Old Station Fly-in & Heritage Show 2015 - North American T-28D-5 Trojan VH-TRO

A regular visitor to the Old Station Fly-in & Heritage Show is North American T-28D-5 Trojan VH-TRO.

 

Manufactured in 1952 and powered by a Curtiss-Wright R-1820, 9-cylinder radial engine - this graceful 'ole lady of the skies served for a number of years with the United States Air Force (USAF) as 51-3722 before being converted to an AT-28D and transferred to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and sometime later, onwards to the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

 

After military service, VH-TRO has been noted to have worn a number of civilian markings including operations with Air America in Laos.

 

Initially intended to satisfy the role as a trainer, the Trojan was also successfully employed as a Counter-insurgency aircraft, primarily during the Vietnam War.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Station Fly-in & Heritage Show 2015 - Agricultural aircraft

Agricultural aircraft on display at the Old Station Fly-in & Heritage Show 2015 were Expedition Aerial Services Air Tractor AT-402B VH-SNF, R-Mach Aviation Ayres S2R Turbine Thrush VH-NFF and Weatherly 620A VH-WEA, also of R-Mach Aviation.

Based at the small Central Queensland mining township of Moura, Expedition Aerial Services provides a range of professional aerial agricultural spraying including weed / pest eradication, fertilising, herbicide, spreading, spraying, baiting (rat, mice, dingo) and seeding.

Expedition Aerial Services also has the capacity to assist fire-fighters with a fire-bombing platform when called upon.

Manufactured in 1994, VH-SNF is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-15AG turboprop allowing the aircraft to cruise at approximately 110 knots when ladened.

For more information, Expedition Aerial Services can be contacted on 0419 188 938.

Meanwhile, R-Mach Aviation is a Rockhampton based family owned company offering a professional and fully self-supported aerial agricultural service including the capacity to assist fire-fighters with a fire-bombing platform in similar fashion as Expedition Aerial Services 

At present, R-Mach Aviation maintains a fleet of three aircraft consisting of Ayres S2R Turbine Thrush VH-NFF, PZL-Mielec M-18B Dromader VH-MDR and Weatherly 620A VH-WEA.

Aerial agricultural services offered by R-Mach Aviation includes weed / pest eradication, fertilising, herbicide, spreading, spraying, baiting (rat, mice, dingo) and seeding.

Manufactured in 1989, Ayres S2R VH-NFF is powered by a single Garrett AiResearch TPE331-10-511M turbine engine allowing the aircraft to uplift a spraying capacity of 2000 litres.

Also built in 1989, stablemate Weatherly 620A VH-WEA is powered by a 9-cylinder, Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine however the aircraft has a relatively low spraying capacity of 1200 litres.

For enquires or more information, R-Mach Aviation can be contacted by ringing  (07) 4921 1525 or (07) 4928 9888.

 

Old Station Fly-in & Heritage Show 2015 - Aero Commander 500-U VH-LRI

An aircraft I enjoyed spending time taking a closer look at while attending the Old Station Fly-in & Heritage Show 2015 was Aero Commander 500-U VH-LRI.

 

Although privately owned, judging by the livery, I assume this neatly presented machine was once operated by General Aviation Maintenance (GAM).

 

Manufactured in 1967, VH-LRI is powered by a pair of Textron Lycoming IO-540-E1A5, 6-cylinder piston engines.