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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 3, 2014 7:59:37 GMT 12
I see on the itinerary released today for the upcoming Royal Visit next month the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate, will be visiting the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka. I guess as an RAF pilot himself William must be a bit of an aviation buff. I wonder if he ever browses this forum? Other important places on their tour schedule include a visit to Cambridge and RNZAF Base Whenuapai. tvnz.co.nz/national-news/william-and-kate-royal-tour-itinerary-5855791 |
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Post by beagle on Mar 3, 2014 10:32:37 GMT 12
I see they arrive at wgt. would this be on a BA777 leased for the tour to get here.
Would the internal flights be by RNZAF B757 to places from their base in Wellington to say Auckland Dunedin, Queenstown, Christchurch ?
What about Blenheim. Oh actually the 757 can get in there.
Looking at the itinery, they only have 1 day off.
So we want pictures Dave of you beside them when they go to Cambridge. Do you have a suit and tie or would you wear your forum t shirt.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 3, 2014 12:47:17 GMT 12
Haha, forum T-shirt. Good one Beags.  |
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Post by rayo on Mar 3, 2014 15:21:43 GMT 12
I am sure Prince William is an Aviation Buff and would enjoy such a visit but I would pick more Official reasons as well. 1. Its a Museum focussed on WW1 Aviation and it is 100 years since that conflict Started. 2. The museum is a Peter Jackson initiative and he has put his support behind the Stow Maries WW1 Airfield Project in the UK. 3. TVAL will be sending aircraft to Participate in the WW1 themed Airshows in the UK for the next couple of Years. I suspect some sort of commemoration and formal recognition of support will take place. rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/20733/tval-aircraft-ukww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/As an Aside I read that the Stow Maries Aerodrome will be operational on 1 May so I guess this is the reason the TVAL Airshows were Shuffled about to allow Aircraft to be Packed up and Transported to the UK. |
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Post by camtech on Mar 3, 2014 18:42:04 GMT 12
I believe the royals are travelling from West Island by RNZAF 757 and also for their travels in NZ.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 3, 2014 18:51:48 GMT 12
They are headed to Australia after the NZ tour, not the other way around.
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Post by camtech on Mar 3, 2014 19:00:48 GMT 12
The official itinerary from Kensington Palace states they arrive in Wellington by RNZAF aircraft and depart on an RAAF aircraft. Protocol normally dictates VVIPs arrive on a host nation aircraft (note I said normally as there are probably more exceptions than norms in this area)
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Post by beagle on Mar 3, 2014 19:11:07 GMT 12
being a sea king pilot, I wonder if they'll take a nh90 to whenuapai to show off and maybe let him have a fly.
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Post by ZacYates on Mar 4, 2014 19:02:27 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2014 19:15:52 GMT 12
I reckon the Royals are going to Omaka to see the South Island's main attraction, Al and Marty running the Bristol Freighter.
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Post by shorty on Mar 4, 2014 20:01:00 GMT 12
I'm hoping all you ex S & S types are banding together to make a big Union Jack for Dave to wave when he lines up to see them in Cambridge! I think it should be made of something warm so that he can wrap it around like a blanket as he could get cold camping out overnight for the best position!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2014 20:05:10 GMT 12
Stuff camping out on State Highway One, I emailed Willie and Kate and said to meet me down the Five Stags pub after they're finished with all the ceremonial nonsense.
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Post by Radialicious on Mar 4, 2014 20:21:36 GMT 12
Funny you should mention the Bristol Dave, because the last time I ran her, I was joined by a descendant of aviation royalty. Visiting Omaka on the day were Eric and Mary Verdon-Roe. I was lucky to meet them as they were being immersed in all things vintage and historic on the airfield. Eric's grandfather was none less than Alliot Verdon-Roe, a man who's initials don't need too much explaining to us aviation minded folk. Eric and Mary had just inspected Bill and Robyn Reid's Anson and watched Tony Wytenburg running his brand new Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine. With all the nostalgia in the air, I asked if they would like to join us in the Bristol for a ground run of the port engine. Eric didn't need a second invite and we were soon upstairs turning dinosaurs into decibels, most of which Eric videotaped for prosperity.
Many times in the past and even recently, I have been surprised by the special events and opportunities that aviation has sent my way. To have the grandson of AVRO sitting next to me with a huge grin on his face in our beloved Bristol Freighter was another special occasion that ZK-CPT has given me.
