Ever Park Your Car & Forgot Where you put it ?

[Greg Hyde]

In this case did you happen to park your N-Reg plane down in the Gong.

Police seem interested ?

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-rai...709-zt1ff.html

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/s...irport/?cs=298

[Nigel C]

Merlin 3 N224HR is the bird being searched.

According to Flightaware, it last flew from Coffs Harbour to Wollongong on the 27th June 2014.


Owner Name:
OREGONIAN AERO CLUB INC

Registrant Type:
Corporation

Owner Address:
3511 SILVERSIDE RD STE 105
WILMINGTON, DE, 198104902
US

[Grahame Hutchison]

On FlightAware there is no flightplan from Clark International in the Philippines, into Australian Air Space.

Boeing Field-Cold Bay-Honolulu-Marshall Islands-Guam-Clark International where it stayed for almost two months.

then Coffs Harbour To Illawarra Regional.

[Nigel C]

With a range of around 3500kms, they couldn't have done that leg without stops along the way, and you'd hope they got Customs clearance upon arrival into their first port in Australia.

[Nigel C]

More news reporting on the aircraft...
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/s...t-raid/?cs=298
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/s...photos/?cs=300

It's being reported that 35kg of drugs were seized from the aircraft and one local man taken into custody. Police will now fly that aircraft to Bankstown where the aircraft will be dismantled as part of their investigation.


Distance between Clark International and Coffs Harbour is 6144kms, so there's at least one stop made along the way that hasn't been reported.

[Greg Hyde]

It seems that the cops had been watching the plane since it landed. Waiting for someone to come along and pick up the cargo.

Could be a cheap Merlin auctioned at a future "proceeds of crime" sale.

[Nigel C]

It'll be even cheaper if the cops leave it looking like an Ikea Merlin after their investigation is finished!

I'm still curious as to where it a) refuelled after leaving Clark Intl, and b) where its first stop in Australia was, and c) if Customs knew about it and its cargo.

If it had good weather, it may have flown Clark-Darwin-Coffs. Both legs are over 3000km.

[Greg Hyde]

A little more ...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-1...46?section=nsw

[Nigel C]

And some more...
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/s...ppines/?cs=300

From the Facebook page of aircraft ferrying company Snow Goose International.

Ferry of N224HR

Snow Goose International contracted with Oregonian Aeroclub LLC, to ferry a 1971 Swearingen Merlin aircraft from the United States to the Philippines.

The aircraft was initially collected at Punta Gorda, Florida and after extensive flight testing and recency training; the aircraft flew to Tyler, Texas, where it collected a life raft, before flying to Tracy, California, via Albuquerque New Mexico for fuel. At Tracy, the interior kit was removed to reduce weight and manage the aircraft centre of gravity, and then certified and approved ferry tanks were fitted.

It was initially planned to transit from Santa Maria, California direct to Hilo, Hawaii.

After completing all the communication checks in preparation for departure, the prevailing wind made the direct crossing to Hilo marginal. It was decided to fly the more northern route via Seattle, Washington and Cold Bay, Alaska to Midway Island and then the Marshall Islands to Guam.

At Cold Bay, the pilot was advised by the United States Department of Agriculture and Fisheries that the routing through Midway Island was not possible. The flight then proceeded through Honolulu, Hawaii.

The flight continued via the Marshall Islands, Guam to Clark Field Philippines, where the aircraft arrived on 5 May 2014 and was delivered to the owner’s representative. From departing Seattle to Guam, the aircraft was monitored by United States Air Traffic and then by Philippines Air Traffic into Clarke Field.

At all times the aircraft flights were planned and approved by the appropriate authorities. Communication was always maintained by HF radio in accordance with international requirements.

Once the aircraft arrived in the Philippines, the contract between Snow Goose International and the owner was completed.

Understandably, Snow Goose International are trying to distance themselves from the contract they undertook to the final outcome being played out at YWOL. Being named in a story relating to a drug bust is hardly the publicity a company would seek!

Does anyone know what the new range of the Merlin would with ferry tanks fitted?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Nigel, the Modifications section of the FAA Registration for N224HR lists an additional 298 US Gallons, to supplement the standard 648 US Gallons. A rough calculation would suggest that the range would inclease to around 3,401 miles (based on the SeshAir Inc Merlin III Specifications).

From FAA Registrations:

INSTALLED TEMPORARY FUEL SYSTEM RESTING ON PLYWOOD SUPPORTING ON EXISTING AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE. PLYWOOD BASE IS INSTALLED TO FACILITATE EVEN LOAD DISTRIBUTION. AIRCRAFT FLOOR LOADING LIMITS ARE NOT EXCEED ED FERRY SYSTEM CONSISTS OF 2 RUBBER AIRCRAFT TURTLE PACKS TANK. THE TANKING SYSTEM TOTAL CAPACITY IS 298 U.S. GALLONS. TANKS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF DOUBLE OVERLAPPED NYLON, COATED. CONSTRUCTION OF TANKS MEETS THE STANDARDS OF U.S. COAST GUARD 33 C.F.R. 183.580 SPECIFICATIONS. TANKS ARE PRESSURE AND LEAK TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 23.965A(1) AT POINT OF MANUFACTURE; TURTLE-PAC PTY. LTD. AUSTRALIA. ALL TANKS ARE SECURED TO SEAT TRACKS WITH CARGO TIE DOWNS. THESE TIE DOWN STRAPS ARE OF IDENTICAL TYPE THAT HAVE BEEN UTILIZED IN PREVIOUSLY FAA APPROVED TANKING SYSTEM STRAPS, (2 EACH) SECURE THE TANKS LONGITUDINALLY AND LATERALLY. FERRY FUEL TANKS ARE ELECTRICALLY BONDED TO THE AIRFRAME TO FACILITATE STATIC DISCHARGE, AND ARE VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE, AS OUTLINED IN AC43-13-1B. CHAPER 8 SETION 2 PARAGRAPH 8-33. THE FERRY TANKING SYSTEM IS PLUMBED INTO THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM AS NOTED ON THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM SCHEMATIC. THIS IS CO-LOCATED WITH, AND IS A PART OF THE FERRY FUEL MANAGEMENT DETAILS LOCATED IN ATTACHMENT 1OF THE TANKING INSTALLATION PACKAGE. AIRCRAFT FERRY FUEL SYSTEM OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT DETAILS IS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT 2. CONTINUOUS AIRWORTHINESS COMPLIANCE NOT APPLICABLE DUE TO TEMPORARY INSTALLATION. INSTALLATION TEMPORARY WEIGHT AND BALANCE IS COMPUTED ON THE ATTACHMENT TO THE FERRY TANK INSTALLATION FAA FORM 337 DATED 4/21/2014.

From Plane&Pilot:

STANDARD DATA: (III) Seats 8-11. Gross wt. 12,500. Empty wt. 7,400. Fuel capacity 648. Engines two 840-shp AiResearch turboprops.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 325. Cruise mph 288. Stall mph 96. Initial climb rate 2,530. Range 2,860. Ceiling 28,900. Takeoff distance (50') 2,150. Landing distance (50') 1,570.

STANDARD DATA: (IIIB) Seats 8-11. Gross wt. 12,500. Empty wt. 7,800. Fuel capacity 648. Engines two 900-shp AiResearch turboprops.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 355. Cruise mph 345. Stall mph 95. Initial climb rate 2,825. Ceiling 32,500. Range 2,790. Takeoff distance (50') 2,790. Landing distance (50') 2,874.

Some different range numbers here