What's new

12/12/11 Continuing our documentation of the new Control Tower being built at Melbourne Airport. New information added to our page on DCA's rare Northrop Delta VH-ADR. Photos of RAAF Mirages, Phantoms and Canberras at Melbourne Airport - 1971 (thanks Dave Brook and Gordon Reid). Added the names of the two Departmental Examiners killed in the collision involving Bonanza VH-CAG in 1990 plus a link to the accident report (thanks Greg Banfield). Photo of a night fire drill - c.1960s. New image of CAB/DCA Percival Q.6 VH-ABY shortly after assembly (thanks Sydney Morning Herald). The Department of Transport, Air Transport Group logo - 1973-1982. Aerial photo of the DCA Flying Unit's apron and hangars - 1973 (thanks Gordon Reid, Brian Wise and Brian Surtees). Corrected our information on the Essendon Lorenz Radio Range antenna - 1938/present (thanks Bob Young). New information added to our article on the Lorenz system (thanks again to the diligent research of Bob Young).

20/10/11 Added details of the Airways Museum Open Day 2011 & Special Exhibition Australian Civil Aircraft Between the Wars: Photos from the Len Dobbin Collection. Biography of DCA Airworthiness Surveyor and aircraft photo collector Len Dobbin. More photos showing the construction of the second Control Tower at Melbourne Airport - 2010. New photo of former Departmental DC3 VH-CAN in Flight Australia titles (thanks Ken Watson). Improved scan of our 1950s air-to-air photo of VH-CAN. New photos of the Airways Surveyors' stations on VH-CAN. Added a link to Eddie Coates' fantastic website on the Flying Operations Index page, where many additional aircraft photos from the CAHS collections can be found. Download a 1936 brochure Facts about Qantas Empire Airways. Photos of the DCA Experimental Fire Tender known as the Monegeeta Monster, c.1955.

18/6/11 New photos and more information added to our biography of legendary Director-General of Civil Aviation, Sir Donald Anderson. Consolidated and added to our history of DCA's unique Northrop Delta VH-ADR (thanks Geoff Goodall). Much better scan of our photo of DCA's chartered Lockheed 10A VH-AAU. Photos of the foundations being laid for the second Melbourne Control Tower, 2010. Added a promotional card for the BOAC Comet 4 service to our page on Comet G-APDC. Added a link to EXATCO - the ex-Air Traffic Control Officers Association - to our Links page. Flight Details form & story of VHCCD and the inaugural ANA service out of Wynyard, Tas. (thanks Fred Niven, Geoff Goodall & the late Al Bovelt).

27/5/11 Added a lovely new photo of Airservices Australia/Aeropearl navaid calibration King Air 350 VH-FIX (thanks Gordon Reid). Updated our history of DCA Avro Anson VH-CAL, including a wonderful new photo of the aircraft in flight and a downloadable logbook extract detailing the work done for its civil conversion, 1949-50 (thanks John Hopton & Geoff Goodall). Photos of the demolition of the second Perth Control Tower & Airport Fire Station - March 2011 (thanks Jim Blood & Mark Wells). Finally added some photos to our biography of DCA Radio Inspector Ivan Hodder. More photos and information about Captain P.G. Taylor's historic first flight across the South Pacific to South America - 1951 (thanks Bob Stewart & Daryl Meek). Photo of the Hobart VAR power-house, the only part of this beacon remaiing today, to go with our shot of the operational installation. Photos of the Hobart and Launceston Doppler VORs.

10/4/11 Added a downloadable index to the Edgar Johnston Archive of Civil Aviation Administration, one of the Society's most important collections (thanks Roger Meyer). An example of C.A. Form 242 - Certificate of Competency to Drive a Motor Vehicle or Operate Plant - 1951. Corrected our information on the Melbourne T73A Doppler VOR (thanks Nick Spurry). Photos from the disposal of Departmental Aero Commander VH-CAX, April 1983 (thanks Gordon Reid). Revised our text on the Karratha Towers page (thanks Capt Reg Adkins, who lived it!). Updated our history of Departmental DC-3 VH-CAR.

