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Post by shamus on Jun 26, 2009 11:43:11 GMT 12
Thought I would share some of my photos of Motat aircraft taken in the seventies. The Avenger after arrival in Auckland. Note the road tyres for the long tow.  The Ventura after resoration at Meola Road. Note how undeveloped the site was in those days.  The late Barrie East pulling through the P&W 2800 on the Ventura.  The Sunderland.  The Solent.  More to come. |
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Post by shamus on Jun 26, 2009 12:24:15 GMT 12
Early one rainy Sunday morning we shifted the Lancaster from Western Springs to Meola Rd. At Western Springs.  Coming onto Gt.North Rd.  At Meola Rd.  More to come. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 26, 2009 12:43:45 GMT 12
Superb photos. That's the first time I've seen a photo of the legendary Barrie East.
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 26, 2009 13:42:03 GMT 12
What an amazing selection of shots!  Thanks for sharing them with us. |
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Post by John L on Jun 26, 2009 15:02:01 GMT 12
I can recall them trying to turn over one of the Solent engines (must be 1969 ish). It wouldn't move so they tried hanging a very large weight of one of the props (a blacksmiths anvil or something).
It still wouldn't move........I should have taken a photo.......
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Post by baz62 on Jun 26, 2009 15:28:02 GMT 12
Great photos. Did they ever ground run the Ventura? For those wondering the holes in the leading edge of the Avenger's wings are for the deicing boots which I don't think our Avengers needed operating in the Pacific theater!
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Post by shamus on Jun 26, 2009 17:18:15 GMT 12
To my knowledge the Ventura engine was never run. I say engine singular as only the port engine was able to be turned over, the stbd being seized. Of course anything could have happened recently and things could have changed. Here is another photo of the Avenger after its road journey, coloured this time.  Will post more as I find them and scan. |
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Post by baz62 on Jun 26, 2009 18:45:14 GMT 12
Not surprisng that the Solents engines wouldn't turn as being sleeve valve engines they are prone to seizing if left to sit and aren't maintained. Just ask Al on the Bristol Freighter thread!!
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Post by alanw on Jun 26, 2009 21:13:53 GMT 12
Hey Shamus thanks for posting The Avenger still has car tyres on it!!!!  (they do have new proper aircraft tyres waiting to put on!!) I was at MOTAT on Wednesday and just happened to get there just after they had buttoned up the Lancaster -sorry photos next time guys  I spent some time chatting to the Bomber Command guys there, and one of them had mentioned that they had taken off the wings, it's good to see how they actually did that! One thing I did learn about the Lancaster in general, that I had never heard of before, was that the reason the Lancaster has such a long bomb bay is that the initial Air Ministry specs called for the bomb bay to be big enough to carry two torpedo's (18/21 inch). Go figure a Lancaster torpedo bomber, what would that make it? A Torlanc (like Torbeau (torpedo beaufighter)! ;D Thanks Alan |
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Post by shamus on Jun 27, 2009 13:30:01 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 27, 2009 13:54:59 GMT 12
Wow, those are really interesting photos of the Avenger. Does anyone know if that was RNZAF nose art on the cowl or applied later by council staff?
Judging by the fernleaf the third photo is reversed?
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Post by shamus on Jun 27, 2009 14:08:17 GMT 12
Thanks Dave, well spotted. Also the fin flash is on the wrong way. This often happens when you
are doing them from negatives. Will post a corrected one later.
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Post by shamus on Jun 27, 2009 14:19:49 GMT 12
Having looked again carefully. The 3rd photo is correct as taken, it is the 5th one that is reversed.
The fin flash only appears on the stbd. side of the fin as can be seen in the colour photo at the end
of its journy to Motat.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 27, 2009 19:35:33 GMT 12
Actually I don't think that's the case, the black and white photo 5 is probably right - it looks to be bare metal with the port finflash. Whereas the coloured photo later it looks like the tail section has been painted a silver-grey colour, over top of the finflash. Note the coloured photo also has no fern on the roundel which indicates it was repainted whilst in the park. So I think photo 3 is earlier and is backwards. I cannot imagine anyone painting the fern on backwards. I cannot imagine the council even painting the fern on during a repaint and think it is probably left over from its RNZAF service.
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Post by Bruce on Jun 27, 2009 20:44:21 GMT 12
Shouldnt the rear fuselage entry door be on the Right?  also in Pic 2 (around the right way as the name and numbers show) has a traction engine in the background to the aircrafts right, in Pic 3 the traction engine is on the left. The joys of transparent slides Great pictures though. |
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Post by sputnik767 on Jun 28, 2009 7:32:25 GMT 12
Those photos of the Avenger at Rotorua are absolutely brilliant!!
I spent many a time shooting down the evil hun or on a bombing mission from that cockpit growing up. But I have no photo's or seen any until now of it at in the play ground not far from the Toot 'n' whistle.....
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Post by baz62 on Jun 28, 2009 11:23:47 GMT 12
Must have been fun getting the axles out of the concrete!
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Post by shamus on Jun 28, 2009 12:29:21 GMT 12
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Post by shamus on Jun 28, 2009 12:55:10 GMT 12
Gremlins in my computer giving me trouble. Will post final one later.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 28, 2009 13:07:17 GMT 12
Thanks for the sixth photo. That poor old aeroplane must have been very sad inside after sitting out in the Rotorua air (which is caustic to say the least) with no canopies and covers.
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