Aircraft needs new home
WHAT remains of a Toowoomba aircraft is lying unused in a woman’s backyard.
The aircraft was operated by Unionair of Toowoomba in the 1960s as VH-RUW City of Toowoomba.
Today, all that remains is the fuselage.
There are no wings, fin, rudder, tailplane or elevators.
The aeroplane is in a very poor condition and Queensland Air Museum’s Ron Cuskelly said it deserved to survive as it once served with airlines of WA, MMA and the RFDS.
After Unionair it served with Solomon Islands Airways.
It was thought to have been scrapped at Bankstown in the 1970s but the fuselage recently emerged in a backyard at Werribee in Melbourne.
Mr Cuskelly said the future of the aircraft was uncertain and he was looking for Toowoomba business owners to hopefully give it some life.
“It would require some artistic flair to make a meaningful display out of it but I learned long ago that you can display rubbish – it’s all in the presentation,” he said.
“Its deteriorated state may justify further sectioning to fit an available display space.
“I have spoken to the owner and she wants to dispose of it.
“She has no delusions of making any money out of it and I’ve told her that the best she can hope for is that she will be spared the expense of paying someone to remove it.
“She confirms she will be happy to donate it to a worthy cause.
“I think a section of it would clean up quite nicely and look great hanging in any Toowoomba business as a display piece.”
If you can give this artefact a home email ron@adastron.com.