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11
June 2018
Where
the adventure began. Orion A9-760 arriving at Sunshine Coast
Airport on delivery to QAM.
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31
August 2018
The
aircraft was towed to a grassed area directly ahead of the
hardstand where it had been parked since arrival on 11 June
2018. The aeroplane was immediately protected by a fence and
security lighting.
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19
February 2019
One
of the first tasks was defuelling the aeroplane which was
completed on 23 October 2018. This is part of the fuel quantity
indicating/transmitter system inside the now empty Fuel Tank
5.
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30
April 2019
The starboard
inboard leading edge was opened for access to the external
bleed air duct.
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17
August 2019
The starboard
leading edge panels were removed. No electrical looms were
cut in the process.
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25-26
August 2019
The starboard
wing fillets were removed.
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17
September 2019
Removal
of the propeller from #1 engine using the QAM forklift.
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19
September 2019
The rear
fuselage and empennage comes off as a combined unit.
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24
September 2019
The aeroplane
was positioned on hardstand for trestling and removal of the
wings.
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24
September 2019
The empennage
was fenced off on the grass while the aeroplane was towed
back on to level hardstand for the serious work to begin.
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1 October
2019
All four
engines were removed on the hardstand.
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8
October 2019
The undercarriage
units were stored in the nearby hangar.
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11
October 2019
Commenced
the removal of fuel sealant from the port wing within Tank
5A.
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22
October 2019
Inside
the starboard wing.
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23
October 2019
Removal
of the port wing. The hangar in the background was kindly
made available by Sunshine Coast Airport for storage of smaller
components.
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23
October 2019
Daylight
as the port wing separates from the fuselage.
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23
October 2019
Removal
of the port wing. The hangar in the background was kindly
made available by Sunshine Coast Airport for storage of smaller
components.
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25
October 2019
The fuselage
ready to be loaded for transportation to Caloundra.
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29
October 2019
Two
cranes were required to load the fuselage.
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29
October 2019
The port
wing being loaded for transportation to Caloundra.
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Proud
and Relieved
The
successful removal of both wings was a project milestone that
warranted a photo of some of the team members. Left to right.
Chris Weingarth, Peter Scovell, Bill Edwards, FLTLT Rob Nieuwenhoven,
Bruce Small and Chris Buley. (FLTLT Nieuwenhoven was present
as an RAAF observer to evaluate methods of relocating static
Orions.)
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29
October 2019
The fuselage
departing for Caloundra.
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8
January 2020
We won't
be needing these anymore. With the aeroplane safely on its
undercarriage, the fuselage trestles are removed.
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11
March 2020
Not unlike
threading a needle, the #3 engine is reinstalled at Caloundra.
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25
March 2020
With
the fuselage and wings safely in Caloundra, attention turned
to dismantling the empennage. The vertical stabilizer is slung
from a crane ready for loading.
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25
March 2020
The vertical
stabilizer is craned on to a low loader.
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25
March 2020
The rear
fuselage and tailplane being unloaded beside Hangar 2 at Caloundra.
This unit by itself is bigger than many of the aircraft displayed
in Hangar 2.
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25
March 2020
The rear
fuselage and tailplane being unloaded at Caloundra.
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30
July 2020
Not an
airship but rather the rear fuselage and pressure bulkhead
of the Orion surrounded by scaffolding prior to reinstalling
the empennage.
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07
August 2020
The
vertical stabilizer has been reattached to the rest of the
empennage for installation as a complete unit.
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1 October
2020
Complete
again and ready to be admired by visitors.
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All photographs
by Bruce Small unless credited otherwise.
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