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as it was back then, the engines that 100-year-old engine? It is brilliantly The TAVAS Bristol F.2B, which is here,” he said.
are in them are exactly the same as well-machined. It will probably be painted in 1 Squadron, Australian “So now it’s time to bring
they were back then, and we run around in another 100 years’ time. Flying Corps markings, in ‘Mohammed to the mountain’ and we
castor oil, so it smells the same as it Don’t forget, all the aircraft in our formation with a 1 Squadron are promoting the fact that Caboolture
did back then.” collection so far are the winners, RAAF Super Hornet for the unit’s is the home of World War 1 aviation in
So does he feel safe when he flies an proven performers in their day, recent centenary. defence Australia.”
aircraft with a footprint around 100 successful designs – and meeting all Despite pressure on its limited
years old? the CASA regulations. They are as safe volunteer resource, TAVAS is now
“First and foremost, they are all as they can be.” looking to take the museum another
well-constructed,” he said. It is not unusual to see the society’s step forward with promotion through
“If we get anything that seems aircraft at shows in other states. the tourism industry. At the same time
remotely sub-standard our wonderful Three aircraft were shown at the it is hoping for greater synergies with
engineer David Walsh will get it up to Avalon Airshow, two transported via a education through schools.
something better than required. He shipping container and the third, the Carter said that, so far, museum
gets it to the stage he would be happy DR.1 triplane flown down and back by throughput has been promising. He
to fly it himself.” Carter over two days: eight and a half said the team was aiming for visitor
He added a sobering comparison. hours on the first “hop” and three on numbers around 1,000 a month with a
“You know what, people don’t the second. subsequent ambition to double that.
understand that today we are “It was comfortable enough over “Yes, it’s a big ask requiring a lot
supposed to be so much smarter – two stages,” he said. “But you wouldn’t of effort on a lot of fronts but we are
CAD this and that. What many miss do that in a rotary. doing everything correctly, planting
is that these people were clever. They “We did Wollongong last year, the seeds now, with a lot of scope in
had to overcome (design) problems Raglan up near Rockhampton, Watts the tourism industry. A lot of the work
that weren’t even known about. Bridge.” we are doing now with tourism, we
“So they discovered the problems That said, recognition of the work won’t see the results for nine months
and overcame them with ingenuity of TAVAS remains an issue and or so because they plan so far ahead.”
and sheer skill. That D.VIII rotary something of a concern for Carter. TAVAS is part of the Australian
engine, though it’s all machined “We had a period there for about three museum national network and Carter
and built by hand, is an absolute or four months where you couldn’t said all the aviation museums get
engineering masterpiece, beautifully pick up a magazine without seeing us. together once a year to discuss ideas
crafted, and whenever its run is We were in Australia, New Zealand, and opportunity. “I know what the
covered in castor oil. It’s not going to even France and the United States, good, established museums are doing,”
break down. but lots of people in Wollongong had he said.
“How do I trust my life behind a never heard of us. It’s just the way it is “It’s up to us to do even better.”
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