobart” which disappeared over Bass Strait along with airline’s founder, Victor Holyman.
It passed through a total of 7 other owners including Victorinan and Interstate Airway Pty Ltd in 1937, its role during the Second World War is unknown, however, a photo found recently shows the aircraft with RAAF colours on the fin and what appears to be a camouflage paint scheme. Post war the aircraft passed through various owners eventually being found by AARG members in derelict condition at Parkes in N.S.W in the mid 1960's. It was rescued and brought to the museum and a meticulous restoration under the direction of our Life Member Nelson Wilson has seen the aircraft returned to its former glory, and flying condition.
Today our Desoutter is one of three examples surviving world wide, and the only survivor flying in the southern hemisphere, with a Desoutter mark I surviving in flying condition in the UK with the reknowned Shuttleworth Collection
In the RH lower corner of the first photo can be seen the fuselage of the museum's BA Swallow, Nelson's current project.
The Australian National Aviation Museum's BA Swallow is under current restoration to fly.
http://www.aarg.com.au/BASwallow.htmQuote:
The first of three Klemm L.25 Swallow aircraft arrived in Australia in 1929, while the first BK Swallow arrived in 1935, the first of a total 8 to eventually arrive, with the last 6 being BA Swallow II examples and the last arriving in 1937.
Our BA Swallow II, VH-UUM, was imported into Australia in 1935 by R.H.F. Hickson of Sydney. In 1939 it was sold J. Finch of Wiluna WA, and sold again in 1943 to L.G. Hancock of Mulga Downs, Roebourne WA.
L.G. Hancock, better known as the famous iron ore magnate Lang Hancock, discovered the world's largest deposits of Iron Ore in the Pilbera in WA in 1952, while flying with his wife in his Auster.
Sold by Lang Hancock in 1957, VH-UUM passed through 4 more owners until being donated to the museum by noted vintage aircraft enthusiast Bob Burnett-Reid in 1967.
As one of the earliest aircraft in the collection it has been in undercover storage throughout that time and is now under airworthy restoration under the direction of our Life Member Nelson Wilson.
Today our BA Swallow is one of two examples surviving in Australia, along with a Klemm L.25 Swallow, while 4 airworthy survivors exist in the UK.
Can anyone confirm other Klemm L.25 or BA Swallow survivors.
regards
Mark Pilkington
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