9/3/11 The famous DCA 'wings' logo. Updated the history of Departmental Bonanza VH-CAQ with its disposal date (thanks Tony Arbon). Included a 1951 ICAO-proposed new phonetic alphabet (thanks Roger Meyer). Completed the names of Air Traffic Controllers in our photo of Essendon ACC in 1967 (thanks Peter Gorta). Download panorama views of Essendon Airport before the recent re-development, including two 'then & now' comparisons (thanks Maurice Austin). Added a photo of the Airways Museum's home, Building 44, as it looked in the 1980s (thanks Maurice Austin for scanning the image). Completing our series on Cloncurry - a photo of the fomer Aeradio building in use as the airport passenger terminal in 1974.

4/2/11 Added the CAHS Meeting Programme for 2011. Download the Journey Logbook for Aero Commander VH-CAU's delivery flight (thanks John Lynch). Revised our indexes of the 'DCA Publications' and 'Technical Information Bulletins' series. The story of DCA's first computerised message switching system - 1973. Photos and history of Departmental Merlin IIB VH-CAK (thanks Roger McDonald). Photos of the Cloncurry Aeradio building and historic Qantas hangar in 1940 & 2001. Photos of maintenance of the Australian DME system - 1960s (thanks Roger Meyer for the info).

20/12/10 Added a link to the website of the Aviation Association of Western Australia to our Links page. Downloadable copy of the the letter from C.S.Wiggins to E.C.Johnston describing the the germ of an idea to adapt the German Lorenz 'blind' landing aid for use as Australia's first standard radio navigation beacon (thanks Maurice Austin for digitising it). 'Then-and-now' views of the streetscape near the old Essendon Lorenz beacon. 'Then-and-now' view of Building 79 at Essendon Airport, once the ATC Area Control Centre and Briefing Office. Photo of DCA Aero Commander VH-CAY's instrument panel. Added a biography of early Aeradio Operator & Flight Checking Officer/Approach Controller Ken Dalziel (thanks Wendy Beech nee Dalziel). Downloadable movie clips from 1955 of the Monegeeta Monster in action at RAAF Laverton (thanks Maurice Austin and Matt Henderson for digitising them). Download the 1961 Italian Export Certificate of Airworthiness for DCA Piaggio P.166 VH-CAC (thanks John Lynch).

26/11/10 New photo of ex-Departmental Aero Commander VH-CAU and an update of its post-Departmental history (thanks Greg Thom). New photo and updated history of Dept of Transport Beech Bonanza VH-CAD (thanks Geoff Goodall and the late Chris O'Neill). Updated our history of Karratha Tower, which re-opened on 18 November 2010. Photos of Essendon Tower in its new heritage colour scheme. Additional photos and information about Essendon Tower in its previous colour scheme - including a 3D image! (thanks Maurice Austin). Added a photo of the Townsville/Garbutt Adcock HF DF installation to our existing page on that navaid. Added a 3D image of the Airways Museum Aeradio diorama to our virtual tour (thanks Maurice Austin). Finally, some photos from the 2010 Airways Museum Open Day.

1/11/10 Added a page for the forthcoming Airways Museum Open Day 2010 & our ARFF exhibition. New photo of Departmental Aero Commander VH-CAX at Essendon in a DOT colour scheme (thanks Greg Thom). Added a link to Plane Crazy Down Under - Australia's Aviation Podcast on our Links page. Added a newspaper clipping from 1939 re complaints about Sydney Tower to our existing page on that Tower (thanks Roger McDonald). Photo of and information about the Melbourne CSF Route Surveillance Radar, 1984. New photo of, and updated information about, the 1950s experimental Type 276 radar at Essendon (thanks Col Durrell). Updated our essay on ATC surveillance systems. Information about antenna development for the Australian DME system (thanks Roger Meyer).

