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Post by planeimages on Nov 20, 2013 15:42:12 GMT 12
Just browsed past Dave.
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Post by planeimages on Nov 17, 2013 20:59:34 GMT 12
George Augustine Taylor was the first person to fly a heavier-than-air glider in Australia at North Narrabeen on 5th December 1909. He was followed aloft by his wife, Florence, and Edward Hallstrom, who later became Sir Edward of Taronga Park fame. Taylor missed out on becoming the first person in Australia to become airborne in a powered aircraft when Colin Defries lifted from the ground at Victoria Park racecourse on 9th December. Being the sole judge and jury in his capacity as secretary of the Australian Aerial League, Taylor saw fit to decide that Defries' pair of flights did not meet the so-called criteria for man-carrying, powered controlled flight. Sour grapes. Thus it was ultimately left to Harry Houdini to claim the place in history at Diggers Rest on 18th March, 1910.
This is an excerpt from my story on W.E.Hart and his contemporaries which Stewart Wilson published in Aero Australia several years ago.
Speaking of Hart, Belmore Park at Penrith NSW, where he conducted his first flights, is soon to be developed into a housing estate. A stylised sculpture of Hart's Bristol "Boxkite" is standing at the site and its lighting system is scheduled to be officially switched on in December 2013.
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Post by planeimages on Sept 5, 2011 19:59:14 GMT 12
Many thanks. Surely someone knows the owners? Dave?
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Post by planeimages on Sept 3, 2011 17:01:10 GMT 12
Could someone shed some light on the details of the Lycoming fitted to this aircraft please?
Thanks
Peter
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Post by planeimages on Aug 14, 2011 21:06:18 GMT 12
Thanks Errol. Any chance that anyone might have a copy of the journal or is able to copy the article please? This items gives some information:
"She slipped quietly out of the sky over Masterton. The wheels of her little Moth biplane, ZK-ABE, touched the grass of Hood Aerodrome gently. A slightly self-conscious little group of flying fans waited to whisk her to a civic reception in the Midland Hotel and in a few hours she was gone, perhaps the most famous woman in her time - royalty apart - to visit Masterton.
Cheers Peter
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Post by planeimages on Aug 11, 2011 23:31:48 GMT 12
Hi Dave,
Thanks.
Yes, I have followed the links on the net and there is a fair amount of conflicting information particularly about the Bf108s she flew.
I have copy of her book which was re-written and re-published by Chris Nixon in English which sheds some light on the issue of the 108s as well as her life with Rosemeyer.
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Post by planeimages on Aug 11, 2011 21:35:08 GMT 12
Does anyone know anything about German aviatrix, Elly Beinhorn please?
She married Bernd Rosemeyer and had a son by him three weeks before Rosemeyer was killed in the Auto Union "Stromlinienwagen" during a speed record attempt in Germany.
Elly voyaged around the world in her Klemm and she visited Australia and NZ on her trip.
Thanks
Peter
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Post by planeimages on Aug 30, 2010 22:12:00 GMT 12
Thank you everyone for your very kind comments. The TC was the post-war model and is (visually) almost identical to the pre-war TA/TB cars. Only a nut case would pick the difference in a film.
My bank manager sleeps with me and, yes, she was the first pax.
The problem with going to airshows would be that I would have to leave her in the car park. You can imagine the consequences of that. And imagine my back having driven for miles on Australian roads in the cart-sprung MG.
I have a leather helmet and goggles for occasions when I put the windscreen down. I must remember the scarf.
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Biggles
Aug 30, 2010 22:00:58 GMT 12
Post by planeimages on Aug 30, 2010 22:00:58 GMT 12
Many thanks gentlemen. Yes, some editions are worth plenty... around several hundred quid in the UK for pristine examples of first editions.
I was rather thinking of Peter Jackson and making the film/series in NZ, although you may have to borrow our Spitfires.
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Biggles
Aug 28, 2010 20:40:03 GMT 12
Post by planeimages on Aug 28, 2010 20:40:03 GMT 12
Has anyone heard of any plans to create a film or perhaps a TV series on Capt. W.E. Johns' classics which featured "Biggle", "Algy", "Worrals" and Co?
Given the success of shows such as "Foyle's War" and "Heartbeat" I would have thought that the BBC could easily create a wonderful series for TV.
