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Post by harvard1041 on May 28, 2014 22:58:37 GMT 12
In storage, pending restoration (hopefully) - saw it last year
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Post by harvard1041 on May 28, 2014 22:45:31 GMT 12
Been a few years since I've visited (about 20), and had some time today, so visited the Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum at Paya Lebar. Some pretty neat displays and with F15s & F16s flying overhead, shows that the Singaporeans sure have keep up with the times and now have a very modern & capable military.
Of interest my guide enlisted in 1972 and recalled the RNZAF 41 Sqn Bristol Freighters & Iroquois and at one stage his boss was Flt Lt Joe Keegan RNZAF who was an Engineering Officer on exchange on A4s back in the 1970s.
Believe Graham Lintott served on Hueys at the SUS (Support Unit Singapore) in the early 1980s
That's Stu White ( of RNZAF A-4 & KAHU fame) on the LH Hori Stab.
Singaporean A4S version of the A4C - Lockheed Conversion ( Some Brit avionics including the Hunter 30mm Aden canon)
Singaporean Hunter wired for Sidewinder and various American Avionics
Blunty
Kinda unique A4 Super Skyhawk with GE F404
Quite a bit on the modern RSAF
Lots on the Black Knights Aerobatic Team - once flew Hunters, then A4s, and now F16s
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Post by harvard1041 on May 22, 2014 10:06:42 GMT 12
Actually I didn't find it - and it's no longer there - photo is a couple of years old. Was just showing what has been 'found'. ... Sorry for the confusion. But keeping my eyes open
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Post by harvard1041 on May 22, 2014 4:33:06 GMT 12
How about this for a 'find' in a junk pile out the back. s430.photobucket.com/user/Hvd1041/media/imagejpg1_zps34249d9e.jpg.html] [/URL]
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Post by harvard1041 on May 21, 2014 3:05:33 GMT 12
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Post by harvard1041 on May 20, 2014 14:43:01 GMT 12
Hello
Yes - definitely Grassmere - don't know why I'd missed this thread.
Used to go rabbit shooting on the nearby farm and have walked the old airstrip there several times, plenty of old .30 cal brass lying around. Strip has been used by the local ag guys over the years, and have landed there myself several times...kinda good spot to drop on in...Cape Campbell is just around the beach and also has an ag strip worth stopping at.
Couple of photos from Jan.
Looking towards the strip - Cape Campbell in the distance
Heading South down the Coast- Grassmere on the right
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Post by harvard1041 on May 6, 2014 1:33:38 GMT 12
Well done there Laura ! - let the fun begin.
Did my Selection Board back in 1980 ( as an Engineering Officer ) and recall it as a good, hard, but slightly daunting, exercise. Some years later did a couple on the Staff side of the desk as DS, and found that it was reasonably logical finding the good keen people the RNZAF needs.
Things like honesty, hard-work, and willingness to learn ... come across from those selected and most of those selected did well, either in their chosen RNZAF course, or outside. Either way it's a great experience, lots of good people, lots of fun times.
Two best days; Day you Join & Day you Leave.
All the best with the Wings Course
Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 24, 2014 11:36:23 GMT 12
Anyone with some photos of the mighty Anson ? - kinda like it Cheers Hvd1041 PS - endless debate about the Strike force stills has me scratching my head... it's about Air Power folks, we lost the main reason for an Air Force when we lost the fighters, something we're very unlikely to get back as flying and maintaining it was hard technical work, but the main point of the RNZAF. I find it amazing that people can't grasp that - but recoil in shock if it is suggested that the Navy be stripped on any frigates, or the army Infantry capability removed...
