Noorduyn Norseman VH-BHG P5192-0004 (John Hopton collection).
by Roger Lambert
Noorduyn Norseman VH-BHG P5192-0004 (John Hopton collection).
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.
As covered in Part 1, 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.
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 Norsemen were progressively written off in accidents between 1960 and 1968.
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
Dora
Wings – Noorduyn Norseman Mk IV - Kit No DW72034 (new release)
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 specific decals for Australian registered Norsemen.
1/48
Scale Decals:
There are no specific decals for Australian registered Norsemen.
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.
External
After RAAF service, the demobbed airframes served with a number of civilian owners, most notably ex SQNLDR Bobby Gibbes and his Gibbes Sepik Airways in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as well as Ansett-MAL, also in PNG. Gibbes Sepik Airways aircraft had Green checkerboard rudders; the registration was Green outlined in White; and the "Gibbes Sepik Airways" fuselage title was Green, thinly outlined in Black. From the Photograph Gallery, there were some rather more colourful finished e.g. VH-GSG in a relatively straight forward overall White finish with Red registration and Red stripe around the engine cowling, VH-GSE in service with Ansett-MAL or in a Blue and Yellow scheme when employed as a crop duster at Scone, NSW.
Interior.
The interior colours of the civilian Norsemen varied considerably. It is advisable to check references before committing to a particular colour scheme.
Cabin Floor..The cabin floor was wood with a thin, aluminium metal covering strip down the centre covering the wooden joints.
Seats..
The seats and/or benches in the civilian Norsemen varied considerably. It is advisable to check references before committing to a particular colour scheme..
Noorduyn Norseman Three View
3 view.
Annexures: (Next Pages)
A. Aircraft History Synopsis
B. Photograph Gallery
Acknowledgements:
1. Allen Seymour
2. Ben Dannecker
3. Bob Hoard
4. Bob Neale
5. David C. Eyre
6. Eddie Coates Collection
7. Eric Allen
8. Fred Niven
9. Geoff Goodall Collection
10. Greg Banfield
11. James Sinclair
12. J.K. Davenport
13. Neville Parnell
14. Record Cards - Airframes, Aero Engines, Mechanical Transport & Marine Craft - RAAF Form E/E88 (RAAF Official)
15. Rod Adam
16. Roger McDonald
17. Steve Mackenzie for his editorial expertise and artwork supporting 'In Miniature' reference articles.
18. The late John Hopton, The Collection
19. "The Aeroplane" Key Aero
20. Wally Civitico
21. Bob Blakely
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