Serial Number

Model

Registration

Date of Manufacturing

ATC

Price (USD)

Engine

Propeller

Current Status

History

Originally sold to Seth S. Terry on October 22nd, 1936. In 1937 the aircraft was shipped to Australia, and Australian Customs at Sydney wharves retained some of the aircraft's documentation against import duties waived because of the owner's declaration that the aircraft was visiting Australia for less than 6 months.

Terry returned to USA and left the Ryan with well-known pilot and aircraft dealer Ken Frewin, Melbourne to sell on his behalf.

On May 5th, 1937 an Australian aircraft import licence was issued for a Ryan ST-A to S. Terry, Sydney NSW.
Terry was an American citizen who would be living in Sydney NSW: the import licence was recorded as a visiting aircraft for 6 months. CAB allocated registration VH-UZQ.

On June 2nd, 1937 Kenneth Morton Frewin, Melbourne Vic, submitted an Australian Registration application, and the aircraft was test-flown at Essendon by Frewin on June 6th, 1937. A CAB Inspection report the same day quoted total airframe time of 39hrs 30 minutes. On June 18th, 1937 the Australian C of A was issued and the aircraft was registered VH-UZQ to K. M. Frewin, Melbourne Vic. ON October 9th, 1937 the aircraft flew displays at an airshow at Essendon Aerodrome, Melbourne.  "NC16043” was still painted on the on tail & wings, and "VH-UZQ" on the fuselage. Pilots Ken Frewin & Fred Watkins flew the aircraft; Frewin flew an aerobatic demo in the Ryan and dropped flour bombs on vehicles. On July 17th, 1938 it is recorded that the aircraft was test-flown by Frewin at Essendon after C of A renewal overhaul. Total time was noted as 62 hrs. On October 26th1938, Frederick Watkins, Melbourne Vic. Purchased the aircraft and named it Zoom II.

Watkins had previously owned a DH,60 Moth VH-UOA which he named Zoom.

On January 1st, 1939 the aircraft was test-flown at Essendon by Watkins after maintenance. Total time was noted as 104 hrs.

In 1939 a photo of VH-UZQ at Essendon still shows "NC16043" on tail & wings, with “F. Watkins Jr, Essendon” on the tail, and soon after the DCA wrote to Watkins instructing him to have the US registration removed from the wings and rudder. Photos at Essendon of Ansett Airways hangar fire show VH-UZQ parked at entrance to burnt-out hangar, engineless but undamaged. At the C of A renewal on January 29th, 1940 the total time was noted as 182 hours, and at the next renewal on December 29th, 1940 the total time was 192 hours. On a DCA inspection report, dated January 28th, 1941, the total airframe time was listed as 208 hours 20 minutes. On December 30th, 1941 a DCA memo notes the “C of A has expired but Ansett Airways at Essendon are unable to commence work on C of A renewal inspection due pressure of work”. The aircraft was stored for duration of war due to wartime restrictions on private flying, and in February 1942 the aircraft was struck from the register. In a Letter to the DCA from Fred Watkins wrote, “UZQ has been out of commission for 4 years. Now under overhaul to renew its C of A”. ON October 3rd, 1946 the C of A was issued and the aircraft returned to the register as VH-UVQ. ON October 10th, 1947 the aircraft was sold to the Royal Aero Club of NSW, Mascot NSW, and then on November 11th, 1948 ownership changed to Sydney J. Braithwaite & John N. Braithwaite, Griffith NSW, but a DCA memo in December 1948 noted that “VH-UZQ was being operated by Royal Aero Club of NSW, Mascot NSW”. On April 17th, 1949 the aircraft sustained minor damage in a forced landing, Golgeldria NSW.

On July 26th, 1949 a Letter to the DCA from Arthur Schutt of Schutt Aircraft, Essendon: requested approval to modify VH-UZQ to replace the Menasco engine with a Gipsy Major, using the same drawings and stress calculations approved for re-engining of Ryan STA VH-UYN. (SN 147).

In March, 1950 the Menasco C-4 was replaced by a DH Gipsy Major Series 1 by Schutt Aircraft Sales and Service, Essendon Airport, Melbourne. The aircraft was sold to the Royal Aero Club of SA, Adelaide-Parafield SA, on February 28th, 1951. It was noted on June 27th, 1953 the aircraft was flown by pilot John Trussell of the Aero Club, and VH-UZQ is described as having a metallic finish with red registration, at Aero Club hangar. In December 1953 Royal Aero Club of SA magazine Wing Tips records:

"Certain sections of the members will be sorry to hear that the Club has disposed of Ryan Trainer BWQ. This aircraft was added to the fleet some three years ago, and although popular with a number of members, it did not achieve anything like the utilisation necessary to be an economical proposition."

