SEABIRD SB7L-360A3 SEEKER VH-EQN
MSN 070016
(AA000112)

 

 

QAM thanks Seeker Aviation Australia for the donation of this aircraft.

 
06JUN11
 Registered VH-EQN to Seabird Aviation Australia Pty Ltd, Hervey Bay, Qld. (Source: 1)
04JUL11
 Manufacturing date shown on Data Plate.
Built under Type Certificate VA502. Aircraft is powered by a Lycoming IO-390-A1-B6 driving a Bishton BB-177-55 wooden two blade fixed pitch propeller. (Source: 4)
05JUL11
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of
flight test for research and development. All test flights shall be conducted within the flight test area defined geographically by the polygon joining the following points defined by distance and bearing from Hervey Bay Airport:
A. Sandy Point (Fraser Island) 8 NM @ 48 deg.
B. Fraser Island beach cottages 17 NM @ 93 deg.
C. Fraser Coast (South) 25 NM @ 155 deg.
D. Poona 23 NM @ 175 deg.
E. Maryborough (Qld) airport 14 NM @ 218 deg.
F. Kawungan 2 NM @ 304 deg.
Nominated test pilots are:
Col Crittenden
Dafydd Llewellyn
Keith Engelsman
Expiry date 05JUL12. (Source: 4)
18JUL11
 First flight. (Source: 4)
27JUL11
 Total Time in Service (TTIS) 2.0 hrs. (Source: 4)
03AUG11
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of
flight test for research and development.
Nominated test pilots are:
David Ostler
Col Crittenden
Dafydd Llewellyn
Rhys Mudford
Keith Engelsman
Expiry date 05JUL12. (Source: 4)
27SEP11
 Aircraft disassembled and reassembled after painting and minor mods. TTIS: 11.5 (Source: 4)
12OCT11
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of
flight test for research and development.
Nominated test pilots are:
Col Crittenden
Dafydd Llewellyn
Keith Engelsman
Garry Dunne
Duncan Greer
Paul Davison
Expiry date 05JUL12.
TTIS: 19.1 (Source: 4)
14OCT11
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of
flight test for research and development.
Nominated test pilots are:
David Ostler
Col Crittenden
Dafydd Llewellyn
Rhys Mudford
Keith Engelsman
Garry Dunne
Duncan Greer
Paul Davison
Expiry date 05JUL12.
TTIS: 19.1 (Source: 4)
25OCT11
 Repairs to tailplane finlet and boom area. TTIS: 21.63 (Source: 4)
09NOV11
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of:
(a) Research and development,
(b) Showing compliance with regulations,
(c) Training the applicant's flight crew,
(d) Market surveys
Nominated test pilots are:
Col Crittenden
Dafydd Llewellyn
Rhys Mudford
Keith Engelsman
Garry Dunne
Duncan Greer
Paul Davison
Peter Franks
Expiry date 08NOV12. (Source: 4)
23FEB12
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of:
(a) Research and development,
(b) Showing compliance with regulations,
(c) Training the applicant's flight crew,
(d) Market surveys
Nominated test pilots are:
Col Crittenden
Dafydd Llewellyn
Keith Engelsman
Garry Dunne
Peter Franks
Karl Kunze
Con Angelides
Expiry date 22AUG12.
TTIS: 73.40 (Source: 4)
07MAR12
 TTIS: 96.12 (Source: 4)
28MAR12
 TTIS: 140.5 (Source: 4)
12APR12
 TTIS: 187.20 (Source: 4)
19APR12
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of:
(a) Research and development,
(b) Showing compliance with regulations,
(c) Training the applicant's flight crew,
(d) Market surveys
Nominated test pilots are:
Col Crittenden
Dafydd Llewellyn
Keith Engelsman
Garry Dunne
Peter Franks
Karl Kunze
Con Angelides
Expiry date 22AUG12.
TTIS: 203.72 (Source: 4)
24MAY12
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of:
(a) Research and development,
(b) Showing compliance with regulations,
(c) Training the applicant's flight crew,
(d) Market surveys
Test pilots are no longer listed. Pilots must be assessed as suitable by Seabird Aviation and must have:
a) prior experience on a similar type,
b) tailwheel endorsement,
c) demonstrated competence in the handling characteristics of the SB7L-360A.
and where the pilot is to perform Ergon Role Equipment Installation and Performance Evaluation Flying
d) received ground training in the operation of the Sensor System, and flight training in the operation of the FAS system.
