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Post by shamus on Dec 12, 2012 14:56:07 GMT 12
The remains of Blackburn Baffin, S1674 (NZ160) is now in the hands of Don and Steven Subritzky. Restoration will begin soon to bring to life this aircraft nearly 74 years after its crash into Little Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsular. The remains which are now at Dairy Flat are the only remnants of this rare aeroplane left in the world and much technical information will be required and has to be found. Anyone on the Forum who has or knows of Baffin Manuals or Drawings, Don & Steve would be pleased to hear from you. We will be updating this post as the restoration progresses. Meanwhile, here are the photos of how it was in 1939 and how it is today. 1939 photos from Don Noble Collection. More photos of this project to come when it is fully laid out.
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Post by shamus on Dec 11, 2012 9:04:48 GMT 12
Info did come from an Emirates staff member, so don't know any more than that.
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Post by shamus on Dec 10, 2012 18:41:33 GMT 12
Get ready for more, slackie, Emirates will be sending a third one our way early next year.
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Post by shamus on Nov 30, 2012 9:46:57 GMT 12
There is a photo on the Forum somewhere of the Hurricanes at Kumeu sattelite airfield.
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Post by shamus on Nov 24, 2012 20:23:28 GMT 12
The best memories - flying. January 17th. 1971, Mooney M20c. Took off for Christchurch via Paraparaumu, overhead Tuakau, door flys open, lock faulty, return to Ardmore. Took off again after repair, no further problems. Downwind at Harewood, tower calls can you get in before 747 on long final which has the King & Queen of Thailand aboard. Yes, a quick turn on to base and short landed before the first turn-off. Drop 3 passengers and taxi out for Timaru. Tower calls, vacate the centre line of runway after take-off for Bristol Freighter right behind you. At that moment my dog , tied to the front seat decides to try for the back seat. Knocks undercarriage lever out of my hand. Tower calls, 'CPF are you having trouble with your undercarriage. 'Negative, everything under control, phew. Overnight, Temuka. then back to Christchurch. On approach tower calls,' Can you get in ahead of Mt.Cook 748 behind you with King & Queen of Thailand aboard. (not again). Affirmative. Another short landing. Next day back to Ardmore which fortunately was uneventful. All for about $18 per hour.
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Post by shamus on Nov 22, 2012 10:01:51 GMT 12
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Post by shamus on Nov 21, 2012 21:33:14 GMT 12
Thanks for the update, Dave.
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Post by shamus on Nov 21, 2012 15:17:33 GMT 12
Zac, I was referring to a wing for the Ted Packer Mosquito that went to Wigram about that time. I can,t recall whether it had a wing or just the stub wings. However Wigram only built the one wing at the time which was for the Motat Mosquito. I don,t know what progress, if any has been done on their Mosquito I think they are too busy with the Oxford.
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Post by shamus on Nov 21, 2012 8:53:15 GMT 12
Don't know how the P47 or Catalina ended up going to Wigram. This must have been later and I was not involved with it. I know that when Motat moved out of the hangar at Ardmore, the instructions were to dispose of duplicate parts etc. As a result, truckloads of bits went to Wigram. Possibly about this time Motat had too much on its plate and disposed of the P47 as not being an RNZAF aircraft and not important to the collection. I know the Catalina was in pretty bad shape as it had been used for fire practice in New Guinea. Looked a daunting task to restore.
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MOTAT
Nov 20, 2012 20:20:21 GMT 12
Post by shamus on Nov 20, 2012 20:20:21 GMT 12
Thanks Denys for the invitation. Will look forward to that. Maybe first half of next year. Have a Viscount Manual for you, ex NAC, will bring it with me.
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Post by shamus on Nov 20, 2012 19:57:28 GMT 12
Time to put this mis-information out to pasture for good. When Murray Lane , the Motat Vildebeest project leader retired from the project, I took over as caretaker of it. It became obvious later that this was never going to be completed by Motat and I suggested to John Barrie, the RNZAF Museum Director that we swap the Vildebeest for the rebuild of the Mosquito wing. This was just after I had negotiated for the Ted Packer Mosquito to go to Wigram and the idea was for the two wings to be built simultaneously. John Barrie agreed and so did the Motat Aviation committee. So the deal was done. No other aircraft were involved in this arrangement, only the Vildebeest and the Mosquito wing. No P47s, Catalina or anything. OK. got that.
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MOTAT
Nov 20, 2012 19:26:12 GMT 12
Post by shamus on Nov 20, 2012 19:26:12 GMT 12
Regarding the Widgeon. This was never a complete aircraft but parts only. It was surveyed and considered a non runner so the parts were handed to Owen Harnish as spares and apparently scrapped at a later date. Wasapilot. your memory is quite OK. Yes there was another Mosquito fuselage. Or more correctly about two thirds of one at Motat. It was used in the restoration of the Motat Mosquito. In relation to the wing spars made for the Mosquito, the spars were not full length as I now recall. I would be interested to hear if they did end up in Ferrymeads Mosquito. Can anyone verify that.
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MOTAT
Nov 20, 2012 9:10:08 GMT 12
Post by shamus on Nov 20, 2012 9:10:08 GMT 12
corsairarm. Richard, I remember going to Rotorua airport and picking up Tom Craill and Allen Rowell one morning in mid December 1974, who were on an inspection survey of the Avenger relating to its transfer to Motat. The moving took place after the holidays early in 1975.
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MOTAT
Nov 17, 2012 19:43:20 GMT 12
Post by shamus on Nov 17, 2012 19:43:20 GMT 12
My recollection of the wing rebuild was that the spars were made by Carter-Holt-Harvey for Motat as a gift/donation. They were sent with the remains of the original wing to Wigram for rebuild and were never intended to by more than static display. A lot of the fuselage rebuild was done by Peter Dingwall who was the original project leader.
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Post by shamus on Nov 11, 2012 21:30:31 GMT 12
I am wondering if the wording is wrong and is meant to say 'in' the Pacific Islands.
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Post by shamus on Nov 11, 2012 20:30:35 GMT 12
No, not possible with Vildebeest NZ122 if thats what your suggesting. This aircraft was a Mark 4 and had a Rotol metal prop.
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Post by shamus on Oct 6, 2012 16:36:37 GMT 12
Sorry Dave, a senior moment. Of course I mean't thread just couldn't think of the word at the time.
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Post by shamus on Oct 6, 2012 11:24:08 GMT 12
pmolloyjr. I am the one who began the site and posted most of the photos. Also did the interview with your dad back in the seventies. Can give you hi-res. copies if you contact me. I am in Auckland and can be contacted on 5759401 or e-mail at tradejamu@hotmail.com Regards, Jim Mungall.
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Post by shamus on Oct 4, 2012 12:59:38 GMT 12
Baz, i must say i agree with Errol. It is a pain. Fortunately does not happen often but if posters can think about it before they post, it would be great.
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MOTAT
Sept 19, 2012 22:12:13 GMT 12
Post by shamus on Sept 19, 2012 22:12:13 GMT 12
No, raymond, the Fletcher has gone. Making space for the Forum guys. And maybe some new aircraft for the collection.
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