From an e-mail by Roslyn Jan:
Hi Cat Fans,
Unfortunately Channel 7 weren't able to turn up to film us last Sat at the HARS Museum, but the ABC's 7:30 Report was....
So watch the 7:30 Report on the ABC tonight (or maybe another night this week eg Tue) & you might see a feature story on the Catalina Assocn of NSW. We all had a special day at HARS (Albion Park) with guest speakers from the airforce, HARS, & from our Assocn, etc. They cranked up the 2 Pratt & Whitney engines on "Felix the Cat" & taxied the restored Catalina for us. This one was restored to WWII condition a couple of years ago with the 2 blisters & she's painted black. A nice lunch was provided by the HARS members. Then we had an opportunity to go for a 15 minute joyflight on a Douglas C-47 Dakota - this is what my Dad (Gilbert Jan) crashed at sea in off Asia. Luckily they were rescued by the Poms after spending all day & night in 3 liferafts lashed together ! What a great experience being in the C-47 !! Both engines backfired as they were started up ! We even got to go up into the cockpit briefly whilst she was flying !
Ray Philpott (Squadron 11's CO) & 2 of his colleagues (Kev Gardner & ?) flew over from Adelaide (RAAF Base Edinburgh) to attend. The Chief of the Airforce also sent 2 representatives (Terry Delhunty & ?) from Canberra (sorry I don't have the run sheet from the day to list everyones names). Phil Dulhunty from the the Rathmines Catalina Assocn was also there.
Then we had a look inside Connie, the only flying Super Constellation in the world !! Her seats inside are quite wide & comfortable with heaps of leg room - much like what we have as Business Class seats of today !
You might be able to get the replay here
www.abc.net.au/7.30/
www.hars.org.au/category/aircraftnews/re...by-catalina-a24-362/
Thank you to Bob Cleworth & the HARS team, especially Alan Black & MC Michael, for organising such a wonderful day. Thank you to Conor Duffy from the ABC & his crew for filming & interviewing our veterans. Hopefully I might be able to get a DVD of these interviews & some of the film footage taken on Sat. Plus some better photos from Kev's camera.
Dad enjoyed himself & had the biggest smile on his face for the group shots in front of Felix !
PLEASE DONATE TO FELIX & HARS
HARS is a volunteer not for profit organisation that probably runs on the smell of an oily rag. It was the volunteers who put in their time for us that day, preparing their aircraft for us beforehand & they personally chipped in from their own pockets to provide the wonderful lunch for us. So if you haven't already, I would encourage you all to make a donation (which is tax deductible) towards Felix & HARs so that they can continue their excellent work in maintaining & restoring our aircraft heritage for future generations. Just the fuel to crank up Felix & to run the C-47 on 2 flights would have cost a fair penny ! Plus tell all of your friends about HARS & encourage them to visit, donate & support their museum
www.hars.org.au/donations/
HARS Management Committee
Illawarra Regional Airport
Cnr Boomerang Avenue & Airport Drive
Albion Park Rail NSW 2518, Australia
PHOTOs & VIDEOs
I've posted some photos & a couple of videos on my facebook. Unfortunately my camera is basic & the battery ran out ! Doh !
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101502...938&l=2497321245
www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150279866718939
www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150279865248939
See some of you for lunch on Mon 27 June 12:30pm.
Also the Rathmines Catalina is out at Bankstown being restored
www.catalinaflying.org.au/
You are formally invited to attend Australia’s largest Seaplane Splash in
The Catalina Flying Memorial Ltd in conjunction with the Seaplane Pilots Association Australia will be holding the Catalina Festival on the Saturday 5th of November at Rathmines – Lake Macquarie. This year will be the third annual Catalina Festival and splash-in held to raise money to bring VH-CAT the foundations Catalina back into the air. Contact Adam Holt if you want to bring attend with your aircraft.Fly-in coordinator - Catalina Foundation
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0402 884 811
