A dedicated team of HARS engineers travelled between Wollongong and Brisbane for 16 months to prepare this historic douglas for its ferry flight, December 2009.  Since its arrival, the Douglas has been undergoing corrosion control, electrical work and many other rectifications identified during the lead-up to its successful ferry flight.

The pictures provided below detail members of the HARS engineering team hard at work on various areas of the airframe.  The end result will be a beautiful flying example of this historic Douglas type.

Like all HARS projects, they are made possible through the generosity and vision of our donors and project sponsors.  We are proud to have some of Australia’s great miners and mining companies support the Douglas C54/DC4 project.  Through their support this aircraft will become a fixture on the Australian and New Zealand airshow circuit, as a flying tribute to all who flew and worked on them during their service in WW2 and in airline operations.

If you would like to participate or donate, please contact Mr Mike Delahunty, Project Chairman, 0418 473 175.

HARS members Clive Gibbons, Don Binskin, Roy Finney, Ron McConville, Leon Smith, John Brownjohn, Henry Knight and Frank Purvis all worked hard to change the carby on engine No3, whilst also uploading more more fuel and chasing down the last of the electrical glitches.

Leon Jolly from SafeAir was also on hand to carry out the required prop AD’s and to replace the leaking prop seals on No’s 2 and 3. Leon set up his workshop in ATAE’s hangar and showed us how a prop overhaul is done.  Leon is a professional and soon had HARS member John Brownjohn and Mick O’Grady working well under his guidance.

Frank Bowden helped source the much needed lifting crane at minimal cost through the company that his son works for.   The crane company representative Peter Mc Carthy was excellent and took great interest in what we do.

With a prop feather pump, accelerator pump, distributor valve, vhf radio repair remaining, the HARS restoration team are just about ready to hand over to the flight crew for the return flight to Albion Park, NSW.

Due to the excessive rain and water, members occupied their time with the recovery of the DC-4 spares inventory.  With the assistance of some careful fork-lift operation in the mud by Jeff Bowen members managed to load Alan Lever’s Peterbuilt with Doherty Transport’s Trailer.  Thanks guys for your support.

Although the weather put a stop to work on the aircraft, many loose ends were tidied up in preparation for the next phase.  We all look forward to receiving news of the next update.

Manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company Inc. at Santa Monica and delivered to the U.S.A.A.F. on 14/5/1945 seeing war service as 44-9126. The only difference with this aircraft from the other types was that it had a different fuel tank arrangement whereby the cabin tanks were replaced by collapsible bag tanks in the wing. Whilst in service with the U.S.A.A.F. and later with the U.S.A.F. aircraft was mainly used to transport cargo and troops when required. In December 1971 aircraft was withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Purchased by Dross Metals Inc. at auction on 13/11/1975.

A reprieve from the ultimate fate of scrapping came when it was sold to Transglobal Inc., which was based at Fort Lauderdale in Florida on 5/10/1978 and registered N9013V. Sold to Flying Fish of Indiana on 7/9/1979. Leased to Tiger Leasing of Pompano on 7/1/1980. Due to some infraction of the law the Sheriff of Hardee County on 22/1/1980 seized this aircraft. Sold to Carolina Aircraft Corporation on 14/7/1980. Ownership of aircraft was transferred to Florida Aircraft Leasing Corporation on 1/10/1980. Later withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

Sold to Thomas F Mach on 24/1/1981. It was to be further involved in trouble as the Bahaman Authorities seized the aircraft at Nassau for smuggling during April 1981. Sold to Force International Enterprises in November 1983. Resold to Lynch Air Tankers, which was based at Billings in Montana on 14/6/1984. Ownership of aircraft transferred to Lynch Air Cargo Inc., when the company was renamed on 28/3/1986.

Purchased by Pacific Air Freighters Pty. Ltd, which was based at Archerfield Airport and ferried to Australia from Montana and known to have routed via Chino, Hilo and Majuro. On arrival at Majuro aircraft was delayed for a few days with a mechanical defect, which needed to be rectified before the ferry flight continued via Honiara, and Cairns and arrived at Archerfield on 16/6/1995. The ferry flight was under the command of Captain G Layton one of the co-owners of the company.

Initially this aircraft operated in Australia under the American registration. Its first revenue earning service for the company was flown on 30/9/1995 when it flew general freight from Brisbane to Noumea. Reregistered VH-PAF to the company on 31/1/1996. Its first revenue earning flight for the company under the Australian registration was flown on 16/2/1996 when it carried freight from Eagle Farm to Honiara. Whilst in service with the company aircraft mainly used for cargo charters to the Pacific Islands.

Over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of August this aircraft was a visitor to Essendon Airport to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Airport. Whilst at Essendon it put on a spirited display and the crew of the aircraft allowed interested people the opportunity of seeing over the aircraft and also asking questions.

On 14/10/1996 aircraft commenced a long term lease to Goroka Air Services of Papua New Guinea however on 25/12/1996 it returned to Australia after operating in New Guinea for only three months and refuelled at Cairns on the way down to Brisbane. After arrival at Brisbane aircraft has remained static with a security guard being its constant companion. Aircraft was advertised for sale by tender in March 1997.

Sold at auction on 22/5/1997 at Archerfield to Airfreighters International P/L, which was based at Palm Beach and registered to the company on 13/10/1997. Departed Archerfield for its new home at Lismore on 29/6/1997 and on arrival was parked there. Even though Air Freighters International owns this aircraft it still operates under the name of Pacific Air Freighters.

On 15/9/2000 this aircraft was chartered by Ansett Australia Cargo and departed Brisbane for Darwin carrying a consignment of general freight. After arrival at Darwin it was chartered by the United Nations and carried fright to Dili. Returned to Darwin and departed for Cairns on route to Brisbane on 23/9/2000. Over the 23rd and 24th of October aircraft was chartered by Pacific Air Express to operate a Brisbane – Honiara – Brisbane flight carrying a load of tuna on the return flight and again chartered by Pacific Air Express to operate a further charter to Honiara and return to Brisbane.

In October 2001 noted at Archerfield Airport but on 2/12/2001 noted at Bankstown Airport with Trans Australia Airlines on the left hand side of the fuselage only for a film.

Still in service with the company as a freighter in 2004 carrying freight within Australia and also to Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu when required. Withdrawn from service and noted parked at Archerfield in February 2005 for sale.