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Post by rone on Jan 1, 2020 8:46:15 GMT 12
Bureaucrats run the country, the government and all MP's just follow the rules. Until we have a government (read PM) that has the guts to tell the bureaucrats who is boss nothing will change.
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Post by rone on Dec 19, 2019 17:39:36 GMT 12
David D, you are dead right, 40cubic feet equals 1 shipping ton
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Post by rone on Nov 5, 2019 9:47:25 GMT 12
Re Shorty's comment about bits being souveneered, I can confirm that during 1953 at Hobsonville the tacho was found laying beside one of the wheels, and the seat disappeared at that time also. The last time I saw it at the AWMM it had a beer crate for a seat. The original seat was used in an early Stock car and went back to Japan as scrap metal.
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Post by rone on Sept 27, 2019 10:38:58 GMT 12
I read in todays news that Neil Construction ( owned by Fletcher Building )have won their case in court regarding noise from engine testing at Whenuapai. The old story once again, what Fletchers want, Fletchers get. Even since the beginning of WW2 when James Fletcher was made Building Commissioner, they have had NZ Government by the short and curlies. Ron Mark is rightly concerned. What do you all think about this latest decision.
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Post by rone on Aug 14, 2019 16:29:37 GMT 12
Can't help re Frank Bell, but I do recall the Rover gas turbine car. It was built using a open top Rover 75 or 90. Trouble was the turbine took up the rear passenger area, was very noisy and extremely thirsty. The turbine of the day was very large when compared to say, a 1000hp modern turbine. A total disaster and waste of money with no practical application.
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Post by rone on Aug 5, 2019 13:56:28 GMT 12
An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution. His last minute plea for clemency had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed. As soon as he arrived home, his wife started on him. 'What time of the night to be getting home is this? Where have you been?. Dinner is cold and I'm not reheating it'.
Too shattered to respond to this familiar ritual, he poured himself a shot of whiskey and headed off for a long hot soak in the bath, pursued by sarcastic remarks.
While he was in the bath, the phone rang. The wife answered and was told her husband's client, James Wright , had been granted a stay of execution after all. Wright would not be hanged tonight.
Realising what a terrible day he had had, she went upstairs to give him the good news. As she opened the bathroom door, she was greeted by the sight of her husband, bent over naked, drying his legs and feet. 'They're not hanging Wright tonight,' she said.
He whirled around and screamed,'FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN, DON'T YOU EVER STOP'.
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Post by rone on Jul 18, 2019 16:58:57 GMT 12
None of this should surprise anyone. Fletchers, even when owned by the Fletcher family, have had the NZ Government in their back pocket since 1939 when James Fletcher was made Building Commissioner for the duration of WW2. They are also embroiled with Maori's at Mangere where they are wanting to destroy history also to build houses alongside what will be the second runway. There are many, many examples where Fletchers get what Fletchers want. Never lose sight of the fact that the Labour people are anti military anyway.
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Post by rone on Jun 10, 2019 12:39:04 GMT 12
A kindergarten pupil told his teacher he'd found a cat but it was dead. "How do you know it was dead?" asked the teacher. "Because I pissed in its ear and it didn't move' replied the boy innocently. You did "What? ?" exclaimed the teacher in surprise. "You know," explained the boy. "I leaned over and went 'PSSST' and it didn't move".
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Post by rone on Jun 7, 2019 11:45:40 GMT 12
Good Thinking. It has been done plenty of times previously, but in this day and age it is probably not the done thing. We are now too politically correct.
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Post by rone on Apr 20, 2019 10:09:06 GMT 12
Interesting article on Stuff this morning regards the flight to Germany and the resultant history making that followed the tking over the controls by Lawrence Mabey, tail gunner.
