VH-CJP Mitsubishi Mu2B-30
Solitaire
(c/n 505)
Despite its
somewhat pudgy appearance (especially on the ground) the Mitsubishi had
an enviable
cruising
speed and employed some novel features such as a system of retractable
spoilers across
the
mainplane upper surfaces in lieu of conventional ailerons.
This
was a former Swiss registered
example (HB-LEF) which went to
Australia in June of 1971. A photo of it in its Swiss rego can
be seen at the foot of the page (photo # 5) taken by David Carter at
Sydney Aiport just after its
arrival An early production model
(actually the
fifth built)
it had been the European demonstrator
with Pilatus Aircraft.
Geoff Goodall tookseveral images of this craft over the
years. Above
and
immediately below (# 2) were taken at Forrest,
WA in February 1972 during a refueling
stop on a
flight from Perth to Melbourne. The
prop-jet was registered, at the time, to Altair
Pty
Ltd of Jandakot,
who used it on their contract to carry
personnel to the oil drilling rigs at
Barrow Island, near Dampier,
WA. On the rear view
below notice the Altair titles and the
1929 West Australian Airways
hangar erected at Forrest for
overnight stops by the giant
D.H.66 Hercules biplanes on the
Perth-Adelaide service.. By 1975
VH-CJP was in service
as a night freighter with Forrestair based at
Essendon Photo # 3 was taken
at that locale
in
February of that year. Finally, at the
end of 1977 it was back in WA, flying for Pilbara
Air
Services of Wittenoom WA.. Picture $ 4 was at Northam, WA in
November 1977.
VH-CJP was substantially damaged at Cairns,
Qld in November 1983 and appears to have
been stricken off the registrar.
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