Props & mags DECEMBER 2014 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AVIATION MUSEUM 66 LIPSON STREET, PORT ADELAIDE P.O. BOX 150, PORT ADELAIDE, SA 5015. PHONE (08) 8240 1230 http://www.saam.org.au MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR I wish to take this opportunity to thank all our members for their participation in an eventful and prosperous 2014.The museum has undergone some significant changes for the better, both in presentation and organization and we go from great to greater and ultimately to greatest. This couldn t happen without your support and tireless efforts. In getting to be the greatest we need to be careful not to become victims of our own success. We need to remember that we are becoming an increasingly complex and demanding business and, in the absence of paid staff, the demands on all of us are escalating. Our public recognition is soaring as a result of John Roberts huge marketing and promotional efforts, our redesigned website, our increasing inroads on social media, significant new acquisitions including the F-111 and Smith brothers memorabilia, new display boards and display space... and of course the success of our own special events and those we have participated in such as the Port Festivals and the Vintage Boats, Trains and Planes Festival. Increased public recognition, as well as driving more people through the door and resulting in our extraordinary 15% increase in total income last year, means more and more requests for our participation in outside events. And not only to participate in them but also to participate at a higher level. That means we need to consider doing more than setting up our shop and passing out brochures. We need to consider mounting exhibits and running engines too at some events all while continuing to ensure the Museum itself continues to tick over like the Swiss watch it has become. Cont d
S.A.A.M. COMMITTEE MUSEUM PATRON: THE HON. ALEXANDER DOWNER AC Dates for your diary.. GENERAL MEETING 17 JANUARY 2015 at 1.00pm This will be preceded by a BBQ LUNCH at 12 noon - Cost $5.00 HISTORY GROUP MEETING at 10.30am COMMITTEE MEETING 8th JANUARY 2015 PRESIDENT: PIETER VAN DYK VICE PRESIDENT DAVID BYRNE TREASURER: JOHN HILLIER SECRETARY: MIKE MILLN COLLECTIONS MANAGER PAUL DAW COLLECTIONS MANAGER AIRCRAFT WAYNNE LEE MEMBERSHIP ROD KOPP PUBLIC RELATIONS JOHN ROBERTS WORKSHOP MANAGER GRAHAM BELL On top of that, public recognition is increasing demands on us as a venue for others events. Not only kids birthday parties, but weddings, receptions, corporate lunches and parties too some of which require us to be open at night. So, taking advantage of these opportunities to increase our revenues - needed to fund building expansion and new acquisitions to our collection - will take careful thought and management. We have made a start by expanding our non-elected task list to create five new Event Coordinator pairs who, hopefully, will take on the burdens involved in managing our participation in various events. However, this will also require members being prepared to continue the extraordinary efforts they are currently making, and more members being willing to step up to the plate. Otherwise we will be faced with something we generally haven t been before the need to say no to some opportunities! Once again, thank you, and I wish you all and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and happy New Year. Pieter van Dyk PRESIDENT SAAM s 2014 CHRISTMAS DINNER Members and their Partners who attended the 2014 Xmas dinner held on Saturday 6th December at the Museum would have to admit that it was a great opportunity to catch up at a wonderful Christmas spirited venue. (pictures page 4) During the evening Vice President David Byrnes presented well deserved Life membership awards to both Pieter Van Dyk and Langdon Badger. While President Pieter van Dyk presented Awards to the 2014 recipients. Unfortunately, Members absent on the evening but who also received awards were: Volunteer of the Year - Walter Hill for his work with members on the new POS machine and, Bob Pratt for his work on the Anson. A Certificate of Appreciation was also awarded to Edward, our Northern Volunteer floor cleaner. Once again, our thanks to John Roberts and his band of helpers for putting it all together 2
Below: Langdon Badger acknowledging his Life Membership Award Vice President David Byrne announcing the recipients of this years Life Membership Awards President Pieter van Dyk acknowledging his Life Membership Award Left to right John Tartoosie for the BBQ s James Rogers for his efforts in relation to cockpit instruments Left to right Alan Dixon for his efforts on the Fairey Battle Jean Kopp for her efforts with the Newsletter 3
4 2014 CHRISTMAS DINNER.
