This month we visited Precision Airmotive at Wangaratta. This aerospace company restores and makes parts for old airplanes. They specialise in the WW11 era planes. The owners have their own Kittyhawk and also a Mustang. We spent two hours with our guide Lou, who showed us some of the precision machinery they use for the restorations. The restored planes finish up in other parts of the world and also in RAAF museums. On our tour we noticed shelves piled with what looked like junk. Louise explained that they were parts of aircraft that could not be salvaged. Often the original plans they have are not too detailed and they use these oddments to assist in putting things together as the originals were. Some parts cannot be found, and this facility is the only one in the world that can reproduce the pieces the same as the original. As you could imagine deep pockets would be needed to finance the work that is done at this fascinating place.
At the end of our tour those of us who were flexible enough were invited to ascend the wing of the Kittyhawk and peer into the cockpit.
Outside the old Wangaratta terminal on the edge of the car park, there is an interesting tower. Originally it was erected above Wangaratta Motors Garage in Reid Street in 1937. The beacon on top of the tower emitted a flashing red light signalling the letters W.G. in Morse code which was used to guide aircraft during night air mail services between Melbourne and Brisbane.
Outside the old Wangaratta terminal on the edge of the car park, there is an interesting tower. Originally it was erected above Wangaratta Motors Garage in Reid Street in 1937. The beacon on top of the tower emitted a flashing red light signalling the letters W.G. in Morse code which was used to guide aircraft during night air mail services between Melbourne and Brisbane.
Claire Rudolph
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