VH-AGU
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||
| Type: | Douglas C-47B-35-DK |
| MSN: | 15920/32668 |
| Previous Identities: | 44-76336 A65-72 VHCIO |
History:
| 12FEB45 | Delivered to the USAAF as 44-76336. |
| 27FEB45 | Delivered to the RAAF as A65-72 with the radio call-sign VHCIO. |
| 03MAR45 | To No 37 Sqn RAAF coded OM-O |
| 26FEB47 | To No 86 Transport Wing RAAF. |
| 12FEB48 | To Aircraft Research and Development Unit at Point Cook. |
| 21SEP48 | Starboard engine caught fire at Point Cook. |
| 26JAN49 | Starboard engine failure 60 miles SE of Charleville. |
| 08DEC50 | Front fuselage damaged. |
| 24OCT53 | To No 1 Sqn RAAF in Malaya. |
| 15JUL54 | To No 86 Transport Wing RAAF. |
| 13AUG58 | Struck off charge by the RAAF. |
| 12FEB59 | Despatched by air ex 2AD Richmond on sale to Adastra. |
| 24DEC59 | Registered VH-AGU to Adastra Airways Pty Ltd., Mascot NSW. Certificate of Registration No. 3360. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 23JAN61 | A Fixed Equipment List of this date shows the aircraft fitted with an external Doppler antenna at Station 103 (approx) and associated equipment in the cabin. (NAA C3905/2 VH/AGU) |
| 06DEC61 | A Fixed Equipment List of this date shows the aircraft still fitted with an external Doppler antenna at station 103 (approx) and associated equipment in the cabin. The aircraft is now fitted with two portable oxygen bottles at Stations 177 and 411. (NAA C3905/2 VH/AGU) |
| 23DEC61 | Commenced operations with Westralian Aerial Surveys (an Adastra subsidiary). |
| 61 | Sometime around 1961 the aircraft was fitted with a Janitrol Heater in the cabin. The aircraft was also fitted with cropped Mosquito paddle bladed propellers and carburettors from the Pratt & Whitney R-2000 to improve altitude performance. See here. |
| 26OCT64 | Registered to Sepal Pty Ltd., Mascot NSW. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 21FEB66 | Commenced an aeromagnetic survey offshore Sydney-Newcastle. Report |
| 03MAR66 | Completed the aeromagnetic survey offshore Sydney-Newcastle. |
| 03MAR66 | A
Fixed Equipment List of this date shows that the Doppler radome and
aerial have been removed. The Doppler equipment has been removed from
the cabin but the mounting racks were retained. The two portable oxygen
bottles at stations 177 and 411 are retained. The aircraft is now
fitted for Electro Magnetic work with the following equipment included
(amongst others): E.M. Bird and mounting rack. E.M. Winch and mounting rack. Magnetometer track camera. Scintillometer in darkroom. Magnetometer boom with head installed fitted to tail cone. E.M. aerial as installed externally with distance extensers from fuselage. Compensating coil underside of aircraft fitted in A.D.F. loop housing at Station 460. (NAA C3905/2 VH/AGU) |
| 12OCT66 | A
Fixed Equipment List of this date shows the aircraft is now fitted
with only one portable oxygen bottle at station 177. The E.M. equipment
now includes: 2 off supports aerial loop at Station 379 approx. 1 off loop aerial at Station 456 approx. 1 off aerial support at Station 620 approx. (NAA C3905/2 VH/AGU) |
| 25JUL67 | DCA
wrote to Adastra: "During the investigation of a bird strike
sustained by DC-3 aircraft VH-AGU it became apparent that a drift
sight fitted to the nose of the aircraft was not an approved installation.
