dodgy
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 89
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Post by dodgy on Aug 20, 2013 11:20:59 GMT 12
Hi I am looking into relocating to Otaki, does anyone here have an opinion on the strip and could perhaps forward some contact details? Things that I would be keen to hear from those that have flown there are: - What is the surface of the strip like (eg: drainage in winter
- Is there hangarage available, is it secure, have there been instances of theft?
- I assume that fuel is not available, so I will have to uplift some from PP as I travel past
- Any other feedback, good or bad?
The length is fine for my aircraft, I assume that the prevaling wind is not a drama. |
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Post by thomarse on Sept 17, 2013 12:17:05 GMT 12
Well, you didn't do very well with this Dodgy!
I had hoped someone with more current experience may have chipped in. I was in and out of Otaki many, many times in the 70s and 80s but not in recent years.
I can say that it's on very solid free-draining ground but since it has a heavy sward of grass it will be wet for a while after rain - I doubt that it would puddle or become boggy though.
AFAIK the hangarage is not good; never was. Even in the days when the Otaki Aero Club operated the Moth Minor (AKM?) it used to spend the week in what was then the CAA hangar at PP.
It's a great strip and even though the ol' Northwesterly blows its arse off, particularly at this time of year, I don't ever remember crosswind being a problem.
Hope this helps.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 17, 2013 17:02:27 GMT 12
Even in the days when the Otaki Aero Club operated the Moth Minor (AKM?) it used to spend the week in what was then the CAA hangar at PP. They had both ZK-AKM and ZK-ALD, presumably not at the same time. |
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Post by eieio on Sept 17, 2013 20:01:24 GMT 12
A Mr Ron Kofed [spelling?] is the man in charge.
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Post by eieio on Sept 17, 2013 20:26:12 GMT 12
Better still, google Otaki airstrip ltd
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Post by chinapilot on Sept 18, 2013 14:32:38 GMT 12
thomarse... is this the strip used in the '60s? Remember taking BSK up to a strip where they actually had a small airshow...ex WWII pilot- a big fellow - gave a great demo in a Ceres.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 18, 2013 15:01:22 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 18, 2013 21:51:20 GMT 12
Wish someone would flag it on Google Earth so I could know where it is.
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Post by thomarse on Sept 18, 2013 22:17:52 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Sept 18, 2013 22:20:51 GMT 12
Wish someone would flag it on Google Earth so I could know where it is. 40°47'11.31"S 175° 9'4.79"E I have a draft .kmz file for the SAANZ / AOPA airstrip directory.... |
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Post by hardyakka on Sept 19, 2013 13:02:32 GMT 12
Or just search for 102 Otaki Gorge Road, Hautere on Google Maps. It is about 1km SSE of the point where SH1 crosses the Otaki River.
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Post by thomarse on Sept 19, 2013 17:07:55 GMT 12
Looks like we're talking to ourselves because "dodgy" hasn't been on line since the day he/she started this post.
I see in the Google photo that there is now a new hangar down the South-western end. The original buildings are nestled in the totara trees towards the North-western end.
Note the strip had been recently used for topdressing and the bin is still open (South-eastern end)
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Post by chinapilot on Sept 19, 2013 20:06:54 GMT 12
Thomarse...is this the strip that's alway been there?
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Post by thomarse on Sept 19, 2013 21:08:10 GMT 12
Affirm - the one where the display you mention was held.
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dodgy
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 89
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Post by dodgy on Sept 23, 2013 11:56:35 GMT 12
Yes, thanks Guys. I have been in touch with Rob Kofed. There is no space there at the moment, I would love to be able to store the Tiger there once space opens up. Nice vid of the 185 landing, that would be my ideal 4 person aircraft!
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Post by avagwhiz on Sept 23, 2013 17:37:36 GMT 12
Ian and Tom.I was also at the airshow-must have been mid 60's.From memory the Ceres was Aerial Farmings BVS.
I suspect the pilot was George Hetterschneid?(unsure of spelling).
I have a slide of this Ceres at Taonui on pickets.
Good to see that 48 years on we are still in contact thanks to Facebook!
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Post by thomarse on Sept 23, 2013 17:43:31 GMT 12
What about Foxpine dodgy?
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dodgy
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 89
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Post by dodgy on Sept 23, 2013 20:50:04 GMT 12
Yes,Foxpine is definitely an option. Less ideal for me due to the travel time and the trees. I have had some interesting fun with the shear coming off the top of them, not a deal breaker, but what is 'interesting' in a 172 is downright unpleasant in a tiger!
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Post by chinapilot on Sept 23, 2013 23:09:19 GMT 12
Avagwhiz...yes, that was his name ( like you unsure of the spelling). Great show and he was a very charismatic character climbing into his Ceres...it was the golden age of the 60's aviation scene that you had to be around to appreciate. Had lots of photos but they have been lost over the years...be great if you could post some. One of my strongest memories of that airshow was that Joe Sue, an instructor at Wellington Aero Club at the time, invited me to his relatives place who were 'market gardeners' near the strip where I had my first real Chinese meal and fanned the wanderlust... Yes - It is great to be in contact with you and thomarse after all these years. 
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 24, 2013 10:01:21 GMT 12
Ian and Tom.I was also at the airshow-must have been mid 60's.From memory the Ceres was Aerial Farmings BVS. I suspect the pilot was George Hetterschneid?(unsure of spelling). I have a slide of this Ceres at Taonui on pickets. Good to see that 48 years on we are still in contact thanks to Facebook! George Herman Maria HETTERSCHEID - born 1929, died 9 May 2005 (at Feilding?). Errol |
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