16 FLYPAST May 2018
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
The Western Museum of Flight’s
recently restored Douglas A4D-
Skyhawk 142227 was unveiled to
the public during a special event at
the Torrance, California attraction
on February 17.
One of 164 A4D-1 (later re-
designated A-4A) Skyhawks
manufactured , 142227 was
delivered to USMC unit VMA-224 atEl Toro, California on July 8, 1957. It
was subsequently moved to VMA-
at Iwakuni, Japan on December 11,
1958.
It was acquired by the museum- then at Southern California’s
Hawthorne Municipal Airport – after
ending its ‘career’ with the Naval Air
Reserve at Los Alamitos, California.
Painted to represent a Skyhawk from
the Blue Angels display team, it was
on external display at Hawthorne
and later loaned to the 3rd Pursuit
Squadron of the Commemorative Air
Force at Cable Airport in Upland. It
returned to the Western Museum of
Flight (now at Torrance) last year.
The jet has recently been returned
to the colours it wore while in service
with VMA-211. During its public debuton February 17, historian, author
and artist Mike Machat spoke about
the Douglas company’s legacy,
and was joined on the podium by
former Skyhawk pilots Capt R E
Allen (US Navy) and Capt Doug
Kirschke (USMC). The former fl ew
142227 when it was based at Los
Alamitos. http://www.wmof.com
FRANK B MORMILLOCatalina HK-2115P at Villavicencio prior to its departure for Germany. C ROS VIA ROGER SOUPART
Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina HK-
2115P, formerly based in Colombia, is
destined to fl y again in Germany.
The amphibian was dismantled at La
Vanguardia Airport, close to the city of
Villavicencio, and departed aboard four
trucks late last year. After a four-day
journey, it was embarked on a cargo
ship travelling to Bremerhaven.
Originally serving with the Fuerza
Aerea Colombiana (Colombian Air
Force) from 1946 as ‘312’, it was
withdrawn from military use in 1974
alongside its ‘sister’ ship ‘319’. Both
machines were kept in storage for
17 years before being acquired by a
civilian operator and ‘312’ was restored
using parts of ‘319’.
Registered as HK-2115P, the PBY-6A
fl ew as a cargo transporter until 2003.
The aircraft is now at Oldenburg, some
44 miles (70km) south of Bremerhaven,
where its new owner plans to return it
to the skies. ROGER SOUPARTRestored Douglas Skyhawk makes public debut
Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk 142227 on display
at Torrance on February 17. FRANK B MORMILLOColombian Catalina will
fl y in Europe
Argentine Mirage
restored for
static display
Dassault Mirage IIIC C-702 has been refurbished and erected on a pole in the city of San Lorenzo,
in Sante Fe, Argentina. The jet was retired from military use on March 5, 1994, and is today
painted to represent C-710, an aircraft that served with Escuadrón 55 of IV Brigada Aérea.
FACUNDO ROVERA VIA JUAN CARLOS CICALESIFire-fi ghting role
for ‘Hueys’ in Australia
A batch of six German-built Bell UH-1D Iroquois helicopters has arrived in Australia. The ‘Hueys’- 72+61, +64, +83, +91, 73+35 and 73+76 – have been acquired by the Wieland Aviation Group for
use as fi re-fi ghters. Four of the six will be made airworthy with the remaining pair retained for
spares. DOWN UNDER AVIATION NEWS VIA PHIL BUCKLEY