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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 26, 2010 20:49:18 GMT 12
On Wikipedia under Aerial Topdressing it says that the Research and Development unit formed under Stan Quill had three Avengers and a Dakota on strength. Did the Dakota actually get converted to carry out topdressing during this trials period? Which aircraft was it?
And does anyone have any photos of it in this role? Just out of interest...
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Post by The Red Baron on Sept 26, 2010 21:10:55 GMT 12
They had ideas of using a DC-3 for dropping fertiliser but it was deemed too an expensive aircraft to use with super phosphate.When the research unit decamped to Masterton they had 3 Avengers and an assortment of vehicles and a DC-3 was used to fly in supplies for the troops at the topdressing trials,but only the Avengers were used to drop fertliser.
James DC-3 AZL was the first used for actaual topdressing around 5 years after the RNZAF trials.
They did use a Bristol Freighter for trials in 1954
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 26, 2010 21:17:00 GMT 12
Thanks. Apart from Stan Quill, who were the Avenger pilots?
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Post by The Red Baron on Sept 26, 2010 21:49:14 GMT 12
Jack Wendon,S.Mills and J.Washington.
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Post by kiwitone on Sept 26, 2010 21:57:00 GMT 12
jack drove taxis in Masterton for years my dad told me that he had been involved with top dressing at the begining. family lived in first st lansdowne
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Post by The Red Baron on Sept 26, 2010 22:12:33 GMT 12
He also carried on topdressing after he left the RNZAF,he flew for Air Contracts,presumably at Masterton,until 1954.
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Post by beagle on Sept 27, 2010 9:01:04 GMT 12
They did use a Bristol Freighter for trials in 1954 Now that would have been cool to see. Flying low , then pulling up and turning around on a dime for another pass. |
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Post by tbf25o4 on Sept 27, 2010 12:37:54 GMT 12
Dakotas were used in the late 1940s by the GPF and 41squadron
NZ3503/NZ3546 were used in 1947/48 for supply dropping for deer control
and several by 41 squadron. the Dakotas of 41 were either retired or in 1953
passed to 42 squadron NZ3550/NZ3551/NZ3553 NZ3543 was in storage at Rukuhia
see Southern Skies Pioneer for more details
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