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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 21, 2017 14:05:46 GMT 12
Hmm, that could even be the same aircraft at the same time. Maybe the Evening Post photographer took this shot, then flicked his cigarette ash and up she went?
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Dec 21, 2017 15:05:12 GMT 12
I've just spent the past hour working my way through the airframe entries in the Air Britain book for every DH.89, DH.89A and DH.89B which is shown in the book as having had ZK- registration, and none of them mention a fire at Rongotai or Wellington. So the mystery continues.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 21, 2017 15:11:40 GMT 12
When do you have a break in Wellington next Bruce? Are you able to nip up to the National Library and check out that date in the Evening Post please? It's just a few blocks from the railway station.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Dec 21, 2017 15:27:36 GMT 12
I never have enough time when I'm working, because I'm always into Wellington, turning the locomotive after the car shunt pulls the train, then coupling straight back onto the other end of the train, doing a brake test, then out of there back to Wairarapa.
I could take a look next time I'm in Wellington for a few hours on my own time, but it probably won't be until January, or possibly even February.
I'll keep it in mind though, 'cause it's starting to bug me too now that I cannot find anything about the fire in the Air Britain book.
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Post by madmax on Dec 21, 2017 16:34:31 GMT 12
Kiwithrottlejockey, If there is no mention of the fire in the Air Britain publication I may have read it in De Havilland Biplane Transports by Paul Hayes and Bernard King but unable to access my copy at present
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Dec 21, 2017 16:47:12 GMT 12
Unfortunately, that book is unknown to me.
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Post by Bruce on Dec 21, 2017 17:45:08 GMT 12
I'd say its a fire in the hangar- Probably when they were spraying the dope in the repaint. Nitrocellulose dope is EXTREMELY flammable and even something like a static discharge from a spray gun can set it off. In the fire pictures you can see the floor has a large puddle of water over it - almost certainly from firefighting! I couldn't say it was the same aircraft as AKY in the photo above, but its in the same place in the hangar, and the trestles are the same ones.
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Post by craig on Dec 21, 2017 18:31:08 GMT 12
Notice the fire damage extends out to the tip on the upper wing but is out board of the engine on the lower wing (so prob not engine related). The photo sequence is out of order the last photo being the first, middle last and first second (from top correct sequence 2,3,1) . Wonder why the fire appears to jump to the wing tip missing a portion on upper wing. Perhaps the heat traveled along inside the wing? (unlikely) Where did the fire start. On first glance the lower wing. But maybe the lower wing was set up from burning debris falling from the top wing as per the debris visible in the last photo on the outer lower wing (cleaned off in 2nd and 3rd photos) So is it possible the fire started in 2 places on the top wing, spreading to the lower wing last. I know it seems unlikely but how else do we explain the two separate burn sites on the top wing?
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Dec 22, 2017 6:46:06 GMT 12
Is this AKY? In the photo of AKY posted by Brett there is a Godwit symbol on the baggage door but it doesn't feature on the burnt aircraft
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mrjohn
Squadron Leader
Posts: 106
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Post by mrjohn on Dec 22, 2017 11:28:04 GMT 12
Were it not for the godwit evidence I would suggest the last picture of AKY was immediately before the fire that was started by that trouble lamp hanging close to the fabric!
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Post by Brett on Dec 22, 2017 22:06:44 GMT 12
In this photo you can see the mezzanine floor where the Evening Post photos were taken from.
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Post by camtech on Dec 23, 2017 13:06:57 GMT 12
Interesting sets of camouflaged wings in the background.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 23, 2017 13:30:10 GMT 12
Is that Tiger Moth wings?
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Post by baz62 on Dec 23, 2017 15:14:24 GMT 12
Is that Tiger Moth wings? Certainly look like it Dave.
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