|
Post by hardyakka on Dec 23, 2018 11:34:45 GMT 12
New post on old thread. Does anyone know the artist? This is painted on a telecoms cabinet on Eagle Way in Te Rapa, Hamilton. It us NZ2504 flying over the old Te Rapa base. Driven past it heaps of times but only just noticed it today because we parked beside it. It is here : Google Maps Pin by painted telecoms cabinet
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 23, 2018 11:57:42 GMT 12
Not sure who painted it but it's pretty neat, eh!
|
|
|
Post by ErrolC on Dec 23, 2018 13:52:42 GMT 12
The Council is probably involved in getting the art on the utility boxes, have a look around their website to see if there is a contact for the arts programme.
|
|
|
Post by hardyakka on Dec 23, 2018 15:08:35 GMT 12
The Council is probably involved in getting the art on the utility boxes, have a look around their website to see if there is a contact for the arts programme. My daughter took part in the Hamilton City public art project for utility boxes. We did the traffic lights control box by the Innes Common netball courts on Forest Lake road. The council pulled the funding and laid off the co-ordinator about 5 years ago.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 23, 2018 15:38:34 GMT 12
I think the Te Rapa Avenger one only got painted on there about a year ago.
|
|
|
Post by isc on Dec 23, 2018 23:26:34 GMT 12
Taggers. isc
|
|
|
Post by saratoga on Dec 24, 2018 6:17:16 GMT 12
That'll be it, taggers with aspergian obsession with plane spotting and only a modicum of interest in minor detail.On skateboards no doubt.
|
|
|
Post by camtech on Dec 24, 2018 10:24:10 GMT 12
I believe there is a Catalina on a similar box on Catalina Drive - was a post some time back. Too busy with Xmas doings to track it down.
|
|
|
Post by avenger on Mar 4, 2019 14:57:33 GMT 12
The Grumman Avenger had just two more flights. This 27 May, 1959.
|
|
|
Post by avenger on Mar 4, 2019 15:02:08 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by avenger on Mar 4, 2019 15:08:11 GMT 12
The last in service start at OH prior flight to Hamilton. Coloured by G Sommerville. (AFM copy) r Taxxing for the last takeoff. At Te Rapa, date uncertain.
|
|
|
Post by avenger on Mar 13, 2019 15:35:48 GMT 12
From Herald, same article. It has flown some interesting sorties in its time, and the final trip will certainly not be a dull one for the last complete Avenger torpedo bomber in NZ. The folding wing aircraft has been a display piece at Hamilton Te Rapa air force base since retiring from active duties in 1959. Now someone has decided to give it a place of honour at the RNZAF historical centre in Wigram, Christchurch. It is perhaps sad that after such a colourful career including WW 2 action in the Pacific theatre with 30 and 31 Squadrons and duty as a target-towing plane the last trip for the Avenger bomber is not to be by air. The plane was brought to Auckland by transporter yesterday and from Jellicoe Wharf was loaded into the frigate Waikato. Her retirement cruise as a guest of the navy will see the Avenger delivered to Christchurch next week. At Wigram she will be restored to display condition.
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Jan 23, 2020 9:07:23 GMT 12
Ever since NZ2504 was originally restored into her target tug marking the question of the winch has been discussed between several of us including Anthony Galbraith who did an awesome model of her and is looking at doing one in the blue with yellow tail. Well sometimes its who you ask. I did know the winch was removed from 04 and installed in a Dakota (NZ3547?). Paul Harrison informs me that he set George Jaunzemiz onto it as with the retirement of the Dakota fleet where was the winch? George discovered it was with the supply section at Ohakea. A request was made to send it to the museum but there was some reluctance as the powers that be thought it might be useful! Eventually it was sent down but was put into storage at Weedons. Last week the Museum was posting photos on their Facebook page and some showed the big move of everything at Weedons to Wigram. I took the opportunity to ask about the winch and got an email address for the collections staff. Emma Johnson promptly replied and said yes the winch is here........would I like some photos of it? Would I!!! So here they are showing the winch, the data plate and the RNZAF stores tag. www.flickr.com/photos/152706041@N02/shares/2Ac4Acwww.flickr.com/photos/152706041@N02/shares/R1450Twww.flickr.com/photos/152706041@N02/shares/71D480
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 23, 2020 10:03:24 GMT 12
I wonder if that is the same type of winch that was previously used on the target towing Vincents/Vildebeests?
