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Post by Bruce on Jan 6, 2015 7:26:53 GMT 12
I'd say its pretty likely to be John's T51 from Matamata - probably going to Hamilton for its annual inspection (as it would have the previous year...) The track would be consistent with a MA-HN transit.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 6, 2015 7:49:25 GMT 12
If it was a Titan T-51 then John has got the engine sounding a lot more realistically Merlin-like than any of the other Titans I have seen. Plus it was fairly swift by comparison too, the Titans that were over Karapiro in November sounded nothing like a Merlin and they were slow in their cruise.
Each time this mystery aircraft went over here I heard that familiar distant Merlin throb and got up and walked outside to see the aircraft maybe 10-15 seconds later, so it throws its sound forward a fair way, you can definitely hear it coming. Does the rotary Titan do that?
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Post by Bruce on Jan 6, 2015 11:54:53 GMT 12
Thats a serious Titan - It does have a throaty, yet smooth "big engine" bellow (very different from any other T51) and it goes like a rocket ship. Its painted in Silver Canterbury TAF colours so could easily mistaken for the full size P51.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 6, 2015 18:51:02 GMT 12
It does seem the most likely candidate then. I recall how much it looked like the real deal even in the hangar when we visited.
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Post by flyinkiwi on Jan 7, 2015 8:14:16 GMT 12
Just to add that I saw John at Waikato Aero Club on Sunday showing his family around, so Bruce may indeed be correct. We also had Comanche ZK-BAZ visit from Taupo which was operating from the club as well while its owner was getting IFR refresher training. While BAZ does have a big flat six up front it doesn't really look like a Mustang.
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Post by baz62 on Jan 7, 2015 9:34:46 GMT 12
Just to add that I saw John at Waikato Aero Club on Sunday showing his family around, so Bruce may indeed be correct. We also had Comanche ZK-BAZ visit from Taupo Now there's a rego!
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Post by hardyakka on Jan 7, 2015 17:14:21 GMT 12
It's a sweet machine as well as a sweet rego :-) The Poppy on the vertical stabiliser is a "Wings over Gallipoli ANZAC 2015" decal. I think the owner is going to fly it around the world including the ANZAC centenary ceremony in Turkey.
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Post by Bruce on Jan 7, 2015 17:40:55 GMT 12
Nice Comanche, but not the aircraft we saw. The tip tanks would have been a giveaway.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2015 20:10:43 GMT 12
Agreed. There were no tip tanks.
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