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KS-3
WACKETT - CROPMASTER VH-AJH
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41
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Built as a CA-6 Wackett Trainer by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, Fishermens Bend, Melbourne. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A3-49
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20SEP41
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Taken on RAAF charge as A3-49 at No 1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton, Vic. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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07OCT41
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Received at the Central Flying School, Point Cook, Vic ex 1AD. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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21JUN43
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Damaged in a forced landing near Mendooran, NSW due to engine failure. Aircraft held in a damaged condition at No 5 Elementary Flying Training School, Narromine, NSW. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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11SEP43
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Received 5EFTS Narromine ex CFS. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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25OCT43
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Issued to Ansett Airways, Mascot, NSW ex 5EFTS for overhaul. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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03AUG44
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Received at No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown ex Ansett Airways, Mascot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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09AUG44
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Received at No 3 Wireless Air Gunners School, Maryborough, Qld ex 2AP. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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01OCT44
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Received at No 8 Operational Training Unit ex 3WAGS for storage at Narromine. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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08JAN45
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Received at 8EFTS, Narrandera, NSW ex Narromine for storage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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01JUN45
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Allotted to Care and Maintenance Unit, Narrandera ex 8EFTS, Narrandera. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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31AUG45
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Offered for disposal through Commonwealth Disposals Commission. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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19NOV45
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Sold
to J.T. Brown, Kew, Vic for £205. J.T. Brown was Manager of Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Mascot and the Wackett was among a large number of RAAF disposals aircraft purchased by the company for conversion to civil aircraft in the immediate postwar period. |
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| John T. Brown OBE purchased 98 of the 134 Wacketts which were offered for sale by CDC in late 1945. John Brown and his family purchased the defunct Kingsford Smith Aviation Service Pty. Ltd. which had been founded at Mascot in 1933 by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. (Source: 1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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14DEC45
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Issued to purchaser. Total airframe time with the RAAF was 632 hours. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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45
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A3-49 was ferried from Narrandera to Mascot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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17JAN46
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First flown at Mascot after a Certificate of Airworthiness overhaul by Marshall Airways for KSAS. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VH-AJH
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21JAN46
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CofA issued as VH-AJH to Kingsford Smith Aviation Service Pty. Ltd., Mascot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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11FEB46
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Flown from Mascot to Archerfield. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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22FEB46
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Returned to Mascot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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46
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Logs indicate almost daily flying from Mascot, probably on flying training duties with Kingsford Smith Flying Service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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03APR46
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Added to the Register as VH-AJH (retrospectively). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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15JAN47
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Last flight before being withdrawn from service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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20JAN47
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CofA expired and was not renewed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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19DEC47
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Struck off Register. Stored at Mascot and later Bankstown when KSAS moved there. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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48
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KSAS moved to Bankstown when DCA requested that all general aviation activities vacate Mascot. (Source: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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22JUL53
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Registration application from Kingsford Smith Aviation Service Pty. Ltd., Bankstown Airport, Sydney, NSW. Test flown at Bankstown on same day after CofA overhaul. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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24JUL53
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CofA renewed. Logs indicate that the aircraft was flown almost daily, probably on flying training duties with Kingsford Smith Flying Service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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13JUN54
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Last flight before being withdrawn from service at Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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23JUL54
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CofA lapsed and was not renewed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MAR57
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Converted to a Kingsford Smith KS-1 Cropmaster by KSAS at Bankstown. A hopper was installed in the forward cockpit. The windscreen and overturn pylon were relocated to the aft cockpit. The aircraft was painted black, yellow and white. The name Cropmaster was taken from a popular David Brown tractor by Bill Smith of KSAS. (Source: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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26MAR57
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Test flown by Peter Brown (John Brown's son). (Source: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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04APR57
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Next test flight at Bankstown. A series of test flights ensued with the aircraft modified into various agricultural configurations as KS-1, KS-2 and KS-3. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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APR57
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The KS-1 uplifted a payload of 650 pounds during a 20 minute test flight. DCA required the pilots to wear a parachute during development flying. (Source: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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12APR57
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Test flown at Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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18APR57
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Test flown at Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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21JUN57
