Warbird Information Exchange

I think it is at 575 m.p.h. although I think it may be the civil version (Tu-114) that holds the record.

Don't know about your side of the pond, but we have had a problem with those pesky bears for a while now!!!







Persistant , aren't they!

Yep..and they've prodded our defenses as well over the past year. Alaska a few times..off Guam..a
coupla overflights of the Nimitz, not to mention NATO Europe probes your alluding to.

Do you think these Bears might be after our picanic baskets?

Except for the Avro Shackleton, most ruthlessly expensive foreign warbirds are imported for the purpose of fulfilling a lucrative govt. contract. There was a civilian B-57 (Canberra actually) at Oshkosh a few
years ago that been imported , as well as a Fairey Gannet for this reason.

A84-229 Mk.20 First flight 22/11/56. Delivered 23/04/57. Served with 2 Squadron based at Butterworth Malaysia. Noel Fenton reports "When Canberra A84-229 was at ARDU (1959), it was undergoing trials (deployed to Darwin) relating to the venting to atmosphere of the fuselage fuel tanks. Unfortunately, the test engineer (we used to call him NASA as at that time, everything NASA did, did not work) installed the vents incorrectly, ie., the wrong way around. During flight tests, instead of venting to atmosphere, No3 fuselage fuel tank was pressurised and expanded into the bomb-bay fouling the elevator and rudder control rods and caused the 'freezing' of control of the elevator and rudder. The pilot (a USAF Major on exchange to ARDU) landed the aircraft using the electric trim on both control surfaces. As well, the fuselage also 'expanded' giving what we called a Canberra with an 'area rule' fuselage. It was disassembled in Darwin and flown to Avalon in a Hercules for major repair and modification after which it was returned to ARDU. As well, I can recall the testing of the fitting of bomb hangers and supports (for 500 pound iron bombs) on the wing-tips in lieu of the tip-tanks to 229 in 1966. Initially, there were a few problems relating to stress at the wing-tip, but these were overcome. The bombs were dropped using the wing-tip fuel tank 'dump' button and was prior to Canberras being deployed to Vietman. There are many 'photo's of Canberras in Vietnam showing this fittment."

Struck off 1982 at Amberley. 06/82 allocated to RAAF museum in airworthy condition. In exchange for A84-229 Aero Nostalgia provided a Lockheed Ventura for the RAAF museum. Aero Nostalgia was unable to take delivery and it remained at Amberley from 1982 untill 1990 when Steve Picatti purchased it from Aero Nostalgia and ferried it to USA 08/08/90 as N20AN. Now N229CA. Returned to Australia to appear at the 1991 RAAF Richmond airshow, 1992 Avalon International Airshow and perform at the Adelaide Formula One Grand Prix on 05/11/92. Returned to USA during 03/93. Was subject of legal dispute and ownership changed to Tom Leek. Reportedly damaged when it suffered an accidental landing gear retraction whilst parked. Reports of it being grounded by FAA due to unqualified ground crew and maintenance issues. As unable to fly it out, wings and tailplane where removed and the aircraft was removed by road from Boise, Idaho during 1999. During wing removal substantial damage was done to centre section wing mounting bosses . This means 229 may not fly again.

Last report has it registered to Jack Stringer of California 28/03/00. Noted in Australian Aviation 11/04 as being parked in the GA area of Redding Airport, California as of 04/08/2004.

Must be a different aircraft. I thought the one Steve had was the one still in Florida. It is now part of a tech school and they want to get rid of it. Unless, Steve was involved with two,...