Friday, February 10, 2012

Rare Trojan takes up new residence

Toowoomba pilot Tim Berry’s Trojan T28 A model combat aircraft served in the US Air Force from 1950 to 1956.

TOOWOOMBA residents can easily be forgiven for thinking they are living in a bygone era every time pilot Tim Berry takes to the city's skies in his war bird.

But never fear - the recently imported T28 Trojan combat aircraft has long since left behind its days of fighting.

Now its main mission is fun, and it's expected to deliver plenty of that in its new role as an adventure flight aircraft.

Mr Berry, who is the chief pilot at the Darling Downs Aero Club, imported the rare war bird from the United States at the end of last year after many months of searching and paperwork.

He said the wait was worth it.

"The speed, sound and smell of the radial engine is a unique experience," Mr Berry said.

"When you sit in the aircraft, the time clock winds back over 60 years to a classic aviation period."

While there are several T28 Trojans around, Mr Berry's plane, also known as Litt'l Juggs, is the only one of her kind in the country.

"This T28 is the only A model in Australia, and there are less than 40 As flying worldwide. We are the

only one in the Southern Hemisphere," Mr Berry said.

"Whilst there are other T28s in Australia, the A looks different, flies different and sounds very different."

Mr Berry said the plane's interesting history did not end after it served with the US Air Force from 1950-1956.

"The aircraft was stolen out of storage by a group of men keen to make a quick buck, and they got the airplane airworthy, repainted and armed the aircraft with its weapons systems and sold it to the Government of Haiti," Mr Berry said.

"My aircraft was the second aircraft to fly to Haiti before all involved were arrested by the FBI and jailed."

Mr Berry said the aircraft's name, which, like many planes of her era features a pin-up girl style painting next to the name on the front, was a hot topic of conversation.

"This is actually a play on words and the name Litt'l Juggs refers to her very different engine size compared with other T28 models flying," he said.

"Other dirty-minded people think it is for other reasons and I suppose the pin-up girl doesn't help, but she looks great on the front and is very much part of the typical 1950s era look."

Mr Berry's business, Vintage Adventure Flights, offers flights in the T28 starting from $550 for 20 minutes, and packages including aerobatics and simulated combat manoeuvres can be tailored to the customer.

For more information or to make a booking, call 0412 347 157 or visit Vintage Adventure Flights on Facebook.

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