|
Post by harvard1041 on Mar 14, 2022 19:28:59 GMT 12
As much as we all like a small rant, and like playing politician - it ain't going to happen folks...no public concern, no votes to win ...and no public perception that we even have a crisis on our hands. Sorry - but a pointless thread.
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Mar 10, 2022 18:34:42 GMT 12
Yes - Len was quite the character... I knew him work wise (he was an FAA DAR and issued us a couple of Ferry Permits and CofA on a 767 & 757 I recall. With his passing his wife published a book he had been working on - can't lay my hands on it sadly - but was an interesting read of early Cathay days, flying in Laos etc ... bit X rated I recall Interesting guy for sure.
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Mar 3, 2022 18:56:22 GMT 12
Hinges & pins both front & rear...but yes they do open the 'wrong way'...and yes it has happened !
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Jan 31, 2022 11:19:34 GMT 12
Great series of photos ( & Logbook ) Dave - AS Mills is a pilot I've often wondered about - as amongst other things - was the Instructor involved in a taxi tipup of my Harvard NZ1041 in 1945 while serving on No 4(F) OTU and I now see also flew NZ3043 'Bess' at OH in 1944 - 45. Great stuff
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Aug 20, 2021 9:14:07 GMT 12
Amazing build there - I'm pretty sure you've put more hours in to this model than we did on the full sized Gloria Yes - there was some battle damage - it looked like something (Japanese ?) had come up thru the LH flap nicking the flap channel then up out thru the adjacent flap bay stringer and top skin... all nicely flush patch repaired... will dig out some photos. Keep up the good work. Hvd1041
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Aug 7, 2021 8:08:33 GMT 12
Fully agree there Dave, but sadly another example of short term thinking.... and non-engineering types making decisions well outside their areas of expertise Doesn't take much thought to realise that the original idea of the Refinery - a degree of NZ independence & control of costs - is still valid, and probably more so given the Covid examples showing us how we are right at the end of most supply lines. .....and of course this Govt wouldn't have anything to do with the gas, oil, & engineering industries.
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Jul 11, 2021 7:46:26 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Jun 2, 2021 11:35:47 GMT 12
Hi Guys - hey - if you want to debate P-40Es vs P-40Fs... do so on another thread....what we have here is a super original ex-Russian lake aircraft that will be a stunning P-40E when it flys shortly...
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Apr 7, 2021 18:58:30 GMT 12
Sorry to hear you didnt pop over my hangar....we had lots & lots of visitors over the weekend and a BBQ on Sunday with the Smith family and about 100 people. Gloria is finished.
Cheers Hvd1041
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Mar 23, 2021 7:24:52 GMT 12
...sort of diorama we're hoping the AHC get on board with for NZ3220
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Mar 16, 2021 11:18:49 GMT 12
Might know who made that last video - using the photos Mike & I took..... has 40K+ views on You Tube now Cheers Hvd1041
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Mar 11, 2021 7:32:02 GMT 12
I'd say the postponement of the Classic Fighters has a bit to do with Covid, but has a lot to do with preparation & numbers of advanced tickets purchased.
I'd rather have seen a scaled back 'Flyin' rather than a late winter Airshow.
Cheers Hvd1041
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Mar 1, 2021 6:49:44 GMT 12
Neither the P-40 or Corsair are 'rotting away' in Masterton - they are in pretty good storage, well cared for.... but until the lawyers finish their work, unlikely to emerge...but when they do, fairly confident they will get the maintenance work done (needed before going in to this period of limbo) and will emerge to fly again
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Nov 23, 2020 7:25:09 GMT 12
Actually don't think either of your points are accurate....Gloria hadn't been preserved but only stored in the shed at Mapua and was showing many areas of corrosion and rat damage....stopping or slowing this was our first priority.
It hasn't had a bunch of new parts added either...many of the assembly's added are originals from 3220 as John had never really started any work on the airframe.
True some parts are newly fabricated, but in sympathy with the rest of the aircraft - that's what we do as P40 restoration folks.
Most importantly, the family are very involved and fully support the current path.
Cheers Hvd1041
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Oct 15, 2020 8:06:41 GMT 12
Hi All - yes - a real pitty last night with, I think, my computer maxing out in RAM with a Zoom feed and feeding a projector running simulateously....had worked fine in our dry run...but not on the day. We managed to talk our way thru it anyway, and with three P-40s in the hangar, I think we had a reasonable evening...but a shame. I'll upload the talk on to YouTube today (it is our Powerpoint Presentation with no chat however)...and while it was all videod at the time, there is a lot of film of us trying to get the bloody computer to work !?! Cheers Hvd1041 PS - here's the Youtube link here - four videos - hope they are of interest www.youtube.com/user/lisajackson99
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Sept 1, 2020 20:16:47 GMT 12
Glad everyone is liking the new posts Basically with the P-40s moved, Tigermoth moved, Harvard & parts gone, Vampires sold, P-51 & parts gone.... there is just the Mosquito to go.... and with a good team in control, this should happen fairly quickly - month or so. It has been a long, but enjoyable Project - I think Curtiss & I have done about Qty 45 trips to Mapua & back in the last year - lots of hard work, but also lots of interest. Special guy - John Smith - hopefully this outcome will keep most people & family happy; I think it will. Cheers John.
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Aug 25, 2020 20:25:15 GMT 12
Yes - John flew BQB for a while - his Pilot Licence was in the house, and just unearthed recently ... was rated on Tigers, Austers, & Cubs Cheers Hvd1041
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Aug 17, 2020 20:05:32 GMT 12
Quick update - and I'll ask Dave to post some photos...but Project has been moving along steadily, and the end is in sight. It has been 10 months of work to date... about Qty 40 trips for Curtiss & I - supported by several friends & colleagues - thank you! As you have heard, Brendon Deere & his Biggin Hill Trust, have bought the P-51D NZ2423 from the Smith family with the intention to return this great machine to flight - a 2 Sqn Fighter ! ... We've already loaded up a 20ft container of Mustang parts, with the aircraft due to head North soon. The AHC Mosquito team has had their first day at Mapua and disassembly seems to be going well - a big job, but a good bunch to make it happen... taking the wing/fuselage off and transporting it to Omaka is still a ways off, however. Overall everyone seems pretty happy with the outcome - a combination of preserving the Smith family legacy with the Mosquito, P-40N Gloria Lyons, and John's Tigermoth heading for display in the AHC. The surplus parts going to good warbird people with the expectation they will be used in future flying projects...and three aircraft sold - Harvard 1068, P-40E NZ3043, and the above P-51D-25 NZ2423 all being returned to flight..... in NZ Cheers Hvd1041 PS - meant to say, this great outcome is due in no small part to the wisdom of George Smith, John's older brother, who has balanced up the various requirements of his family, John's legacy...and the practical aspects of clearing out the hangar and property.
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Jul 26, 2020 20:20:22 GMT 12
Not really - as the intention is to keep the P-51D, and all the other aircraft, within NZ.... so this legislation really isn't an Issue. John Smith & his family have a good sense of NZ Aviation History, something all of us can be happy with Cheers John.
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Jul 25, 2020 17:10:41 GMT 12
Yes - a good outcome for the 'surplus' Mosquito spares.... in line with the Smith family wishes Cheers Hvd1041
|
|