ADASTRA AERIAL SURVEYS

VH-AGB

Type:

Canadian Vickers Canso A

MSN:

CV-359

Previous Identities:

11055
CF-GKI

History:

Built by Canadian Vickers at Cartierville, Quebec.

20MAR44

Brought on charge by the RCAF with the serial number 11055. Known in RCAF service as a Canso A. Stored in reserve with Eastern Air Command.

02MAY44

With Eastern Air Command (Western Hemisphere Operations).

15MAY44

From this date served with No. 5 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron at Torbay, Yarmouth, Dartmouth, Mont Joli, Sydney and Gaspe.

04JUN44

Unserviceable for patrol duties due to faulty radio. Restricted to local flying only.

28SEP44

Allotted to No. 4 Repair Depot (Scoudouc, near Moncton, New Brunswick) for major inspection.

03JUN45

Last operational flight was out of Sydney, Nova Scotia to look for a missing Ventura. (Source: 3)

14JUN45

Placed in storage.

11JUL45

Stored in reserve with Eastern Air Command.

With No. 6 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Unit at Mont Joli, PQ.

With Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, Mt. Pleasant, Prince Edward Island. REMS was a sub-unit of No. 6 REMU.

23JAN46

Awaiting disposal at REMS, Mt. Pleasant.

26JUN47

Time Since New 940:25 hours. Fitted with R-1830-92 engines s/n 350334/20110 and s/n A79812/20261.

27JUN47

Struck off charge by the RCAF and issued to War Assets Corp. for disposal.

30DEC48

Sold for $15,000 by The Babb Company (Canada) Ltd of Montreal to Photographic Survey Company Limited of Toronto. The aircraft was located in St. John, Quebec.(Source: 1-1844)
Photographic Survey Company was a wholly owned Hunting subsidiary in Canada. (Source: 3)

01MAR49

The aircraft was sold by Photographic Survey Company Limited to The Photographic Survey Corporation Limited (both of Toronto) for the sum of one dollar ($1.00). (Source: 1-1841)

18MAR49

The aircraft was successfully test flown by Weston Aircraft, Oshawa after conversion to a civil photographic aircraft on behalf of Kenting Aviation. The work included the following:
Fitment of a Janitrol heater.
Blisters retained.
Turret revolving mechanism made inoperative.
Opening between turret and nose faired in with doped fabric.
Pilot's escape hatch modified to permit opening from the outside.
Emergency exit provided on the port side of the hull between bulkheads 6 and 7.
Aircraft painted silver with Insignia Red trim.
Registration CF-GKI applied.
Stainless steel identification plate installed on aft face of bulkhead 7.
Engines fitted are Pratt & Whitney S1C3G Twin Wasp s/n 11532 (left) s/n A79812 (right).
(Source: 1-1829-1837)

18MAR49

Application for Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Airworthiness by Kenting Aviation Limited. Aircraft to be based at Oshawa, Ontario. (Source: 1-1845)

21MAR49

The aircraft was sold by The Photographic Survey Corporation to Kenting Aviation Limited (both of 1450 O'Connor Drive, Toronto) for the sum of one dollar ($1.00) to be paid over a period of four years! (Source: 1-1838)

21MAR49

CofA No. 3165 and CofR No. 8233 issued for CF-GKI for land and marine operations. Engines shown as R-1830-92. Maximum number of occupants approved is eight (8) and all must be provided with parachutes. When operated as a seaplane all occupants must be provided with life preservers. Maximum permissible gross weight must not exceed 30,500 pounds and is limited to hard surfaced runways and for water operations where the wave height does not exceed two feet. Maximum permissible landing weight is 27,000 pounds. (Source: 1-1854-1856 and 1909-1912)

19SEP49

The Department of Transport wrote to Kenting Aviation enclosing CofR No 8233, CoA No 3165 and aircraft log books. (Source: 1-1858)

17APR50

The aircraft was inspected and test flown by Weston Aircraft Limited, Oshawa. (Source: 1-1865)

11MAY51

Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of CofA and CofR. Total Time Since New: 2448-15 hrs. The Time Since Overhaul is also shown as 2448-15 hrs which implies that the aircraft was zero-timed during its civil conversion. (Source: 1-1869)

