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Post by planeimages on Nov 10, 2008 23:08:32 GMT 12
Ah, so. Good one.
Best you read Ian Mackersey's tome on CKS. Buy his Wright book, too. Although I haven't read his book on Jean Batten there would be no doubt that it would be XLNT.
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Post by planeimages on Nov 10, 2008 23:05:21 GMT 12
Dave,
Thanks for that explanation. However, Wellington was apparently stated as the original destination in publicity material before departure and then altered to Christchurch (probably when they discovered that there was no field at W.
See what we Aussies did for you?
They had plenty of endurance so the bit extra to CH was irrelevant. They hit Wellington bang on course after a night-time celestial fix despite the storm which had the Southern Cross diving 5500 feet in less than a minute at 150 mph.
BTW. Will you be getting a proper Air Force now that the woman has gone?
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Post by planeimages on Nov 9, 2008 20:27:17 GMT 12
Dave gave me the answer. There was no airfield at Wellington at the time! QED. It would seem that CKS might have thought that Wellington was the right place to head for until he discovered that Christchurch was the destination.
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Post by planeimages on Nov 9, 2008 20:24:27 GMT 12
"You'd be right. But not quite what you might think. Watch this space.
Ian Mackersey's tome is brilliant but even that does not cover every detail. I was looking for something written in the period perhaps.
I didn't know there was a place called "Kamberra". Perhaps a bit of a Monty Pythonesque misspell? The other place is not a misnomer for camber on cars.
Thanks
PF
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Post by planeimages on Nov 9, 2008 9:42:02 GMT 12
Can anyone shed some light on Harold Litchfield and Tom McWilliams who flew with Charles Kingsford Smith?
Books?
Dave?
Thanks
Peter
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Post by planeimages on Nov 7, 2008 21:32:10 GMT 12
Toyota twin cam 4AGE by the looks of it. Broken DOHC belts do cause the engine to go quiet.
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Post by planeimages on Nov 5, 2008 19:12:31 GMT 12
Why was the flight from Sydney to NZ in 1928 terminated in Christchurch rather than the originally-planned Wellington?
Runway length, surface strength, position, winds?
Please advise by email: peter@finlays.com.au
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Post by planeimages on Nov 4, 2008 8:55:25 GMT 12
Does anyone know how much money Stan Nielson paid Charles Kingsford Smith for the privilege of flying with him from Seven Mile Beach to New Plymouth in 1933?
My sources suggest that it was a "large" cheque.
Relpies can be made to my email address: peter@finlays.com.au
Thanks.
Peter
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Post by planeimages on Oct 29, 2008 22:36:05 GMT 12
Does anyone have any information on the widows of Moncrieff and Hood?
Their lives after losing their husbands on the fatal Trans-Tasman flight.
Anything you can find or advise would be very much appreciated.
PF
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Post by planeimages on Oct 28, 2008 19:59:12 GMT 12
A pleasant, low-key event. We left at 2.30. Moderate crowd permitted easy viewing from the apron area.
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Post by planeimages on Oct 27, 2008 21:35:11 GMT 12
A few images from Nowra Air Day. PC-9 A PAIR OF STEARMANS THE ROULETTES PASS BY THE TAIL OF THE C-17 TRACKER 844 TAXI DEMO ONLY PINK PARACHUTES AVENGER WITH WINGS FOLDED TAXIS IN AVENGER
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Post by planeimages on Oct 24, 2008 20:16:09 GMT 12
Aussie Top Gear's secret aerodrome is Camden. Funny how the owners would close the field for a couple of TV quid.
All the stupid wheelies are getting to be a bit puerile.
And as for trying to con us into believing their set up braking test revealed that one of the "super Falcons" or Holdens was more capable under brakes... pull the other one guys.
Some nice photography so long as they put those awful half/frame filters away. The shots of the Porsche in the first programme were beautiful.
Nice try but bring back the Poms.
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Post by planeimages on Oct 23, 2008 16:30:06 GMT 12
OMG Dave,
Any chance of being able to email those beaut Observer posts to me at my personal address please?
Will need to credit the source too.
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Post by planeimages on Oct 23, 2008 16:27:36 GMT 12
OK chaps. McWilliams it is. Many thanks PF
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Post by planeimages on Oct 22, 2008 20:11:25 GMT 12
Also glad to see that the old myth that the Southern Cross was a composite made from Herbert Wilkins' two Fokkers ; "Alaskan" and "Detroiter" has not surfaced. Although Wilkins did put the wing of one onto the other, the remains all ended up at Boeing at Seattle and the complete Fokker F.VIIb-3m was rebuilt and sold to Smithy.
The Detroiter and Southern Cross bear the same c/n.
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Post by planeimages on Oct 22, 2008 20:00:12 GMT 12
To Old Fokker, May I have a copy of the two Southern Crosses together at Bn and the interior shot please?
If this is possible could you email them to me please?: peter@finlays.com.au
Much appreciated
Peter
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Post by planeimages on Oct 22, 2008 19:57:22 GMT 12
Smithy himself did not climb out to the engines. PG Taylor was the brave man. The horizontal strut gave him something to stand on. Because he was fairly short he could stand up and wedge his back against the wing and shuffle out to the engines on each side. He did 12 trips in all, that is 6 each side. It was either that or be fed to the sharks. But that doesn't take away any of the admiration of what he did to save the aircraft and the crew. There is a re-creation of how he did it on www.nma.gov.au/interactives/tlf/heroes/index.htmlIan Mackersey's great book on Smithy tells the gory details very well.
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Post by planeimages on Oct 22, 2008 19:43:13 GMT 12
Hi Craig,
Thanks. I haven't managed to visit that Museum.
PF
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Post by planeimages on Oct 21, 2008 21:27:02 GMT 12
Reverse thrust is a wonderful thing.
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Post by planeimages on Oct 21, 2008 21:05:07 GMT 12
Holy cow, Batman. Is NZ thinking of going to war? Marvelous. My Client will be delighted. PF.
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