There is any number of suitable aircraft from WWI and WWII available in the UK, NZ, USA and Australia.
Just imagine Honeysuckle Weeks (aka Samantha Stewart in Foyle's War) playing the part of "Worrals"? A recent read of a "Worrals" story showed that her dialogue is just as Samantha Stewart is portrayed in Foyle's War.
Yes, I know that the BBC made "A Piece of Cake" which was panned by some people as stretching the truth too far. Most of the incidents portrayed were based on factual accounts and it was a great yarn with magnificent cinematography (except for a few scenes stolen from "The Battle of Britain")
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Post by planeimages on Aug 28, 2010 20:28:10 GMT 12
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Post by planeimages on Mar 6, 2010 17:49:06 GMT 12
Thank Dave,
Not too much smashing with the TC I hope. Hopefully just another month away from completion but I am at the mercy of the chap who is doing my job amongst many other tasks.
I guess if the canopy opened upwards on the PC-9 and hinged from the back the prop-wash would blow it away. For ejection I imagine that the hinge is released so that the canopy departs rearwards.
Did you see the "tyre-warmers" on the DC-4? And the buckets to collect the oil from the engines! Rather like a TC or a Jag, for that matter. The Jag in the foreground is an automatic... shame.
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Post by planeimages on Mar 5, 2010 13:03:32 GMT 12
I have not been to an airshow for some time. Let off my chain with the TC in its advanced stage of restoration. Here are some images: Peter’s 1948 MG TC in partly restored state at HARS. Connie starts up behind HARS’ DC-4 RAAF Hercules and DH Drover Lucky lady readies for Mustang flight RAAF Roulette PC-9 lines up after their display 1/250th sec shutter for blurred prop. RAAF Roulette PC-9 RAAF Roulette PC-9 taxis past Connie. Under the tip tank of Connie fly the RAAF Roulettes
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Amelia
Nov 27, 2009 21:34:37 GMT 12
Post by planeimages on Nov 27, 2009 21:34:37 GMT 12
Great casting for the visual likenesses of the three main characters, Amelia, GP and Fred Noonan.
The story and dialogue are a bit flat but the photography is, in the main, quite interesting.
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Post by planeimages on Sept 23, 2009 8:18:57 GMT 12
Thanks Dave and Craig, Rather than clog up this forum, those interested can see the process on my website: www.planeimages.smugmug.com in the MG restoration gallery. The problem with a car like this is that one could not leave it in the car park of an airshow. And, besides, who in their right mind would drive an MG TC any distance? I might take it to Temora but it would go in the trailer. I will be at HARS in February when the MG Car Club will have a display on the open day.
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Post by planeimages on Sept 22, 2009 21:26:33 GMT 12
This is what has been keeping me busy and away from air shows for the past 21 months: From a pile of rusty metal on 17th December 2007 to a rather nice 1948 M.G. TC. Chassis number 7346, XPAG 8142. Just the mudguards, running boards, front valance and hood to be fettled, painted and fitted. The soft top and side screens are about to be fitted. Hopefully on the road before Christmas 2009.
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Post by planeimages on Aug 17, 2009 21:52:29 GMT 12
Hi Kev,
Yes, Peter had a copy of John Stannage's two books, one of which was "High Adventure". Both of them were great reads and the source of a fair amount of detail on Smithy's personal conversations with him.
PF
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Post by planeimages on Jul 24, 2009 21:03:48 GMT 12
According to Joanne Beresford the launch of her book to be held next weekend in Masterton at the George Hood Aerodrome, in the soon to be opening George Hood Aviation Museum. This was written yesterday so I assume she means July 22/23.
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Post by planeimages on Jul 17, 2009 16:20:55 GMT 12
I see a Cessna 208 Caravan hiding in there, too, Craig. Nice shots.
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Post by planeimages on Jul 16, 2009 0:20:08 GMT 12
NZ writer, Joanna Beresford, has published a novel based on the true story of the fateful attempted flight of George Hood and John "Scotty" Moncrieff from Australia to New Zealand in 1927. Joanna's grandmother was one of George Hood's nieces and, although the narrative takes the form of a novel, it follows the tragic events of a flight which, it seems, so nearly succeeded. Available from : www.lulu.com ID:7194677 or www.thelastlink.co.nz/ Joanna very kindly assisted in my research for Peter FitzSimons' book on Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
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