We have had four exciting aircraft join our lineup for this weekends Flying Days (10th & 11th April). David and Carolyn Salter’s Gypsy Moth has been in our Display Hangar for the last couple of weeks and you will be able to see it fly this weekend. Built in 1925, this aircraft is the oldest airworthy aircraft on the Australian register.

Alan Arthur has confirmed that he will be attending with his magnificent P-40 Kittyhawk, which is painted in the imposing Shark Teeth scheme. The P-40 will fly during the program on both Saturday and Sunday.

Three World War II era Harvards will conduct a formation display over the weekend. These aircraft are being provided by John Raynor, Doug Hamilton, and David and Carolyn Salter.

RAAF 4 Squadron are bringing two PC-9 aircraft for static display on Sunday. 4 Squadron operates PC-9s in the Forward Air Control role. 4 Squadron history includes the operation of Boomerangs during WWII in the Army cooperation role which was the precursor to Forward Air Control.

The weather forecast for Temora this weekend is for mostly sunny skies with mild temperatures. Here at Temora Aviation Museum we are busy preparing for a huge weekend. So pack up the family and come and join us for what promises to be an exciting Flying Weekend.

The Museum’s biggest Flying Day to date occurred on Saturday when visitors flocked to see two RAAF PC-9/A’s and 170 antique and classic aircraft belonging to members of the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia, as well as the Museum’s collection of historical airplanes.

Forward Air Control was the theme of the day on Saturday as we were joined by a large group of Forward Air Control pilots from the Vietnam era who were enjoying a week of reunion events including a visit to the Museum on Saturday. They were very excited to witness the Cessna O-2A, Cessna Dragonfly A37B, English Electric Canberra, T-28 Trojan and Cessna O-1 Birddog which re-created a Vietnam inspired Forward Air Control Mission. The RAAF PC-9/A’s that visited were from the Forward Air Control Development Unit based at Williamtown. The PC-9’s provided a modern Forward Air Control display which enhanced the Forward Air Control theme. One aircraft was displayed in the air while the other was on static display in the Display Hangar for visitors to enjoy.

The antique aeroplanes that joined us were both civil and military in type and were at the Museum to participate in the 32nd Annual Fly-In of the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia (AAAA). The AAAA’s are an organisation that are united in promoting the preservation, rebuilding and flying of old aeroplanes. They choose a different location every year for their Fly-In.

From the Museum aircraft collection visitors experienced the Wirraway, Spitfire Mk XVI, Spitfire Mk VIII, Boomerang, Vampire, Cessna O-2A, Dragonfly and Canberra as they flew over the skies of Temora. Joining the Museum aircraft in the sky were two Harvards, a Ryan, Austers, a Chipmunk, a Stearman, Lockheed 12A, a Kittyhawk, a Trojan, two Birddogs and Tom Moon’s Extra 300s.

Sunday’s Flying Day was rather trying as the weather was not on our side and rain limited the flying capabilities. However we were able to get through about 60% of our scheduled programme including the RAAF PC-9/A’s who displayed for the crowd and then departed back to Williamtown. We would like to thank all of our visitors that attended on Sunday and despite the inclement weather enjoyed the flying displays. Unfortunately weather is a difficult thing to predict, and although it didn’t benefit the Museum on Sunday, it was a welcome sight for our farming region which continues to endure drought.

ANZAC DAY NEWS

To participate in the remembrance of ANZAC Day the Museum aircraft conducted a flypast over the ANZAC Day Ceremony that was held at Temora’s Cenotaph. The Spitfire Mk VIII flown by Doug Hamilton and the Wirraway flown by Tom Moon were the two World War II aircraft which were involved in the flypast.

As a part of the ANZAC Day commemorations Seventeen Australian Forward Air Controllers received the United States Air Medal for their service in Vietnam at the Embassy of the United States of America in Canberra. This group of proud Australians have waited many years to receive the recognition for their efforts in Vietnam are we are immensely proud of all of them. Especially dear to our hearts are two of the medal recipients who are current Temora Historic Flight Club pilots, Bruce Wood and David Robson. Well done to you all and Thank You.

SABRE NEWS

Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter which will feature a full update of the progress that has been made with the RAAF Sabre which is being restored here at the Temora Aviation Museum.