Types that New Zealanders have returned to air

[Dave Homewood]

I was thinking about the Polikarpov I16's and I153's that Sir Tim Wallis and his company restored back to the air. Both types were almost extinct and certainly none were flying in the world. It got me wondering about other types that there were none of flying in the world, and it took New Zealanders to rectify that.

Another example is the Avro 626, which sadly is a flightless bird again now but still exists in top notch condition.

And soon the efforts of Glyn Powell and his team, plus the AvSpecs team, we'll be seeing at least a brace of Mosquitoes back up there again.

It's a bit like NZ's rare bird captive breeding programme really, bringing them back from the brink and getting them flying again.

Can you think of other types that only NZ has been able to restore? Was that Spartan a year or so ago a one-off flyer?

[vs]

What about the LA9
Oscar (for a few seconds)

[sniff]

Any thing that has a New Zealand link must be a top priority.
Add "uniqueness" and it gives an envy factor.

To that end, you are right, the AVRO 626 must be the winner. (same if you owned or flew an AVRO Arrow or a TSR2!) - sorry, I can't think of a civvy equivalent!

An unique NZ aircraft in flying condition would take the cake: Mosquito, Solent (there! I thought of one.), Boeing Seaplane (Eureka!)

Oh, OK! Boeing Seaplane then!

[Dave Homewood]

I don't think we're going to see a Solent flying again, anywhere. There' only two left and both are firmly in museums.

There was a Boeing Seaplane flying in the USA, owned by Boeing, but I think it's been strung up now.

The LA-9 and Oscar are great examples. Well, the Oscar almost counts. At least there are some replicas flying now.