Gallery - 2021 Start-Up Day
2021 Start-Up Day
THREATENING skies didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds who turned out to hear the roar of the engines at the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre Start-Up Day on Saturday 10 April 2021.
After a practice run on Friday, and last-minute adjustments to the engines, all eyes were on the Avro Anson plane at midday on Saturday. It wouldn’t pass an airworthy test with only one wing, but the plane still looked majestic standing on the tarmac. Brian Creek climbed into the cockpit to work the controls. The propellers were pulled over, and the crank handles turned. Finally, much to the delight of the onlookers, the engines roared into action in a cloud of smoke. What an achievement after 11 years of dogged determination and hard work restoring this wartime aircraft. Mick Kingwill, Len Creek and Wimpey Reichelt are to be congratulated on their craftsmanship. Graham Drage, said, ‘I’m pleased that the Avro Anson restoration has got to this stage. It would still be lying in ruins behind my farm shed at Warracknabeal if the NAHC hadn’t taken up the project.’ The Tiger Moth and Wirraway all sprang into action while Brian Farmers did a running commentary on the background of the aircraft.
Due to the windy conditions the de Soutter, Nhill’s first locally owned aircraft, remained inside the Hangar, but a restored Gypsy motor similar to the engine in the de Soutter was started up in its place. Tractors from the Nhill Vintage Machinery Club were on show, to demonstrate a range of ‘start up’ procedures used by the early models. Onlookers waited in suspense as engines were primed by turning flywheels, crank handles, using blowtorches or cartridges, but in each case the motors started in a cloud of smoke. How fortunate we are to live in an era where a simple key will start an engine! Vintage model aeroplanes were started, along with a whole row of Harley David- sons. Daryl Meek brought a pristine 1936 Bugatti racing car to be started, while vintage Army trucks and classic cars were all on display. The CFA demonstrated their fire-fighting capabilities showing that we are in good hands if a fire starts in our district. The whole program was repeated in the afternoon allowing more people to enjoy the demonstrations.