The royal visit to the OAHC coincides with one of the regular flying days on the airfield and I'd be surprised if the Bristol sits in silence throughout....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 5, 2014 0:06:08 GMT 12
That's really neat Al. A great memory for you and for the Verdon-Roes.
I wonder if William would get into the cockpit with you on a run. I reckon he's have to be keen. I can vouch for the experience as being extraordinary on all the senses, and not to be missed!
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Post by beagle on Mar 5, 2014 10:37:15 GMT 12
and after he jumps on, then the body guards, nz security, ya might as well invite Peter J as well.
yeah I think it would be so cool if he was up there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 5, 2014 16:20:20 GMT 12
It'll be like the day they took me, Baz, Teresa, Lumpy and loads of others for a taxi in the old girl. I think there were around 20 of us piled in. |
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Post by baz62 on Mar 6, 2014 11:51:23 GMT 12
I missed out on that ride Dave as I decided to man the fire extingusher for the engine start. Well couldn't have all you VIPs going up in smoke!  |
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Post by Mustang51 on Mar 6, 2014 13:06:43 GMT 12
Dave................ How about sending the Prince a Forum T Shirt?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2014 22:15:30 GMT 12
I don't have any spares...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 11, 2014 11:20:40 GMT 12
It seems Prince William is making this trip a real aviation themed tour. He's heading to the AHC at Omaka, the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram, Pacific Aerospace at Hamilton, and also Cambridge, home of WONZ. Big Cambridge welcome for royal coupleWill and Kate to make April Cambridge sojourn ELTON SMALLMAN Last updated 05:00 04/03/2014  CAMBRIDGE UNION: Cambridge Chamber of Commerce CEO Raewyn Jones waves the Union Jack outside the town hall. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will make a flying visiting to our own Cambridge. The royal couple announced their tour of New Zealand last year and Kensington Palace confirmed they would make four stops in Cambridge and Hamilton on April 12 for their one-day sojourn. The news prompted the town to begin preparations - chamber of commerce CEO Raewyn Jones said the streets would be packed. "I don't think there is anywhere in New Zealand that's going to go off as much as Cambridge," she said. They prided themselves as a "very English" town and local residents had a penchant to get in behind royal events. When the royal baby Prince George Alexander Louis was born last July, they lit the town hall and clock tower blue to celebrate. "It was just a big celebration for us because he is the Prince of Cambridge," she said. "We'll claim him as our own, we're not above that." Prince William last visited New Zealand in March 2011 after the Christchurch earthquake but it would be the first visit for Catherine Middleton. Waipa mayor Jim Mylchreest said the details had not yet been finalised but the visit to Cambridge was special. "From a Waipa perspective, we are absolutely delighted to host the royals and particularly with that name association with Cambridge, maybe that's what swung it for us." Prince William's first engagement will be with Hamilton aircraft manufacturer Pacific Aerospace, while the duchess, who is a patron of East Anglia's children hospices, will attend Hospice Waikato's Rainbow Place. Pacific Aerospace chief executive Damian Camp hoped to unveil a new innovation in aircraft design on the day and said staff were keen to meet the prince. "Everybody is really proud to be of interest to the royal party," he said. "We were lucky to make it on to the agenda." Hospice Waikato staff were told of the news of Catherine Middleton's planned arrival immediately after Prime Minister John Key's announcement and CEO Craig Tamblyn said there was a lot of excitement. Rainbow Place provides specialist care for children and young people to cope with life-threatening illness and the Royal visit coincides with the annual Gallagher children's party. "Not only will she be able to look at the facilities that we've got, we are actually holding a party for children and their families on that day." The official opening ceremony of the Home of Cycling Avantidrome would be a showcase of cycling in New Zealand and CEO Geoff Balme said it coincided with the royal visit in a "once in a generation" opportunity. "They won't be here for the whole three hours, they'll only be here for 45 minutes but it will be a high point of the afternoon," he said. Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker was pleased and proud that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be visiting Hamilton during their tour. "This is very exciting for Hamilton," she said. Prime Minister John Key says a planned visit by the royals to Turangewaewae Marae was canned, because Maori King Tuheitia wasn't happy with the amount of time the couple could give. Ad Feedback - © Fairfax NZ News www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/9785935/Big-Cambridge-welcome-for-royal-couple |
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