Warbird Information Exchange

VOLUNTEERS have branded the State Government’s decision to sell one of its assets on loan to the Queensland Air Museum another ``low blow’’ to the Caloundra organisation.

The decision follows years of fear state and local governments would force the museum to close or move due to a previous proposal to close the Caloundra Airport.

It also follows the Federal Government’s decision to refuse the volunteer group’s request for an F-111.

This week the Spitfire LZ844 was removed from the Queensland Air Museum (QAM), its home for the past four years. Its owner, Aviation Australia (AA), whose sole shareholder is the State Government, sold the World War II aircraft to a private buyer in the UK.

Acting museum president Ron Cuskelly said he was disappointed QAM was never given the chance to buy the Spitfire.

“It’s not the sort of money we could afford, but with a Spitfire you would hope to attract a sponsor,’’ he said.

Mr Cuskelly said he was surprised about the sale as the museum was expecting to have it for five years.

QAM community relations manager Tony Iozzi said the sale was a slap in the face to the selfless efforts of the museum’s volunteers.

“The Premier often refers to the museum as iconic, with some affection, but Aviation Australia has taken away one of the museum’s major exhibits,’’ he said.

Mr Iozzi said people would line up for 20 minutes just to sit in the Spitfire’s cockpit.

Member for Caloundra Mark McArdle questioned why the aircraft had been sold to an overseas buyer.

“It seems to be a shallow victory when we’re denying people on the Sunshine Coast and Queensland access to a great piece of history,’’ he said.

In documents obtained by the Journal, Employment, Skills and Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said because the Spitfire had no training value it would be sold so contemporary training aids could be bought. The Spitfire was originally bought as a training tool.

Mr Hinchliffe said AA had canvassed potential buyers in Australia but none met the terms of sale.