skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Feb 28, 2024 12:47:19 GMT 12
English Electric Canberras were not equipped with drag-chutes. Also, I know of no occasion when they were operated from grass and would very much doubt they ever did, they were not a light aircraft. I was on 14 Squadron Canberras for quite some time and like a lot of pilots and ground crew, thought very highly of our B(I)12s but not so for other models.
Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Aug 4, 2023 15:55:43 GMT 12
New Zealand would not be in the position it finds itself in now if the then Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark had not scrapped the Air Combat Wing. We would also be more 'on-side' with our ANZAC friends too. Labour has only itself to blame for the current situation. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Mar 25, 2023 15:03:10 GMT 12
Hi Delticman, I have copies of NZ Wings 1978 to 1982 bound in four volumes. You are welcome to them as I am trying to down-size my library. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Mar 9, 2023 19:07:57 GMT 12
When I left 1RD Woodbourne in 1987 after a three-year posting there, I was presented with a plaque with that crest on it.
Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Dec 4, 2022 14:51:42 GMT 12
While visiting the Seattle Museum of Flight restoration facility at Paine Field, Everett, during July 2006, I noted the tail booms and other parts of Vampire NZ5776 on a rack next to the De Havilland Comet they were restoring. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Dec 2, 2022 19:12:28 GMT 12
I was working in the aircraft maintenance hangar at Ohakea in 1972 and 1973 and while there I recall NZ5772 coming in with a jagged hole part-way along in the leading edge of the starboard wing. The aircraft had been on an air-to-ground gunnery sortie at the nearby Raumai air weapons range firing its 20mm guns at a ground target. On this very rare occasion one of the 20mm practice rounds had ricocheted after striking something hard around the target. After the ricochet struck the wing, the pilot called off the sortie and returned to base. As far as I am aware the Vampire never flew again due to the internal damage in the wing. So, after a repair job and tidy-up it was chosen to be mounted at the main gate. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on May 6, 2022 21:36:01 GMT 12
My understanding of the pilot's jettison switch problem was mainly to do with the poor design of the safety-gate on the switch which may have allowed confusion and 'finger trouble' when, although the switch appeared OFF, it was in fact ON. When checked by those involved, it showed the switch immobilised by the safety-gate - but immobilised in the ON position! Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on May 6, 2022 16:26:28 GMT 12
I was present in 1970 when a 1000lb HE bomb fell from the bomb-bay of a 14 Squadron Canberra when the aircraft was being armed at the end of the runway at Ohakea. Nobody was injured, only rather shocked that such a thing could happen (I believe more laundry was required to be done that night !!). It fell from the bomb carrier about four feet to the concrete and then rolled over as the release and jettison circuits were plugged in. An investigation found a fault in the pilot's jettison switch was to blame. The bomb was then reloaded on another aircraft to be dropped in the proper manner. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on May 3, 2022 20:04:51 GMT 12
I agree with phil, the bombs do appear to be Mk81 250lb HE bombs - probably on their way to impress the army at Waiouru ;-) Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on May 2, 2022 16:17:06 GMT 12
The photo on page 70 of Don Simms book SKYHAWKS and the photo from Brett are the same and match snaphead's description. A jolly good photo too and a nice one to hang on your wall. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on May 1, 2022 13:59:23 GMT 12
The shot you have posted Dave is the one in my collection that I referred to. Looking through Don Simm's book, Skyhawks, there is a photo on page 70 which is probably the one snaphead is asking about. The bombs on this aircraft look to me to be Mk81 250lb HE fitted with low-drag (slick) tail fins, although the centre-line multiple ejector rack (MER) may have hi-drag (snake-eye) fins fitted to the bombs on the rear stations which are not visible in the photo. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Apr 30, 2022 21:46:43 GMT 12
One very nice photo in my collection is of newly camouflage-painted pre-kahu (it has a hump) Skyhawk NZ6203 flying left to right over the crater lake, has two under-wing camouflaged drop tanks and a white-painted practice multiple bomb rack (PMBR with no bombs it) visible under the starboard wing. Could that be the photo you have snaphead?
Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Apr 10, 2022 15:09:12 GMT 12
The Heritage Flight seem to have overlooked Tauranga, maybe they thought we see enough vintage aircraft at Classic Flyers? Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Apr 10, 2022 15:01:36 GMT 12
Add me to your list Dave, looking forward to it. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Mar 2, 2022 14:52:59 GMT 12
I'm with you with your choice of combat jets Antonio, two squadrons of Gripens based at Ohakea would be great. We should all remember well (and not forget!) when Ohakea was New Zealand's strike aircraft base for many years before some near-sighted PM stuffed it all up? Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Feb 27, 2022 14:56:51 GMT 12
Very well done Dave, you are New Zealand's Aviation Knowledge Champion. You deserve a medal. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Aug 15, 2021 17:19:18 GMT 12
Sorting through my collection of photographic slides, I came across one of Air New Zealand DC-8, ZK-NZA, which I had taken at the airshow. I was one of the fortunate few who flew from Ohakea and back courtesy of a USAF C-97. The ZK-NZA is very obvious in my photo, so there can be no doubt as to which DC-8 was at the Auckland Airport Airshow. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Aug 9, 2021 14:09:33 GMT 12
In addition to my recollections of Vulcans at Ohakea (some mentioned above) and other places over the years, one recollection stands out. It must have been around 1972 during a dreary, low cloud day at Ohakea while I was visiting the Armament Squadron crew room. Upon hearing the roar of approaching aircraft I looked out of the window and saw a Skyhawk at low level trailing a hose and drogue from its centre-line air-to-air refueling store (buddy store). Following close behind it at the same height was a Vulcan, but not quite close enough for it to plug-in for a fuel top-up. Unfortunately I have no photographs of the amazing sight but others may remember the occasion and have managed a photo. Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Mar 20, 2021 14:39:05 GMT 12
If I remember correctly, two inert Mk84 bombs came with the initial A-4 purchase and were to be fitted to the centre-line rack (station 3) if an aircraft was to be moved with the rear fuselage and engine removed. If a Mk84 had been fitted at Woodbourne, the tip-over of A-4 NZ6211 probably would not have happened.
Live (green-painted) Mk81 and Mk82 bombs were carried and dropped on many occasions from about 1972 onwards, usually at Waiouru or Kaipara, but occasionally at sea on redundant or fire damaged vessels. Aircrew needed to be up to speed with fuzing, arming times and safety heights if they were ever to be called upon for real action. Mk 82 bombs, inert and live, fitted with laser guidance kits were also dropped in the early 1980s.
Al
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by skyman on Jan 14, 2020 19:20:19 GMT 12
In answer to your question kiwikerr;
Roy Thomas died on 6 December 2015. I believe he was living at Whangaparoa so still may have family in the area.
Warren (Jim) Eades died on 19 May 2018, a notice was in the NZ Herald 23 May. He had been living in Tauranga for some time and I believe there may still be family there.
The names of both of these armourers appear on the RNZAF Armament Roll of Honour board which is held at RNZAF Woodbourne.
Al (ex-armourer)
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