Where is Ossie James's Tiger Moth

[Dave Homewood]

The former Ossie James Tiger Moth ZK-AJO was hanging up in Te Papa Museum for years but my mate Melvyn Hiscock visited there today and he said there was no Tiger Moth. Has it been removed from Te Papa?

[Brett]

www.tepapa.govt.nz/about/news/bringing-down-tiger-moth



Bringing down the Tiger Moth

Thu 16 Mar 2017

The Tiger Moth has landed.

On display since we opened in 1998, our much loved Tiger Moth is about to enter a second retirement.

It has been brought down, and vintage aviators are now dismantling it in two stages – the wings and tails, then the nose and engine. Then the parts will be taken to our storage facility in Upper Hutt.

Its retirement is part of our renewal, which begins with the construction of a new space for Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa. This will incorporate the area where the Tiger Moth was previously suspended.

Our new art space will open in December.

The De Havilland Tiger Moth (DH82a) aircraft, ZK-AJO, was fitted for use as a topdresser (front seat and instruments removed and replaced with a hopper and release mechanism for spreading fertiliser and grass seed).

This aircraft is one of the two war-surplus Tiger Moth training aircraft purchased in 1948 by Mr Oswald ("Ossie") James for his pioneering aerial topdressing firm, James Aviation Ltd. It was in service with James Aviation from late 1949 until 1956, mostly operating in the Waikato, North Auckland, and Rotorua/Taupo areas.

During its active life, ZK-AJO flew 6,000 hours on agricultural operations, and dropped about 55,000 tons of fertiliser and grass seed.

The widespread use of aerial topdressing, especially in hill country, was a hugely important factor in New Zealand's postwar economic development. The increased agricultural productivity which resulted did much to lay the basis for New Zealand's prosperity during the 1950s and '60s.

It was purchased in 2009 after a period of loan from a private lender.

[Dave Homewood]

So what happened to it? Just stuck into storage? What a shame, it was a famous aeroplane.

[isc]

All big museums rotate their exhibits, these places are like an iceberg, 9 10ths out of sight, so that only a portion can be viewed at any one time, perhaps they will find another place for it to be exhibited.isc

[Dave Homewood]

Yes but as it was always hanging from the ceiling it is not the sort of exhibit that was taking up space that other things could have used, really. I hope it is being cared for, and that we see it on public display again.

[suthg]

Perhaps they will loan it to Wigram?

[The Red Baron]

They've probably lost it by now.

[isc]

Perhaps AJO doesn't fit in with the Nga Toi / art exhibit. Maybe there should be an agricultural aviation museum. isc

[Antonio]

So, I contacted the museum:
"Is it possible to view the deHavilland Tiger Moth topdressing aircraft that is no longer on display.

I was given to understanding that visits to stored items can be arranged.

If not, could you please advise me what the future, if any, holds for the aircraft or is it doomed to be hidden away for the unforseeabe future?"

The reply:
The Tiger Moth has been dismantled and is stored in different locations.

Is there a particular piece of the aircraft you are interested in? I do have some photos I could send you.

We are not sure about future display options yet. We have this information online in the meantime:
LINK:  DH82a Tiger Moth, ZK-AJO |

LINK:  Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

[Antonio]

Total waste of a bloody good (and important) aircraft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mustang51]

...and now that it has been stored in separate areas it is bound to be lost.....shades of the last scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

Doesn't fit in with the "Vision" of the current crop of Museologists more likely. Know museums rotate but in my experience, exhibits are not 'parted-out' to different storage areas. After all, just how much room does a completely disassembled (including engine and prop) Tiger take up?

[Dave Homewood]

Does Te Papa own the Tiger Moth? Or is it still property of the James family?

[The Red Baron]

No it was gifted to Te Papa...so James family have no control over what happens with it now regretfully....Lynn told me that.


Theres actually a large number of original Ag Tigers still airworthy in NZ,several of the 'originals',theres an old Aussie Ag Tiger here,and not forgetting the last active Ag Tiger is still flying here.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Warwick. Which Ag Tigers are still active? I know Bevan and Lucy's ZK-ANL was the last active spray Tiger in NZ (the world?) and it still flies practically every week.

Which others? ZK-BEN?

[The Red Baron]

Going off the CAA register.....Ex Ag Tigers....AJP,ALM,ANL,ANQ,AON,APP,ARJ,ARZ,ASM,ASV,ATN,AUD,AUE,AUZ,BAA,BAH,BAL,BAT,BEN,BFF,BJQ,BLM,BLV,BMY,BRB,BRC,SSA..and I know AVI is flying in Oz.

[madmax]

I'm sure BLV,BMY,BRB and BRC were not ag Tigers

[madmax]

I think AJP can be added to the above list too

[madmax]

Oops, AJP did fly with Air Contracts in the early nineteen fifties

[planewriting]

I think SSA can be added to the above list too

[madmax]

Correct, SSA was never operated by our ag industry however it was flown by Super Spread Aviation Bentleigh Victoria from late 1953 until withdrawn from use in February 1956