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS JOHN BOSWELL No. 445 NEVIN CHILDS No 446 RUSSELL O BRIEN No. 441 XIAO YANG No. 444 ZEXIN (Eric) ZHANG No. 447 REVISION OF MEMBERS HANDBOOK The Members Handbook has been revised. For those of you who receive your Newsletter by email the attached pdf file titled Members Handbook Changes refers to necessary alterations that have been made to your current copy of the Handbook. Please keep this amendment for future reference purposes. A complete amended copy of the Handbook is now available in pdf file form and can be forwarded by email to those who request it. 6
WING TIPS WORKERS 2 ---- MURPHY NIL The workers on the Battle and Anson recently kicked a goal each and so far Murphy hasn t intervened. Doesn t mean that either group won t get a red card and go backwards for a while. We are used to that. The Battlers are busily riveting on doublers before the centre section floor sheeting is installed. Meanwhile the Anson Crew have re-aligned the trailing edge section and re-installed it. The port cowl rails are nearly finished and trial fits have taken place. Every now and then Paul stops all that heavy metal bashing and crashing and ventures down to the Anson area, mutters to himself, does a few chin rubs and wanders off. For those not in the loop the Friendship wing is to be relocated on the wall adjacent to the Anson. Paul is making some heavy metal stuff to accomplish this. Everybody has an opinion on how to get the wing in there including moving the Anson sideways or removing the port wing or both! Probably all methods will work but I can already hear the critics now with the odd comment. I wouldn t have done that! So whatever happens some of Jim s lovingly restored propellers will have to be moved and Anson restoration work halted for a while. Finally, we can now aim the forward firing machine gun in the Anson as we have a brand new ring and bead sight, thanks to THE MACHINE GUN, BEAD AND RING Russell. How the pilot expected to hit anything he was aiming at using this sight beggars belief. Take a look and if you are fit, agile and under 21, get into the cockpit and take a squiz at Russell s handiwork. Over and out Anson Crew, Battlers and other goal kickers! RUSSELL ALIGNS BEAD WHILE BARRY CHECKS ALIGNMENT A BLAST FROM THE PAST.. Extract from Props and Mags December/January Issue 1987 This is traditionally the time of the year to both look back over the year and view our successes (and our failures) and also to look forward with our hopes and aspirations. The past year has been marked with many milestones, including a change of premises, the Edinburgh Airshow, the purchase of a Winjeel and the slow but continuous progress with the Anson. 6
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AVIATION MUSEUM SIGNIFICANT AIRCRAFT PROFILES F27 FOKKER FRIENDSHIP Following WWII, the Douglas DC-3 could be found operating in most countries throughout the world, some 10,000 having been built between 1942 and 1945. They were readily available, as was their spare parts inventory. By the early 1950s, however, a number of western aircraft manufacturers and airline companies had begun examining the post WWII civil aviation markets and the aircraft types that could likely fulfil these requirements. PH-NIV, first prototype Fokker F27 Friendship taxiing prior to its first flight on 24 Nov 1955 lasting 34 mins. Four prototype were built, two for test flying and two for static and fatigue testing Among the manufacturers was the Fokker company located in the Netherlands near Schipol and named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. Although he had died in 1939, the company had maintained its aviation involvement that had begun prior to WWI. A steady stream of both military and civil aircraft had left Fokker production lines over the years. Types ranged from the Fokker DR-1 tri-plane, associated with Imperial Germany's legendary fighter pilot, Baron Manfred von Richtofen, to the Fokker F.VII-3m trimotor, known to most Australians as the "Southern Cross" in which Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith made the first Pacific crossing from the US to Australia. Interestingly, by 1938, Fokker was carrying out design work on the F24, a twin engine, high wing aircraft accommodating 36 passengers. With the outbreak of WWII in the following year, further development did not proceed. By 1951, Fokker had recommenced design work on a 32 seat aircraft as a