The city’s council is considering a proposal by the Mol family, which owns Smartair, to restore the DC-2 aircraft which has been rusting away at Albury airport, after having been removed from display in 2001.

Cr Neville Hull, a long-time Uiver enthusiast, has said the plan would involve the community helping to get the plane in better shape.

Certainly, if it does come to fruition, the story of the Uiver replica would have gone full circle from the point at which the Rotary Club of Albury West bought and restored the plane in the 1970s.

Of course there are a few hurdles before it can be said the plane has been saved: the council has to approve the plan; funding of work has to be determined; and the eventual home of the Uiver has to be decided.

But at least it appears a rescue plan is ready to take off and the community may get the opportunity to keep the replica in Albury.

There has been mixed messages from the council on the Uiver’s future, with an aborted expressions of interest process, but it is time to take a clear direction.