22JUN51

Kenting Aviation wrote to the Department of Transport requesting dispensation to carry more than eight persons on the aircraft. "At present the aircraft is operating in Northern Quebec from Knob Lake Airstrip and Aeromagnetic Surveys Limited have requested that a representative of their customer be allowed to carry on official observation duties in the aircraft from time to time during the period dating from the present until October 15th of this year." (Source: 1-1873)
This request was approved on a per case basis on 04JUL51. (Source: 1-1874)

24APR52

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police wrote to the Department of Transport regarding a low flying aircraft at the Falconbridge Radio Station, Ontario reported on 10APR52. The document does not identify the aircraft and the file contains no other correspondence on the subject. (Source: 1-1879)

17MAR52

Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of CofA and CofR. Total Time Since New: 3106 hrs. (Source: 1-1876)

10NOV52

Kenting Aviation wrote to the Department of Transport requesting permission to ferry Canso CF-GKI to Papua New Guinea to conduct an aeromagnetic survey for Aeromagnetic Surveys Limited of Toronto on behalf of the Hunting Group for approximately five months departing on or about 15NOV52 and returning on or about 01APR53. The proposed route was Oshawa-Montreal-Gander-Azores-Lisbon or Gibraltar-Luqa-Nicosia-Cyprus-Baghdad-Bahrein-Karachi-Allahabad-Nagpur-Calcutta-Rangoon-Kota Bharu-Singapore-Soerabaja-Timor-Darwin-Thursday Island-Port Moresby-Daru where the aircraft will be based. The aircraft is currently being overhauled for a new CofA. Both engines will be changed and an APU and bilge pump will be installed. Crew will be:
W.M. Howes - Captain
R. Pettus - Co-pilot
C.C. Fisher - Navigator
F.E. Birchall - Radio Operator
K. Mitchell - Engineer
H.J. Sandau - Magnetometer Operator
J.R. Gray - Magnetometer Operator
Kenting requested approval for an overload on the Gander-Azores leg where it is proposed to carry 1100 gallons of fuel which will result in a 4.9% overload of 1500 pounds.

10NOV52

Kenting Aviation advised the Department of Transport that the aircraft is now planned to depart on 22NOV52. Some equipment has been separately air-freighted to reduce the weight of the aircraft for the Gander-Azores leg. Kenting wish to keep the two magnetometer operators on the aircraft as "they come in damned handy helping maintain the aircraft." (Source: 1-1884)

17NOV52

The Department of Transport approved the operation. (Source: 1-1886)

05DEC52

Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of the CofR and CofA. Total Time Since New: 3825 hrs 20 min. (Source: 1-1888) Approved same day. (Source: 1-1887)

08DEC52

Departed Oshawa for Montreal. (Source: 3)

14DEC52

Departed Montreal. (Source: 3)

08JAN53

Overnighted Darwin. This was the aircraft's first visit to Australia.

09JAN53

Arrived at Port Moresby, PNG. (Source: 3). Alternative source states 10JAN53.

14JAN53

Commenced an aeromagnetic survey from a base on the Kikori River, Papua.
Click here for more information on this survey.

06MAR53

Last survey flight from Kikori.

12MAR53

The aircraft arrived in Cairns and over-nighted before departing for Sydney where the crew were to go on leave. (Source: Cairns Post, Friday 13 March 1953)

08JUL53

Ferried through Croydon, U.K.

10JUL53

Canadian Department of Transport telegraph to Field Aviation, Oshawa approving a fifty hour extension on both engines to enable the aircraft to return to Canada from England. (Source: 1-1892)

16JUL53

Ferried through Dublin, Ireland.

06OCT53

Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of the CofR and CofA. Total Time Since New: 4879:00 hrs. Time Since Overhaul: 1015:20. (Source: 1-1896)

29JUL54

The Department of Transport wrote to Field Aviation Company Limited of Oshawa, Ontario acknowledging their request of 28JUL for the aircraft to revert to Experimental status. DoT confirm that the registration should be changed to CF-GKI-X and that "application should be made for return to normal status when approval has been obtained for the proposed installation." (Source: 1-1898)

24SEP54

The Department of Transport authorised the removal of Experimental status pending final checking of the weight and balance report. The letter X may be removed from the aircraft. (Source: 1-1899)

03JUN55

Aircraft Accident Report filed. Pilot J. Greenshields reported after departure from Duluth, Minnesota, the port engine discharged copious amounts of oil through the stacks. The aircraft returned to Duluth where metal chips were found in the oil screens. Diagnosed as a failure of the piston in the #7 cylinder. The engine was changed. (Source: 1-1902)