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Test flown at Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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28JUN57
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Test flown at Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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04JUL57
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Test flown at Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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26JUL57
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Last test flight of the series. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AUG57
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The seat and rudder controls were modified, a new hopper and louvre box were fitted and the flap motor was deleted. It is assumed that this is when the aircraft was redesignated as a KS-2. (Source: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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08AUG57
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Inspection at Bankstown prior to renewal of CofA as a KS-3 Cropmaster. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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10JAN58
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Next flight at Bankstown. Test flight for CofA issue. CofA issued same day. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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17JAN58
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Commenced extensive agricultural flying at Armidale, Walcha and Tamworth in NSW. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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17JAN58
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A fire in the KSAS hangar at Bankstown (presumably after VH-AJH had departed) destroyed or damaged several aircraft. (Source: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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24JAN58
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Returned to Bankstown after what was probably a demonstration tour. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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03MAR58
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Engine removed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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08AUG58
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KSAS formed an associate company, Yeoman Aviation Pty. Ltd. to produce and market agricultural aircraft. The Directors were J.T. Brown, Bill Smith and Peter Brown. Yeoman purchased some Wacketts and spares from KSAS. (Source: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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21NOV58
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Replacement Scarab engine fitted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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11DEC58
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Next flight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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13DEC58
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Next flight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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16DEC58
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Next flight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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09JAN59
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CofA expired and was not renewed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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19MAR59
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Registration application from Yeoman Aviation Pty. Ltd., Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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15MAY59
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Test flown at Bankstown after CofA renewal overhaul by Yeoman. The aircraft was fitted with spray bars. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VH-AJH was painted in a "more pleasant green" and grey in the same scheme as the earlier KS-3s. Bill Smith had chosen the colours from the contemporary Austin Freeway range for the earlier KS-3s, two of which were painted two tone green while the other two were painted the darker green and grey. (Source: 1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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20MAY59
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Further test flying at Bankstown. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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22MAY59
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CofA renewed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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24MAY59
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Departed Bankstown on a ferry flight to Perth, WA. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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29MAY59
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Arrived at Maylands Aerodrome, Perth on delivery to Air Culture Pty. Ltd. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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23JUN59
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Commenced regular agricultural operations in WA with Air Culture Pty. Ltd. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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06AUG59
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Forced landing at Mingenew, WA en route Maylands to Yandanooka due weather. The pilot was W.G. Boulden of Air Culture. The aircraft was not damaged. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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01SEP59
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Last flight for the season. Aircraft withdrawn from service at the end of the 1959 season. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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09MAY60
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Test flown at Maylands after CofA renewal overhaul in Air Culture's Maylands hangar by Yeoman Aviation's Chief Engineer, J. McConnell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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22JUN60
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Commenced regular agricultural flying for the 1960 season. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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24AUG60
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Last flight for the season. Aircraft withdrawn from service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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23JUN61
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Test flown at Maylands after CofA renewal overhaul by Air Culture at Maylands. During this overhaul, the aircraft was fitted with the tailplane from KS-3 VH-FBE. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JUN61
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Commenced regular agricultural flying for the 1961 season. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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11AUG61
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Last flight for the season. Aircraft withdrawn from service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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31DEC61
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The Department of Civil Aviation became concerned with the wooden KS-3 Wackett-Cropmaster due to deterioration of their wood/glue construction, particularly in the mainplane. An Air Navigation Order was issued grounding these aircraft from 31DEC61 unless they had been converted to an approved Yeoman Aviation "metalisation" programme. Air Culture planned to send their remaining KS-3s to Bankstown for this conversion in late 1961 but delays in producing components by Yeoman due to their work effort in developing the new all-metal YA-1 Cropmaster 250 caused major delays in the KS-3 "metalisation" programme. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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29DEC61
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W.G. Boulden of Air Culture advised DCA that the conversion of his two KS-3s, VH-AJH and VH-FBD, would not be ready in time due to Yeoman's delays and urgently requested that VH-AJH be allowed to continue unconverted for 3 months to do spraying in the Jerramungup district. This was agreed to by DCA and the CofA for VH-AJH was renewed on a limited basis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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05FEB62
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Next flight after which regular agricultural flying resumed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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06MAR62
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Flew from Geraldton to Maylands. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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21MAR62