All flight operations must avoid built up areas to the greatest extent possible. Flight operations in Class C airspace not permitted. Aircraft limited to VFR day or night.
Expiry date 22AUG12.
TTIS: 273.00 (Source: 4)
22AUG12
 Flew for 1hr 16min. TTIS: 373.65
It would appear that the aircraft did not fly again until 26JUN15 (which see).
(Source: 4)
23AUG12
 Aircraft disassembled for China airshow. TTIS: 373.65 (Source: 4)
Exhibited at an airshow in China wearing ROAMES markings (Remote Observation Automated Modelling Economic Simulation).
Working with Ergon Energy and QUT, the Cooperative Research Centres for Spatial Information (CRCSI) developed the Flight Assistance System which calculates optimum flight paths for LiDAR scanners to detect powerlines, and threats to powerlines such as overhanging trees. With the aid of FAS, what previously would have taken days to plan, weeks to fly, and months to process can be captured, processed and delivered within 24 hrs. ROAMES Asset Services was established as a services unit within Ergon to commercialise the technology. ROAMES was acquired by Fugro Pty Ltd in 2014. (Source: 3)
31AUG12
 Registered to Ergon Energy Corporation Ltd, Brisbane City East, Qld. (Source: 1)
26SEP12
 Aircraft reassembled after returning from China. TTIS: 373.65. (Source: 4)
Clearly the aircraft did not fly while in China.
UNRESOLVED ANOMALY: The aircraft was photographed on static display at the China International Airshow, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Provice on 13-18 November 2012 and yet the aircraft log book has it back in Australia and being reassembled in September! Multiple sources confirm that the airshow was in November.
07JUN13
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of:
(a) Research and development,
(b) Showing compliance with regulations,
(c) Training the applicant's flight crew,
(d) Market surveys
Expiry date 01JUN14.
TTIS: 377.0 (Source: 4)
24OCT14
 Aircraft placed in storage by Aus Jet Australia. Engine and fuel lines were inhibited. TTIS: 377.0 (Source: 4)
10MAR15
 Registered to Seabird Aviation Australia Pty Ltd, Hervey Bay, Qld. (Source: 1)
27MAY15
 Special Certificate of Airworthiness issued in the Experimental category for the purposes of:
(a) Research and development,
(b) Showing compliance with regulations,
(c) Training the applicant's flight crew,
(d) Market surveys
Expiry date 27MAY16.
TTIS: 377.0 (Source: 4)
05JUN15
 Removed from storage, reassembled and made serviceable. New mudguards were fitted left and right. TTIS: 377.0 (Source: 4)
09JUN15
 General maintenance TTIS: 377.47 (Source: 4)
26JUN15
 Flew for 2hr 8min. (Source: 4)
19OCT15
 General maintenance TTIS: 383.5 (Source: 4)
05NOV15
 General maintenance TTIS: 383.5 (Source: 4)
13JAN16
 Last flight 1hr 6min. (Source: 4)
22JAN16
 General maintenance TTIS: 390.0 (Source: 4)
17FEB16
 Aircraft disassembled into parts and stored. TTIS: 390.0 (Source: 4)
10FEB17
 Cancelled from the Register as withdrawn from service. (Source: 1)
18JUL18
 Donated to QAM by Seeker Aviation.
18JUL18
 Arrived at QAM Caloundra by road.
16NOV19
 Don Adams, founder of Seabird Aviation, passed away in Hervey Bay at age 93.
   

 

SEABIRD AVIATION AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION LIST

 

The QAM Seabird Collection
Rouseabout Mk 3 10-0281
SB5N Sentinel VH-SBI
SB5E Sentinel VH-SBU
SB7L-360A3 Seeker VH-EQN

 

 

Click on the image to read more about the Seabird Sentinel and Seeker.

Source:
AERO Magazine (#28 Oct/Dec 2010)
with permission of the author and publisher.

 

SOURCES
1
 Tony Arbon, AustAirData
2
 Seabird Aviation
3
 https://www.spatialsource.com.au/latest-news/fugro-purchases-roames
4
 Aircraft Log Book held by QAM.

 

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

 

 

 

 

ISSUE
DATE
REMARKS
5
19AUG18
 Greatly expanded after access to aircraft log book (Source: 4)
4
23JUL18
 Added further details of the aircraft's registration history thanks to Tony Arbon (Source: 1)
3
21JUL18
 Added two images of the cockpit.
2
20JUL18
 Added an image of the Data Plate.
1
18JUL18
 Original issue.