RNZAF A4K Pilots Flying Helmet 1970's query and more

[alanw]

Hi All


I am planning a model diorame of NZ6208 doing the first arrested landing at Ohakea
August 1970.

Few questions if I may?

I seem to recall the pilots of our A4's wearing circa the early-mid 1970's
a white coloured Bone Domes with either Air Force Crest or 75 Squadron Crest
on front?
Am I right in my memory or totally off track?

The inner faces of the fuselage side/Speed brakes, Red or White?

The runway at Ohakea in 1970, was it hexagonal block (like Whenuapai) or straight
laid concrete? (Ohakea is one base I have never lived at)

One photo I have seen of the arrested landing is Black & White, I'm assuming
the arresting cable was steel with the balls/spheres holding the cable of
the runway some other material?

Thanks advance for any assistance/help from the forum

Regards

Alan

[beagle]

looking at a photo of the example frame in the museum, the side of the fuselage where the speed brake sit into is painted red.
I'm assuming the inner face would be red too but cannot see that in the image. Don would have a selections of images to show exactly that colour.

[Dave Homewood]

'Bone Dome' is, I believe, a generic term for the hard shell flying helmet. The type of helmet worn by Strike pilots in the 1970's was the APH-6.

I think what you need is the helmet worn here by the dummy on the right.

[vansvilla]

The arrestor gear was on the cross runway, the one pointing towards Bulls. The gear was at the Northern end. The cable was held off the ground by Pucks, about 150mm Dia and 30mm thick.

[Dave Homewood]

The inside ofthe speed brakes were red in the 1970's.

[Dave Homewood]

I recall an arrestor cable being used at Whenuapai and at Woodbourne during my time on each base. Did they have a portable unit that was taken from Ohakea to these bases for special training sorties, or did each base have a unit for emrgencies?

[scrooge]

Whenuapai had it's own. I think the cable sat in a recess when not in use.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks.

[beagle]

Jun 1, 2017 18:47:40 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

'Bone Dome' is, I believe, a generic term for the hard shell flying helmet. The type of helmet worn by Strike pilots in the 1970's was the ABH-6.

I think what you need is the helmet worn here by the dummy on the right.

should that be SPH-6 dave

[Dave Homewood]

APH-6 for strike helmets Beags (I had a typo earlier). The non-strike helmets were SPH-4's.

[alanw]

Hi All, many thanks for your replies - very much appreciated.

Dave - thanks for the photo showing the APH-6 Helmet, glad my
memory is not so bad.

I recall many years ago now, seeing one of our A4K's actually using the
arrestor system at Whenuapai - was really cool to watch.

I have some other questions on the A4K, that I will ask in the
modelling section (have the Hasegawa kit I'm going to use)

Thanks & Regards

Alan

[Peter Lewis]

Whenuapai had a permanent arrestor cable installation, which sat down in a concrete channel across the end of the runway.
This was certainly the case at the 21 end, there may have been a similar rig at 03 but I don't remember ever landing full-length on the main runway from the west.

It was stressed to us that we must always touch down beyond the cable. Apparently the power supply held the wire in the down position. If there was a power cut the cable would automatically go to the 'up' position, and the prospect of a lighty encountering that obstacle was not a good look.

Even now, if I ever land on WP21 I still have to really force myself not to touch down well in.