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Post by Bruce on Jul 6, 2008 20:57:13 GMT 12
I had arranged to go flying in the Citabria ZK-CIT this afternoon, and despite concerns over the weather last night, it was fine enough to be worthwhile (Very clear and frosty in the Waikato even!) Andrew (Citabria) was flying the Dakota in the morning, and Dave was wanting some filming practice so we headed up early to catch the Dak experience as well. We arrived in time for the engine runs, which was pretty interesting in itself, but eventually ended up on the morning's flight as well. Following are some photos of the flight - I didnt get any of the Citabria flying as I was a little busy at the time! (it was getting pretty blowy by then...) In addition Brett Emeny was flying the L29 and there were a number of other interesting aircraft doing various things around the place.  Andrew concentrates during an overflight of Auckland International  Mt Eden:   Some little bridge of some sort...  Odd showery patches and beautiful silver wings  Navy dockyard: Endevour, Canterbury, a frigate and dive support vessel with one of the new OPVs in dry dock.  North Head and the city  around the Sky Tower:  Some little football field somewhere...  Bastion point and Mission bay - the early Walsh school students would have had a similar viewpoint but vastly different view!  Setting up on finals for 21 - same wheeler technique as the Citabria - just a bit bigger!  Sharing the flight were a number of ATC Cadets from 40 (Manukau) sqn, who really enjoyed thier flight as well. Here they are being shown around the Catalina by Cathy Haig, our Stewardess for the flight - and also Catalina Pilot under training. Note Brett Emenys Yak parked so as to keep the rain out of the cockpit - The Catalina has a true "parasol" wing!  Andrew takes the Dak back to its park for the day  The L29 flew twice during the day, unfortunately I was flying on each occasion and missed it - Dave should have some video though...  Many thanks to Andrew and the whole Dak Team for the great morning. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 6, 2008 22:00:17 GMT 12
What a fantastic and fun day it was, too. My grateful thanks to Andrew Hope and Jess Cooper for inviting us aboard the Dakota, and also to Tim Dennis, the co-pilot, and Cathy Haigh, our hostess, and also the other nice chap in the Dakota terminal who's name I didn't catch. You guys run a wonderful organisation, the Dakota is such an iconic machine and I've admired it for many years. To have the privilege to fly in her has made today very special, and I will not forget it. Thanks too Jess for arranging for me to sit in the jumpseat on take off, wow, that was a great experience! Here are some shots from our early morning arrival where Bruce and I followed Andrew as he went through the preflight walkaround. That was an interesting insight to all the panels and nooks and crannies on the Dak too. And the engine run was itself was a really great experience.      Bruce, great photos. By the way, on at least the second flight of the L-29 it wasn't Brett Emeny flying. I saw the two men get out. If anyone else is interested in a Dakota flight, I highly recommend it. Check their site out here: www.nzwarbirds.org.nz/dakota/ |
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Post by Kereru on Jul 7, 2008 14:42:55 GMT 12
Some great photos there Bruce and Dave. That trip over Auckland is great and you get a good view of many land marks. I was lucky to get it as a fathers day present and my first ever ride in the Dc 3, an amazing aircraft born before I was and still going strong. The crew are just fantastic hosts and very informative and obliging folk. Mention of the Walsh Brothers reminds me there is an exhibition at Earnest Clark Memorial Museum in Papakura till last week in July I think. I must get along and see what they have got. For details of address etc. www.nzmuseums.co.nz/MuseumDetail.asp?MuseumID=75Cheers |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 7, 2008 15:51:26 GMT 12
Colin, please take lots of photos of the display there, as it's a temporary display and will cease to exist so the photos will become of historic importance.
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Post by slackie on Jul 7, 2008 19:51:49 GMT 12
Excellent! Really must get round to doing one of those Sunday flights...not for the scenery (seen it before!)....but the experience!
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Post by Kereru on Jul 8, 2008 13:20:54 GMT 12
Colin, please take lots of photos of the display there, as it's a temporary display and will cease to exist so the photos will become of historic importance. I had a look at the "Walsh Brothers to Warbirds" exhibition and very good too. I didn't know they named there aircraft "Manurewa" (maori for Soaring Bird) for there first official NZ flight in 1911. Sorry Dave no photos allowed due to copyright. The photos displayed are quite large and cost something like $250 each to make. When the exhibition is finished they will be kept at the Papakura library. There was a great slide overhead by Alex Mitchell too. Well done Alex. It is on till 24 July so if you can get along it is worth a visit. It is not a big display but is a good balanced overview. If anyone does get along can you tell me which aeroplane the seats on display came from? They are on loan from Motat I think. Colin |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 8, 2008 17:11:25 GMT 12
Thanks Colin. Perhaps when the Warbirds build their museum at Ardmore the library might allow the photos to be displayed there.
