Noorduyn Norseman A71-10 (photo, location and date unknown) Photo:AWM
by Roger Lambert
Noorduyn Norseman A71-10 (photo, location and date unknown) Photo:AWM
Brief History
The Canadian Noorduyn company designed and built the Norseman in the 1930s as a rugged bush utility transport. The RAAF received fourteen of the 10-seat Noorduyn Norseman aircraft which were issued by the US Government to Australia under Lend/Lease provisions. The aircraft were allocated the serials A71-1 to A71-14 respectively.
The Norsemans served with 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 Communications Units at Essendon, VIC, Mascot NSW, Archerfield QLD, Garbutt QLD and Pearce WA from 1943 to 1946. By the end of 1946, four aircraft had been destroyed or converted to components; they were A71-1, A71-2, A71-4 and A71-9. Nine of the remaining aircraft were flown to Tocumwal, NSW for storage. The fourteenth Norseman, A71-8, was flown to Forest Hill outside Wagga Wagga NSW for use by the Air Officer Commanding 2 Training Group.
The stored Norseman aircraft were maintained in good condition at Tocumwal but when any future use of the airframes failed to materialise, the ten aircraft were passed to the Commonwealth Disposals Commission in 1947. They were sold to civilian operators between 1947 and 1950.
Founded by the Squadron Leader "Bobby" Gibbes, Gibbes Sepik Airways (GSA) at Wewak, New Guinea was the main post-war operator of the ex-RAAF Norseman aircraft. Gibbes eventually owned a total of nine of the ex- RAAF aircraft. The tenth Norseman was owned by Zinc Corporation Broken Hill and was destroyed by fire in 1952. GSA lost four aircraft in accidents between 1952 and 1958 and when GSA folded in 1958, the surviving five aircraft served with various owners in a variety of roles. The remaining five Norseman were progressively written off in accidents between 1960 and 1968.
These civilian employed Norseman aircraft will be the subject of a separate modelling article to be published at a later date as Part 2.
The last surviving ex-RAAF Norseman crashed in 1978 in of all places, back in Canada, taking off from Lake Witchai, Manitobia. This aircraft was A71-12 later registered as VH-GSB, then VH-RGB and finally CF-ISM. And so, the final chapter of the RAAF Norseman aircraft came to an end.
Noorduyn
VI/UC-64A Norseman Specifications Dimensions:
Length: 32 ft
4 in (9.86 m)
Wingspan: 51 ft
6 in (15.70 m)
Height: 10 ft
3 in (3.14 m)
Weight:
Empty
weight: 4,860 lb (2,204 kg)
Maximum
takeoff weight: 7,400 lb (3,357 kg)
Powerplant:
1
× Pratt
& Whitney R-1340-AN1, 9
cylinder, air cooled, radial piston engine, 600 hp (450 kW).
To assist modellers, a colour image of a Pratt & Whitney R-1340
radial engine has been included in the Photo Gallery.
Performance:
Maximum
speed: 162 mph (261 km/h)
Cruise
speed: 148 mph (238 km/h)
Range: 980 miles
(1,577 km)
Service
ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,181 m)
Model
Kits
1/72
Scale:
Choroszy
Modelbud – Noorduyn Norseman Mk IV – Kit No B98
Dora
Wings – Noorduyn C-64 Norseman (Norseman IV/VI) – Kit No
DW72-2022B
Formaplane
– Noorduyn Norseman – Kit No ??
Matchbox
– Noorduyn Norseman – Kit No 40150
Matchbox
– Noorduyn Norseman – Kit No PK-125
Revell
– UC-64A Norseman – Kit No 04291
1/48
Scale:
Modelcraft
– Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman – Kit No 48-001
Modelcraft
– Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman – Kit No 48-002
Modelcraft
– Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman – Kit No 48-003
Taka
– UC-64B Norsemaqn IV – Kit No 012-2000
Decals
1/72
Scale:
There
are no known 1/72 scale RAAF decals for the Noorduyn Norseman.
Roundels and fin stripes may be sourced from unrelated 1/72 scale
model kits with suitable South West Pacific Area (SWPA) RAAF decals
or after-market suppliers.
1/48
Scale Decals:
There
are no known 1/48 scale RAAF decals for the Noorduyn Norseman.
Roundels and fin stripes may be sourced from unrelated 1/48 scale
model kits with suitable SWAP RAAF decals or after-market suppliers.
Masks
1/72
Scale:
Thunderbird
Models – TBM-007 - Noorduyn Norseman Paint Masks
(Matchbox/Revell)
1/48
Scale:
There
are no known masks in 1/48 scale for the Noorduyn Norseman.
Accessories
There
are no known suitable after-market accessories for the Noorduyn
Norseman in any scale.
Colours
and Markings
Wings
and Fuselage.
The RAAF Noorduyn Norseman aircraft were delivered in the standard
USAAF camouflage colours of Olive Drab upper surfaces and fuselage
over Neutral Grey undersides.
Overpainting
of the USAAF upper starboard wing insignia, fuselage side insignia
and fin serial is evident in images of the RAAF Norseman aircraft.
Even though it was not a good match for the Olive Drab, Foliage Green
was used for this purpose.
Wing
Roundels and Fin Stripes.
Standard RAAF South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) Blue and White roundels
were applied to the outboard, upper and lower wings, and Blue and
White fin stripes applied.
Fuselage
Roundels.
Standard RAAF SWPA Blue and White roundels were applied either side
of the fuselage.
Individual
Aircraft Serials.
Serials were Medium Sea Grey.
Individual
Aircraft Unit Codes. RAAF
individual unit codes were applied in Sky Blue.
Interior.
Military Norseman aircraft were finished with Bronze Green
interiors.
Cabin
Floor.
The cabin floor was wood.
Instrument
Panel. The instrument panel was
Black.
Seats.
Bench style seats were installed on either side of the cabin with
lap belts for passengers. Noorduyn Norseman Three View
Annexures: (Next Pages)
Acknowledgements:
3 view.
A. Potted History - Noorduyn Norseman - RAAF Service and Post RAAF Service
B. Photograph Gallery
1. ADF Serials
2. Australian War Memorial
3. Ben Dannecker Collection
4. Dick Hourigan Collection
5. Frank F. Smith Collection
6. "The Aeroplane" - Key Aero
7. Neville Parnell Collection
8. Peter T. Malone
9. Record Cards - Airframes, Aero Engines, Mechanical Transport & Marine Craft - RAAF Form E/E88 (RAAF Official)
10. Steve Mackenzie for his editorial expertise and artwork supporting 'In Miniature' reference articles.
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