Bankstown 28th Feb 2009

Grahame Hutchison · #1 28th February 2009, 02:22 PM

I decided to have a non flying, photographic morning at Bankstown today, so I headed out early hoping that the sun would appear.

The only Air Crane on site was N178AL Clancy and the Catalina N160AC was still on the grass nearby. Cessna 510 VH-NEQ was being prepared for departure when I arrived, and I caught her later on, taxiing for departure on Runway 29R.

Around at Red Baron they had Extra-Flugzeugbau GMBH VH-EXR EA 300 (010) 1989 (operated by Action Aviation) and Extra-Flugzeugbau GMBH VH-XRB EA 300-200 (021) 1997 (operated by Freestyle Aviation) out on the apron. I have not had a close look at these before and they are both beautifully presented aircraft. VH-EXR headed out with a passenger a little later on in the morning.

I stopped off at Hanger 272 again to have a look at the progress on the DC-3 restoration. There has not been a lot of obvious work since I last looked back in October 2008, however things are pushing ahead well. There has been some more paint work done on the rear of the aircraft and they have completed and cycled the undercarriage several times. The engines are not far away and they will then be looking for a larger hanger to attach the wings.

The Scottish Pioneer was parked in the usual spot as well as the new Agusta helicopter operated by The NSW Air Ambulance. A quick trip around to the tower and I came across the National parks and Wildlife hanger, I had not noticed this one before, and they had Park Air 1 & 2 in the hanger.

Cessna 510 VH-NEQ (510-0029) 2007 operated by Skypac Aviation

Victor Air Tourer 100 VH-RKL (168) 1966 - parked opposite Hawker Pacific

Fairchild SA227-DC VH-HAN (DC-822B) 1992 operated by Macair Airlines (not any more)

Fairchild SA-227-DC VH-HPB (DC-808B) 1992 operated by IAP Group. This one looks well used.

Partenavia P.68B VH-IYF (128) 1978 operated by Hawker Pacific

Cessna 510 VH-NEQ (510-0029) 2007 operated by Skypac Aviation taxiing for departure 29R

DC-3 2100550 restoration underway in Hanger 272