If it is intended to re-fit a similar device to this aircraft we request
that you supply this office with a drawing or engineering order describing
the device and its attachments to the aircraft." (NAA C3905/2
VH/AGU) This probably refers to the wire frame drift sight which was fitted externally in front of the co-pilots windscreen. It is inferred that the bird strike removed the drift sight. Photo |
| 24OCT69 | Registered to Adastra Aerial Surveys Pty Ltd., Mascot NSW. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 25FEB71 | DCA wrote to Adastra regarding the condition of the aircraft and requiring that the aircraft be reinspected and recertified before further flight. (NAA C3905/2 VH/AGU) |
| 09FEB72 | Cancelled from Register as withdrawn from use. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 08MAY72 | Registered to Adastra Airways Pty Ltd., Mascot NSW. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 12NOV74 | Registered to East-West Airlines Ltd., Tamworth, NSW. (Source: AustAirData) |
| DEC74 | East-West
Airlines won a contract to provide an aircraft for trials of the Interscan
Microwave Landing System. VH-AGU was flown to Tamworth and painted
in the East-West blue and yellow livery prior to positioning to Melbourne
for the trials. The initial contract was for three years with options
to extend. (Source: Roger McDonald) The Civil Aviation Historical Society website has more information on: Interscan VH-AGU |
| 25JAN75 | Interscan MLS trials commenced. (Source: Roger McDonald) |
| 10AUG79 | Interscan MLS trials terminated and VH-AGU was withdrawn from service by EWA. (Source: EWA Annual Report via Roger McDonald) |
| 10AUG79 | Operated by Great Pacific Aeroplane Co., Essendon, Vic. |
| 13AUG79 | Operated by Aerodyn Aviation Pty Ltd, Cheltenham, Vic. Aerodyn was owned by Alex Encel. |
| 07SEP79 | Sold to Aerodyn Aviation Pty Ltd. (Source: EWA files via Roger McDonald) |
| 16NOV79 | Registered to Aerodyn Pty Ltd., Cheltenham North VIC. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 01MAR80 | Cancelled from Register as withdrawn from use (at Essendon). (Source: AustAirData) |
| 05MAR81 | Registered to Casmet Enterprises Pty Ltd., Maitland NSW. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 81 | Operated by Air Charter Centre and named "Old Faithful". |
| 03JUN83 | Registered to Yarakan Pty Ltd (trading as Golden West Airlines), Chinchilla, Qld. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 04JUN83 | Delivered to Golden West Airways (Yarakan Pty Ltd), Chinchilla, Qld. Aircraft was painted "Airways". |
| 87 | To G. Twycross, Stones Corner, Qld. |
| 17JUN88 | To Dakota Airways, Archerfield, Qld. Named "Spirit of Free Enterprise". |
| JUN88 | To Peachbrand Pty Ltd. |
| 28JUL88 | Struck and damaged by Piper Cherokee 180 VH-AFS at Archerfield. |
| 19SEP89 | Registered to Graeme Twycross (trading as Dakota Airways), Surfers Paradise, QLD. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 11JUL90 | Registered to Graeme Twycross, Ashmore, QLD. (Source: AustAirData) |
| JAN93 | Repossessed by the Commonwealth Bank. |
| 03APR93 | Registered to Jeff Trappett, Morwell, Vic. (Source: AustAirData) |
| 10FEB97 | Ferried
from Kingaroy, via Wagga, to Latrobe Valley Regional Airport, Traralgon,
Vic. (13,500 hours total time). |
| 01MAR13 | Photographed at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon painted to represent an AC-47 gunship. |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 06JUN23 | |
| 16 | 08MAY23 |
Added
a recent image of the cockpit thanks
to Phil Vabre.
|
| 15 | 31DEC22 |
Added
a Slideshow
|
| 14 | 05NOV21 |
Added
an image of the Doppler antenna thanks
to Geoff Goodall.
|
| 13 | 30JUN21 |
Added
a reference to upgraded carburettors thanks to Nev Williams.
|
| 12 | 30MAY18 |
Added
a reference to an aeromagnetic survey offshore from Sydney-Newcastle
in FEB/MAR66.
|
| 11 | 31MAY17 |
Added
a new image thanks to Peter Gates.
|
| 10 | 23JUN13 |
Revised
all register entries for VH-AGU thanks to Tony Arbon.
|
| 9 | 02MAR13 |
Added
an image of the aircraft painted
to represent an AC-47 gunship. Thanks to Gordon Reid.
|
| 8 | 21SEP05 |
Added
details of Janitrol heater mod during 1961.
|
| 7 | 06OCT04 |
Added
four new photos (3rd row) thanks to Dave Richards.
|
| 6 | 13JUL04 |
Added
a close-up photo of the Doppler antenna fairing thanks to Joe
Tidey.
|
| 5 | 10JUL04 |
Added
details of the Interscan MLS trials 1974-1979 thanks to Roger
McDonald.
|
| 4 | 06OCT03 |
Derek
Minter has highlighted an anomaly whereby the aircraft was deregistered
on 09FEB72 but Derek had crewed VH-AGU with Adastra in June
1972. Tony Arbon advises that VH-AGU was restored to the Register
on 08MAY72. Thanks to Derek and Tony for resolving this matter.
|
| 3 | 22SEP03 |
Extra
detail added from NAA file C3905/2 VH/AGU thanks to Chris O'Neill.
|
| 2 | 05FEB03 |
Extra
detail added thanks to Allan Bovelt.
|
