"Aeroplane Heaven"
North American P-51D Mustang RAAF A68-104 VH-BOB.
This livery is a complete reworking of the rivets and fuselage panel lines and removing wethering to give a cleaner Falt aluminium colour.
Delivered 1 AD ex CAC on 20/11/47.
Stored successively at Benalla, Tocumwal, RAAF East Sale & 1 AD.
Airframe flew a total of 551 hours of flight time with RAAF between 1950 and 1955.
Placed in storage.
Sold and collected by purchaser "Titus" Oates on 28/04/58.
Application for CofA lodged 14/02/62. Reg VH-AGV n.t.u
Ferry flight from Mascot to Jerilerie (Pilot Chris Braund) 02/08/64
Owned by Tony Fisher is reported to have made several flights although not on the register
Found by Bob Eastgate decaying in a Jerilderie barn in 1970.
Restored at Essendon, Vic. flying again as VH-BOB 26/02/76.
Has a full CofA and can carry paying passengers.
On 05/04/2008 suffered a wheels-up landing at Point Cook and hasn't flown since.
Though not significantly damaged, the opportunity was taken to put the aircraft through its first-ever full rebuild, naturally taking longer than a straight repair would have done. It is being repaired to airworthiness.
7 months ago
JCWeston