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Post by Kereru on Jan 31, 2008 14:47:23 GMT 12
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Post by corsair67 on Jan 31, 2008 16:58:10 GMT 12
Great photos again, Colin; and thanks for posting. I flew in a Beech 1900D from Christchurch to Blenheim last year, and was very impressed with the aircraft and the journey.
These grab-a-seat offers are a wonderful way to see some of the country for a very cheap prices. Are your children and grand-children aware you're spending all their inheritance money on air travel around the countryside, Colin? ;D
Gisborne Airport almost looks busier than Canberra Airport! ;D
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jan 31, 2008 17:37:21 GMT 12
Nice photos Colin, you captured Gisborne's airport well. Nice in flight shots from the Beech too. I had never seen those plaques, are they situated by the terminal carpark?
If you go to Palmerston North, inside the terminal they have some NAC memorabilia, including commercial models of the F27 and B737-200 in the various NAC schemes. A nice display, although most younger people travelling through there would probably ask why there was a display for a foreign airline!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 31, 2008 19:10:20 GMT 12
Very interesting trip report, thanks Colin.
That poor C-47 is in such bad shape compared with when it was at Ohakea, what a shame. You should post it in the derelict and unloved thread. At least Ohakea would have painted it on a regular basis if it had remained there. It had two repaints in the short time it was there.
I guess the museum was not open then. That's a pity, I'm very keen to learn what state the Avenger and Lodestar are in. Hopefully not as bad as the Dakota.
It's a lovely place, and like you it's been decades since I was there. I'd love to go back. Does Air NZ fly Hamilton to Gisborne?
Dad used to have a great American mate in Gisborne - Bill Cooksey. I wonder if anyone here knew him, as he was very into aircraft and was an ex-US Navy pilot who'd crashed in Vietnam or some other war, and due to his injuries had lost most of is eyesight. He was a keen aeromodeller and historian, and he eventually returned with his wife and family to the USA (Atlanta Georgia) in about the 1990's. I think he's now dead. Did anyone here know Bill?
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Post by Kereru on Jan 31, 2008 20:13:05 GMT 12
Are your children and grand-children aware you're spending all their inheritance money on air travel around the countryside, Colin? ;D Gisborne Airport almost looks busier than Canberra Airport! ;D Thanks Craig. Our children paid for my first visit including accommodation at the last WoW 2006 along with their mother so maybe they don't mind?  It is one busy little airport as I tried to get a shot of an empty Departure Lounge and no way there was always someone there. I think almost all of the Beech 1900 in the ANZ fleet passed through in the short time I was there. When I was coming home two Beech 1900 arrived from AKL and both were returning. I am surprised they don't have a Dash 8 somewhere in between. Most traffic is small but they do get a few charters of the 737 variety. Nice place I must not leave it another twenty years before I return! ;D Colin |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 31, 2008 20:17:30 GMT 12
Nice pics Colin. What's the story with ZK-EIL?
Pity about the museum being shut. I was there a couple of years ago, and there was not a lot happening in the museum at that time, stuff just stored.
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andyc
Flying Officer
Posts: 57
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Post by andyc on Feb 1, 2008 5:37:45 GMT 12
I was there last year, ZK-EIL is (I think) a time expired AA5 which is used for promotional work - If I remember correctly it had been used in some kind of parade - and for kids to have a look at/play with.
Andy
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Post by Kereru on Feb 1, 2008 7:18:29 GMT 12
Nice photos Colin, you captured Gisborne's airport well. Nice in flight shots from the Beech too. I had never seen those plaques, are they situated by the terminal carpark? The plaques are in the memorial by the gate guard FU 24 and I think were moved from the terminal sometime ago.  The flag is part of the memorial in this photo and the plaques are on the other side of the wall. Colin |
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Post by Kereru on Feb 1, 2008 7:25:23 GMT 12
Sorry Dave I forgot to add this one for Museum hours.  Thanks Andy for the info on ZK-EIL. Colin |
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Post by Kereru on Feb 1, 2008 7:40:17 GMT 12
Another one showing the Beech about to cross the railway line after landing.  Colin |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 1, 2008 12:17:24 GMT 12
I like landing at Gisborne. Have yet to see a train pass through though.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2008 13:57:39 GMT 12
For a wonderful history of RNZAF Station Gisborne, have a read of Wally Ingham's two books, "We also Served"and "The Avengers". The station had various units based there, No. 8 GR Squadron with Vincents and Vildebeests, Harvards and Tiger Moths. The No. 30 Squadron with Avengers, No. 2 Gunnery Training School with Avengers and Hdsons, and No. 31 Squadron also with Avengers. The first plane to land on Darton Field was in 1940 when Sqn Ldr Geoff Roberts flew in in a No. 1 Squadron attached DH86 Express. The field wasn't mown and he had to land in crops of wheat or something like that!
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Post by vs on Feb 1, 2008 18:35:14 GMT 12
I used to fly a Seneca into Gisborne at 5am most mornings. It is abit of a general aviation hub with a lot of light twin freighters and air ambulances going in and out. There is also a large heliport near the airport as well as a lot choppers operating out of the airport. Gisborne has great weather. In a South Easterly the weather is not that great....although they are rare. Always had to make sure there was someone in the tower to make sure the rail extension was open!
You can usually find someone around the airport who knows someone with some keys for the museum. The local engineer is usually a good first stop. Everyone around the airport is very friendly, great little community.
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Post by Kereru on Feb 2, 2008 9:02:01 GMT 12
Other side of the Dc 3 showing the extension underway at the museum in the background.  Thanks for the info/experiences coming through in this thread it will be valuable next time I visit GIS. Colin |
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Post by Kereru on Feb 2, 2008 9:56:07 GMT 12
A few more and sorry about the quality of some of them.  Bad reflections but worth a try?  For the Wine connoisseurs.  Boarding time.  Colin |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 3, 2008 12:33:58 GMT 12
I love that painting of the 8 GR Vincent. Did you note who the artist was per chance?
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Post by Kereru on Feb 3, 2008 14:52:23 GMT 12
Eric Day is what I can make out on a closer look at the raw original I took. Does that ring any bells Dave?  The Avenger painting / print?  Colin |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 4, 2008 10:22:47 GMT 12
Thanks for that close up. The Avenger looks like a signed print, by Maurice Conly. You could buy these prints in a set from the RNZAF Museum, they are from paintings he did for his 1987 book Portrait of an Air Force. I believe the original hangs in the museum at Wigram.
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Post by Richard Wesley on Feb 5, 2008 3:49:20 GMT 12
A couple of photos of the Gisborne Avenger and Lodestar. Both require a little bit of work...  IMG]  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2008 12:13:05 GMT 12
Thanks for those photos Richard. The Avenger looks the same state it was in when at Wigram in storage. My understanding was it was supposedly being done up. By the way it does not belong to GAPS, it is on loan from the RNZAF Museum to the Gisborne Branch of the No. 30 Squadron and SU Association. Sadly however as of last year there was only one association member left in Gisborne as most have passed away, so I guess soon Wigram may well take the Avenger back if he dies. However they may still reralise the importance the type has for Gisborne and loan it onto GAPS themselves I suppose.
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