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Oz Commanders

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rlegg(at)austarnet.com.au
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:28 am Post subject: Oz Commanders

G'day Folks,



Just returned from travelling in remote Indonesia (no Commanders here!).

Nice to read that Captain Milt is back on the list...great to see you old

mate!



I am amused to note recent interest in Oz Commanders, particularly Bathtub

models. 



No Bathtubs have flown in Australia for at least 12 months and only two

ferry flights have occurred in the past nearly 3 years.



I can add the following:



1. The Oz Bathtub seen is a sad story...only 6 airframes remain; (three in

technical or museum facilities...all having been re-assembled following

major surgical dismantling for road transport), one 680E in final

restoration phase by TCFG member & 2 x 560E airframes (both very tired and

one with significant corrosion).  It is possible that some parts from a

seventh (680E) airframe are located in Western Australia.



2. To Steve...take care with your surveillance of the Sydney 560E; this is a

tired airframe (some corrosion and at least one earlier AD not complied

with), both engines are "on condition". This was the last to fly in Oz and

only a handful of brief ferry flights in last three years. (Steve...happy to

be more detailed off-list). This is definitely a project piece...don't be

fooled. 

A similar airframe exists elsewhere but has significant corrosion, hasn't

flown since early 2002 (two ferry flights) and not regularly since 1999.



3. To Bert...the Straight 680 located in the South Australian museum is

VH-PSG as Sir Barry reported. This aircraft has a complete airframe but had

the tail section through the battery compartment completely surgically

removed to allow transport by road from airport to museum. The aircraft has

been dismantled twice more since the early '90s; most recently late last

year when the entire museum collection was moved to a new site. The aircraft

was displayed with fake engines and props and with the tail/rear fuselage

bolted back on.

Unfortunately its log books were separated from the aircraft when it was

purchased by the museum at a liquidation auction in the early '90s. My

exhaustive attempts to locate these logbooks have been unsuccessful.



4. Wingtips on Oz Commanders...not sure where this issue came from.



In excess of 30 500S/U/B, 680FL, 690A, 690B and one Renaissance fly fully

legally in Oz with wingtips. All these aircraft are maintained or have their

maintenance schedule set by a single FBO in Victoria; in accordance with the

rigidly conservative and sometimes intimidatory industry regulator. My

understanding is that this brand of wingtip is fitted and operated by legal

STC for Oz airspace.



5. One Bathtub airframe (no engines and many missing parts), a Straight 500

is located in Auckland in New Zealand...no bathtubs flown there for at least

8 years.



Cheers



Russell

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steveg(at)nternet.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:23 am Post subject: Oz Commanders

Russel,



Very interesting information.  I have forwarded it to my friend and

associate in Sydney.  



Steve G.



--

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BertBerry1(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:29 am Post subject: Oz Commanders

Thanks for the info Russel.



Bert

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