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Jan 23, 2020 14:41:44 GMT 12
Pretty certain that the old British aircraft had British slipstream operated winches. Some (including Gordons and Fairey IIIFs) used winches with large propellers which could be positioned edge-on to slipstream (stowed) or "full frontal" to haul in the targets as required. Other RNZAF aircraft (apart from Vincents/Vildebeests, Walrus) utilised to tow targets during WW2 included PV-1 Venturas, Hudsons, Catalinas (which would have used standard United States electric winches for most part), plus P-40s and Harvards (winches not required). Since then of course, Vampires, Mustangs, Strikemasters, Skyhawks and Aermacchis have towed targets for air gunnery exercises, but so far as I know, provision of actual (off-set) live firing targets is no longer a responsibility of the RNZAF - unless anybody else out there knows better. David D
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Jan 23, 2020 15:37:22 GMT 12
The Avenger winch is a US Navy type winch so would not have been fitted to the old British aircraft as David states above. The Dakota it was fitted to was NZ3546 which had been returned to RNZAF service ex-NAC ZK-AWQ in April 1961 and was modified to a target tower with drogue tubes attached around the rear fueslage, the winch and an astrodome in the rear cargo door for the operator to observe the drogue streaming. When not used for target towing it was quite often used on SATS and it was great fun to poke your head out into the astrodome and watch the NZ landscape pass steadily by at a sedate 140kts
|
|
|
Post by johnnyfalcon on Apr 10, 2020 18:33:31 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2022 17:03:08 GMT 12
PRESS, 31 AUGUST 1979 This World War Two Grumman Avenger torpedo-bomber came back to life yesterday at Wigram Air Force Base. The occasion was the giving of approval for the Air Force museum at Wigram, which is in the No. 7 hangar. The engine spluttered and roared into life for the first time in more than 20 years, and then the aircraft taxied down the runway. The Avenger had been at R.N.Z.A.F. Te Rapa, near Hamilton, and was brought to Christchurch 19 months ago. A group of enthusiasts have worked up the aircraft to running, although not flying, order. This Avenger was one of six, out of a fleet of 48, which arrived in New Zealand in 1943 without bullet-proof petrol tanks. The six aircraft were not used in World War Two but this Avenger made history as the first aircraft to do trials for aerial top-dressing at Ohakea. The aircraft has also carried Air Force rugby teams, and rumour has it, a Pakistani hockey team. The Avenger, with five other aircraft, now forms part of the display at the museum. Members of the museum trust board met for the first time at Wigram yesterday, signing the deed which formally recognises the museum under the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Act, 1957. Although material has been accumulating at Wigram for many years, only last year was the museum given space in the No. 7 hangar. A full-time director, Squadron Leader J. K. Barry, has been appointed. The museum is not open to the public, but group tours may be arranged. When the museum would be open to the public depended largely on the reaction of the trust board, said the base adjutant (Flight Lieutenant A. Pond). It was hoped to build a public car-park near the hangar, with an entrance off Springs Road.
|
|
|
Post by Antonio on Sept 4, 2022 17:42:50 GMT 12
Tweaked an AFM photo: NZ2524 Gotta love the 'dinky' underwing tanks
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Sept 4, 2022 17:56:26 GMT 12
Some old footage of "Plonky" when she went to live in Oz. "Plonky" when she was sold by the AFC on her way to a new home in Oz. Then again on her way home to NZ to become "Plonky" again.
|
|