Volume 29 #1, Issue 134

THE SID MARSHALL LEGACY

With our previous issue focusing on Spitfire Mk.VIII, MV154, it is a good opportunity to tip the hat to Sidney 'Sid' Marshall MBE (1902-1975) who was instrumental in saving that aircraft and many others from an uncertain fate. Sid was one of Australia’s pioneer aviators, but being somewhat unassuming and shy of the public spotlight, that fact is not something that is widely known, even in his homeland. We begin with the first part of a ‘then and now’ look at the significant aircraft he purchased and in most cases operated with an overview of Sid’s remarkable career prior to checking out the single engine machines which likely owe their existence to the man. Some of the featured aircraft are the Westland Widgeon, Comper Swift, Puss Moth, Ki-43 Oscar and Bf109G. In our second instalment we will look at the twin engine types - Short Scion, Douglas DC-2s, Lockheed and Ansons.

Our Last Mystery Aircraft...

The Northrop A-17 series of single-engine attack aircraft were the backbone of the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) air support strength during the late 1930s. Northrop had integrated all the modern aircraft technologies of the day. It was well-armed, far better than Pursuit types of the era, had a good performance, was reliable and dependable. Even so, the A-17 soon became obsolete as a front line aircraft and was relegated to the training role. The type marked the last operational experiments by the USAAC with single engine attack aircraft. Consequently it saw no combat in American colours, but its export versions did see some action in Europe and South America. Here we look at the type's development, its service around the world, and touch on the surviving airframes.

CAMS - OMAKA'S AVIATION JEWELLERY STORE

Classic Aero Machining Services has provided two decades of outstanding service to the heritage aviation industry, providing solutions to problems of missing or compromised parts to support heritage aircraft all over the world. The CAMS team have specialised in reverse engineering aircraft parts and engines, requiring significant application of a problem solving culture that embodies the benefits of up to date machinery, programming and metallurgy, coupled with a combination of 'outside of the square' thinking and, at times, rat cunning. Perhaps what CAMS is best known for these days in the aviation world is the manufacture and supply of WW1 rotary aero engines. Here we look at the outstanding work the company does, not only for Great War era machines, but various WWII aircraft.

EAA AIRVENTURE, OSHKOSH 2025