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Post by corsair67 on Jul 8, 2008 17:24:37 GMT 12
Great photos, guys.  Haven't been for a flight in a Dak for years, so I should probably take the opportunity to do so sometime soon. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 8, 2008 20:47:47 GMT 12
The opportunity is ghrowing rarer and rarer, which is one reason why I'm so stoked to have done it. I think it's next month that all the UK and European based Dakotas stop taking passengers due to new EU regulations, which is very sad. It will probably ground a lot of aircraft.
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Post by Citabria on Jul 9, 2008 8:21:38 GMT 12
Hi Guys, Thanks for all the great photo's! It turned out to be an interesting day weather wise (didn't it Bruce) ;D just as I launched the fleet at 0700, I heard this great BOOM of thunder and I thought ruw row  ...here we go.... But it all turned out just fine. Off to Whitianga hopefully (come on WX gods) on Saturday and then she is down to Hamilton for the Annual. Cheers Andrew |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2008 9:58:03 GMT 12
Andrew, when will the Dakota arrive at Hamilton? Is that Saturday too?
How much does it get stripped down for an annual? Is it a big job? It mioght be interesting to visit and get some footage of the maintenance if it could be arranged.
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Post by Bruce on Jul 9, 2008 10:06:19 GMT 12
Cool new Avatar too Andrew - except skippy has a beer instead of a can of Coke!  |
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Post by Gavin Conroy on Jul 9, 2008 16:23:15 GMT 12
Great photos chaps, looks like you had a great time.  |
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betsy46
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by betsy46 on Jul 9, 2008 20:25:07 GMT 12
Hi Dave,
DAK heads off for her Annual Scheduled maintenance and she arrives at Aeromotive at Hamilton on Sunday 13th July for her 2008 Tune and Lube. Times TBA.
Please get back to me at the Admin office in AKL, if you want to visit her, and I will link you in with the guys at Hamilton.
Hey Dave - I am just too busy to learn how to start threads and links etc - but I would like to begin a Sub-Thread about the DC-3's in Europe, and that they are now no longer able to have pax on board. I will send you all my Europe info , and if you can action that - then I am sure that you will all be stunned at their Rules and Regs.
It was really great to host you both.
I am keen to have a set of professional pixs from her cabin, with her flying over AKL in her new livery.Yours is a great start to my Library.
You are welcome to fly anytime - just contact me...
Best regards,
Betsy46
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2008 20:48:58 GMT 12
Hi Jess, It was great to meet you too, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. Please do email me that info on the European passenger restrictions. I have read a little about it on UK forums and it really stinks, however I guess that opens up a whole new market for you guys to pitch to for bookings as I'm sure there will be people all over Europe who travel to NZ who'd probably be keen to fly in something they simply no longer can in their own countries. The EU seems to do nothing but curb fun and traditions in my opinion, why countries joined it I don't understand. Mind you, the poms have finally gone metric and caught up with the sensible world.  My email is dave_daasnz@hotmail.com I'll drop you a line soon regarding a Hamilton visit. |
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Post by stu on Jul 11, 2008 22:58:15 GMT 12
I saw you fly over the city .... did you see me wave? Ours is the house with the dark grey roof Great account of the day and some equally impressive photos. As I've said many times, when not at the controls of a plane yourself - the DC3 is the only way to fly .... especially with the crew she's got Cheers, Stu. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 11, 2008 23:18:54 GMT 12
I thought that was you Stu. Did you see me wave back? ;D
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Post by vgp on Jul 23, 2008 8:33:51 GMT 12
Very Great Photo's their thanking you both for posting.
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Post by baz62 on Sept 1, 2008 20:54:57 GMT 12
The Dak looks fantastic in RNZAF markings. Am I correct in saying NZ 3546 was one of the Dak's that ended up in the South African Air Force?? Here's my Dakota contribution. Back in the late 70's and early to mid Eighties I worked as a volunteer at the RNZAF Museum (called the Historic Centre back then). For a time (an oh so glorious time) we used to ground run the Avenger, Devon and Dakota. Here are a couple of links to the Museum's Dakota NZ 3551 circa 1980. Paint scheme is similar to the Warbirds Dakota except being a VIP example the grey painted areas were bare polished aluminium. The Avenger is in her '50's target tug markings and in this photo its me doing the ground run. Oh for a time machine (or a video of it all!!) My head is quite low in the cockpit as I am operating the controls for the bomb bay doors and wing fold and they were fairly low down on the panel. rides.webshots.com/photo/1531346289083531880jAvXwQ?vhost=ridesrides.webshots.com/photo/1531349091083531880vMsKWn?vhost=ridesrides.webshots.com/photo/1531342063083531880lDtSSr?vhost=rides |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 1, 2008 21:15:07 GMT 12
Those are great photos Baz62, I never knew the Dakota was run too in those days. Did they ever have any thoughts of getting these bigger aircraft back into the air? I know that the RNZAF Historic Flight began as a museum initiative rather than CFS where it was later attached to.
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