prospective DC-3 replacement. The design incorporated new technologies, as Fokker had sought the views of numerous DC-3 operators regarding features they felt would enhance the new model. In mid 1952, Fokker established a relationship with the North American firm Fairchild that took an option on a licence to build the forthcoming aircraft in the US. This proved to be a beneficial move by Fokker, as it gave it access to a large market normally dominated by US manufacturers. Fokker chose Rolls Royce Dart turboprops to power the new aircraft, after originally considering Wright Cyclone piston engines. At this stage, the Darts were proving quite successful on the early Vickers Viscounts. A high wing was selected, as wind tunnel tests revealed a higher lift coefficient as opposed to a lower wing. The high wing arrangement had other advantages: it allowed passengers unfettered views and permitted easier loading by ground handlers due to the lower floor level. Although the high wing placement did require additional strengthening of the lower fuselage should a belly landing be required, no performance penalties resulted from the weight increase. Fokker was the first company to utilise a metal to metal bonding technique in the manufacture of the F27, in a step up from the De Havilland process of gluing metal to wood. It took some time before Fokker was able to overcome a number of obstacles to perfect the process, but it was justified by a 15 per cent lighter weight structure, longer fatigue life and improved aerodynamics. The name "Friendship" was announced in 1953 and the first of four prototypes flew in November 1955. 7
Initially airlines were slow in placing orders for the F27, although TAA (Trans Australia Airlines) did order six Friendships in 1956. The early foresight displayed by TAA marked the beginning of a long relationship between the airline and Fokker. TAA would eventually operate over 30 F27 aircraft of different Marks in its fleet. Fokker became reliant on funding from a number of banks and the Dutch government to maintain production until airline operators began showing more interest in this new entrant into civil aviation. Fokker's persistence began to pay off (quite literally) in 1960 as Friendship orders were received from numerous airlines. In fact, when production finally ended in 1986, a total of 592 F27s had been built at Schipol. Across the Atlantic, Fairchild, having taken out an option with Fokker in 1952, signed an agreement in April 1956 to build the F27 under licence in the USA. Subsequently, the first Fairchild F27 prototype flew in April 1958 and remained in production until July 1973. In 1964, the company underwent a name change, becoming the Fairchild-Hiller Corporation and subsequent aircraft were designated as the FH-227. When Fairchild-Hiller ceased production, a total of 206 F27/FH-227 aircraft had been built. An early advertisement for TAA an d its new prop-jet Friend ship. Pa rticula r attention seems to be drawn to the sw eep ing view s it provides courtesy of the high wing loca tion. Th e Air Ho stess unifo rm also reflects a p ast era. TAA's first Friendship, VH-TFB, arrived in Australia in April 1959, the first of almost 80 F27s that would operate across the nation. VH-TFB was a Mk100 model, seating 36 passengers, with a cruising speed of 230kts/425km/h at an altitude of 20,000ft. Its two 1630shp/1215kW Rolls Royce Dart R.Da6 Mk511 turbo prop engines were able to uplift a maximum takeoff (MTOW) weight of 16,210kg/35,700lb over a 675nm/1250km sector. Under dry and hot conditions, engine take off power could be augmented by direct water methanol injection. At the time of VH-TFBs arrival, Australian orders for F27s had increased to 18, with TAA ordering 12 and Ansett-ANA 6. TAA introduced their F27 fleet primarily on intrastate routes, with the aircraft soon earning passenger praise, no doubt due to shorter flight times and a cabin that was both pressurised and air conditioned. Tragically, TAA F27 VH-TFB, "Abel Tasman" would be lost on 10 June 1960 when it crashed into the sea off Mackay, Queensland. There were no survivors from the crew of 4 and 25 passengers. The aircraft had departed from Rockhampton, arriving at around 2030 (8.30 pm) but, due to fog, held over Mackay until 2200 (10.00 pm) when it commenced an approach. Nothing more was heard from the aircraft. A subsequent investigation was unable to make any final determination as to the cause. However, one recommendation arising from the enquiry was that passenger aircraft of F27 size and above should be equipped with flight data recorders. 8 Ansett F27-200 VH-MMR arriving Adelaide Airport in Jan 1978. The port engine is already shut down for disembarkation and loading staff are in position to load/unload freight and baggage before the next service
