RHRPAF Aero Subaru "Air Force One"

[Ed Russell 3,037]

This is my first civilian model for a while so @Moa will be pleased…. Or maybe not? More details about the Hutt River Province can be found here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Hutt_River

and its web site here

http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/

Suffice it to say that it started as an unsuccessful tax evasion idea and morphed into a tourist attraction until it closed down this year. For some time the late owner, Leonard Casley, operated an Aero Subaru Fuji FA200 which was painted up in Royal Hutt River Province Air Force livery as Air Force One. Aircraft ownership is not unusual on the very large Western Australian cattle runs. Note that Hutt River is larger than Bermuda and about the size of Guernsey.

The Subaru was strictly a civil aircraft and registered as VH-FJI. Searching that registration will bring up what are seemingly the only two pictures of it RHRPAF guise.

As a result of a discussion here….

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/72nd_aircraft/what-is-the-most-obscure-air-force-you-ve-model-an-t11296.html#p110683

….. I couldn’t resist building this one. The kit is by Arii and is not easy to find. It was built pretty much out-of-the-box. I added flap hinges and an aerial. The decals were drawn originally in 1/48 but my graphic designer son re-drew them in 1/72 with some additions and corrections and they were printed on an Alps printer.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments welcome.... even silly ones as befits the model! Now I need to find a Bleriot Monoplane for a model of it in Liverpool Air Force service.

 

 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48 38,532]

18 hours ago, Ed Russell said:

This is my first civilian model for a while so @Moa will be pleased…. Or maybe not?

I am truly pleased, Ed! although somewhat befuddled: civil registration and Air Force?

In any case, I confess that although I have heard about the Aero Subaru, I have never seen one until this very moment, so thanks for the learning experience.

It's a nice cute little model,

Verily original, and well done!

Cheers

[Cariado 71]

Brilliant! Lived in WA for years, but never got to the Hutt River Province.

[Bangseat 1,044]

What a fascinating history! I love a model with a good story. 

 

[Ed Russell 3,037]

On 9/18/2020 at 11:34 AM, Moa said:

although somewhat befuddled: civil registration and Air Force?

It's a bit like if you bought a Cessna or whatever and painted "Honorable Shaolin Air  Force" on the fuselage and seceded from Trumpyland.

[oz rb fan 891]

nice work Ed

[fjaweijfopi4j48 38,532]

6 hours ago, Ed Russell said:

It's a bit like if you bought a Cessna or whatever and painted "Honorable Shaolin Air  Force" on the fuselage and seceded from Trumpyland.

That is a great idea!

[Tom R 21]

Ha - I should do one. I went there in the  early 2000's.  It was a tourist attraction but a bit run down. I had heard of the plane but never saw it.

Nice model and backstory.

[kapam 1,673]

That's cool!  

While familiar with the Hutt River Province (in a general sense), I wasn't aware they had an AeroSubaru.

I well remember TV news items about "Prince Leonard" now & then.

Having built the Arii kit myself, I can attest you've done a fine job - skilled and patient!

Might just drag up some pics of my build sometime...

[Don Gorrie 4]

To set the record straight. I am the owner of this aircraft which I bought in 1982. FJA was never owned by Hutt River. Prior to my owning FJA was with a flying school in Melton, Victoria. The colour scheme came about after a group of club members had been to a Confederate Air Force show and wanted to create an Air Force for a bit of fun. 
 

 

[Ed Russell 3,037]

On 10/4/2020 at 7:22 AM, Don Gorrie said:

To set the record straight. I am the owner of this aircraft which I bought in 1982. FJA was never owned by Hutt River.

That is fascinating. I looked on the net and in civil records for more documentation of FJA but could only find two photos in RHRPAF colours and a few others in a similar  paint scheme without the RHRPAF titles. I certainly believe you but is this documented anywhere but here?

My primary source was the two photos

Interestingly the caption of this photo suggests it's not owned by HR but doesn't go into detail

https://www.airhistory.net/photo/61909/01/VH-FJA

whereas this photo only attributes it to HR

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Royal-Hutt-River-Province-Air-Force/Fuji-FA-200-160-Aero-Subaru/2329928

[Bandsaw Steve 6,308]

Interestingly, it’s the Hutt River that reaches the Indian Ocean at Port Gregory, so perhaps the SS Xantho was the flagship of the ‘Royal Hutt River Province Navy’. 
 

If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about have a look on the maritime pages for ‘SS Xantho’ which is my current project.

 

I would post a link but only have my phone here and aren’t sure how to do that. 

[Bandsaw Steve 6,308]

On 04/10/2020 at 04:22, Don Gorrie said:

To set the record straight. I am the owner of this aircraft which I bought in 1982. 
 

 

That’s a pretty cool coincidence!

[kapam 1,673]

On 10/4/2020 at 6:22 AM, Don Gorrie said:

I am the owner of this aircraft which I bought in 1982.

Thanks for the clarification, @Don Gorrie.

Every plane has a story, many of which we never get to hear.  

When we do it adds extra flavour to our hobby.