New Zealand Corsair for sale

[Dave Homewood]

Yes we've heard it was for sale before but now it is listed on Courtesy Aircraft, a big Yank warbirds sale company.

I'm very sad to see this.

www.courtesyaircraft.com/Corsair%20Project%20sn%202904.htm

[Naki]

Is this an ex RNZAF Corsair? Who is the seller?

[Damon]

I would assume,Ross Jowitt, Papakura.

[Damon]

Ross is trying to sell the hangar.Before that he needs to get rid of the aircraft inside.Hense the 'for sale; on the Vampire and F4U.

Damon

[Naki]

Thanks for the background - hope it dosen't leave these shores - interesting link too - didn't know there were two Corsairs in Australia. The way things are going here, there will be none left in NZ!

[Dave Homewood]

I didn't know about the second Corsair in Aussie too. There are a few wrecks there pulled form the sea I think. I wonder how long before the former RNZAF Musuem one will be flying. That'd be great to see. That used to be stored right next to my workshop, along with an Avenger and the Bristol. I used to look at them up close often, just admiring them. I loved that Corsair. It's a shame the museum stopped it's conversion to F4U-1D standard and reverted it to a -5N, but at least they now have a P-40,which is more important history-wise.

That page also misses out the Walsh Corsair, which is now forming part of both the flying example and that example that's for sale.

[corsair67]

From what Yak52 (Rob) told me at Avalon, it'll be a couple more years before the -5 Corsair flies again.

She will be a wonderful machine to see once she's airborne again.

[Brett]

Corsair now showing as sale pending on the Courtesy website.

Cheers,

Brett

[fletcherfu24]

You could spend some money on that site...

.......especially if you won Lotto... ;D

[vs]

I wish the airforce would be proactive about this opportunity. As we all know, the Corsair was operated by the RNZAF in large numbers and it has a very important part in their history. This is a crazy idea, but why not sell their P40 to purchase the Corsair.....they have put a huge amount of work into it and it would be worth a lot of money....but they would eventually be able to obtain a genuine ex RNZAF P40 or a model used by the RNZAF......just a thought!

[agalbraith]

I agree mate.
Their P-40 is a rare 'F' merlin powered model and I am sure it would be worth a fair bit. To be able to get a genuine RNZAF Corsair would be the ultimate surely! Especially since we had 424 of them.

I am not wanting to lessen the lovely work the restoration guys have done. She looks lovely, but surely a genuine Kiwi Corsair would be historically more important. And I know Ross wants it to stay here.

Aaah well just my late night ramblings..........off for a coffee now

[skyhawkdon]

vs said:

I wish the airforce would be proactive about this opportunity.

Unfortunately this is not something senior Air Force officers or the RNZAF Museum are known for!

[vs]

I am not to sure how it goes with their business side....but if there is a will, there is a way!!! I think this is an oportunity to good to be missed...At the end of the day, these exotic aeroplanes are worth a lot of money....but I am sure this is an achievable goal. This is probably their last chance to own an important part of their own history

[corsair67]

Yep, it's not like there are a lot of ex-RNZAF Corsairs still lying around for the RNZAF Museum to pick up elsewhere at a later date.

I'm sure the RNZAF Museum would love to add NZ5612 to its collection, but I think it is most probably out of their price range!

I wonder if Ross would consider an A-4K as a fair swap??? ;D

[Dave Homewood]

I think that the P-40E at Wigram (it is no longer an F model) has a rightful place in the museum too, as the P-40 was the most important type in RNZAF history in terms of air to air combat, and other roles.

They went with that option as there were no genuine RNZAF Kittyhawks or Warhawks available. And I think they made the right move considering the market, where P-40's are now a much more viable commodity. They can be restored and sold for millions now, whereas 20 years ago most were laying in sheds. Why not swap the ex-P-40F for the genuine P-40M that the Subritzky's had? That too has gone off overseas now, as has the Col Pay and the Alan Arthur RNZAF examples. You see, they're valuable now and the RNZAF Museum won't get a genuine one I don't think. Their only hope is John Smith I think.

It would be nice to see the RNZAF FG-1D Corsair stay in NZ. But the RNZAF Museum won't be able to afford it though, and nor will any other museum here I think. Not unless someone like Peter Jackson steps in. He did save an old church in Wellington recently for $10 million or something. Why not this? Whoops, there I go with the kiwi favourite of saying PJ should do it...

[skyhawkdon]

Especially considering the Gov't has just announced a $8.7B surplus for the 06/07 year That would buy a whole lot of F-16's too!

[Dave Homewood]

The Govt doesn't want to fund new fighters, why would they buy an old one?

[vs]

haha...good point! Oh well. I look forward to seeing the P40 when it is finished anyway. It must be getting reasonably close. Last time I saw it, both wings looked as though they were close to being finished. I like the pacific camo scheme they have painted it in. The air force museum have a great collection of aircraft and I hope it continues to grow!

[Dave Homewood]

It is certainly a neat and unique scheme for a P-40, but it's a little bit of a shame they chose an OTU scheme rather than a combat zone one. Still, the work of the OTU's should be recognised too I guess.

[vs]

any idea what the time frame is to finnish the P40?

What about aircraft like the catalina....do they have the wings for it?

Are they still looking at extending the hangar?