Despite the early setback due to TAA's loss of VH-TFB, F27 numbers steadily grew over the next three decades. Ansett-ANA F27s operated across the nation, through both its mainline and interstate subsidiary companies. Airlines of South Australia (ASA), the smallest airline subsidiary, after retiring its Convair 440 and DC-3 aircraft, reequipped with F27s, the first arriving in September 1966. With a fleet of four Friendships based at Adelaide airport, normal weekly scheduling would see their aircraft involved in: 1. RPT (Regular Public Transport) services to country centres, I.e. Port Lincoln, Kingscote, Mt Gambier etc; 2. Weekday charter flights to Moomba in the state s far north gas fields; Airlines of SA F27-200 VH-MMR The aircraft was originally ordered and operated by MacRobertson Miller Airlines in WA. Then by Airlines of NSW and finally by Airlines of SA. It last flew in 1988. 3. Night freighter flights (Mon-Thu) to Melbourne and return using F27 400 QC (Quick Change) aircraft; and 4. Weekend holiday flights to the New South Wales snow fields, Tasmanian scenic tours, Birdsville races etc. East-West F27-500 VH-EWP Over a 30-year span, East-West operated over 20 F27 aircraft, initially Mk100s then Mk500s Ansett-ANA's two other subsidiary airlines, Airlines of New South Wales (A-NSW) and MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA), operated along similar lines. However, their different geographic and demographic conditions necessitated larger F27 fleets. Another F27 operator, East West Airlines (EWA), was based at Tamworth in New South Wales. The airline commenced operating in June 1947 and over the next few years its fleet consisted of Avro Anson, DC-3 and Lockheed Hudson aircraft. As was the case with its competitors, EWA was also looking for an aircraft that could replace its ageing fleet. Its assessment also led it to select the F27, with the first aircraft, a Mk100 VH-EWA, arriving in Tamworth in August 1959. Over the years, EWA like other F27 operators, replaced its original aircraft with later models, which eventually saw it operate some 20 plus Friendships over a 30 year period. Throughout its production life the F27 underwent a number of modifications that were reflected in various Marks, commencing with the Mk100 through to the Mk800 for commercial operators. Fokker also adapted the F27 for either a troop carrying or maritime reconnaissance role. The majority of F27s that flew in Australia were Mk100, Mk200, Mk400QC, Mk500 and MK600QC. the fuselage was stretched 1.5m/5ft, enabling up to 52 passengers to be carried. Accordingly, the Rolls Royce Darts were upgraded to R.Da7 Mk536-7R of 2140shp/1595kW, with a MTOW of 20,800kg/45,900lb and a cruising speed of 254kt/470km/h. 9
TAA F27-600QC VH-TQP Both Ansett and TAA operated F27 QC (Quick Change) aircraft, generally Mk400 or Mk600 models. The enlarged freight door allowed both quicker removal of passenger seats and loading of either palletised or general freight. Although F27s were not built anywhere near DC-3 numbers, the F27 proved a worthy DC-3 replacement. Until the Friendship's arrival, most rural communities in Australia were being served by piston engine aircraft, their origin mostly predating WWII. The turbo prop F27, brought to Australia in 1959 by TAA, introduced much improved levels of efficiency in regard to faster flight times, passenger comfort and reliability. After a career spanning almost 30 years, most Australian operators had withdrawn their F27 aircraft from service by the late 1990s. Despite numerous improvements that saw other turbo props introduced after the F27s Australian career ended, the Fokker Friendship set standards for others to follow. Dean Robinson History Group member November 2014. Sources: Eric Allen, Airliners in Australian Service Vol 1 and 2. Peter J. Gates, Flightpath: "The Fokker F27 Friendship". Stewart Wilson, Ansett: The story of the rise and fall of Ansett 1936-2002. Samuel Brimson, Ansett. The story of an airline. To all those celebrating their birthday this month, we wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY and hope you have a great day. 10 11.