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Post by planecrazy on Nov 1, 2012 21:59:23 GMT 12
That is a good point weight or more to the point stopping the weight would be an issue, sounds like she will go via Norfolk dame it!
Long flight east coast of Oz to Norfolk Island!
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Nov 3, 2012 7:56:53 GMT 12
Southern DC-3 has operated scenic flights out of Rangiora about a year ago - 940m
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Post by phil82 on Nov 3, 2012 9:06:47 GMT 12
What a great experience this trip will be! Expensive, but priceless in a way to experience air travel as it was once: not always predictable.
Back when 42 Sqn operated the Dakota at Ohakea, they used to do regular "navigation" exercises which included Invercargill during the Bluff oyster season! All the messes and clubs used to place their orders, and even the NZ Police in Wellington were involved. There were also flights to Fiji via Norfolk Island for which names were drawn out of the hat at Ohakea, about 8 or 9 as I recall. The big incentive was, of course Duty Free, which Norfolk is, and of course Fiji, and the poor old Dak used to be packed with loot causing Sqn Ldr Baldy Grieg, the captain and CO 42, to comment that "we might need to ask for a lower altitude"! There were cases of NZ Butter on the way into Norfolk, in a deal made by someone with the Aussie Customs guys, who carried it off! Sweet nostalgia.
I once spent three weeks getting to NZ from RAF Mildenhall on an RNZAF DC6. The route was something like: the Azores, Bermuda, South Carolina, Oklahoma City, Las vegas, and Travis Air Force Base near San Fransico, where we got stuck for ten days, then Hickam, Canton Island, Fiji, Whenuapai. The delay at Travis was caused by the need for a tailwind to guarantee making Hawaii! Real flying, no GPS!
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Post by avenger on Nov 5, 2012 14:36:49 GMT 12
The big incentive was, of course Duty Free, which Norfolk is, and of course Fiji, and the poor old Dak used to be packed with loot causing Sqn Ldr Baldy Grieg, the captain and CO 42, to comment that "we might need to ask for a lower altitude"!
Ref to the Sqn Ldr, Brian ("Baldy") Grigg, CO No 42 Squadron June 1968.
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Post by baronbeeza on Nov 5, 2012 15:09:36 GMT 12
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Post by beagle on Nov 5, 2012 17:30:34 GMT 12
I once spent three weeks getting to NZ from RAF Mildenhall on an RNZAF DC6. The route was something like: the Azores, Bermuda, South Carolina, Oklahoma City, Las vegas, and Travis Air Force Base near San Fransico, where we got stuck for ten days, then Hickam, Canton Island, Fiji, Whenuapai. The delay at Travis was caused by the need for a tailwind to guarantee making Hawaii! Real flying, no GPS! Great those sort of trips. Just like taking a Herk to the UK. So much more fun than sitting cramped in an airliner seat. This way you get to experience the trip more. I take it with 10 days stuck at Travis you were given extra allowances plus back in those days, the USAF would have looked fater you quite well.
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Post by ZacYates on Nov 7, 2012 10:13:45 GMT 12
It's coming to stay....does anyone know who with?
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Post by baronbeeza on Nov 7, 2012 10:29:18 GMT 12
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Post by htbrst on Nov 16, 2012 10:27:51 GMT 12
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Post by dakman on Nov 16, 2012 10:32:47 GMT 12
I understand they landed at Norfolk Island ok may be Auckland today ?
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Post by brendanodell on Nov 16, 2012 12:23:48 GMT 12
History of this aircraft (prior to purchase by Mark Oremland)
*(c/n 4363) delivered to the US Navy as an R4D1 on 06 May 1942 as BU no 4703.
