CALAIR CA21 SKYFOX VH-CAL

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The Calair Skyfox was built on Caloundra Aerodrome – the home of QAM
VH-CAL-14
Freshly painted and recently registered, Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL over the Pumicestone Passage off Caloundra in November 1989 piloted by Peter Plaisted. Photographs were taken from the Sunshine Coast Air Charter Cessna 172 piloted from the right hand seat by Lester Neideck. The door was removed so that a professional photographer could occupy the left-hand seat. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-17
Skyfox VH-CAL at Redcliffe on 27 October 1989. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-06
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Caloundra in November-December 1989 after the profile of the cowling had been changed from round to flat and colour trim added and the registration reapplied. Photo: Peter Moller QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-07
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Caloundra in November-December 1989 after the profile of the cowling had been changed from round to flat and colour trim added to what was previously an all-white aircraft. The registration has yet to be reapplied to the tail.Photo: Peter Moller QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-15
The instrument panel of Skyfox VH-CAL at the time of its first flight on 15 September 1989. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-12
Where it all began. Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL takes to the air for the first time at Caloundra late in the afternoon of 15 September 1989. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-01
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Caloundra on 24 June 1993. The composite airframe held by QAM has been restored to represent this aircraft. QAM's composite airframe incorporates wings which were test flown on this "Research and Development Aircraft". Photo: Ron Cuskelly (AG198) QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-11
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Caloundra on 4 January 1992. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-18
Skyfox 55-606 at Caloundra on 14 December 1990 in the hands of Dan Denny who designed the Kitfox on which the Skyfox was based. The tail of this aircraft was incorporated in the composite airframe displayed at QAM as VH-CAL. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-13
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL outside the Qantas hangar at Longreach on 16 November 1990, the 70th anniversary of the founding of Qantas. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-10
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL outside the Calair factory at Caloundra in 1990. The hangar was located to the south of QAM on the opposite side of Pathfinder Drive. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-16
The instrument panel of Skyfox VH-CAL circa 1990. Picture: Tom Harwood Collection QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-09
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Caloundra on 3 May 2014. The aircraft is displayed prominently at the entrance to Hangar 1 in recognition of its significance as a production aircraft built on Caloundra Aerodrome just across the road from QAM.Photo: Ron Cuskelly QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-08
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Caloundra on 3 May 2014. The aircraft is displayed prominently at the entrance to Hangar 1 in recognition of its significance as a production aircraft built on Caloundra Aerodrome just across the road from QAM.Photo: Ron Cuskelly QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-03
The composite Calair CA21 Skyfox now in the QAM collection was once displayed beside the Bruce Highway as an advertising sign. This photo was taken on 27 November 1997. Photo: Bert Van Drunick QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-05
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL with a tricycle undercarriage at Caloundra on 10 December 1995. Photo: Bert Van Drunick QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-04
Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Redcliffe on 1 May 1994. Photo: Bert Van Drunick QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
VH-CAL-02
The fuselage frame of Calair CA21 Skyfox VH-CAL at Caloundra on 16 October 2010. Photo: Ron Cuskelly QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au
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QAM thanks the Skyfox Flying School for the donation of this aircraft.

The Calair CA21 prototype VH-CAL (msn CA21001) flew for the first time at Caloundra in the hands of test pilot, Peter Plaisted. The aircraft was subsequently used as the "Skyfox Research and Development Aircraft" until at least May 1998. In this guise it would have served as the prototype for the succeeding CA22, CA25 and CA25N models.

VH-CAL (msn CA21001) was transferred to the AUF/RAAus Register as 19-4140 and later re-registered 55-4140.

A composite Skyfox airframe was mounted on a pole beside the Bruce Highway at Glenview near Caloundra for the purpose of advertising the Skyfox Flying School. This composite airframe was subsequently removed from its pole and donated to the Queensland Air Museum by the Skyfox Flying School in 2007. This airframe has been statically restored to represent the original prototype VH-CAL in its markings as the "Skyfox Research and Development Aircraft".

* This composite airframe is said to comprise some or all of the following:


MSN Regn. Component
CA21001 VH-CAL Wings
CA21002 nil Section from an unflown test fuselage
CA21003 nil Section from an unflown test fuselage
CA21012 55-0606 Tail
CA21015 55-0610 Fuselage

A Special Note on Photographs & Identities

It is traditional for an aircraft to take its identity from the fuselage but what is a fuselage without wings but a dangerously inadequate automobile. The wing’s the thing! The composite aircraft displayed at QAM incorporates the wings from the prototype VH-CAL and this is the identity that has been chosen for QAM’s display aircraft because the prototype is of great local significance to Caloundra. Therefore, it should be noted that the majority of in-service photographs on this page do not depict the fuselage on display at QAM.

Further Reading

THE CALAIR SKYFOX ORIGIN, DERIVATIVES & PRODUCTION LISTS – by Don Cameron
THE SKYFOX STORY – HOW NOT TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS – by Tom Harwood
Compiled by Ron Cuskelly
To view this page as it was designed please click HERE

Compiled By Ron Cuskelly

Specifications

Remarks

This page has been greatly expanded thanks to a wealth of material supplied by Tom Harwood who assisted Calair on publicity matters and acted as a Skyfox demonstration pilot and salesman.

Issue: 6

DATE: 08 JUN 15

Added two images of the aircraft on display at QAM.

Issue: 5

DATE: 04 MAY 14

Added two images from 1989 thanks to Peter Moller.

Issue: 4

DATE: 15 APR 14

Added images from 1994, 1995 and 1997 thanks to Bert Van Drunick.

Issue: 3

DATE: 02 APR 11

Added year of donation (2007).

Issue: 2

DATE: 24 AUG 09

Original issue.

Issue: 1

DATE: 12 MAY 09

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