Community & Business
22 June, 2022
Tough old machine back in the air
An aircraft that’s more than 90 years old has been put back into the air from Bange’s airstrip at Clifton.
The Porterfield plane was once the property of the late Sir Reginald Ansett, who started a small air service in Victoria and eventually created Ansett Airlines, a very successful airline until the pressures of the industry and poor management forced its collapse in 2009, long after Ansett had sold out of it.
It was built in Kansas City, Kansas in the USA in 1936.
The aircraft was imported into Australia by Sir Reginald Ansett and arrived in Australia in late November 1936.
It first came to Clifton on 8th April 1955.
It was flown here by the well-known pioneering glider pilot Jack Bange.
Over the past 15 years, the Porterfield has been out of the air.
However after a bit of work a few years ago, it was recently put back into the air and went like a dream.
Jack’s son Trevor said it required only minimal work.
“The restoration in 1996 achieved all that was necessary,” Trevor said.
“All we did here was change out perished tyres, perished engine bay rubbers, service the carby with a new gasket set and clean, then a very good check over.
“It started on the second hand pull of the propeller, like it nearly always does to everyone’s amazement.”