8/8/10 Listen to an ICAO recording of the 'new' 1956 phonetic alphabet (thanks Maurice Austin for digitising it). Photo of the 'new' Control Tower at Archerfield under construction and an aerodrome diagram from 1974. Replaced our photo of Qantas B707 VH-EBD on the inaugural Australia-Tahiti service in 1963 with a better scan and updated the text slightly (thanks Maurice again). Reorganised and re-named the Airworthiness & Manufacturing index. Photo and air mail cover from the inaugural Australia-USA Boeing 707 Service - 1959. Photo and history of Departmental Beech V35A Bonanza VH-CAG (thanks Ian Mackenzie). Read the story of the Proserpine 'Pie Cart' - 1977 (thanks Don Muir).

21/7/10 Rare image and history of DCA Tiger Moth VH-CAH (thanks Ian and Daryl Mackenzie). Download a 1930 W.A.Airways brochure On Airways Magic Carpet Across Australia (thanks Maurice Austin). Terrific colour photo of the first Control Tower at Perth Airport - 1960 (thanks John Havercroft & Reg Adkins). Photo of Captain R.J. Chapple, last captain of the Douglas DC-4 VH-ANA Amana. Journal clipping about the new Air Mite lightweight VHF radio - 1949 (thanks Maurice Austin). Details of the internal layout of the Light Weight Air Warning radar, DCA's first experimental ATC radar. The text of a eulogy for CAHS member & Airways Museum volunteer, the late Lindsay Wise (thanks Maurice Austin).

20/6/10 Added an image of the Civil Aviation History Mural that decorates the entry hall to the Airways Museum, plus roll-over captions for the depicted people and objects (thanks Maurice Austin for the scan). Don Muir has provided us with some great memories of life in Archerfield Tower in the 1970s to go with our existing photos (thanks Don). Photos and history of Perth/Guildford's second Control Tower and Airport Fire Station. Aerial photos of Perth/Guildford from 1980 (thanks Geoff Goodall). Replaced our colour photo of DCA HS125 VH-CAO at Adelaide with a better scan (thanks Maurice Austin). More photos and history of DCA DC-3 VH-CAO (thanks John Hopton). Photos and history of AeroPearl flight inspection King Air VH-FII 'Auscal 1' (thanks Gordon Reid). Added some new information to our page on Melbourne Area Approach Control Centre (AACC) c.1980s thanks to former Melbourne ATC Peter Chadwick. Photos and history of the Bellini-Tosi MF DF system, Australia's first standardised radio navaid (thanks Roger Meyer). Photos of the Great Flood of 2010 at the Airways Museum (thanks Maurice Austin). Revamped part of our Virtual Tour of the Airways Museum.

11/4/10 Updated information about the Rosenbauer Panther Ultra Large Fire Vehicle (thanks Mark Parsons). Added a new 1964 photo of former CAB DH60 Moth VH-UAE, Australia's longest-registered, airworthy aircraft, and also replaced our contemporary photo of it with a new and better one (thanks Bob Neate and Geoff Goodall). An example and exaplanation of 'dealer's marks' for aircraft registration. The exciting life of 'Betsy the mobile VOR', including a downloadable story from DCA News 1973 (thanks Graham Stevenson). Added the programme for our first Film Night of 2010 on Friday 7 May.

9/1/10 Added the Meeting Programme for 2010. Added location maps to many pages that relate to more out-of-the-way sites. Photos and a terrific contemporary description of West Australian Airways' new hangar and hostel at Forrest, built for the Perth-Adelaide air service in 1928 (thanks Geoff Goodall, Susie McGough, Fred Niven & Reg Adkins). Australia's first pilot-interpreted radio navaid - the Aural Radio Range (thanks Roger Meyer). Andrews Spiracone HF antennas at Broken Hill - 2009 (thanks Ray Farmer). Certificate of Airworthiness for Departmental Fokker 28 VH-ATG - 1977.

