2008 North Cape - Bluff comemorative flight

[Bruce]

On 1st December 2008 it will be 75 years since Ted Harvie and Trevor Hunter flew from North Cape to Bluff in a single day - the first people to acheive this. As Ted was from Cambridge, I've had an idea that I'd like to carry out a similar flight to mark the occaision, ideally in my Cambridge - built Adventurer. It wouldnt be as a record attempt or anything like that, but just to recognise one of the many achievements of this Cambridge aviator. I guess I will need some sponsorship (fuel is pretty expensive now, but at least the Adventurer isnt too thirsty) and there may be other people doing similar things at the same time (anyone know of any?) but it may be a bit of fun. I should also find a female co-pilot to represent Miss Hunter!
What do you reckon? worth a crack?

[flyjoe180]

Go for it Bruce, that would be a great thing to do to remember one of your town's historical aviators. You may as well go for some record if you can whilst you're on the job too.

[kiwichappers]

Go for it Bruce. What a wonderful idea to retrace such a flight.

I have just dragged a couple of the Aeroclub D.h. 60 kits down this evening for a quick look and can feel another model coming on. This has all the right ingredients for me. A significant piece of Kiwi aeronautical history in the flight, a connection with Bell Block, enough pictures to work from and I have the kit.
If it rains tomorrow we'll be of to a flying start!

[corsair67]

Bruce, I reckon that sounds like a wonderful idea, and surely there'd be someone out there who'd be willing to sponsor such an event.

You might just have to repaint you Adventurer in different colours to suit someone's corporate image.

[Dave Homewood]

Bruce, a few ideas for tis. Why not get other aircraft involved and make it a rally? Or an air race? Possibly the Thunder Mustang team might be up for record challenge.

Also, there are still a few relatives of Teddie Harvie in Cambridge if you're interested in their input (they're rich!!).

There have been anniversary flights in the past too to mark this event, including the 50th Anniversary when Ted and Trevor were still alive. Ted's nephew flew the course that time. He's probably still around. In fact, Trevor herself may still be alive? Not sure on that but she'd be in her 90's now.

[Dave Homewood]

PS - I'm making this thread Sticky so other ideas can come up in the meantime over the year.

[Bruce]

Thanks for the support guys, I'd love to do the flight, its something I've been wanting to do for a while, however the big decider will be whether the aircraft is flying and has completed test flying by then. I'd be very disappointed if it wasnt, but going by the rate at which my suppliers actually deliver the parts I require I may still be waiting by the time the 100th anniversary comes about! maybe the backup is to hire an aircraft - the Western federated flying club perhaps?
I dont think I would stop at all of Ted's stops, as some no longer exist, Others are very busy international airports, and besides the adventurer would have a range of approx 600NM so it doesnt need to stop for fuel that often!
plotting a track on my GPS software, I think maybe - Kaitaia - North cape (overfly) - Ardmore - Hawera - Paraparaumu - Kaikoura - Ashburton - Taieri - Bluff (overfly) - Invercargill. that gives a chance to stretch legs, empty bladder and fuel aircraft and roughly follows Ted's track.
Seems entirely do-able, subject to having an aircraft ready!

[Dave Homewood]

Hey Bruce, I was just wondering if you are still considering doing this flight, and whether you think the Avian Adventurer will be on schedule.

[Bruce]

It is still a possibility, however it will depend on how the test flying goes. (I hope to have the aircraft flying for Black Sands in November). I guess I could see if I could hire a Citabria or something if its not ready....

[Dave Homewood]

I'll bet the fuel costs have doubled since you came up with the idea.

[chrisnpl]

Quite probably they have, but I think you should still do it anyway Good luck with the aeroplane - paint it something eye catching - i.e. anything but white

If I had one, I'd paint it yellow, orange, and red, and name her Lady Ronél after an extremely charming - and volcanic - friend of mine...

[Dave Homewood]

Bruce's plane is already looking very nice in white, blue and gold.

[flyjoe180]

I like Bruce's chosen scheme for the Adventurer. Very smart indeed.

[Dave Homewood]

Bruce, the 50th Anniversary flight was flown by Flight Lieutenant Don Haggitt, who was Ted Harvie's nephew. His flight from North cape to Bluff took place on the 1st of September 1983 in a Piper Cherokee Warrior II, and as passengers he had the late Peter Strugnell, durator of the Ohakea Museum, and the late Ross Macpherson, editor of New Zealand Wings.

When they arrived at Invercargill Airport they were greeted by and escorted in by Southland Aero Club's formation team, and on shut down they were greeted by a Mayoral reception. So if you do this you might get to meet Shadbolt.

On the flight Haggitt had set off "dead on time", letting go of the breaks after a countdown exactly at 5.37am. They flew at 2000 feet and stopped for fuel at Hawera, Paraparaumu and Timaru on the way. Their flight was around 12 hours duration.

Is that aircraft a twin or single engined Piper?

[Dave Homewood]

Another article I have reveals that Ted Harvie and his wife May, and Trevor Colway (nee Hunter) and her husband Jim, were at Invercargill to greet them as they touched down. A nice touch. The following Sunday the four of them were also to be guests at Wigram's "Wings and Wheels Classic".

Back then - 25 years ago - the trip cost a whopping $2500, and Haggitt had to get a sponsor in the form of Ashburton Aviation Services who supplied the aircraft and fuel.

They arrived in Invercargill at 7.57pm.

[Bruce]

The Warrior is the 160hp Tapered wing variant of the Cherokee Dave, just another bugsmasher!
I have had a good chat with several peole have have donethe cape to Bluff in one day, People like Don Wilkinson (Who did it solo in a Corby Startlet), Dave Campbell Morrison (who has done it twice) and Keith Trillo. It is quite do-able, especially in december when there are decent daylight hours. the guys all recommend co-pilots or flying in a group as the others help assess fatigue levels etc. Depending on what the fuel price is like by then, and whether the Adventuer is flying and meeting the expected fuel consumption figures, I'd estimate the cost would be about $1000 - $1200 thereabouts.
The key thing at the moment is getting the adventurer flying (Currently waiting on welding to come back... again!) and getting it to Black Sands. The bluff flight will depend on whether the test flying is tidied off by then - I cant really do too much planning until I get an aeroplane!

[Peter Lewis]

The Warrior II is a single-engined Cherokee.

Given a flight time of 12 hours, and a similar time to get from/to your home base (wherever you start point is, you will in effect do North Cape-Bluff and return) ending up at 24 hours flying you could be looking at a cost of about $5000 in a similar aircraft today - double the cost of the 1983 trip.

[flyjoe180]

Are we earning twice as much?

[Dave Homewood]

You could fly to the UK twice for that!

[flyjoe180]

Yep, welcome to GA.