Warbirds #386 | Vickers Vimy finds a new home

Warbirds, classic aircraft, museum, and airshow news

The first flight of restored CA-12 Boomerang A46-54 remains on the cards in the near future as Greg Batts of Combat Aircraft Constructions continues his restoration efforts on the WWII-era combat monoplane. Batts is completing the project at Archerfield Airport after contributing to the restoration of half a dozen Boomerangs in the past. A46-54 was a home-grown Boomerang built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, constructor number 877, and was delivered to the RAAF in March 1943. Given the registration MH-B, the aircraft was operated by 83 Squadron out of the Northern Territory.

Progress on the restoration has slowed over the last year due to a number of minute issues that required additional attention and time, including an overhaul of the aircraft’s primary seat. All electrical, hydraulic, fuel and instrument fit-outs have now been completed however, and in July, Batts ran a successful retraction test of the landing gear. The warbird will shortly be dismantled and transported to Toowoomba City Airport to be inspected by an independent engineer. Batts will reattach the outer wing panels and the ailerons to the aircraft, as well as calibrating the plane’s fuel tanks, weight, and balance before the inspection is completed. Assuming all goes well, next up will be engine test runs before a first flight is scheduled. “I have no idea how long the process will take to get to first flight day, but it will happen someday — hopefully soon,” Batts said.