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Post by madmax on Jul 4, 2017 12:08:23 GMT 12
Dave, Air Work [NZ] ltd as it was originally known, was established at Rongotai in 1936 by brothers Arthur (Bill) and Charles Brazier and operated from their workshop/hangar situated at the south eastern side of the airfield (situated about 100 metres in front of what is now the ANZ hangar). Both brothers joined de Hav during the War years and following WW 2 re-established their business in Christchurch where they were joined by brother John who is attributed to have undertaken the first commercial aerial topdressing flight in NZ on 27 May 1949. The aircraft used was DH 82 ZK-ASO
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Post by madmax on Jul 4, 2017 9:58:46 GMT 12
The De Havilland propeller shop building shown in the first photograph on page 1 of this thread was originally the Airwork hangar built around 1936 by the Brazier Bros and takeover by de Hav during WW 2. It stood until the mid 1950s when it was demolished to make way for the new airport extension.
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Post by madmax on Jul 1, 2017 22:03:52 GMT 12
As well as writing "High Adventure" in 1944, John Stannage also wrote "Smithy" the story of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. It was published in 1950 by Oxford University Press. I have a copy in my collection.
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Post by madmax on May 11, 2017 16:41:09 GMT 12
Me too!!!!
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Post by madmax on May 10, 2017 20:33:23 GMT 12
I photographed BLL on floats on Rongotai airfield around Christmas 1955 it was on its way to be demonstrated in the S.I. It looked very nice in white with bronze trim BDF was flown to Rongotai in 1957 where it was disassembled and shipped to Aussie. Cannot recall the trim colour of this aircraft was, but overall it was a very,very pale pink
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Post by madmax on May 10, 2017 0:03:46 GMT 12
I was on Rongtai airfield one cold, bleak, sunday afternoon around August/September 1957 when BKG was involved in a scenic flight over Wellington city during which the windshield caved in. Some of the occupants received facial cuts including the pilot who contemplated ditching in the harbour near Petone foreshore as he was experiencing visability problems due to blood from his cuts getting into his eyes. He elected however to return to Rongotai and pulled off a pretty good landing on grass runway 18 in front of the de Hav building, however taxiing back to the club house the aircraft's propellor struck a 44 gallon drum filled with rocks and placed in the middle of the taxiway to signify where earthmoving equipment was crossing. Later a close inspection of the damaged windshield and interior of the aircraft showed no evidence of a bird strike and I never did find out what the cause was.
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Post by madmax on May 9, 2017 18:19:38 GMT 12
Thanks Peter, that explains the similarity.
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Post by madmax on May 9, 2017 18:10:43 GMT 12
Yes, I'm pretty sure that is where I saw it too but I think it was in 1980s
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Post by madmax on May 9, 2017 17:49:25 GMT 12
You would be correct in assuming the fire blacked chippy fuse was that of BSS which arrived at Wellington around 1960, not 1970 as I stated in my earlier post. Just when WAC sold BSV I cannot say at this time. I do have the date and sale price in my archives which are inaccessable at this time
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Post by madmax on May 9, 2017 17:07:22 GMT 12
Peter, I am curious to know who took the photo of BKG. I have a photo (and its negative) taken by my father from a similar position on the same day at around the same time.
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Post by madmax on May 9, 2017 16:47:48 GMT 12
When the damaged BSS arrived at Wellington in the early seventies it had a silver fuse and dayglo fin as in the picture. I do not believe any major components from BSS appeared on BSV and their was definately no fuselage swap. Incidently after Wellington Aero Club's Chipmunk APN was recovered from its dunking in Lyall Bay in 1950 it too was stored under the same WAC clubhouse which at that time was located on the old Rongotai airfield. About 1953 the remains of APN were removed by persons unknown
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Post by madmax on May 9, 2017 13:41:48 GMT 12
Hi Graham, The Chipmunk fuselage appears to be that of ZK-BSS. Wellington Aero Club obtained the damaged airframe in the early 1970 and used it as spares for BSV. It was for many years stored under the WAC club house but I have an idea I saw it in an Adrmore hangar in the 1980s but cannot be positive about that
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Post by madmax on May 5, 2017 23:38:05 GMT 12
I have only just come acroos this thred so my contribution is a tad late. Regarding drones for aerial work, the Pine Rivers or Redcliffe Council (i'm unsure which one) in Queensland now use drones in some instances to replace helicopters for mosquito eradication
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Post by madmax on Apr 30, 2017 16:03:11 GMT 12
Wackett A3-119 was struck of charge and sold to Geoffery Collins, Victoria in October 1945 and registered VH-AFB. In 1949 it changed hands to Australia National Airways flying club and a year later to the Aircraft Industry flying club. About 1955 it was withdrawn from use and scrapped and as late as 1966 the remains were laying beside a hangar at Ararat airfield Vic. So it does not appear that this was the airframe used to construct ZK-CTX
A couple of interesting facts regarding Wackett/Cropmasters. Much of the transitional development work was undertaken by a New Zealand engineer Bill Smith who became a director and major shareholder of the company. It was Smith who named the aircraft "Cropmaster" after a popular David Brown tractor of the day.
Following the failure of Australian aircraft to induce the government to impose tariffs on imported aircraft and the collapse of Victa and Yeoman companies, moves were made to build Cropmasters in California by Cameron-Grey Aircraft Co and in 1966 two airframes plus other components were shipped to the US to begin production but nothing more came of the deal.
An article detailing Wacket/Cropmaster development appeared in NZ Aviation News about year ogo
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Post by madmax on Apr 28, 2017 12:07:07 GMT 12
Peter/Delticman, Thanks for the update on tne Minah 2. Disappointing that more of them were not built.
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Post by madmax on Apr 28, 2017 2:33:09 GMT 12
Robert McNairs father, Wallace, in the mid 1980s designed and built a composite microlight, the Minah 2, also based on the pre war Lincoln Sportplane. I have no idea what became of it or if it's still flying.
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Post by madmax on Apr 24, 2017 13:09:03 GMT 12
Previously EX194. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.4 (TAF) Squadron March 1949-18 October 1951. With No.1 (TAF) Squadron 12 December 1951-10 July 1952. Fourth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Declared surplus and disposed of through GSB tender 26 October 1962. No further details known.
Thanks for that ZacYates. Hopefully it is preserved/flying somewhere
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Post by madmax on Apr 23, 2017 17:08:52 GMT 12
I have a colour transparency of NZ1016 taken at Rongotai circa 1956. Can anyone tell me the history/fate of this aircraft.
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Post by madmax on Apr 4, 2017 14:31:44 GMT 12
Whoopee! Have seen Floyd live three times. First time at Western Springs 22 January 1988, still have my ticket. Best band in the world.
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Post by madmax on Apr 3, 2017 20:09:43 GMT 12
Hi eieio, I have a colour transparency taken at Rotorua's Fenton St aerodrome around xmas 1957 it depicts a line up of Cessna 180 ZK-BUF and BVG, C172 ZK-BUK, Auster ZK-AYQ in red, black and silver and Miles Magister ZK-AYW
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