Bankstown Today - Cessna A-37B Dragonfly

[Grahame Hutchison]

When I returned from an early flight this morning, I noticed a Cessna A-37B Dragonfly outside the hanger opposite Schofields. After parking the aircraft and finishing the paperwork, I thought I would head over for a good look. As it turned out, the staff at COMBATDRAGON were preparing the aircraft for an Experience Flight, so it gave me the opportunity to have a good chat about their operation and the aircraft.

COMBATDRAGON are now operating the experience flights out of Bankstown and all the flight details can be seen on their website http://www.combatdragon.com.au

VH-AZD saw combat with the Vietnamese Air Force but amazingly only has a bit over 400 hrs on the clock. The aircraft is in beautiful condition and perfect in every detail. For todays run they took on a bit over 1500 litres and that was only in the tip, wing and main tank behind the cocpkit (the four fuel pods under the wings were left empty). Departure today was from Runway 11 Centre and after a very short takeoff roll they climbed out quite steeply with a right turn to head out on their mission. Climb out can be as steep as 75 degrees and the C-37B can carry its own weight in ordnance.

All the images can be seen at http://www.16right.com/cpg143/index.php

[Noel White]

Thanks Grahame, that confirms my sighting of the low fast jet over our house yesterday morning. By the time I ran outside just able to catch a glimpse of the tail over the roof next door. Thought it may have been a Dragonfly.

Now to repair the fly-screen door

[Grahame Hutchison]

Hi Noel, if things work out for COMBATDRAGON we should see more of the Dragonfly in Sydney skies, which is great news. Their 35min flight departs Bankstown then tracks to the Hawkesbury for some lower terain following action. From here it is down the coast and into Victor 1 but offset a bit out to sea because of their high speed (250kts below 10,000). The final section is down to the Sea Cliff bridge for a simulated attack, and then back to Bankstown. Approach speed over the fence at Bankstown is 100-110kts.

It was interesting to see the FOD protection working (visible in a couple of the images). In flight they retract down and back under the aircraft, and can swing up quickly to protect the engine intake from debris. They can be operated manually or set in auto mode to actuate with the undercarriage.

[Gerard M]

What time did it depart Bankstown yesterday?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Gerard, I arrived there around 1000 when they first started their preparation for the flight, and they departed around 1125 for the 35min mission.

They will be at the Model Show at Bankstown and may even pickup their passenger from outside the terminal for all to see the startup and departure.

[Matt Dyne]

Is this one of the ones that participates in the air shows at Temora?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Matt, this is a different aircraft to the one at the Temora Museum, however it did go down to Temora about two shows back. They had planned a formation display with both aircraft, however the COMBATDRAGON airraft developed a hydraulic problem on the day, and the combined display did not happen. I am told that Temora have one and a half A-37Bs.

[Edward Terry]

Thanks for your pictures, Grahame! I find the wing extensions outboard of the tip tanks quite interesting. Any idea why they are there apart from being a last-minute aerodynamic adjustment?

[Lachlan C]

Hi all
Was talking to David Lowe down at Temora a few months back and he said that they had two A-37's with one having a wing spar repaired or somthing

[Grahame Hutchison]

Edward, I didn't actually notice them at the time, only just had another look. I can only assume they are aerodynamic related.