Australian Aviation Museum News Review (www.aamb.com.au)
Tell Him He’s Dreamin’
Channel 7 Sydney’s most popular weekly TV Show, Packed To the Rafters recently featured a scene in which actor Michael Caton, who plays Ted Taylor in the show, has a dream in which he enacts his ambition to perform a parachute jump !
The aircraft used for this sequence was the Museum’s mobile Nomad aircraft. Channel 7 took the Nomad away for a week, repainted one side (it is normally camouflaged) and shot the parachute jump with Michael. The Nomad was repainted again in camouflage livery and returned intact to the Museum.
Handover of former RAAFA Parramatta Branch Trophy to the Australian Aviation Museum
RAAFA Richmond Branch Secretary Lou Ehrler handing over the Trophy to Curator Trevor Dean, with Museum Volunteers Christine and Paul Ewoldt, who were also involved with the Trophy handover, in attendance.
Having Fun with Vodka
Award winning advertising agency Apollo Marketing was commisioned to produce a video presentation for Absolut Vodka, who are launching a new promotion where customers who buy 2 bottles of their Vodka will receive a free cabin suitcase !
The "tongue in cheek" style presentation was produced for Absolut sales staff around Australia in the Museum's 747-400 Film Set, ideal for Sales Promotions, TV Commercials, Digital Stills, etc.
Restoration of Junkers W33 Floatplane Replica completed
The replica Junkers W33 was constructed in 1984 for the ABC to televise a documentary on the story of this aircraft's dramatic arrival in Australia in 1932. The documentary, entitled "Flight Into Hell" tells of how the aircraft was sent to Australia primarily to promote the German Junkers Aircraft. Unforunately for the Pilot and Engineer they became lost en route to Darwin, and were forced to make an emergency landing in the Kimberleys region. Somehow they managed to remove a float from the aircraft (the floats are extremely heavy) and turn it into a boat before being rescued !
The restoration was for an Advertising agency who had been commissioned by a German Luggage Manucturing Company who want to use it for the cover of their new product catalogue.
Sincere thanks to the many wonderful Volunteers who gave up a great deal of free time to make the short deadline required to complete the project.
Boeing 727 Freighter Cockpit Joins The Collection
MiG 29 Quarter Scale Replica Under Restoration
Enjoying a break from their usual very busy duties in our extensive aviation library, Christie Matts and Percy Lyell are hard at work restoring our "Mini MiG", shown here replacing the cockpit canopy. Other work will include restoring the electronics, which feature flashing lights, machine gun sounds and a jet engine simulation !
Great work guys
Spitfire Association visit to the Fleet Air Arm Museum
Members of the Spitfire Association recently paid a visit to the Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra. AAM Curator and Spitfire Association Member Trevor Dean was among the group.
Fleet Air Arm Museum Manager Terry Hetherington
Manager Terry Hetherington hosted a wonderful with a tour of the Museum Displays, RAN Historic Fleet Aircraft and a personal tour of the Navy Helicopter Fleet, culminating in a personal inspection of the Navy’s latest Helicopter, the massive MRH90 Taipan (below).
Among the Spitfire Association group was Nat Gould, an amazing character who has the distinction of serving as a Fighter Pilot in both the RAAF and the RAN ! Nat flew 34 different aircraft, including Helicopters. His log books show 350 hours in several Marks of Spitfires and 213 hours in the Naval version, the Seafire !
During the our of the Fleet Air Arm Museum Nat was able to identify 3 aircraft he had actually flown, a Sea Fury, Sea Venom and a Gannet !
Son Visits His Late Father's Aircraft
Qantas 737 Pilot Owen Zupp paid a visit to the Camden Museum of Aviation recently to see two aircraft once flown by his late father Phil, an RAAF Fighter Pilot in the Korean War. One aircraft was a Meteor, the other a Vampire. Owen identified the aircraft in Phil Zupp's Log Book, and was a little overcome with emotion as he looked into the cockpits !
In 2010 Owen flew a Jabiru Light Aircraft solo around Australia to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The photo below shows Owen with one of the aircraft, a de Havilland Vampire.
WWII Diorama
Dedicated Volunteers Mark Freeman and Roger Gallagher are progressing well on their terrific Bofors Gun Diorama. There were four camouflaged Bofors Guns in place around Bankstown Airport during WWII to defend it in the event of a Japanese attack. The whole airfield was camouflaged to appear from the air to be a farm, with fake animals such as chickens and ducks spread around. Fortunately the attack never came.
The Bofors Gun was loaned to the Museum by Qantas Captain Alan Bishop, whose father in law was a former Bofors Gunner, and is in as new condition. Museum Volunteer Neville Bryce actually manned one of the Bofors based on the airfield as a 17 year old Army Gunner.