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Post by rone on Apr 4, 2019 20:44:11 GMT 12
What this incident proved just how unprepared the airport crash service and all other groups concerned with this type of scenario were. All involved behaved like headless chooks for quite some time. At the time I was involved with SAR on the Manukau Harbour, I have a reasonable knowledge of what played out later. I know personally the contractor who was approached to drag the aircraft ashore. That's when the fun and games started. Cost was not a consideration for sure. At low tide my friend ( who shall remain nameless),was requested to take a bulldozer across the sandbanks (they were referred to as mudbanks), and to attempt to pull in the wreck. The 'dozer was stuck and went under when the tide came in. Plan B was then tried. A wire rope firm supplied literally miles of new drums of wire rope, with a proviso that once it had been near salt water it was non-returnable. First the bulldozer was retrieved and despatched for a complete rebuild. The wreck was then winched in in several pieces. This operation cost a massive amount of dollars. My friend had a bulldozer like new and miles and miles of wire rope, plus got paid very well for his effort. Up until fairly recently I had 3 floatation seat cushions that floated ashore. They have a new owner who is I believe is building a mockup of a section of this aircrafts cabin. I also attended the debrief at the airport and it became very obvious that every person and service involved had learnt very little from the crash and subsequent recovery.
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Post by rone on Feb 25, 2019 16:44:16 GMT 12
As for the Bofors, why not try the Navy. Might be a waste of time but Kauri Point Stores had dozens of them stored away. The breech and barrel shown is looooooooong way from making a gun again.
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Post by rone on Feb 18, 2019 17:05:35 GMT 12
That land at Mangere, although privately owned for 150years, has been farmed continuously by descendants of the original families until the second runway was decided on being built. Much of that land under protest has the stone walls built by the original settlers. It is a historic site, not that that bothers Fletchers. Not trying to stir things up but I know that area and the previous owners well. The whole area was designated 'airfield zone' or some such title by the government of the day. The Treaty of Waitangi was ignored I believe, and Fletchers obtained the land. But, when the second runway is built, the to be built houses will be right alongside of it.
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Post by rone on Feb 16, 2019 11:37:21 GMT 12
With regards to the comment about my last post about Auckland. The current makeup of that fine city's population reminds me of most Australian cities 30 or so years ago, when the most popular game in town was 'spot the Aussie'. Back here it is fast becoming 'spot a Kiwi'.
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Post by rone on Feb 15, 2019 9:47:04 GMT 12
Dave H, you're guessing right, no B52 has ever been 'over' New Zealand previously. And with reference to the B52 at Darwin, a cousin of mine 'signed it in' when it arrived at Darwin. He worked for Aus. Customs at the time. The museum hangar was 'built around' it, he informed me. If my memory is correct,I think there is a mention of that in the write up about the a/c. It is certainly a big piece of aeroplane. It is one of two ever given to museums outside of USA.
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Post by rone on Feb 15, 2019 9:27:40 GMT 12
For sure, Auckland is not the place it used to be. In years to come, when everywhere is wall to wall houses and no open spaces, let alone airfields, who in their right mind would want to live, let alone visit Auckland.
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Post by rone on Feb 14, 2019 11:49:20 GMT 12
I have just now read on MSN that a developer near RNZAF Base Whenuapai is crying out that engine testing noise from the base is preventing 440 houses being built. Same old story, they knew it was an operational airfield when they bought the land. Now they are having the planning rules looked at again so their houses can be built. A local has pointed out they are used to the noise, it is what they appreciate about living there. Seems like the same old story, never mind the base has been there for many moonbeams, the new boy in town wants his way so he can make dollars. Watch this space, let's see who wins in the end.
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Post by rone on Jan 20, 2019 15:57:42 GMT 12
I have a question for David D, I mentioned earlier, about page 5, that Mosquitoes with rockets attempted to sink a frigate in the Bay of Plenty. You corrected my statement and stated it was an old dredge sunk in Cook Straight. While that is so, the frigate I mentioned was HMNZS Lachlan, what can you tell me about that vessel please, and what a/c were involved.
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Post by rone on Nov 14, 2018 13:09:30 GMT 12
Talking of Rockets and Mosquitoes reminds me of the occasion of when 75 Squadron Mossies where given the job of sinking the remains of a decommissioned Frigate in the Bay of Plenty during the 1950's. Exact date I do not recall. I do however recall that after several attempts and many misses, the ship was still afloat. It was finally despatched by the Navy.
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Post by rone on Oct 20, 2018 18:45:52 GMT 12
And the mention of Jack Asplin and the way he treated Motat reminds me of my own treatment and of my father's dealings with that person. They were not pleasant at all, but that is how that man did business.
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