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 13, 2014 21:35:37 GMT 12
I'm with Shorty on this one, really dislike the sharks-tooth look, done to death. How about a nice P-40E - nice early model P-40, as used in NZ... a couple of suggestions: How about a 16 Sqn Fairhall ( Blenheim ) machine such as NZ3044 XO-P or a bare metal aircraft always looks great - this Canadian natural metal P-40E ( George Maude, currently for Sale ). Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 11, 2014 18:14:05 GMT 12
In another life, 25 years ago, spent a year as the RNZAF Aide-de-Camp (AdC ) to our then Governor General - Sir Paul Reeves - and during 1990 we planned many such visits when both the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh & then Edward were in NZ for the Commonwealth Games & 1990 Celebrations. From my experience the Royals are a pretty good bunch, and very genuine in their interests and desire to meet people. Bit different than the average Kiwi granted, but their affection for NZ is real. I'd imagine William & Kate are no different. I seem to recall one of the challenges was to get people to relax a bit, to let the Royals meet the genuinely interesting & hard working people .... and not just the VIPs / Mayors / Heads etc ... trust me, they meet the 'Officials' each and every day anyway. Many times the 'best' visits were ones where they got to meet some of the older generation & hard working people, at all levels of the organisations - they don't need or even like too much of the fawning, bowing etc that some people assume is required... it's not. Just a polite genuine welcome should be the aim, not a whole lot different to what the rest of us are like I think you'll find both the AHC & RNZAF Museum were chosed as William has a genuine interest in old aircraft history and the veterans and people who work & volunteer there. I'd say a visit to the RNZAF Museum without the ( real neat in my experience ! ) volunteers completely misses the point. Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 9, 2014 15:17:01 GMT 12
Thanks Dave - just traded emails with Corin...and some wood on the way Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 6, 2014 20:23:54 GMT 12
Hi Dave Don't be disheartened, lots of us like them ! - they're a really neat oral history and I suspect will pass the test of time, long after some of our ( slightly ) silly threads on other things have long been forgotten.... I just listen to them on the computer without downloading them...does that mean I don't contribute to your stats ? They're all good Dave - keep up the fine job Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Apr 6, 2014 20:21:36 GMT 12
Think you might find that the gearbox on an F is about face to that on a G - one powered by T58s ( I think ), the other by the the mighty GE T700. Kaman did a lot of work redesigning that power train when they put the T700 on the G.
Rgds Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 15, 2014 11:56:13 GMT 12
As the T-Shirt should say, ' don't tell my boss I'm an old aircraft nut, he thinks I spend all my spare time playing piano in a w-hore house' Cheers Hvd1041 PS - man I hope my boss doesn't read this
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 14, 2014 22:04:53 GMT 12
Just checked this photo of the Canberra in the IAF Museum in Delhi, it's not an RNZAF one either This Museum in Delhi's vast Palam IAF Base, on the other side of the International Airport, has some interesting aircraft ( am sure we had a thread on it some years back ) - but a couple of recent photos Tempest II - neat machine ( even if the tyres are flat ) Liberator B-24 Arming Tempests 1948 Interesting shot here with an A-4 model, I think Douglas tried to sell Skyhawks to India at one stage ...and in case you thought of bribing anyone at the Airforce Base, a lot of these signs !?! Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 11, 2014 23:29:48 GMT 12
Enfields awful ? - no, they are a great trip back to a slower age. Rode one around Ragistan a few years back - brilliant fun! ... But I would never be tempted to 'race' one. Latest ones have fuel injection throttle bodies, electronic ignition, electric start - about 30 Hp from 500cc Great machines - cost about NZD 3000 new Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 11, 2014 0:40:47 GMT 12
Hello - no, don't think the Canberra has any NZ connection. I've always been told the ex-RNZAF ones were destroyed on the ground in the 1971 Indo-Pak war - is that true anyone ? Canberra servicing Couple more - the well known Liberator, now in the UK Think the last ones shown were Gnats - these are Ageets ( but yes, both photos do have that staged sort of look to them ) Model of an Indian Satellite - parts of which are made in the 'shed' next to us Sea King ..and just for us motorbike fans - another Bullet - this one is a 'Classic Desert Storm' Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 9, 2014 17:43:21 GMT 12
Had a few hours spare here in Bangalore, so headed to the Hindustan Aerospace Museum out at the old airport. Nice garden surroundings and some interesting aircraft. HAL started early in the war and has long been the Govt Dept which aims to make India self sufficient in things aeronautical. Few photos below: Bit on the history of HAL Canberra Devon minus canopy Pushpak - kinda interesting looking machine Bit of a Kiwi connection - with Big Norm visiting in 1973 - believe the Marut in the photo was designed by Kurt Tank of FW fame Gnat Line - lovely aircraft - also built as the Indian version the Ajeet Old Photo of Tempests ...and of course compulsory photo of cows and cool Royal Enfield bikes Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 5, 2014 19:49:02 GMT 12
Yes definitely a viable option I've looked at ... I have an FAA PPL and FAA Mechanics A&P / IA so can fly and maintain an FAA Registered aircraft... just got to figure out how to register one in NZ. Can think of a couple of ways.
Sad that going to all this hastle is a viable option rather than the local CAA.
cheers Hvd1041
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 5, 2014 1:20:24 GMT 12
Terrible news this - really shows the mindset we are up against.
At a recent short field landing competition not that far from Omaka this issue was discussed at length with the general consensus being that CAA simply don't care about GA - they don't give a monkeys if it all peters out !
I say the sooner GA is administered by - say - the SAA the better - leave the CAA to their own importance.
What do others here think ?
Cheers Hvd1041
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