What's New on the Web Site
12/12/11 Continuing our documentation of the new Control Tower being built at Melbourne Airport. New information added to our page on DCA's rare Northrop Delta VH-ADR. Photos of RAAF Mirages, Phantoms and Canberras at Melbourne Airport - 1971 (thanks Dave Brook and Gordon Reid). Added the names of the two Departmental Examiners killed in the collision involving Bonanza VH-CAG in 1990 plus a link to the accident report (thanks Greg Banfield). Photo of a night fire drill - c.1960s. New image of CAB/DCA Percival Q.6 VH-ABY shortly after assembly (thanks Sydney Morning Herald). The Department of Transport, Air Transport Group logo - 1973-1982. Aerial photo of the DCA Flying Unit's apron and hangars - 1973 (thanks Gordon Reid, Brian Wise and Brian Surtees). Corrected our information on the Essendon Lorenz Radio Range antenna - 1938/present (thanks Bob Young). New information added to our article on the Lorenz system (thanks again to the diligent research of Bob Young). 20/10/11 Added details of the Airways Museum Open Day 2011 & Special Exhibition Australian Civil Aircraft Between the Wars: Photos from the Len Dobbin Collection. Biography of DCA Airworthiness Surveyor and aircraft photo collector Len Dobbin. More photos showing the construction of the second Control Tower at Melbourne Airport - 2010. New photo of former Departmental DC3 VH-CAN in Flight Australia titles (thanks Ken Watson). Improved scan of our 1950s air-to-air photo of VH-CAN. New photos of the Airways Surveyors' stations on VH-CAN. Added a link to Eddie Coates' fantastic website on the Flying Operations Index page, where many additional aircraft photos from the CAHS collections can be found. Download a 1936 brochure Facts about Qantas Empire Airways. Photos of the DCA Experimental Fire Tender known as the Monegeeta Monster, c.1955. 18/6/11 New photos and more information added to our biography of legendary Director-General of Civil Aviation, Sir Donald Anderson. Consolidated and added to our history of DCA's unique Northrop Delta VH-ADR (thanks Geoff Goodall). Much better scan of our photo of DCA's chartered Lockheed 10A VH-AAU. Photos of the foundations being laid for the second Melbourne Control Tower, 2010. Added a promotional card for the BOAC Comet 4 service to our page on Comet G-APDC. Added a link to EXATCO - the ex-Air Traffic Control Officers Association - to our Links page. Flight Details form & story of VHCCD and the inaugural ANA service out of Wynyard, Tas. (thanks Fred Niven, Geoff Goodall & the late Al Bovelt). 27/5/11 Added a lovely new photo of Airservices Australia/Aeropearl navaid calibration King Air 350 VH-FIX (thanks Gordon Reid). Updated our history of DCA Avro Anson VH-CAL, including a wonderful new photo of the aircraft in flight and a downloadable logbook extract detailing the work done for its civil conversion, 1949-50 (thanks John Hopton & Geoff Goodall). Photos of the demolition of the second Perth Control Tower & Airport Fire Station - March 2011 (thanks Jim Blood & Mark Wells). Finally added some photos to our biography of DCA Radio Inspector Ivan Hodder. More photos and information about Captain P.G. Taylor's historic first flight across the South Pacific to South America - 1951 (thanks Bob Stewart & Daryl Meek). Photo of the Hobart VAR power-house, the only part of this beacon remaiing today, to go with our shot of the operational installation. Photos of the Hobart and Launceston Doppler VORs. 10/4/11 Added a downloadable index to the Edgar Johnston Archive of Civil Aviation Administration, one of the Society's most important collections (thanks Roger Meyer). An example of C.A. Form 242 - Certificate of Competency to Drive a Motor Vehicle or Operate Plant - 1951. Corrected our information on the Melbourne T73A Doppler VOR (thanks Nick Spurry). Photos from the disposal of