Aircraft buffs play part in restoration

Press, 4 April 1987, Page 14

Aircraft buffs play part in restoration

Four New Zealand aircraft enthusiasts have given parts that will help a rare old aircraft in Singapore fly again. Singapore Airlines is restoring the Airspeed Consul as part of the airline’s fortieth anniversary celebrations. In May, 1947, one of these planes was the first aircraft flown by the airline’s predecessor, Malayan Airways. Thirty Singapore Airlines engineers are now working voluntarily on the $lOO,OOO project to restore the plane, which may be among only 12 left in the world. The aircraft was found in a dilapidated state, water-soaked and damaged, in October. The body was owned by the Royal Air Force Museum at Henslow, near London, which released it to the airline for a token sum. News of the restoration project soon spread, and a Scottish museum gave two aircraft engines, a propeller came from a cargo agent, and technical literature from other people in Britain and Hong Kong. The four Auckland men have given cowlings, a propeller, engine parts, and a full set of instruments from their

personal collections of old aircraft The Airspeed Consul was the civilian version of the 400 Oxford aircraft which were in service in New Zealand during World War 11. The four men keep their aircraft at the Dairy Flat airfield on Auckland’s North Shore. They are Messrs Stan Smith, an Air New Zealand flight engineer; Don Subrltzky, an Air New Zealand ground engineer; ■ Ken Jacobs, a Post Office technician; and Mr Brian Peet Restoration work began in December. The forward and aft fuselage sections were joined and all woodwork had been completed before assembly went ahead last month. Painting and final repairs will be done this month. Mr Smith, who has been restoring planes for more than 30 years, said, “We think a project such as this is a very worthwhile cause, and we are always glad to help if we have the bits that someone else can use. “The problem with restoration is obtaining the fiddly parts. Getting the cake is easy; it’s the icing that causes headaches.”