AUG56

Adastra technicians undertook electronics equipment familiarisation with Photographic Survey Co/Kenting Aviation at Toronto and Kapuskasing. (Source: Ken Richards)

18SEP56

For the purposes of a ferry flight to Australia, Kenting Aviation requested approval for a once only take-off from Gander (to the Azores) at 2,440 pounds in excess of certified gross weight. The proposed route was Azores-Portugal-Malta-Syria-Iraq-Pakistan-India-Thailand-Malay States-North Borneo-Netherlands New Guinea. The request was approved on 21SEP56. (Source: 1-1907-1908)

24SEP56

Sold to Hunting Aero Surveys Ltd., Boreham Wood, Herts., U.K. (Source: 1-1914)

28SEP56

The Department of Transport wrote to Kenting Aviation enclosing CofR No. 8233 and CofA No. 3165, the latter renewed to 26SEP57. "You will note that the old Certificates of Registration and Airworthiness have been replaced by new type Certificates." (Source: 1-1913)
The old type was foolscap sized with provision for a photograph of the aircraft. The new type was seemingly about half of a quarto page with no requirement for a photograph.

OCT56

Ferried from Canada to Sydney. Ferry pilot was Jim Greenshields, Chief Pilot of Kenting Aviation. (Source: Doug Morrison)

07NOV56

Australian Registration Application by Adastra Hunting Geophysics Pty Ltd. (Source: 2)

08NOV56

Adastra applied for an airwork licence for one Canso. (Source: 2)

16NOV56

Registered VH-AGB to Adastra Hunting Geophysics, Sydney, NSW. CofR No 2868. CofA issued same day. (Source: 2)

24NOV56

Adastra pilot, Ted McKenzie, commenced conversion training on the Catalina. (Source: Ted McKenzie)

18JAN57

DCA issued Adastra with an airwork licence for the aircraft. (Source: 2)

15OCT57

Test flown at Mascot after CofA renewal. (Source: 2)

JUL58

Letter to DCA from Adastra Hunting Geophysics Pty Ltd: "This company carries out survey operations with electronic equipment designed to investigate the physical properties of the ground over which the aircraft flies. Generally this equipment is satisfactorily effective at heights of 500-600 feet at which the aircraft have in the past operated. Later trends in these methods of investigation however indicate that it would be more effective to operate at lower heights with our present equipment." Request approval to operate at 200 feet AGL. DCA approve the request but add a proviso that the Crown Solicitor warns that the company will be liable for any legal action that might be taken by persons on the ground. (Source: 2)

The wing tip floats were removed to reduce weight and thus enable the uplift of extra fuel. At the same time, some of the controls were removed from the pylon.
(Source: Les Snape, March 2004)

01JUN59

Test flown at Mascot by Ken Rowlands after CofA renewal. (Source: 2)

29JUN59

Memo from DoT Toronto to DoT Ottawa:

1.	On February 16, 1959, this office contacted Kenting Aviation Limited requesting the present disposition of CF-GKI. On March 19, 1959, a reply was eventually received advising as follows: the aircraft in question, PBY5A, CF-GKI, serial number CV-359, was sold to Hunting Aero Surveys Limited, 6 Elstree Way, Boreham Wood, Herts., England, on September 24, 1956, and at present is operating in Australia, registration letters VH-AGB. The Canadian certificates had been left with the aircraft.
2.	On June 23, 1959, Kenting Aviation advised that they had received a letter from Adastra Airways Pty. Ltd., Sydney, Australia, the present owners of VH-AGB, stating that there is no evidence of these documents being in their possession. They have experienced a reorganization and relocation since taking possession of VH-AGB and it is possible that the documents went astray during that move.
3.	In view of the foregoing it is recommended that this aircraft be deleted from the Canadian Civil Aircraft Register.

(Source: 1-1914. This is the final document in the file.)

