It was close but no cigar when Historical Aviation Restoration Society (HARS) volunteers attempted to fire up all three reconditioned engines on the replica of Australia's most famous aircraft on Thursday.
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As storm clouds rolled over the escarpment after a morning of preparation the first engine they tried failed to fire after multiple attempts, but the next two did.
Running the engines together at full power is the last major milestone for the team led by Jim Thurstan who is confident the third engine will soon by running as smoothly as the other two.
"Friday we will investigate why the first engine failed to start," Mr Thurstan said.
Once that is accomplished and all three engines are successfully tested at take off speed Mr Thurstan and his team will lock in a date in early 2022 for the first flight of the fully restored Southern Cross II.
The day will be such a significant one Dick Smith, who has funded much of the restoration, will be present along with the sons of pioneering aviators Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm.
Both are in their 90s and have been following every step of the mission to get the Southern Cross II back in the air.
The replica was originally built to share the story of aviation pioneer Sir Charles Kingsford Smith around the nation for the Bicentenary.
It did that until it was forced into a controlled crash landing during take off in 2002 and never flew again. Its landing gear as well as a 2.5 metre section of its large single-piece wing were damaged.
After years of sitting idle expressions of interest were called for the Fokker F.V11B-3M replica. HARS held off a Dutch bid and restoration began in 2011.
The last of the three fully restored engines was fitted just prior to the latest COVID lockdown which forced HARS to close its aviation museum.
This week's engine attempt came on the eve of the next Tarmac Days display at Shellharbour Airport this weekend that will include the unmistakable thump of a Huey helicopter in flight along with the unique sound of a Spitfire fighter's Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and the roaring sound of a Vampire jet coming to life along with former RAAF submarine hunters Orion and Neptune aircraft.
Tarmac Days allow museum's volunteers a monthly opportunity to showcase selections from their acclaimed collection of almost 50 aircraft on show daily to visitors.
Read more:
- The Old Bus replica Southern Cross II will soon fly again and visit communities around Australia
- COVID-19 delays restoration of Southern Cross replica at HARS but it should be flying by the end of the year
- Aviation monument to make Illawarra home
- How a missing Port Kembla WWII pilot's dog tags were found in the Irian Jaya jungle after 76 years
- Nancy Bird Walton's legacy has inspired her great grand daughter Maysa to attend an aviation high school so she can learn fly
- 30th anniversary of HARS Jumbo's record breaking flight
- Did you know HARS was involved in an epic eight day mission to restore aviation history in China in 2016 that took 96 days through six countries to complete?
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
