Things are moving along with the Vampire.  Mary Ellen Conrado out from the US to volunteer with HARS has done a great job on the fantastic work ably assisted by John Davis.

After further finishing work involving, among other things, applying reinforcing patches and tapes, then plan is to move the fuselage into hangars 2 & 3 for the application of the remaining coats of dope.  Once the silver dope is on, we will post further photos.

In the meantime, Australian Fuel Cells continue the work of manufacturing the new fuel bladders and the last of the critical NDI inspections have been completed.  Following installation of the fuel cells, the wings can be reattached and reassembly completed.

HARS tour guide and Lex McGowan award winner, Mr Glenn Owens, this week donated to the HARS museum a rare Government Aircraft Factory Turana radio controlled drone – serial number 22.

Developed from the Ikara anti-submarine missile, the Turana was intended to provide a parachute recoverable pilotless target for use in gunnery and missile defence training by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with a small gas turbine Microturbo 022-01 jet engine with a booster rocket for launch from a warship’s Ikara missile launcher. Prototypes were built in the late 1960s by the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF). In 1971, the RAN ordered twelve Turana targets at a cost of $1.183 million from GAF despite the fact that trials had not yet been completed. Turana Technical Evaluation Trials were conducted by HMAS Swan (III) in February 1978. Failures exposed during this period involved redesign work costing an additional $3.40 million. The Turana project was subsequently cancelled by the federal government in September 1979.

Many thanks to Glenn for his kind donation.

April 14th, 2010 will see the much anticipated Southern Cross wing arrive to the HARS restoration workshops.  On its arrival it will be unloaded into the Museum hangar where it will undergo detailed examination by the restoration engineers.  Having been damaged on its last flight, the large and delicate timber wing requires repairs to the outer 20 ft of its span.  Following its repair it will be re-mated to the Southern Cross.

Boomerang A46-73 has been transferred to the sheet metal shop this April, where work is progressing on the firewall.  Whilst in the sheet metal shop, work has advanced on the Boomerang hydraulic services, with the overhaul of the landing gear selection valve, flap valves and cowl-flap valves and rams.  Many thanks to Gary, Nathan and Richard who continue to provide essential support and services.

The wing center section overhaul has included NDT inspection of the wing attach angles and overhaul of fuel and hydraulic systems. It is hoped to have the center section out of the jig by the end of April.

HARS volunteers have taken on many aspects of the project; Geoff Forest has been tackling the complex engine cowls while Geoff Cuthbert has been trawling through all the boxes that arrived stuffed with parts, looking for the missing “little bits”.

The engine is still underway with Peter Brook of Historic Aircraft Engines (Brisbane) and the propeller will be shipped to Eric Weston at Bankstown Airport later this year. To date some $60,000 in expenditures has been incurred or committed to a rebuild that is starting to emerge as one of the really beautiful restorations of 2010.

The HARS recovery team are back out in the field again with the relocation/recovery of the HARS museum’s Canberra T4 Bomber – A84-502.  Displayed for the past 6 years at the Bankstown Aviation Museum, the HARS Canberra will be dismantled and trucked to its new home at Illawarra Regional Airport.  The Canberra is expected to arrive Wednesday the 24th March 2010, following which it will be reassembled and be repainted for display.

HARS is deeply honoured that it has been chosen by the Museum of Victoria to be the custodian of this historical treasure.  On a nationwide basis, HARS is recognised by government, military and private individuals as an organisation that can care for these treasures in an appropriate environment.

The aircraft is steeped in history with an interesting, and at times, exciting wartime background that was followed by a civilian life that included a substantial period of service as a BHP corporate aircraft.

Research is currently being conducted into the history of this special aircraft with updates to be followed soon.

HARS would like to extend a special thank you to its Transport Manager, Mr Alan Lever, who organised the specialised transport and logistics for the recovery of this aircraft from Nowra.

Connie is now the only flying Super Constellation in the world, a credit to the many dedicated HARS members who contribute to her maintenance and upkeep. With Wings Over Illawarra now just one week away (28th February) HARS members are now hard at work, cleaning and polishing.

Congratulations to the HARS Engineering and Flight Crews on her return to flight – well done!