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Post by harvard1041 on Jul 1, 2020 19:32:45 GMT 12
Quick update on the Smith Collection; progress continues on cataloging everything and helping the family move on some of the collection. As noted above, the Harvard stash has headed to NZ Warbirds - with the exciting prospect of at least one aircraft - NZ1068 - returning to flight. The Tigermoth has moved across to Omaka and will be 'restored' to a good static state for inclusion in the AHC. The Mosquito is moving towards a similar AHC display - but the details not yet finalized. NZ3220 - the 'Gloria Lyons' P-40N is progressing steadily here at Omaka, also bound for the AHC. One area which a Wings Over NZ Member, or members, might be interested in is the Vampire & Goblin collection. The family want to see it all go as one 'job lot' and not interested in anyone 'cherry picking' the best of it - leaving the rest to be disposed off... so if someone has a thing for DH Vampires - please get in touch. The best of the collection are two complete Goblin engines with lots of spares, four - maybe five - forward fuselage pods, some tail booms and one set of wings...and then boxes and boxes of misc parts. Would suit the 'enthusiast' is the phrase which springs to mind - as the packing and transport of these parts is a big job in itself. An offer around the NZ$ 20k would seem reasonable. Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 4, 2020 12:47:36 GMT 12
Hi Dave - any chance you could post a few photos of GB Fisken's Log Book - 14 Sqn at Masterton - showing his various flights in NZ3043 - would be very neat if we can find any 14 Sqn (or 2 OTU) wartime shots Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 2, 2020 20:19:51 GMT 12
Actually there are some (ex-Tonga) P-40Es here... horizontal distributors, early style exhaust stacks, early canopy.... wonderful video
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Post by harvard1041 on Feb 24, 2020 6:34:23 GMT 12
It’s just like Christmas for big boys! Well yes - it is pretty neat working on this stash with mates - researching the history, moving the parts, talking to the family - but also a lot of hard work... Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Feb 4, 2020 6:42:34 GMT 12
Yes - lots of inaccurate 'train-spotting' nonsense being put up on facebook - please, sensible 'Wings Over New Zealand' people, ignore it. The family ( and Curtiss & I ) are under no obligation to have any social media presence or detail any part of the process if we don't want to but, having said that, some accurate info will be updated here semi-regularly and I'm sure, in due course, a nice balanced article will appear in 'Classic Wings'. There is no plan to sell anything overseas, or do anything other than preserve the aircraft in a better state than currently stored. We all owe John Smith a debt for his far-sighted and hard work. He didn't suffer fools gladly, and we've no intention of changing that Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Jan 30, 2020 1:06:41 GMT 12
Thanks Dave - yes - talked with Chris Rudge - author of the great book 'Air to Air' describing the RNZAF Pacific Kills ... and we both think that the kills are probably related to one particular pilot, but not sure which one - and were transferred to the at least the last 'Gloria Lyons' P-40 NZ3220... but still a mystery as to which kills and which pilot. Will post a few photos as Curtiss & I work our way thru NZ3220 - it is pretty neat, real time warp stuff. Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Sept 4, 2019 5:07:22 GMT 12
Hi Ryan - let me dig out my 4 OTU photos - currently on holiday but back next week...love yr photos however...do you have any more ?
Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Dec 1, 2018 17:57:42 GMT 12
HI Dave - I'd guess that these are all 2 (F) OTU aircraft ? - FE codes - which was all white letters, cowls etc .... as opposed to No 4 (F) OTU OD codes which was all red.... old Instructor told me they painted the No 4 OTU aircraft red - lettering cowls etc etc especially when both OTUs moved to Ohakea ... so I'd guess the 2 OTU aircraft could have, using the same theory, - been painted white ?
Makes sense to me...
Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Nov 28, 2018 7:56:32 GMT 12
Think 'Grumpy' above has it spot on with NZ1015 and it's 'overhaul' at WB early-mid 1970s. I was a kid at the time living at WB as my old man was CO 1RD. While he was an Engineer, he had also done a Wings course and actively flew thru the 1970s including the WB Harvard, and was very keen to get 1015 up and back flying. He'd flown 1015 on his Wings Course and I'm pretty sure was involved in getting her 'repaired & refurbished' despite there being no money or approvals for any 'overhauls'... good move I hope the RNZAF get her back flying asap... or if not, put NZ1009 back in to service. Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Aug 26, 2018 10:51:52 GMT 12
Got to say surprised about the negative comments about the Frigate upgrades ...and Frigates generally. They are a vital and very useful component of Defence ..... and in every sense worth every single dollar put in to them - upgrades have challenges ! It's easy for us ex-RNZAF guys ( & gals ) to just assume Orions, or their replacement, look after the sea, but the Navy with their frigates do much of this work, are there in good weather & bad, and do these tasks well..... worth every darn cent... they are the combat element of the Navy.
Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Aug 4, 2018 6:23:21 GMT 12
Good job Bevan and congratulations !
Doug sure is a good guy and the team as Precision there do a good job.
Cheers John.
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Post by harvard1041 on Jun 10, 2018 15:03:42 GMT 12
Bl-00-dy nuts letting / inviting the Chinese to an RNZAF exercise ... positively weird & naive. What next, training on the updated P-3 .... ? Here in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a few days ....and the Vietnamese here have a more balanced view of their neighbors intentions.... some street protests downtown as people express their opinion of letting their Govt get too close to the Chinese (that would be ordinary Vietnamese citizens protesting against the Communist VN Govt granting Special Economic Status to the Chinese in three VN cities) www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2149785/vietnamese-see-special-economic-zones-assault-chinaCheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on May 18, 2018 6:59:45 GMT 12
I kinda agree with you there Don - have a thought for the hard working folks working on the P3 - C130 replacement studies ... as both Projects are effectively shelved until there is either a disaster or a change of Govt and easy to see a scenario where both are kicked down the road for another 10 years. Serving people tend to just get on with the job the best they can.
I've always had the feeling that NZ Defence procurement generally is driven by old kit getting so old that it is no longer supportable and basically irrelevant and not driven by any match up of requirement vs capability. I think the problem stems from the fact that of all the current pollies, very few have any previous military experience (either personally or family experience) and tend to think previously hard-learnt lessons (in blood in the case of Servicemen) don't apply any more - that would be true of all NZ Politicians.
I'm currently in Singapore and regularly see F-15s, F-16s and C-130s doing their job in the skys above - and doing it well I gather...
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Post by harvard1041 on May 16, 2018 16:43:53 GMT 12
I honestly think it was a Pilot - Suicide ... with a political motivation.
Capt was a well known Ibraham supporter (just received a Royal Pardon in Malaysia today - one of the first post election things Dr. M. has done ).
I imagine there must have been a 'Note' which would confirm this theory ... but given it's political nature, has never been published.
Kinda the main theory out there if you ask me...and finding the aircraft wreckage isn't really going to solve the reasoning behind it going missing, if the above is true .
Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on May 11, 2018 21:02:03 GMT 12
Great thread & article Dave - thanks ...
Think the P-40E1s were mostly American (as you'd expect) in their equipment etc ...have a Mod differences list somewhere, but they were minor. Oxygen system, radios.
Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 11, 2018 7:52:09 GMT 12
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Post by harvard1041 on Dec 18, 2017 5:47:19 GMT 12
Yes - that's the one - designed & built by Cliff Andrews in the late 1950s - using a combination of his own ideas ( early Ag aircraft ) plus surplus parts - Auster, Tiger, Harvard ...and flown regularly - flew it the other day, it is a lot of fun ... not high powered but turns & rolls well.
Send us a PM if you're interested, one share coming up for Sale.
Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Oct 21, 2017 3:22:48 GMT 12
I'd guess 'whatever is cheapest' will be the combined policy ... along with deferring any big dollar items (P-3 replacement ?) - recall what happened to the F-16s & A-4s after a similar Govt change a few years back ? ... sure hope I'm wrong with the above.
Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Aug 6, 2017 21:05:18 GMT 12
Great stories there Peter .... and thanks again for those parts ...they will definitely find there way back to a flying P-40E.
Cheers John.
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Post by harvard1041 on Jun 14, 2017 1:52:02 GMT 12
Gotta say - all this speculation on transport replacement is kinda - well - pointless ... the team at MOD are a pretty sharp bunch, our politicians less so ... and all the rest of us, currently serving RNZAF people included, are just bystanders ... it will be what it will be My 2c - keep the 757s (they work well and are fairly modern) and order some C130Js for 8+ year away delivery (mind you they should have been ordered 15 years back, but there you go). C130Js aren't a great step forward, just same old same old... and avionics wise argueably no step up from the 'new' L3 modified ones. For the maritime folks, keep the P-3s going... P-8s are too darn expensive with an emphasis on anti-sub which has never been an RNZAF / MOD priority. ... I predict the above because it will be the most 'short term cost efficient'
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