Australian Douglas Invader destined to fly

摘要

The A-26C Invader 43-22653 is to be restored to airworthy condition in New South Wales, Australia. Located at Bankstown Airport, Sydney, the airframe has been purchased by Richard Thompson, who also owns Wedderburn-based Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer VH-SYS. Manufactured in 1943 by Douglas in Oklahoma, the Invader was assigned to the USAAF soon after, although its service history in World War Two is not known. In 1963, it was acquired by Idaho Air Tankers at Boise Airport for fire-bomber duties under the callsign '26'. Bought by Reeder Flying Service soon after, it moved north to Canadian company Air Spray Ltd at Edmonton as C-GPTW. Withdrawn from use in the mid-2000s, it was exported to Australia to be returned to flight and was noted under cover at Bankstown in 2011. Sadly, the initial restoration project ran into financial difficulties and folded in early 2014.