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W.G. Boulden of Air Culture again requested DCA approval for an extension of the CofA for VH-AJH due to the loss of Air Culture's Cessna 180 VH-KIH combined with the late delivery of their YA-1 Cropmaster 250 VH-CYW from Yeoman in Sydney. DCA approved the continued use of VH-AJH in agricultural operations until the delivery of VH-CYW to Perth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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22MAY62
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Last flight. Withdrawn from service and stored in the Air Culture hangar at Maylands. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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22JUN62
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VH-AJH reverted to Private Category from Airwork Category after the delivery of YA-1 VH-CYW. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SEP62
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W.G. Boulden of Air Culture advised DCA that VH-AJH was under conversion at Maylands to a standard two-seat Wackett which will be used to ferry pilots. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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16MAY63
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Test flown by W.G. Boulden at Maylands for CofA in Private Category. Hopper now removed, rear seat installed and sliding canopy fitted. Subsequently VH-AJH was flown regularly, probably in support of Air Culture's agricultural field operations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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31JUN63
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Maylands Aerodrome closed and Air Culture moved their operations to Guildford. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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20NOV63
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Last flight for the season. Aircraft parked at Perth Airport (Guildford). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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08APR64
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Next flight. This was probably the ferry flight from Perth Airport to Perth's secondary airport at Jandakot where Air Culture had built a hangar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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15APR64
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Next flight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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16APR64
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Final flight. Total Time: 1668:30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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14MAY64
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CofA expired and was not renewed. The aircraft was stored in the back of the Air Culture hangar at Jandakot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AUG64
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Air Culture began a CofA renewal overhaul. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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17DEC64
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The overhaul was completed but the aircraft was not flown and the CofA renewal was not proceeded with. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JUN66
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Air Culture advised DCA that the aircraft is under a slow inspection for CofA renewal but there is "no urgency" with the job. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NOV66
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Air Culture advised DCA that the overhaul has been completed but problems with the radio equipment had caused flight tests to be delayed and that the aircraft has a "low priority" with the company. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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05SEP67
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Ownership finally transferred to Air Culture Pty. Ltd., Perth. (Ownership finally changed due to the previous owner, Yeoman Aviation Pty. Ltd. of Sydney, going into liquidation. A report in June 67 stated that VH-AJH was owned by the liquidator of Yeoman Aviation Pty. Ltd. As Air Culture Pty. Ltd. was a shareholder, and Boulden a Director of Yeoman, ownership transferred to Air Culture officially). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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12OCT67
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Registration application by Air Culture Pty. Ltd., Perth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MAR68
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CofA renewal not proceeded with due lack of a suitable buyer. Air Culture had no use for the aircraft so it continued to be stored in their hangar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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19NOV68
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Struck off the Register. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DEC69
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Air Culture Pty. Ltd. went into liquidation. VH-AJH was sold at an auction in their Jandakot hangar to Carol Guthrie of Cowaramup, WA. Guthrie also bought some Wackett spares at the auction and took them to a property at Cowaramup but left VH-AJH in storage in the Air Culture hangar at Jandakot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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APR70
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LAME Peter Hutch submitted conversion drawings for VH-AJH to DCA on behalf of the new owner Guthrie. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SEP70
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Guthrie traded Auster J/4 VH-PJN plus the Wackett VH-AJH "as is" to Civil Flying Services (WA) Pty. Ltd., Jandakot on Auster J/5G Autocar VH-KCG. The Wackett remained in the old Air Culture hangar at Jandakot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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16MAR71
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The Wackett was purchased from CFS by the Air Force Association (WA Division) Inc of Perth. VH-AJH remained stored in the old Air Culture hangar with the permission of the new owner of the hangar, Sir Thomas Wardle, who housed his Baron VH-WBR there also. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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02JAN72
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AFA Aviation Historical Group members visited the farm of Carol Guthrie to retrieve Moth Minor VH-THT which had been donated to the group. They also retrieved the Wackett parts held by Guthrie. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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15DEC73
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VH-AJH was moved out of the Wardle hangar at Jandakot when storage space was no longer available. The aircraft was parked on the grassed area opposite the hangar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JAN74
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Mainplane upper surfaces which had been stripped of fabric for inspection some years earlier were recovered with fabric by AFA-AHG members (including Geoff Goodall and Roger McDonald) working in the open on the grass at Jandakot. The aircraft remained parked in the open at Jandakot in various positions over the next two years although for several months it was housed in the Hawker de Havilland hangar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SEP75
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The rudder was torn off by a wind gust. By this time the aircraft had deteriorated in the weather. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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29JAN76
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The aircraft was dismantled at Jandakot and moved to the Air Force Association's Bateman Estate for storage. At first it was stored under tarpaulins in an open compound but was later moved into a shed on the Estate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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79
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Displayed in the newly opened Air Force Association Aviation Museum restored in a blue and red colour scheme with large Air Culture titles down the fuselage sides. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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20MAY08
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The Aviation Heritage Museum agreed to sell the aeroplane to Greg Ackman. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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09JUL08
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Loaded into a container at Bull Creek, WA. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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17JUL08
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Arrived at QAM, Caloundra by road. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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