Aircraft

A forced landing in the Cambridge Gulf (north of Wyndham) in the top end of Western Australia caused the demise of this aircraft.

The lighting of a signal fire to attract attention and eventual help turned to disaster, when Spinifex grass (which covered the ground) enabled the fire to work its way against the wind and burn out a big area – including VH-ASA.

VH–BJD Tiger Moth

In March 1949, VH-BJD a Tiger Moth was borrowed from Mr B Hingston and used to visit stations in the Victoria River District, an agreement was made that payment of £1 an hour flying time would be made. The aircraft was for sale at £400 and there was £80 owing for use of the aircraft; this amount was used as the deposit with VH-BJD being purchased by The Salvation Army.

Almost a year late returning to Darwin and just north of Katherine, the engine started misfiring. A tight turn was made toward Katherine and not long after a forced landing was made on the north side of Katherine River. The cause of the misfiring was a jammed exhaust valve.  VH-BJD was returned to Darwin on the back of a semi-trailer, where repairs were made to the wings, and the engine received an overhaul.  

VH-BYS Auster Autocar J5B

VH-BYS was flown to Darwin from Melbourne in July 1955 ready for use by The Salvation Army. 

A visit to Mount Sanford Station in February 1961 was the downfall for VH-BYS. There was no airstrip at Mount Sanford at the time; there was however an open area near the house. Taking off at the conclusion of the pastoral visit proved the undoing. The soft surface of the ground, wind conditions and the load were factors that had a bearing on the aircraft sinking back into the bushes at the end of the clearing and turning over. There was no injury to the three passengers but the aircraft was severely damaged. It was decided it was cheaper to purchase another Auster than repair VH-BYS. The result was that VH-BYS was abandoned.

On a return trip to Katherine VH-UED ran out of fuel a few miles north of Katherine a forced landing was attempted into trees in very rugged country. Considerable damage was done to the aircraft as well as injury to the pilot.

The final trip for VH-BTG was in the West Kimberlies. It left Troughton Island and about 20 minutes from the Mitchell Plateau and the engine misfired.

The Flying Padre, Captain Vic Pedersen, recounted, "I did a steep turn towards land and a gush of oil hit the windscreen. My height was 3000 feet. By pushing the engine to its limits, I could almost maintain height." 

Captain Pedersen managed to land on very soft mud flats near the coast, but the rising tide later covered the aircraft in several feet of water, the result being that VH-BTG went to a watery end.

On Christmas Day 1974, Cyclone Tracey visited Darwin.

It destroyed the Flying Padre Services quarters and destroyed VH-KOG, which was literally cut in two when it was lifted from the tarmac at Darwin Airport and wrapped around a steel column of the aero club building.

Soon after, negotiations commenced to purchase a new aircraft, another Cessna 182.

VH–SVA Cessna 182Q Skylane

VH-SVA was purchased in March 1979 for $54,000 and flown across from Orange, NSW. This plane was well recognised by its call sign — when people heard it on the radio, they knew straight away that the Salvos had arrived. 

VH–SVA Cessna 182S Skylane Millenium Edition

Built in 2000 and purchased in October 2002 for $420,000 from New Zealand, this plane's original registration was ZK-SME. 

After being ferried to Australia, it was re-registered as the well-known and much loved VH-SVA, becoming the latest aircraft to serve as the wings for The Salvation Army Flying Padre.