Aircraft Had Been Owned By A Local McDonald's Restaurant, Sold At Auction

A West Australia grandfather has completed his airplane collection with an unusual acquisition ... a non-airworthy DC3 which until recently had been used as an event space by a local McDonald's restaurant.

Perth Now reports that the new owner Blair Howe, who bought the airplane from the restaurant in Midland when it was offered through tender by auctioneer Broughton and Broughton. The airplane collector spent $10,000 (Australian) on the airplane, and another $9,000 to have it partially disassembled and shipped to his home in Myalup, about 85 miles from Perth.

When it got it there. He parked it in his front yard. Howe calls it his "8 tonne garden gnome".

When it belonged to the restaurant, it was used mainly for children's birthday parties. Now, the airplane will be on display along the roadside in front of Howe's home. He said he has no plans to restore the airplane, which was one of 13,000 built for the U.S. military and later flew for Ansett Australia, to airworthy condition. It does still have its original instrument panel, but has otherwise been stripped to the bone.

He also said that the airplane, which is his 14th airplane, will be the last one he buys.

But if you happen to be in the neighborhood, Howe said you are welcome to stop by and have a look.

(Image from file. Not Howe's airplane)

FMI: Original report