Bankstown 28/12/2012

Grahame Hutchison · #1 28th December 2012, 01:44 PM

The weather this morning was perfect for photography, so I headed out to Bankstown for a look around. I have not been out flying for a while because of a knee injury that requires surgery early in the new year, so this was going to be my end of year hit of Avgas and Jet A. The air was clean and temperature high as I headed out around the aprons to see what I could find.

N49732 Bell 214B-1 (28005) 1976 - Operated by Heli-Lift Australia. N234PH was parked alongside this aircraft.

N49732 Bell 214B-1 (28005) 1976 - Operated by Heli-Lift Australia

VH-BLR Bell 206B (II) (1309) 1974 - Operated by Heli-Aust - Georges Hall

VH-FTV Eurocopter EC120B (1619) 2009 - Operated by B.I.S. Aviation - Byron Bay

VH-ILB Beech C90A (LJ1375) 1994 - Operated by Vetstar Pty Ltd - Blacktown

VH-RTV Aerospatiale AS.350BA (1290) 1980 - Operated by Heli-Aust - Georges Hall

VH-UTM Aerospatiale AS.350BA (1742) 1984 - Operated by Heli-Aust - Georges Hall

The Bell Huey used in the movie "The Sapphires"

VH-VHP Raytheo 390 (RB-175) 2007 - Operated by Mandalay Two Holdings - Brisbane

Grumman Goose ?? Need to do more checking - No registration on the aircraft

VH-DVV Cessna 206H (20608092) - Operated by the NSW Police Force Aviation Support Branch - Georges Hall - Notice the tall rear
window for road traffic speed monitoring

VH-PHM Eurocopter EC135 P2+ (914) 2010 - Operated by the NSW Police Force Aviation Support Branch

Power Sonix loud speakers have been fitted to VH-PHM

Grahame Hutchison · #2 28th December 2012, 01:47 PM

DC-3 2100550 parked on the Tower side. This was being restored in Hanger 272 back in February 2009 - See this thread

DC-3 2100550 parked on the Tower side

VH-CWS Douglas DC3C-S1C3G (9286) 1943 - Owned by Peter Christoudias in Broome.

VH-SYZ Agusta AW139 (31155) 2008 - Operated by CHC Helicopter Australia - West Perth

VH-OOI Pilatus PC-12/47 (827) 2007 - Operated by Cockles Pty Ltd

VH-SYG Eurocopter MBB-BK 117 C-2 (9235) 2009 - Operated By CHC Helicopter Australia - West Perth

Grahame Hutchison · #3 29th December 2012, 09:31 AM

The Grumman Goose is Ex. N121GL G-21A (B-49), photographed at Bankstown on 28th June 2012 by Brenden, and now on the Australian Register as VH-GWH. Operator is Air Frontier from Howard Springs in the NT, and operator commencement was 7th December 2012. This aircraft was built in 1944 and has two Pratt & Whitney R-985 engines and Hartzell propellors.

damian f · #4 31st December 2012, 04:20 PM

Hi Grahame

What's the rego of the Bell Huey that featured in "The Sapphires"?

I photographed it early 2012 but didn't catch the rego.

Thanks
Damian

Grahame Hutchison · #5 31st December 2012, 04:48 PM

Damian, the Huey is VH-UHE from memory, and a few Google searches seem to confirm it. I saw the Rego as I walked around the hanger, but did not get it in any of the photographs.

Dave Powell · #6 5th January 2013, 07:46 AM

Great report Grahame - thanks.

I went for my first look around Bankstown in about 5 years yesterday - couldn't believe how many of the old resident aircraft businesses had gone or moved. The old Schofield's area and the aircraft painting shed nearby are now desolate with long grass where many aircraft used to park - very sad to see the demise of what used to be a vibrant airport.

There were a couple of nice machines there though with a P2 registered McDermott Bell 214 and a US registered Pa.28 (apologies for the poor quality of my pics (-with a pocket digital and from outside the fence).

Went on to Camden after to see the 3 US residents and also picked up one of the Wildcat Bell 212's (C-FCAN)

cheers

Dave

Grahame Hutchison · #7 5th January 2013, 02:11 PM

Dave, When I was learning to fly in the late 1960s, Bankstown was the busiest airport in the Southern Hemisphere, with Cessna, Piper and Beechcraft sales occupying the main hangers where Pionair are now. There were three runways, 29/11 (paved), 25/07 (gravel) and 36/18 (grass), great in all wind conditions.

Schofields have moved to a new club house on the eastern side of the airport, with great facilities and a simulator. Many other flying schools have come and gone over the years, however GA has never been on the agenda for State of Fereral Government, so this is what happens unfortunately.

Nice photo catch with the P2 Bell and US registered PA-28.