Post by Bruce on Mar 7, 2009 20:25:15 GMT 12
Today our SAA Chapter had a visit to Kelly Field, Russ Ward's airstrip near Mercer. (not to be confused with Jim Lyver's Mercer airstrip a couple of km down the road). the airstrip is listed in the AIP but is tricky to find and even tricker to get to by road. It is home to Russ and his partner (who currently live in the Hangar) and the most amazing collection of classic US light aircraft.
Weather today wasnt great in the waikato so only 2 Jodels flew in, a few more people arriving by car:
The Hangar in the background would have to be my idea of the ultimate "Blokes Shed"
Inside it is a really ecclectic collection of aircraft:
In this picture there are two Taylorcraft BC-12s A 1928 Travel Air Biplane, a luscombe Silvaire, and an Acroduster homebuilt:
Russ has 3 Luscombes, 2 travel airs and approx 6 Taylorcraft - plus other oddities. Here are some of the Wings in storage:
300hp Acroduster (the youngest aircraft in the collection):
Belgian Stampe SV4 with Renault engine:
Luscombe Silvaire - this is airworthy, however currently in maintenance:
Talking Fluent Aeroplane (like You do...)- the framework is a Wittman Tailwind:
Soon to be brought inside is this extremely rare beastie - A Guiberson T1020 Radial engine - this is a DIESEL!
this particular example came out of a tank (Probably an M3 Stuart) however the engines were also fitted to a number of light aircraft prewar. Russ would like to restore this one and put it on a Travel Air (Imagine stopping a big radial Biplane by the pumps and asking for Jet A1! - or waste oil...)
just to prove what it is...
Russ is a Kiwi who has spent a lot of time in the states, holding an FAA A&P license. All the aircraft are currently US registered, but are likely to find their way into the ZK register at some stage. Russ is keen to develop Kelly field and will be building additional Hangars in the next 12 months - he would like to offer it as a more affordable alternative to Ardmore, especially for classic aircraft. Russ doesnt mind visitors - just find his number in the AIP for Kelly Field and give him a ring before you come. (the airstrip is 840m or so long, keep all circuits to the north to avoid circuit conflicts with the skydive centre)
After a few years of not much happening (legal issues from a divorce settlement took a bit to sort out) the aircraft are being reactivated. The Cessna 150 visible in some of the shots is up for sale, which will get the nosewheel oddity out of the hangar! I have been given the opportunity to take on a new project after the completion of CKE, being the rebuild of this 1946 Taylorcraft BC12:
This will be quite good as I get to keep my hand in on fabric work etc, and I can take the smaller bits back to my new workshop in Cambridge to potter about on during the week. I also get paid for it! (not full time, but its helpful income). depending on what we find when we pull it apart, we could have this one going by the end of the year, and will then probably do one of the other T Crates. (and then hopefully a Travel Air!). Once CKE is flying I can commute up for weekend work.
Weather today wasnt great in the waikato so only 2 Jodels flew in, a few more people arriving by car:
The Hangar in the background would have to be my idea of the ultimate "Blokes Shed"
Inside it is a really ecclectic collection of aircraft:
In this picture there are two Taylorcraft BC-12s A 1928 Travel Air Biplane, a luscombe Silvaire, and an Acroduster homebuilt:
Russ has 3 Luscombes, 2 travel airs and approx 6 Taylorcraft - plus other oddities. Here are some of the Wings in storage:
300hp Acroduster (the youngest aircraft in the collection):
Belgian Stampe SV4 with Renault engine:
Luscombe Silvaire - this is airworthy, however currently in maintenance:
Talking Fluent Aeroplane (like You do...)- the framework is a Wittman Tailwind:
Soon to be brought inside is this extremely rare beastie - A Guiberson T1020 Radial engine - this is a DIESEL!
this particular example came out of a tank (Probably an M3 Stuart) however the engines were also fitted to a number of light aircraft prewar. Russ would like to restore this one and put it on a Travel Air (Imagine stopping a big radial Biplane by the pumps and asking for Jet A1! - or waste oil...)
just to prove what it is...
Russ is a Kiwi who has spent a lot of time in the states, holding an FAA A&P license. All the aircraft are currently US registered, but are likely to find their way into the ZK register at some stage. Russ is keen to develop Kelly field and will be building additional Hangars in the next 12 months - he would like to offer it as a more affordable alternative to Ardmore, especially for classic aircraft. Russ doesnt mind visitors - just find his number in the AIP for Kelly Field and give him a ring before you come. (the airstrip is 840m or so long, keep all circuits to the north to avoid circuit conflicts with the skydive centre)
After a few years of not much happening (legal issues from a divorce settlement took a bit to sort out) the aircraft are being reactivated. The Cessna 150 visible in some of the shots is up for sale, which will get the nosewheel oddity out of the hangar! I have been given the opportunity to take on a new project after the completion of CKE, being the rebuild of this 1946 Taylorcraft BC12:
This will be quite good as I get to keep my hand in on fabric work etc, and I can take the smaller bits back to my new workshop in Cambridge to potter about on during the week. I also get paid for it! (not full time, but its helpful income). depending on what we find when we pull it apart, we could have this one going by the end of the year, and will then probably do one of the other T Crates. (and then hopefully a Travel Air!). Once CKE is flying I can commute up for weekend work.
)
