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Post by skyhawkdon on May 8, 2015 20:30:40 GMT 12
Today I was very fortunate to be offered a ride in a RNZAF Iroquois at Wigram as part of their farewell tour of NZ. This was very special for me as my first posting off Mechs Course in 1985 was to 3 Sqn at Hobsonville where I worked on the Iroquois and Sioux for 8 months (the first "real" aircraft I worked on). Todays flight brought back many memories - the cool sound of them starting up, the whine of the transmission and the vibration! The passengers today were mostly Museum Guides and staff plus a few RNZAF Veterans. It was a wonderful thing for the RNZAF to do - thank you, you really made my day.  Here we all are waiting for the briefing and filling in the indemnity form! As you can see the museum was very organised with seating and tents for us old fellas!  Walking out to our aircraft "14"  I got one of the waste seats and we flew with the door open so it was pretty noisy and windy.  Wonderful view of what is left of Wigram and the RNZAF Museum  Heading for the CBD and New Brighton  We flew in formation with a second Iroquois  As you can see it was a perfect day for it |
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Post by isc on May 8, 2015 20:54:16 GMT 12
How long are they in town for, I'd like a last look at one/two flying out my way. Good photos, great weather, only chopper seen today, a lonely R-22 battling into the norwester. isc
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 8, 2015 21:04:08 GMT 12
Superb Don. You look to be the youngest No. 3 Squadron veteran there!
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Post by skyhawkdon on May 8, 2015 21:04:56 GMT 12
3 Hueys have been down here for the last few days and there were a couple of NH-90s out at the airport today too I'm told. The Hueys went home this afternoon I think. Correction one just flew past Wigram this morning (Saturday) so they must still be about.
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Post by frankly on May 9, 2015 8:23:52 GMT 12
Nice gesture for the old 3 Squadron pers. Had my last Huey flight about a year ago. Best Huey flight I had was with one of the German exchange pilots. I was briefing the guy about the size of the pad (which was cut for a 500 to land in)...No problem he says! About a 30 point turn to get the machine down, but I was bloody impressed!
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Post by Darren Masters on May 9, 2015 8:58:46 GMT 12
Nice shots. Thanks for sharing  |
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Post by Ian Warren on May 9, 2015 9:05:46 GMT 12
Gorgeous day Yesterday, I should have wandered down, I see Earl just left to the chap in blue overalls, never did get a flight in a Iroquois, one was up again this morning but on Wednesday from my place . Everytime I hear that thump , I'm running outside!  |
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Post by flyjoe180 on May 10, 2015 22:34:56 GMT 12
Great photos Don, sounds like you really enjoyed your Iroquois trip.
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Post by skyhawkdon on May 11, 2015 20:25:54 GMT 12
Here is a wee video clip as we come back into Wigram.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 12, 2015 1:56:56 GMT 12
Still nowhere seems to have a schedule of the farewell tour. I guess they were only ever going to Wigram and that's it?
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Post by davidd on May 12, 2015 9:43:58 GMT 12
Warren, "The chap in the blue overalls" is Joey Meldrum, on the permanent staff of the Museum, well known in shooting circles. I too went for my last Iroquois ride on that Friday, and was one of the unfortunates sitting in one of the outermost seats - very interesting ride, and a little cool, but certainly a superb flight.
David D
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2015 20:16:59 GMT 12
We had Iroquois go past us about an hour ago going north toward Ohakea.
Could have been more than one.
I didn't have a radio near to listen.
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Post by sailorsid on May 12, 2015 21:03:34 GMT 12
An idea of where they were going would have been great, one headed north over Timaru about 1600hrs.
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Post by kiwiduster1 on May 13, 2015 11:04:52 GMT 12
Two Hueys just flown over Hastings 1500ft tracking towards Ohakea. Time 1055am Maybe my last sighting??
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Post by Barnsey on May 13, 2015 23:04:59 GMT 12
What's a waste seat Don? Is that where you shit yourself...?!!
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Post by noooby on May 14, 2015 3:24:49 GMT 12
LOL Barnsey! Don, you never did door gunning on 3SQN did you? The seats that you are sitting in are (or at least were in my time) referred to as the athwartship seats. When fitted with the M60, you had a nice foot rest for your feet on the base of the pintle and a hand warmer after blatting off a few rounds |
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Post by skyhawkdon on May 14, 2015 8:48:49 GMT 12
Waste/Waist - some people are just so picky and perfectionist!
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2015 10:54:06 GMT 12
Finally some detail on the rest of the tour, thanks to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand's Facebook page person:
"Today there are veterans’ flights in Napier and Tauranga. Friday sees a pitstop to the Coromandel before heading to Auckland. On Saturday 3SQN will be conducting a flypast at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in support of the 9SQN RAAF reunion happening there. The return trip to Ohakea includes a stop at Waiouru Military Camp on Monday 18 May"
It was also stated by another user that Hamilton will be visited on May 18th too, not sure if that means the airport or the city.
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Post by nige on May 14, 2015 12:04:05 GMT 12
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Post by beagle on May 14, 2015 13:26:24 GMT 12
All I can say is you lucky bugger
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