Gallery
- Winjeel in the mist
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The Winjeel near Caboolture, Queensland, prior to its delivery to Benalla.
- The Winjeel before its refurbishment
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Originally in its Forward Air Control camouflage, it was considered a good idea to repaint the aircraft in more eye-catching colours as it would be operated from a busy gliding airfield: Benalla.
- The 'barn door' flaps of the Winjeel
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Note the linked flap panel under the fuselage. These flaps are at the 'land' setting. Incredibly, they extend even further to an 'emergency' setting in order to create drag for steep descents (for example, a forced landing).
- A rare sight. The 'Minor' and a visiting Tiger Moth in formation.
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This sight would not have been seen for decades. Some 80 'Tiger Moth' biplane trainers were based at Benalla during World War Two. I like to think that the occasional Moth 'Minor' would have flown in to the wartime air base as well; many units used them for training, personnel transport and other duties.
- The 'art deco' lines of the Moth Minor
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This image was taken on one of her first flights after restoration: after some sixty years on the ground!
- The Nanchang's Huosai engine
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A nine cylinder, 285 horsepower radial. The red cooling 'gills' are open. The Huosai is lightly supercharged, and is geared to drive the large metal 'constant speed' propeller. The air intake for the carburettor can be made out underneath.
- End of a Flight
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The Moth 'Minor' taxying in at Benalla with a happy passenger.
- Big Sky
- The Nanchang and Winjeel in formation. This image was taken from Steve Nelson's RV.
- The Gipsy 'Minor' Engine
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Unique to the Moth 'Minor', this little engine produces 90 horsepower, more than adequate to power the Minor's clean design. Totally rebuilt by specialists in New Zealand, after 100 flying hours the engine is still spotless.
- The Winjeel Engine
- The 450 horsepower Pratt and Whitney R985 'Wasp Junior'. Thousands of these 9 cylinder radials were produced by the USA to power many different aircraft over the decades. This one was restored to 'as new'.
- 'Pulling through' the engine
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With radial engines, it is vital to check for the absence of 'hydraulic lock', which can happen when oil accumulates in the lower cylinders while the aircraft sits idle over time. Here, Craig Morrison is 'pulling through' the Nanchang's engine to check. The procedure also assists with priming the engine for start.
- Not many aircraft can do this, either!
- The trailing edges are raised on the Moth Minor in order to prepare the wings for folding. The air brake is also extended.
- Fly Navy!
- Mark Carr's model of a Macchi of the Royal Australian Navy. He flew these prior to operating the Grumman 'Tracker' from the aircraft carrier HMAS 'Melbourne'.
- Mark's Memories
- This is Mark Carr's model of the Macchi MB326H jet trainer, on which he instructed Navy and Air Force pilots in the early 1980's.
- First Solo
- Mark's model of the Auster Mk. III on which he flew 'first solo' at the age of 16 at Moorooduc, Victoria.
- Winjeel and Nanchang Formation
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Stephen Harder and me in formation, taken by Andy Donaldson from Steve Nelson's RV.