Topdresser from Space

[mstokes]

Was looking on Google Maps/Earth and was looking at some land around Port Waikato and came across a shot of what is probably a turbine converted fletcher on a strip apparently waiting for it's loader?!?

If you want to have a look, put these co-ordinates into Google Maps

-37.398196,174.772541

Nice flukey come across ;D

[ZacYates]

Very cool! For a sec there I thought it'd be a shot of a glorious 400 Fletcher mid-drop..........sigh............

[johnh]

Have some photos I took of a 400 ZK-EMR that I took at that strip around 1984.Will scan & post,dont know about quality of photos.

[mstokes]

That would be awesome John. Love pics of fletchers. Who was EMR flying with at the time?

Cheers Mike

[johnh]

It was being operated by Dick Lloyd of Aerial Work South Auckland.Once I have worked out how to use my new scanner will post some photos,Cheers John.

[mstokes]

That's quite ironic really, Dick Lloyd sold BOF to my old man when we started Aerial Work King Country. The Fletcher in my avatar is BOF actually. EMR must be the fletcher he kept. Was she 300hp as well?

Would be keen to see the pics when you get acquainted with the scanner.

Cheers Mike

[Dave.K]

Hi Just joined and saw BOF picture, I loaded BOF, put the first load in off rebuild back in 1977 I think, It was completely rebuilt at Taieri, only the nameplate by the tail was original, owned by Central Aviation and was flown by Brian Beck at Naseby in Central Otago. as workload increased we got 400 EMA brand new, which is now a walter conversion and in Roxburgh, flown by Geoff Bishop

[fletcherfu24]

EMR was a 400hp.Fletchers from DBF onwards were built new as 400hps (FU-24 950).From EMG onwards they were FU-24 954's with the slimmed down nose cowl and end plates on the wings.
Dick Lloyd also had BHO which was a 300hp and was supposed to be used by Aerial South Waikato,but that was sold off in a auction,and the company appeared never to get off the ground so to speak.

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-EMR while under Barr Bros ownership.
Probably at Dargaville, early 1980s.

[mstokes]

Dave Jodel, you might be interested in these pics. I have posted them on another thread. These are from 1983 when BOF had just acquired the slightly modified Central Airspread scheme. This was later repainted. On BHO, didn't she end up going to Fiji? Vaguely remember that being mentioned.

All I can say is that the rebuild must have been done well, Dad mentioned that BOF's performance was in all ways a little bit better than expected. Apparently ''she was rigged right''. I hope you enjoy

[Dave.K]

Hi mstokes, must apoligise, it was BHO that we got rebuilt, but I did tip quite a few ton in BOF. Central Aviation had four 300's BHO BOF CMG CMM and CTO was Mt Cook airlines ag division with BHK at Fairlie. Yes BHO went to Fiji and was written off. Thanks for the pictures, they were great days. Will post a few old photos after I scan them.