Episode Details

Guests: Jim Thurstan, and Bob Delahunty

Hosts: Dave Homewood and James Kightly

Recorded: 26th of November 2015

Duration:  59 minutes 35  seconds

Dave Homewood and James Kightly continue the Wings Over Australia Tour with a visit to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society at Albion Park in Illawarra, New South Wales. They talk first with Jim Thurstan, who is one of the volunteer engineers restoring the Fokker F-VII Trimotor “Southern Cross” replica VH-USU. At the time the HARS team were skinning the huge wooden wing.

And then James and Dave joined HARS chairman Bob Delahunty in the cockpit of the collection’s flagship, the Lockheed Super Constellation, to talk about the history of HARS. Bob tells how it all started with an ex-RNZAF Harvard, and the rescue of the Lockheed Neptunes, which led on then to the recovery and restoration of the Super Constellation.

Huge thanks to the folks at HARS, and particularly to our host Peter Costigan, who volunteers on the HARS Catalina crew.

Quick Links:

•  The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Website

•  The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Facebook Page

The following photos were taken by Dave Homewood and James Kightly during their visit to HARS on the 26th of November 2016, with additional photos from James of the HARS aircraft in action. Any uncredited photos are the property of Dave Homewood ©2015

Jim Thurstan talking about the Fokker F-VII Trimotor “Southern Cross” Replica

Jim Thurstan, left, with Dave Homewood (James Kightly photo)

Dave and Jim recording next to the huge wooden wing of the “Southern Cross” replica (James Kightly photo)