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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2016 15:10:29 GMT 12
MOTAT's Facebook page just reminded me that 49 years ago today the well known ex-RNZAF fighter and bomber pilot Fred Ladd caused a stir when he flew under the Auckland Harbour Bridge. He was such a great character and a wonderful exponent for aviation in NZ society. We need more like him.
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Post by isc on Mar 31, 2016 19:42:12 GMT 12
How big a book would be thrown the bloke who fly's a widgeon under the bridge today? isc
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Mar 31, 2016 20:41:26 GMT 12
Rule Number One....DON'T GET CAUGHT!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2016 20:59:07 GMT 12
It's frowned upon because aeroplanes disturb the tanewha that lives under the bridge
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Post by TS on Mar 31, 2016 21:28:47 GMT 12
Frickin hell I never new the bridge had been there that long....There's one for the history books. I thought it was built in 1959. Oh and don't forget the burial ground just to the left of the centre span....  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2016 21:34:04 GMT 12
Work began in 1954, and it opened in April 1959. Fred flew under it in 1967.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2016 21:34:32 GMT 12
A Sunderland flew under it once. How many other types have done it I wonder?
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Post by TS on Mar 31, 2016 21:38:48 GMT 12
Wow that would have been good to see. Yeah meant to say was finished in 1959 not built...
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 31, 2016 21:44:27 GMT 12
Fred was had up, but got away with it as he claimed that the Waitemata harbour was his airfield and he was just on final approach to touch down.
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Post by delticman on Mar 31, 2016 21:50:14 GMT 12
Fred was had up, but got away with it as he claimed that the Waitemata harbour was his airfield and he was just on final approach to touch down. From what I remember he did a long run down the harbour about one or two metres above the water. There was no swoops or tight diving turns it was just straight and level flight and the bridge just happened to be in the direction of his flight. Did it cause a stir. I don't think it would have as hardly anyone would have noticed him doing it. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2016 23:44:51 GMT 12
Didn't Fred get permission to do it a again much later in life,I think in a Cessna or something, as some sort of publicity stunt? Maybe a tie in with one of his books or something? Vaguely grasping at memories here.
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Post by steveh on Apr 1, 2016 10:55:45 GMT 12
A dim memory from a long ago past has TV footage of Fred flying under the bridge, not sure if it was in the Widgeon or a later effort as you suggest Dave, I do definitely remember his original underpass at the time though, it made the TV news, at least as a report if not with footage.
Steve.
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Post by The Red Baron on Apr 1, 2016 11:06:44 GMT 12
Appears Fred Ladd was well beaten to flying under it..... 1959 flyunder photo Gisborne Photo News |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 1, 2016 11:32:39 GMT 12
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Post by The Red Baron on Apr 1, 2016 11:59:03 GMT 12
 Auckland Aero Club Mag..... link |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Apr 1, 2016 12:35:43 GMT 12
Well, I can truthfully say that I have been in an aeroplane which flew underneath a bridge in the mid-1970s.
The aeroplane in question (ZK-CHS) no longer exists as it got written off in a fatal crash many years ago.
However, the pilot in question is still around (and still flying as far as I know), so I will say no more.
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Post by isc on Apr 1, 2016 20:09:20 GMT 12
It could well be CHS that Fred flew under the bridge the second time, some where about 1978 it was painted yellow and red for Fred Ladd's "Dynamic Volcanic Sno Flites Service", and that was it's colour when the crash occurred.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Apr 1, 2016 20:19:37 GMT 12
CHS was still painted green & white when it went under a bridge while I was a passenger in it. This was the bridge....  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 1, 2016 20:44:44 GMT 12
Is that Mangaweka viaduct?
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Post by thomarse on Apr 1, 2016 21:18:16 GMT 12
SH5 Mohaka. I can name a couple of others who have been under there, one of whom carefully mis-describes the bridge (but not the river) in his book.
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