Following an exhaustive one and a half year interstate restoration effort, the HARS C54 is now ready for its flight to its new home at Illawarra Regional Airport, one hour south of Sydney.

HARS members have invested over 5,000 volunteer man hours and their own personal resources, to travel to Archerfield to prepare this aircraft for its first flight since 2001. The restoration has spanned the globe, from the HARS main base in Albion Park (NSW) to the deserts of Tucson, Arizona, where the team sourced and recovered an essential replacement outer wing.

The overhaul of equipment and instrumentation was performed locally by both HARS members and Australian aviation businesses.

The C54 (DC4) flight crew will travel to Archerfield next Monday (21st December 2009) on board the HARS C47 (DC3).  Both aircraft are expected to arrive back to the HARS Albion Park (NSW) base at 15:10 local and in doing so will create a unique moment with both the DC4 and DC3 in the air together – something not seen in Australia since the 1950’s.

The recovery/restoration project has enjoyed great support and assistance by many commercial businesses, including the Archerfield Airport Corporation.  HARS and the restoration team wish to thank all our sponsors for their continued support and we look forward to having this aircraft as part of our historical flying museum.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING FLIGHT TIMES

Visitors are welcome to attend both the departure and arrival, however, it is advised that due to weather and other unforeseen operational circumstances, the aircraft may not arrive at the scheduled time.

The return flight is subject to suitable weather conditions and operational safety concerns.

Please feel free to contact the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society receiption, should you wish to confirm the aircraft’s arrival on (02) 4257 4333.

Flight Itinerary

Departing Archerfield (Brisbane) 13:00 (Brisbane Local Time)

Arriving (Albion Park YWOL) 17:00 (Sydney Local Time)

Media Contacts

Brisbane Media – Mr Mike De La Hunty – Mobile: 0418 473 175

Sydney/Illawarra Media – Mr Benjamin Morgan – Mobile: 0415 577 724

HARS members Clive Gibbons, Don Binskin, Roy Finney, Ron McConville, Leon Smith, John Brownjohn, Henry Knight and Frank Purvis all worked hard to change the carby on engine No3, whilst also uploading more more fuel and chasing down the last of the electrical glitches.

Leon Jolly from SafeAir was also on hand to carry out the required prop AD’s and to replace the leaking prop seals on No’s 2 and 3. Leon set up his workshop in ATAE’s hangar and showed us how a prop overhaul is done.  Leon is a professional and soon had HARS member John Brownjohn and Mick O’Grady working well under his guidance.

Frank Bowden helped source the much needed lifting crane at minimal cost through the company that his son works for.   The crane company representative Peter Mc Carthy was excellent and took great interest in what we do.

With a prop feather pump, accelerator pump, distributor valve, vhf radio repair remaining, the HARS restoration team are just about ready to hand over to the flight crew for the return flight to Albion Park, NSW.

The DC4 recovery team are edging closer to flight with the retraction tests underway at Brisbane’s Archerfield Airport.  Many thanks to the Archerfield Airport Corporation for their ongoing support and sponsorship.  A range of adjustments have been made to the flaps, gear doors and systems, bringing the team closer to the goal of ferrying the HARS C54/DC-4 to its new home in Albion Park.  Great job guys and thanks to our sponsors for their ongoing support.

Due to the excessive rain and water, members occupied their time with the recovery of the DC-4 spares inventory.  With the assistance of some careful fork-lift operation in the mud by Jeff Bowen members managed to load Alan Lever’s Peterbuilt with Doherty Transport’s Trailer.  Thanks guys for your support.

Although the weather put a stop to work on the aircraft, many loose ends were tidied up in preparation for the next phase.  We all look forward to receiving news of the next update.