JUL59

Adastra request renewal of their airwork licence for the Canso. Later the same month, Adastra advise that the airwork licence for VH-AGB is no longer required. (Source: 2)

09AUG59

The aircraft commenced an aeromagnetic survey of the Great Artesian Basin in the Tambo-Augathella area of Queensland with the aircraft based at Charleville and Roma. The contract covering approximately 25,250 square miles was awarded by Magellan Petroleum Corporation to Aero Service Corporation of Philadelphia but because Aero Service were fully committed elsewhere, the survey was subcontracted to Adastra. The flying was completed on 10OCT59. VH-AGB was crewed by:
Ken Rowlands (Captain)
Bruce Sellick (Co-pilot)
Joe Tidey (Navigator)
Bob Cozens (Engineer)
Maurie Miller (Chief Electronic Technician)
Les Snape (Technician)
(Source: Bureau of Mineral Resources, Petroleum Search Subsidy Acts, Publication No. 31, 1963)

25NOV59

The aircraft commenced an aeromagnetic survey of the Roma district in Queensland. Report

04JAN60

The aircraft was unserviceable (oil cooler port engine). This was the only day the aircraft was u/s on the Roma survey.

11FEB60

The Roma survey was completed.

01JUN60

CofA expired. (Source: 2)

08JUN62

Change of ownership to Trans-Australia Airlines, Melbourne, Vic. Parked at Bankstown, NSW and used as a source of spares for TAA's Catalina VH-SBV. (Source: 2)

09MAR66

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd. (Source: 2 - see 01MAY67)

12MAY66

Struck off Australian Register.

01MAY67

DCA Internal Memo: TAA have advised that AGB & SBV have both been sold to Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd, effective dates being 15.3.66 for SBV on the slipway at Port Moresby and 9.3.66 for AGB "fuselage located at Bankstown Aerodrome". AAS agree to remove AGB within 40 days of sale and are liable for any storage charges after 9.3.66 imposed by Hawker deHavilland or DCA. "Hawker deHavilland is being pressed by DCA to remove AGB from the aerodrome" (Source: 2)

04MAY67

Broken up at Bankstown by Garthon Scrap Metals of Caringbah.

SOURCES

Canadian Department of Transport : Civil aircraft registration, inspection and operation files, 1920-1986 : T-7502. (Images 1815 to 1914)
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_t7502/1918

NAA: DCA files accessed by Geoff Goodall.

Legg, David, Consolidated PBY Catalina. Airlife England, 2002

Issue	Date	Remarks
20	15MAY25	Updated the aircraft's Canadian history from Source: 1.
19	17JAN23	Added an aerial image of CF-GKI thanks to Doug Morrison.
18	31DEC22	Added a Slideshow
17	14DEC21	Added three images from the State Library of NSW. Image 1 Image 2 Image 3
16	20OCT19	Added details of a survey of the Tambo-Augathella area commencing on 09AUG59. Thanks to Doug Morrison.
15	30MAY18	Added details of a survey of the Roma district in NOV59.
14	15JUN17	Added detailed notes on the 1953 survey of Papua. Thanks to Doug Morrison.
13	23MAY17	Added the name of the pilot who ferried the aeroplane to Australia in OCT56. Thanks to Doug Morrison.
12	02MAR13	Added several references to Adastra's airwork licence for VH-AGB. These additions are attributed "NAA via Geoff Goodall".
11	18OCT04	Several additions extracted from Department of Civil Aviation files in the National Archives of Australia by Geoff Goodall. All are annotated "DCA files" in the above chronology,
10	14JUL04	Several additions, all attributed to National Archives of Canada via Doug Morrison.
9	10JUL04	Several additions, all attributed to David Legg.
8	27APR04	Added a reference to the removal of the floats in 1958 thanks to Les Snape.
7	13SEP03	Added six new images thanks to Bob Love.
6	16JUN03	Added extra detail of Canadian military service received from Jerry Vernon via Doug Morrison.
5	07JUN03	Added a reference to the further use of experimental marks CF-GKI-X from July 1954 to September 1954. Thanks to David Legg. Clarified the reference to the 1953 Kikori River survey. Doug Morrison has pointed out that the Kikori River was the base for the operation and that the survey was conducted over a much wider area than the river itself. Also added a reference to TAA's date of purchase. Also added reference to radio unserviceability in 1944 and airframe hours in 1947 thanks to Doug Morrison.
4	18MAY03	Added further details of the aircraft's survey career thanks to Doug Morrison.
3	15MAY03	Corrected the aircraft type from PBV-1A to Canso A and also added details of its RCAF service. Thanks to Ragnar Ragnarsson and Doug Morrison.