Departmental Aero Commander VH-CAX, April 1983 (thanks Gordon Reid). Revised our text on the Karratha Towers page (thanks Capt Reg Adkins, who lived it!). Updated our history of Departmental DC-3 VH-CAR. 9/3/11 The famous DCA 'wings' logo. Updated the history of Departmental Bonanza VH-CAQ with its disposal date (thanks Tony Arbon). Included a 1951 ICAO-proposed new phonetic alphabet (thanks Roger Meyer). Completed the names of Air Traffic Controllers in our photo of Essendon ACC in 1967 (thanks Peter Gorta). Download panorama views of Essendon Airport before the recent re-development, including two 'then & now' comparisons (thanks Maurice Austin). Added a photo of the Airways Museum's home, Building 44, as it looked in the 1980s (thanks Maurice Austin for scanning the image). Completing our series on Cloncurry - a photo of the fomer Aeradio building in use as the airport passenger terminal in 1974. 4/2/11 Added the CAHS Meeting Programme for 2011. Download the Journey Logbook for Aero Commander VH-CAU's delivery flight (thanks John Lynch). Revised our indexes of the 'DCA Publications' and 'Technical Information Bulletins' series. The story of DCA's first computerised message switching system - 1973. Photos and history of Departmental Merlin IIB VH-CAK (thanks Roger McDonald). Photos of the Cloncurry Aeradio building and historic Qantas hangar in 1940 & 2001. Photos of maintenance of the Australian DME system - 1960s (thanks Roger Meyer for the info). 20/12/10 Added a link to the website of the Aviation Association of Western Australia to our Links page. Downloadable copy of the the letter from C.S.Wiggins to E.C.Johnston describing the the germ of an idea to adapt the German Lorenz 'blind' landing aid for use as Australia's first standard radio navigation beacon (thanks Maurice Austin for digitising it). 'Then-and-now' views of the streetscape near the old Essendon Lorenz beacon. 'Then-and-now' view of Building 79 at Essendon Airport, once the ATC Area Control Centre and Briefing Office. Photo of DCA Aero Commander VH-CAY's instrument panel. Added a biography of early Aeradio Operator & Flight Checking Officer/Approach Controller Ken Dalziel (thanks Wendy Beech nee Dalziel). Downloadable movie clips from 1955 of the Monegeeta Monster in action at RAAF Laverton (thanks Maurice Austin and Matt Henderson for digitising them). Download the 1961 Italian Export Certificate of Airworthiness for DCA Piaggio P.166 VH-CAC (thanks John Lynch). 26/11/10 New photo of ex-Departmental Aero Commander VH-CAU and an update of its post-Departmental history (thanks Greg Thom). New photo and updated history of Dept of Transport Beech Bonanza VH-CAD (thanks Geoff Goodall and the late Chris O'Neill). Updated our history of Karratha Tower, which re-opened on 18 November 2010. Photos of Essendon Tower in its new heritage colour scheme. Additional photos and information about Essendon Tower in its previous colour scheme - including a 3D image! (thanks Maurice Austin). Added a photo of the Townsville/Garbutt Adcock HF DF installation to our existing page on that navaid. Added a 3D image of the Airways Museum Aeradio diorama to our virtual tour (thanks Maurice Austin). Finally, some photos from the 2010 Airways Museum Open Day. 1/11/10 Added a page for the forthcoming Airways Museum Open Day 2010 & our ARFF exhibition. New photo of Departmental Aero Commander VH-CAX at Essendon in a DOT colour scheme (thanks Greg Thom). Added a link to Plane Crazy Down Under - Australia's Aviation Podcast on our Links page. Added a newspaper clipping from 1939 re complaints about Sydney Tower to our existing page on that Tower (thanks Roger McDonald). Photo of and information about the Melbourne CSF Route Surveillance Radar, 1984. New photo of, and updated information about, the 1950s experimental Type 276 radar at Essendon (thanks Col Durrell). Updated our essay on ATC surveillance systems. Information about antenna development for the Australian DME system (thanks Roger Meyer). 