Bristol Freighter 40000 Rivet Madness!!

Hope people are still interested in the mighty B170.

[yogi]

great pics mate. Like flying a 2 story house from the attic window so I heard ;D

[Radialicious]

Um, I am a wee bit of a fan of the B.170. LOVIN' the photos and hoping there are more to come!!!

[Dave Homewood]

Wonderful photos. That formation of Bristols and Iroquois's is neat, did No. 41 Squadron operate the Iroquois for a while too? Or are those from another Air Force? I know their scaled down selves, No. 141 Flight had Iroquois post-Bristol, but not sure about No. 41 Sqn.

Really interesting to see that No. 41 Squadron emblem on the tail with the NZ map. I've not seen that before. Was it standard on all their aircraft or just temporary for some special reason?

All in all that's a super ciollection of photos. Thanks for posting them.

[baz62]

I may need a cold shower now! Been a bit starved of Bristol Freighter stuff over the last week so this is a much needed transfusion. (No pressure Al ;D)

[sqwark2k]

Dave, the formation shot with the UH-1H's are probably from the Singapore Det. Not sure if they were co-operated by 1 unit but they would've been in Singapore together freq.

Baz62,, I do have a couple more - but these are courtesy of my brother - (see RNZAF 1960-1970s thread). I haven't added mine yet. I'll get around to it, but based on your reaction I better drip feed them otherwise the administrator might boot me off for causing innapropriate medical conditions to members.

I still remember as a kid looking up at night at B170 Exhaust flames as they did circuits at Whenuapai. They made a hell of a racket and the only other aircraft that I remember being in the same class of noise and visual awe at night (- I was 5-8yrs at the time) was the Argus from Canada. All kids loved the Bristols because they just had so much character and they were painted in Cammo!!

[Bruce]

Sept 27, 2009 23:28:39 GMT 12 Radialicious said:

Um, I am a wee bit of a fan of the B.170. LOVIN' the photos and hoping there are more to come!!!

I thought the "wee bit of a fan" was the bit behind the prop on the Military B170....

[chewy]

We nearly pulled the roof down in ARS when we closed the clam shell doors on a safety rope from the roof and then tried to tow it out of the hangar. I was riding brakes. The rope broke before we pulled the lights down. Trying to put the canopy cover on in high winds was an experience, also being hit in the face by an oily rope while filling the oil tanks. The good old days.

[camtech]

Just love those old Butt Uglies - I was on 1 Sqdn when the last NZ aircraft were retired - in fact on Duty Crew that last night - quite a party afterwards. Took us a day or so to recover from the hangover!! Was also there when 41's last beasts trundled in and when Carey Adamson took '03 to Wigram.
Love the photos!!!!

[Andy Wright]

Superb. When did you guys retire them?

[camtech]

Last operational flight dates are:
NZ5902 15 Mar 1977
NZ5903 20 May 1977 (ferried to Wigram 16 Mar 1978)
NZ5904 14 Feb 1977
NZ5906 7 Apr 1977
NZ5907 20 May 1977
NZ5909 19 Feb 1977
NZ5910, 11, 12 14 Dec 1977 (on arrival from ferry home ex Singapore via Invercargill)

[Dave Homewood]

Les, why did they fly from Singapore via Invercargill? Was there soething they picked up or delivered there? I assume it's last flight was to Auckland?

[camtech]

It was purely a "wave the last flag" trip. They stopped at Invercargill, Wigram, Woodbourne and Ohakea before arriving in Auckland.

[camtech]

That photo of 5911 over Changi looked familiar - sure enough I have the same photo (official RNZAF).