*To (NATS squadron) VR-1 May 09, 1942 (this is thought to be one of the original four (or five, sources differ) aircraft that the Naval Air Transport Service was formed with),VR1 was based at NAS Norfolk VA. for service across the Atlantic ). *to VR-7 Apr 03, 1943 (VR-7 was originally established in April 1943 under command of the Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) at NAS Miami Florida to engage in the airlift of priority cargo and personnel between the U.S. and South America)
* NATS Nov 01, 1943 - Roanoke Jan 1945 - Miami Mar 1945 - Jacksonville Apr 1945 - Miami Sep 1945
* Glenview Jun 30, 1946 It was phased out (Struck Off Charge ) on 30 Nov 1946 and it led a corporate life; * Jarosair of Miami, FL (1948) (C-900)
* N1699M for Dow Chemical Co. (1951), at some time in the mid 1950's it was converted by the Remmert Werner Corporation to the same standard as Dow's other DC-3's, with "Viewmaster" windows, Pratt & Whitney R-1830-75 engines (later to R1830 -94's), landing gear doors etc. *To N69D Draper Chemical Co.,
* N234Z for Airflite Inc of Freeland, MI (June 1963),
* Pennzoil Co, Oil City, PA (1964), Pennzoil United Co, Houston, TX (1971)
* Jerry Foster Enterprises (03May78) *Next it became HZ-TA3 carrying the name "Sara" for Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia , upon its delivery on 05Sep79, via Manchester in the UK. It was in overhaul at Miaco for almost 1 year, from July 1980 to June 1981 in Luqa, Malta. The Prince used the aircraft, as his father had used his DC-3's, for hunting trips into rough desert strips in Saudi Arabia. It was returned to N234Z of Jerry Foster Enterprises Inc, Nashville, TN, in Mar87. But HZ-TA3 was seen still stored at Nairobi, Kenya in March 1988. * It was briefly registered to Newcal Aviation Inc of Little Ferry, New Jersey, (January 1989) and Acer Corp. of New York, NY (bought 19 June 1989). N234Z was cancelled in Sept 1990.
*It was purchased and registered as ZS-MRU by Gert de Klerk in September 1990 and to his company Wonderair on 8 0ctober 1990. By 1992 it was with Avia Air Charter, at Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria (company owned by Gert de Klerk which still has DC-3's in its fleet as of 2012). At some point it was registered to Speed Services Couriers also at Wonderboom during March 1998 and Dec 2000. It was used on overnight courier parcel flights all over South Africa.
* During December 2001 it had Naturelink "Spirit of Adventure" titles applied (ownership to Naturelink) and by October 2002 acquired a luxurious interior with leather seats, operating on safari type passenger charter work (to destinations such Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Vilanculos, Mozambique and Maun in the Okavango Swamps, Botswana) for Naturelink. * Sold to Iceland in 2005, reportedly as a retirement gift for a high standing person in Air Atlanta Icelandic, registration TF-AVN was reserved around September 2005 but not applied. Aircraft was flown via Windhoek, Namibia and Libreville, Gabon to Shannon, Ireland by Capt Erns Conradie, arriving on 12 September 2005. Aircraft spent several months in Windhoek from April 2005 having carburetor problems attended to at Namibia Commercial Aviation (who themselves operated a DC-3 ZS-CRV for some time on lease). In January 2006, the aircraft was moved to Dunsfold, UK,where it starred in the film "Casino Royale" in 2006 and the 2007 TV series "Primeval".
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Post by Ykato on Nov 16, 2012 12:35:30 GMT 12
I understand they landed at Norfolk Island ok may be Auckland today ? 16/11/2012 DC3 Norfolk Island (YSNF / NLK) Auckland (NZAA / AKL) 10:10 NFT 15:14 NZDT Scheduled flightaware.com/live/flight/N451ZS
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Post by dakman on Nov 16, 2012 12:42:30 GMT 12
Like most DC3 /C47s its had a very interesting life ,thanks for posting . I have noted the FAA reg site lists it as Turbo powered .?Speed Services had two other Dodson turbo DC3s along with MRU maybe it was going to be coverted as well at some time . Looking forward to its arrival in Auckland
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Post by TS on Nov 16, 2012 15:30:19 GMT 12
Just heard and saw her pop through the clouds ;D at 16.25 over Aucklands North Shore then disappear in cloud again, bugger.... She most definitely is not turbo powered, can't mistake the rumble of radials ;D
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Post by brendanodell on Nov 16, 2012 16:42:01 GMT 12
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Post by philip on Nov 16, 2012 16:44:09 GMT 12
Just heard and saw her pop through the clouds ;D at 16.25 over Aucklands North Shore then disappear in cloud again, bugger.... She most definitely is not turbo powered, can't mistake the rumble of radials ;D And passed over Grey Lynn a few minutes later. Sounded beautiful
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Post by Kereru on Nov 16, 2012 17:10:45 GMT 12
The Jean Batten Clipper on final for 23L. Colin
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 16, 2012 17:41:27 GMT 12
Wow, lovely! Well done to all involved, and thanks for the photos Phillip and Colin.
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Post by dakman on Nov 16, 2012 17:48:30 GMT 12
Great photos great to see a escorted arrival assume it was ZK DAK So Next ? on to Te Anau?
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Post by brendanodell on Nov 16, 2012 18:00:17 GMT 12
Thats a really super photo Colin! Thanks so much for posting!
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