Evening all,
Today has been cloudy and cold with quite a bit of rain on and off. Another day out from Melbourne noted the following:
Essendon 0700 – 0830
N360HP BD700
N360PL CL604
N360SL CL604
VH-SGA BD700
VH-XCU C560XL
VH-XGQ BD700*
Next stop was Tullamarine for an ANZ A320N. Noted 0850 – 0920
9M-MTN A333 MAS
9V-SNA B773 SIA
A6-BLJ B789 ETD
A6-EQE B773 UAE
B-5917 A333 CSN
V8-DLD B788 RBA
VN-A897 A359 HVN
ZK-NHD A320N ANZ*
ZK-NNB A321N ANZ
ZK-NNC A321N ANZ
After a short drive we arrived at Point Cook as the Museum opened at 10am. The log of aircraft displayed is the same as noted last year. However, unlike my last visit, the Restoration Hanger was open and accessible so the following were noted:
A19-040/VH-CTK CT/1A Airtrainer*
A52-600 DH98 Mosquito RAAF*
NZ1075/VH-HVD AT6D Harvard RNZAF*
On leaving the Museum the rain began to fall. Our next stop was a very soggy Avalon. Unlike last year when the show was blisteringly hot today was a mere 14c! Noted on a visit 1115 – 1145
C-GVFT Bae146 Conair
N130FF C130*
VH-EBU B743
VH-LFA LJ35
VH-LJZ LJ60
VH-LJU LJ35
VH-LMC RC690D
VH-LPS LJ35
A23-043 PC9 RAAF
A23-066 PC9 RAAF*
A23-067 PC9 RAAF* (all in a compound awaiting Auction by the RAAF)
A84-232 Canberra (in green primer parked outside hangers undergoing restoration)
Next stop was Lethbridge. A large airfield with plenty of hangers, all closed. I suspect a weekend airfield with upwards of 50 likely to be present. Just one out on the field today
VH-CMX C172
Next was Ballarat up the Midland Highway. Noted here at 1315 – 1330
VH-ABM DH104
N76CG S76B*
N261CG S61N*
VH-LSR AS350B*
A lot based here mainly those involved in firefighting and AT802 Maintenance. The based TBM850 VH-KWH was away and has been noted returning on SBS this evening 🙁
From here a run across country to Melton. A small airfield with three wrecks in the long grass all with paint and regs scrubbed. One hanger here which was slightly open inside which were 4 or 5 aircraft.
Then a scenic drive up gravel roads to Sunbury airfield. This is high in the hills and Melbourne City can be seen from here around 60km away. A few hangers here too but all shut today. Just one noted on the field
VH-NBO Be V35B
Then it was back to Essendon where the following noted between 1630 and 2200
VH-CEA TBM850
VH-LEF CL650
VH-LEP BD700
VH-TQF C208EX*
VH-TQV C208EX*
VH-XAQ PC12
VH-YXH AW139*
OTT into Point Cook
A97-441 C130J RAAF
OTT into Tullamarine
4R-ALP A333 ALK
9M-MTC A333 MAS
9V-SFP B744F SIA
9V-SKM A388 SIA
9V-SMP A359 SIA
9V-SWN B773 SIA
A6-BLM B789 ETD
A7-API A388 QTR
B-LXB A35X CPA
HS-THK A359 THA
HS-THM A359 THA
ZK-NND A321N ANZ
ZK-OKA B777 ANZ
We leave Melbourne tomorrow on a road trip to the East for the next couple of days,. Will report back tomorrow evening with what we see,
Mark Paulin
Photo credit: Mark Paulin