Thread: Who has an aeroplane in their backyard

Back in the late 70's Ian Mullins an ATC bloke I knew in Mt.Isa was restoring a P39 Aircobra under his high house. This was one of three recovered from Cape York with minimal damage.

Never seen a P39 up close - would love to.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

Never seen a P39 up close - would love to.

Parafield last year: Photos: Bell P-39D Airacobra Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

I was working for DCA in 1967 and I remember the HS125 wheels up landing.
It caused quite a furore as the pilot was a pilot instructor/inspector for Air Safety Branch.

As well as discipline he would have gotten quite a ribbing.

Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I was working for DCA in 1967

In 1967, I was a trainee radio technician at DCA's school at Balls Head Rd., Waverton (directly above HMAS Waterhen). DCA Waverton is now a car park.

Originally Posted by oldyella 76

Only live a few K's from that DC3 and did not know it was there.

Found some more info

VH-AEQ is stored dismantled on Alvin Petersen's property "Xanadu" in the Kamarooka* State Forest near Bendigo, Victoria. The aircraft still carries the remnants of the markings acquired when it was an advertising sign for the Aeroplane Car Company in Brisbane. The aircraft is in poor condition and for sale. (* previously shown incorrectly as Kwambatook)
Jason Burgess reports that he acquired VH-AEQ on 13MAY06. The aircraft was previously owned by David Hamilton who bought the "Xanadu" property from Alvin Petersen a few years ago. Jason confirms that the aircraft is dismantled and in poor condition. It will be moved to a farm near Swan Hill where Jason already has the cockpit of VH-SBO.




Glory Days

Originally Posted by VladTepes

Never seen a P39 up close - would love to.

The P39 was one of those ideas that sounded like a good idea at the time. The idea was that maneuverability would be improved if the engine, as the biggest concentrated mass, was at the centre of gravity instead of in the nose, and also would give better pilot visibility. Unfortunately this applies only if all else is equal, which it manifestly was not. Compared to contemporary European aircraft (Spitfire, Hurricane, Bf109, FW190 for example), it was aerodynamically inferior, overweight, underpowered and with poor high altitude performance. In addition, being used in the Pacific thyeatre, since it was the only modern US fighter available in quantity, it was found to overheat on the ground.

Most of them were sent to the USSR as Lend-Lease as soon as they were able to be replaced. The Russians liked them, since they liked cold weather and were better than anything they had themselves.

John

I wonder if the Airacobra was the first trike U/C single-engined fighter? The P38 was also a trike but it was, as you are aware, a twin

Later edit: I did a search on the 'net and I see that the first fighter credited with trike is the P39 - and the P38! I shall have to check which was built first.

Even later edit: The XP38 first flew in Jan 1939 and the XP39 in April, 1939.