A former Australian Army pilot who has introduced a Cessna M337B Skymaster to the Australian warbird fleet plans to use the aircraft for a range of GA missions.
Designed in the 60s as a business aircraft, the Skymaster was designated the ‘O-2A’ in military service and during the Vietnam War RAAF pilots on exchange with the United States Air Force (USAF) flew the aircraft on missions as Forward Air Controllers, before the USAF retired the aircraft in the 80s.
At a cost of about $300,000, in late 2010 Townsville-based Conway Bown imported only the third example of the M337B Skymaster (now registered VH-OTU) into Australia after it underwent a full restoration process in Oklahoma City. While retaining its original USAF livery, Bown had OTU fitted with a Garmin glass cockpit in order to make it IFR charter capable.
“Outside it’s 1970 except for a couple of extra antennae, but inside it’s 21st Century!” Bown enthuses. “A Garmin glass cockpit with synthetic vision technology, an S-TEC autopilot coupled to a GNS430W GPS and an ADS-B transponder replace most of the instruments. A cargo pod and five passenger seats will also be fitted.”
As well as functioning as a flying memorial to Vietnam Veterans through military history flights and airshow appearances, Bown plans to put the aircraft through its paces on various GA missions including aerial surveying, charter, aerial firefighting, search and rescue and emergency services support.
“I call it the EMRAP – the enhanced, multi-role aerial platform,” Bown says. “I want it to be doing at least 300 flying hours a year.”
For pilots wishing to fly the Skymaster, Bown plans to offer endorsements on OTU via an indepth military style training program. For more information visit www.ipas.com.au.
