• More former RAAF aircraft are going to auction.
Australian Frontline Machinery
    More former RAAF aircraft are going to auction. Australian Frontline Machinery
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Another batch of former RAAF training aircraft are currently under the hammer as part of a digital auction by Australian Frontline Machinery and Pickles Auctions.

Bidding for eight Pilatus PC-9/A turboprop trainers, four Schleicher ASK-21Mi gliders and a single CAC-built Macchi MB326 jet trainer opened at Avalon, where the aircraft are stored, on March 12. Also included in the auction are a range of aircraft maintenance stands and equipment and over 200,000 spare parts.

The PC-9/A has now been replaced in RAAF service by the PC-21 and the eight examples in the current auction follow 18 others sold in a similar fashion in March last year, mostly to overseas buyers. Two of the aircraft are fully assembled and were flown into Avalon for disposal on their retirement; the other six examples are disassembled and mounted in transportation cradles. Cradles for the two assembled aircraft are included in the respective lots and the new owners will be responsible for disassembly and their removal from the site. The computerised CAMM2 maintenance data for each aircraft is able to be downloaded and inspected by prospective bidders and either physical or video inspections of the aircraft, and meetings with subject matter experts, are also available if anyone is affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The four gliders are in addition to a similar number auctioned last year and were formerly operated by the Air Force Cadets, until they were replaced by powered Diamond DA40 NG aircraft. The Macchi was retired in 1999 and has most recently been used as a training aid with the RAAF Security & Fire (Training) School at Amberley.

“Having the auction on-line means that the auction can proceed and investors locally and globally are able to secure these historic aircraft,” explains Colin Werner, general manager of Australian Frontline Machinery. “Interest is global; we’ve had people from around the world contact us. Most of the aircraft that were sold last time went overseas, the PC-9 is a very popular aircraft, and there’s a lot of interest in them. Well over 1,000 people have already registered with us for this auction.”

Once again, bidding began at $1.00 for each lot, with no reserve price, and the auction will close (depending on the lot) between March 22 and 24.

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