The DC-6B Tour of Australia - 2011

[Yesteryear Aviation]

Hi all,

We just wanted to clear up a few bits and pieces about this tour, particularly in regards to the cancelling of Red Bull for 2011.

There have been rumors abounding that because of Red Bull no longer going ahead that the DC-6B national tour will also not be going ahead - this is not the case!

As mentioned in another thread with part of our recent mailing list update, the tour is still going ahead regardless of Red Bull no longer happening in Perth. The Red Bull event was actually only a very very small part of our tour, which is intended to celebrate dual centenaries - powered flight in Australia (1910) and passenger flight in Australia (1911). We've taken a little bit of licence there, but think it's licence well worth taking!

Also, if you have any queries or would like to know anything about the tour, then (with the moderator's permission!) ask the question here - obviously there may be some that we may not be able to answer for various reasons, but we will do our best - then you can be informed from the "horse's mouth".

Thanks for your support with the tour planning so far - it's a big venture, but one we're really looking forward to, and which should be a great success.

Cheers

[David Knudsen]

I've registered my interest on the website (http://www.yesteryearaviation.com.au/) for the Brisbane flight, this is a very unique opportunity that I won't miss!

[Tim B]

I have read that the DC6 will be at Wings over the Illawarra in late February 2011.
What are the options for a joyflight on the day of the airshow?
Are you flying in for the day from another airport, or are you basing yourself there for the weekend and just doing joyflights from the airfield.

[Yesteryear Aviation]

At this stage the aircraft is planned to be at Albion Park for that weekend, with the proposal that joyflights will be available the day before Wings Over Illawarra (the Saturday) before she is on display on the Sunday.

As a result, we won't be offering joyflights on the Sunday, the actual airport open day, as this would also reduce the amount of time the aircraft can be on display to the public during the day.

[Ryan Hothersall]

What are the plans for the aircraft in Adelaide?

Will it be operating from Adelaide Airport?

I hope it goes ahead, but in my eyes aircraft+africa=problems.

[Yesteryear Aviation]

The plans in Adelaide are as per the website, with a FunFlight day and joyflights, with the aircraft also available for charter. And she will be operating from Adelaide Airport - Parafield is a little small for an aircraft the size of the DC-6B.

In reference to your concern about the aircraft being African, to be honest, not all countries within Africa are created equal. The DC-6B airworthiness and operation is overseen by the Namibian Department of Civil Aviation, which in turn is supervised by a division of ICAO.

The airworthiness inspector who has been doing the annual Certificate of Airworthiness inspection on the DC-6B is actually a delegate of ICAO to the Nam-DCA. He is an Australian, actually an ex-CASA inspector, and is very thorough in what he does. When the DC-6B was rebuilt, she was rebuilt to meet the airworthiness requirements of ICAO Annex 8. In addition, the airworthiness and flight operations aspect of the aircraft is being very thoroughly checked by CASA here in Australia, to ensure she meets all of the requirements. This is more than welcomed by us, as this scrutiny by two major aviation regulatory bodies ensures that everything is above board and very safe and reliable.

Hopefully this should ease some of the concerns.

[Yesteryear Aviation]

Hi ladies and gents,

We're now finally taking bookings for flights on the DC-6B for her tour!

We do need to put in the caveat that the tour is subject to final regulatory approval – the DC-6B is about to start 8 weeks of maintenance work to tune and tighten everything up for her trip to Australia, and this will generate some certificates of inspection that CASA need to sight before physically issuing the piece of paper. However we are able to take bookings and start confirming things and getting them in place for the tour – there’s less than three months to go!

Forms are available for both the intercity flights and the joyflights on the website, www.yesteryearaviation.com.au, and the schedule for the flights is also available.

Those who had registered their interest for flights previously were sent the forms yesterday, and already we have a number of confirmed bookings from this.

Any problems or queries please let us know, otherwise, look forward to seeing you on board!

[Rod Sloan]

Just got this in an email from the Canberra Aviation Group

Have just heard that the owner of Namibia Commercial Aviation that operates the DC-6B planning to tour Australia next year, has died and the visit has been cancelled for the moment until the legal issues are sorted out. They hope to replan in the future.

Hard luck all - no big, noisy, smelly, beautiful pistons before Easter.

Very sad indeed and my sympathies to all involved.

Rod

from their website which I just checked. (and probably should have checked first)

As some of you may be aware, Mr. Chris Schutte, owner of Namibia Commercial Aviation, and of the DC-6B, passed away in Windhoek on November 5. Mr. Schutte was overseeing all arrangements for the DC-6B Tour of Australia from the Namibia end.

We have been working with NCA to try and overcome the obstacles that appeared as a result, however some of them are now legal based issues surrounding his estate - something that no knowledge of old aeroplanes can overcome!

What this means sadly is that the DC-6B Tour of Australia for 2011 will not be able to go ahead as planned.

Please don't think this is it - because it isn't. However, with the uncertainty surrounding these totally unexpected events, it is better that we put plans on hold and reassess should the option be open to us in the future to bring the DC-6B to Australia.

We hope you understand the situation we are in, and thankyou for your support. Of course, if you have any problems or queries, please get in touch by emailing us, info@yesteryearaviation.com.au

Finally, all of us at Yesteryear Aviation would like to pass on our condolences to the Schutte family and all at NCA - the world aviation industry has lost a true gentleman, and a legend of the industry.

And we have lost a friend, and a kindred spirit. Afskeid, Oom Chris.

[Ryan Hothersall]

Shame, was looking forward to it.

[Wayne Bee]

Just saw this posted on pprune.
Hopefully someone will be able to keep her airworthy


" Namibia Commercial Aviation DC-6B FOR SALE !!!
Sadley, due to the recent passing of the owner of NCA in Windhoek, Namibia this beautiful aircraft is now up for sale. According to the family in a recent article in the german aircraft magazine "AERO International", Chris Schutte was the driving force behind the aircraft, and the family can no longer sustain the enthusiasm Chris had for flying and maintaining it."