8/8/10 Listen to an ICAO recording of the 'new' 1956 phonetic alphabet (thanks Maurice Austin for digitising it). Photo of the 'new' Control Tower at Archerfield under construction and an aerodrome diagram from 1974. Replaced our photo of Qantas B707 VH-EBD on the inaugural Australia-Tahiti service in 1963 with a better scan and updated the text slightly (thanks Maurice again). Reorganised and re-named the Airworthiness & Manufacturing index. Photo and air mail cover from the inaugural Australia-USA Boeing 707 Service - 1959. Photo and history of Departmental Beech V35A Bonanza VH-CAG (thanks Ian Mackenzie). Read the story of the Proserpine 'Pie Cart' - 1977 (thanks Don Muir). 21/7/10 Rare image and history of DCA Tiger Moth VH-CAH (thanks Ian and Daryl Mackenzie). Download a 1930 W.A.Airways brochure On Airways Magic Carpet Across Australia (thanks Maurice Austin). Terrific colour photo of the first Control Tower at Perth Airport - 1960 (thanks John Havercroft & Reg Adkins). Photo of Captain R.J. Chapple, last captain of the Douglas DC-4 VH-ANA Amana. Journal clipping about the new Air Mite lightweight VHF radio - 1949 (thanks Maurice Austin). Details of the internal layout of the Light Weight Air Warning radar, DCA's first experimental ATC radar. The text of a eulogy for CAHS member & Airways Museum volunteer, the late Lindsay Wise (thanks Maurice Austin). 20/6/10 Added an image of the Civil Aviation History Mural that decorates the entry hall to the Airways Museum, plus roll-over captions for the depicted people and objects (thanks Maurice Austin for the scan). Don Muir has provided us with some great memories of life in Archerfield Tower in the 1970s to go with our existing photos (thanks Don). Photos and history of Perth/Guildford's second Control Tower and Airport Fire Station. Aerial photos of Perth/Guildford from 1980 (thanks Geoff Goodall). Replaced our colour photo of DCA HS125 VH-CAO at Adelaide with a better scan (thanks Maurice Austin). More photos and history of DCA DC-3 VH-CAO (thanks John Hopton). Photos and history of AeroPearl flight inspection King Air VH-FII 'Auscal 1' (thanks Gordon Reid). Added some new information to our page on Melbourne Area Approach Control Centre (AACC) c.1980s thanks to former Melbourne ATC Peter Chadwick. Photos and history of the Bellini-Tosi MF DF system, Australia's first standardised radio navaid (thanks Roger Meyer). Photos of the Great Flood of 2010 at the Airways Museum (thanks Maurice Austin). Revamped part of our Virtual Tour of the Airways Museum. 11/4/10 Updated information about the Rosenbauer Panther Ultra Large Fire Vehicle (thanks Mark Parsons). Added a new 1964 photo of former CAB DH60 Moth VH-UAE, Australia's longest-registered, airworthy aircraft, and also replaced our contemporary photo of it with a new and better one (thanks Bob Neate and Geoff Goodall). An example and exaplanation of 'dealer's marks' for aircraft registration. The exciting life of 'Betsy the mobile VOR', including a downloadable story from DCA News 1973 (thanks Graham Stevenson). Added the programme for our first Film Night of 2010 on Friday 7 May. 9/1/10 Added the Meeting Programme for 2010. Added location maps to many pages that relate to more out-of-the-way sites. Photos and a terrific contemporary description of West Australian Airways' new hangar and hostel at Forrest, built for the Perth-Adelaide air service in 1928 (thanks Geoff Goodall, Susie McGough, Fred Niven & Reg Adkins). Australia's first pilot-interpreted radio navaid - the Aural Radio Range (thanks Roger Meyer). Andrews Spiracone HF antennas at Broken Hill - 2009 (thanks Ray Farmer). Certificate of Airworthiness for Departmental Fokker 28 VH-ATG - 1977.