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Post by avenger on Aug 2, 2015 19:09:15 GMT 12
[Sorry Avenger,
I can't follow what you're saying.]
Another - [ They even brought it to Wigram on one occasion]
A 'Super Dak' at WG was nothing new or unique.
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Post by avenger on Jul 31, 2015 19:38:15 GMT 12
(I think the guy you are looking for was Flying Officer Murray Crawford who was an ops officer at Wigram in the mid/late 1960s. I was a LAC teleg at the time and often talked to Murray about his flights on the R4D. They even brought it to Wigram on one occasion) The R4D based at WG in the period 57-58, See 'Aviation Photography', ' USN & USAF aircraft at WG & CHC 57 - 58, ' p2, but have been wrong before! But the period under discussion later than the 57 - 58 period. Contact should be possible with A.E Thomson, ( mentioned earlier by Tinman ) he is at Taupo.
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Post by avenger on May 27, 2015 19:28:46 GMT 12
[Off topic - does anyone know if Air New Zealand ever tried a DC-10 into Wellington?]
Am reasonably sure the answer is no. Certainly there was consideration to operate the '10 there, but reality was the landing performance blo required. The aircraft apparently required additional stopping capabilty so nose wheel braking to make the performance demands proposed, and at the time this apparently a 'one off' so not persevered with. Many of the crew were confident the aircraft could have operated without any mods however.
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Post by avenger on May 7, 2015 16:58:24 GMT 12
Apologies for at least slghtly anticipating a reply from Ian - " Tilly (from "Utility") was the name given to a number of British military vehicles produced during World War II from civilian car designs and used by all of the armed forces in most theatres of that conflict."
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Post by avenger on May 7, 2015 15:44:42 GMT 12
The 'crawler' is an International I suspect, probably a TD 6 (1940 - 1956), could be the larger and more powerful TD 9. Should be easy to I/D. Also Cletrack another US manufactured tractor for civil or military use. Some were available here around very late 1940's/very early 50's.
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Post by avenger on May 3, 2015 16:43:55 GMT 12
An earlier post, 09 June 2011, suggested Maurice McGreal "still alive." Yes he was then but departed this life on 21st November 2012.
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Post by avenger on Apr 22, 2015 16:27:19 GMT 12
[Seabrook-Fowlds were the Austin,Morris dealers for NZ,they had garages/car sales all over the country. We used to live in Matamata they were in operation there until the late 1970's.]
Slightly off thread but I have my name on the waiting list for one of the new Austin 1800's, I'm still awaiting the call.
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Post by avenger on Jan 21, 2015 10:47:48 GMT 12
The cowl and cheat line red not RNZAF but possibly applied when the aircraft a potential civil aerial topdresser?
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Post by avenger on Jan 18, 2015 11:45:46 GMT 12
Yeah amazing photos,considering they had been sitting there from around 1945,the scrapper must have been working exceedingly slowly or had lost interest in melting the old birds down nearly 20 years after they arrived there. Slighty off topic anyone got a photo of all the Harvards piled up at Te Kuiti from the Airtruk building days.I remember as a kid in the late 60's there were still a good number sitting there. Here's a photograph at Te Kuiti, unsure as to date, also have some at this site of Avenger 05 minus the engine. My guess re date of this photograph would be earlier 60's rather than as the above "late 60's," not to say the aircraft were not still there in that period.
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Post by avenger on Jan 18, 2015 11:34:31 GMT 12
Early on the thread the question asked whether there was a record of the Avenger in the Rotorua playground. Here it is. If you I/D the two in front please don't post the names.
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Post by avenger on Jan 16, 2015 15:14:29 GMT 12
Yeah amazing photos,considering they had been sitting there from around 1945,the scrapper must have been working exceedingly slowly or had lost interest in melting the old birds down nearly 20 years after they arrived there. Slighty off topic anyone got a photo of all the Harvards piled up at Te Kuiti from the Airtruk building days.I remember as a kid in the late 60's there were still a good number sitting there. I have a photograph from those Te Kuiti days, to post where?
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Post by avenger on Dec 19, 2014 10:09:10 GMT 12
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Post by avenger on Dec 10, 2014 15:46:12 GMT 12
An earlier post --[ Lake Ellesmere was of course also a low flying zone for military training back in the olden days, right up till CFS and PTS left Wigram for Ohakea I think.]
Not entirely sure this area (Birdlings Flat) used for trainee's low flying. I did weapons training there but no low flying, that was along the Rakaia River. Although did some low altitude level bombing. Also believe we the last course to do the "airweapons' training at Birdlings Flat, May 1958, the date of this photograph.
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Post by avenger on Nov 6, 2014 15:36:20 GMT 12
I believe Peter Rhodes flew the F 4 in the RAAF. Wouldn't claim that as a 100% certainty.
Later - just as well I didn't go for that 100% claim, Peter did not fly the F4 but did serve in the RAAF.
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Post by avenger on Oct 21, 2014 11:25:48 GMT 12
I believe there's a John (Jack) Curtis at Taupo who flew the B 25 in WW 2. Am able to contact him as know where he resides but don't hold his contact details, he also flew with NAC & AirNZ and at least one other International Airline following retirement from AirNZ.
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Post by avenger on May 27, 2014 15:54:34 GMT 12
Re missing the DZ. Back November 1958 the Army conducted an exercise in the Ruapehu/Turangi areas. To deliver aerial photographs back to the Army, Pilot Officer Terry Mills flew a Harvard with a cannister and small parachute under the wing from Ohakea to the designated area. The agreed target zone indicated as top of a canvas covered Land Rover. The drop made and the aircraft banked steeply to watch drop progress, I don't need to add further.
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Post by avenger on Apr 4, 2014 15:20:02 GMT 12
I also recall Galatea and Rotherham intended as dispersal fields in the event of japanese invasion. Unable to find a reference.
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Post by avenger on Feb 15, 2014 14:45:11 GMT 12
How far could a Devon fly? I have in my logbook a flight of 6 hours 15 minutes, a photographic flight so airspeed uncertain. Max logged on a navex was 4 hours 55, Wigram - Kaitaia - Whenuapai. usually flew the Navex's at an indicated 120 Knots.
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Post by avenger on Jan 7, 2014 14:11:11 GMT 12
The UAL B 747 into Wellington was 8th October, I don't have the year but most probably 1991 as inferred earlier. The first flight into Wellington by AirNZ aircraft was indeed a proving flight to validate the possible use as an alternate for the direct LAX - AKL flights. Interesting but the intent was never to actually use the airport as a regular alternate but the availabilty enabled the aircraft to continue for a landing at AKL when being below pre-defined enroute fuel levels a diversion to an enroute alternative would have been the only other option. To reassure forum members and readers, there were other protections developed within this policy that ensured safety. RNZAF Ohakea for non technical reasons was not considered at this time as a regular alternate but it was availabe as a suitable length of concrete but could not for a period be 'flight planned' as an alternate.
Earlier posts referred to Don Olive when actually it's Olliff.
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Post by avenger on Dec 28, 2013 12:20:05 GMT 12
Have posted as requested. Rgds. TBF
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