ON April 28th, 1954 the aircraft was sold to Allan Carter, Lameroo SA. On August 1st, 1954 the aircraft departed Bankstown as a competitor in the Redex Reliability Air Trial, the pilot was A. Carter: the trial route was Sydney-Brisbane-Darwin-Alice Springs-Adelaide-Melbourne-Wagga-Sydney. The Ryan had titles “Redex Trial 1954”, and the front cockpit was covered. On August 8th, 1954 the aircraft was blown on its nose by a wind gust on landing at Darwin during the air trial. The propeller and cowling were damaged. 20 other competitors suffered minor damage at Darwin due to the strong winds. The Ryan was quickly repaired at Darwin after parts were flown in on a Qantas service. On July 31st 1956 the aircraft was sold to Edgar L. Pickles & George E. Dick, “Waltham”, Rand NSW, and on February 4th, 1959 the aircraft was sold to Edgar L. Pickles, “Cadell”, Barham NSW.

On May 11th, 1960 while being flown by Edgar Pickles the crashed into trees

 on the farm property "Cadell", Barham NSW. The Accident was reportedly due engine failure over his farm property, and while attempting to avoid ground covered by rabbit burrows flew between trees, shedding both wings. On July 21st, 1961 the aircraft was struck from the register, and stored on the owners farm in a shed. In 1962 the aircraft was shipped by road to Wagga for repairs, and On January 9th, 1963 it was noted at Wagga as having been re assembled with a repaired rear fuselage. By 1964 it had white wings, a red registration nd a red rudder, and the aircraft departed Wagga complete in 1964. On May 13th, 1964 the aircraft was restored to the Register as VH-BWQ and still owned by Edgar L. Pickles, “Cadell”, Barham NSW. Sometime soon after the aircraft was once again damaged in an accident, with no details given, stored again in the shed and then noted on May 11th, 1970 as damaged in a ground Loop and once again stored in the shed. In March 1979 the wreck was noted in the shed on the farm "Cadell": the wings, rudder, and fuselage sections were silver with blue trim. The wreck was sold to Murray Griffiths, of Deniliquin NSW. In 1994. Griffiths engaged Nick and Greg Challinor of Mothcair Aviation at Murwillimbah NSW to rebuild the Ryan to airworthy, retaining DH Gipsy Major engine. The collection of damaged parts moved to Murwillumbah by road. In 1995 it was noted at Murwillumbah, silver with blue fuselage flash, blue registration VH-BWQ on tail, and in 1996 painted as “NC16043”, under rebuild, fuselage standing on undercarriage. On August 28th, 1997 it was restored to Register as VH-UVQ by Murray Griffiths/ Murrumbidgee River Rice Growers, Hay NSW. The first test flight occurred on December 17th, 1997 at Murwillimbah, flown by Guy Kendell. IN A NOTE VIA Murray Griffiths: "The Ryan came from a farm barn in VIC (sic) where it had rested for two and a half decades after a landing accident and sent to Challinor Brothers' Mothcair at Murwillumbah for rebuild. When it was flying, I traded it to Jack MacDonald as part of the purchase of the Curtiss P-40N"

In 1998 Sold to Jack MacDonald, Caboolture Qld, and on January 11th 1999 the aircraft was sold to Lynette D. Zuccoli, Toowoomba Qld. On August 20th, 2000 the aircraft visited Caboolture Qld fly-in, flown by Lynette Zuccoli.

On June 6th, 2012 the aircraft was removed from the Australian register and sold to Jan Friso Roozen in France. The aircraft is now re registered as F-AZVQ.

Ownership History

• Seth S. Terry, Reno, Nevada, and Sydney, Australia;

• Ken M. Frewin, Melbourne, Australia;

• Frederick Watkins, Melbourne Vic;

• Royal Aero Club of NSW, Mascot NSW;

• Sydney J. Braithwaite & John N. Braithwaite, Griffith NSW;

• Royal Aero Club of SA, Adelaide-Parafield SA;

• Allan Carter, Lameroo SA; Edgar L. Pickles & George E. Dick, “Waltham”, Rand NSW;

• Edgar L. Pickles, “Cadell”, Barham NSW;

• Murray Griffiths, of Deniliquin NSW;

• Jack MacDonald, Caboolture Qld;

• Lynette D. Zuccoli, Toowoomba Qld;

• Jan Friso Roozen in France.

Current Ownership

Jan Friso Roozen, France

Notes

Via FAA records, N16043 is currently shows as registered to a Cessna 150L, owner Wayne Gordon Brenner.

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