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Post by madmax on Oct 22, 2022 12:24:02 GMT 12
There was a substantial amount of backlash to the clubs decision to purchase the American aircraft with one letter to the Evening Post condemning the Clubs choice but it was considered by club CFI George Bolt to be the most suitable cabin aircraft available at that time for charter work
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Post by madmax on Oct 7, 2022 17:21:08 GMT 12
Thanks for confirming that Allan. I am currently a long way from home, my laptop has given up on me and i'm relant on a degrading memory and cell phone
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Post by madmax on Oct 3, 2022 22:38:07 GMT 12
I have an idea ZK-BUF was aroumd 1970 owned by Tom Hullena,Masterton but stand to be corrected
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Post by madmax on Aug 13, 2022 13:49:02 GMT 12
Anyone else had a problem accessing the Agricultural industry's P.N air-expo film?
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Post by madmax on Aug 3, 2022 13:05:42 GMT 12
The aircraft involved was an American built Aeronca Champion 7EC Traveler ZK-BUU c/n7EC-627
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Post by madmax on Aug 2, 2022 0:15:30 GMT 12
I had my first rides in a light aircraft from Rongotai in Wellington Aero Club Auster ZK-ATP in 1956. Frank Wright was the instructor and a school mate and I were ballast for a "full load" check
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Post by madmax on Jul 30, 2022 19:51:53 GMT 12
"Top Gurus"?
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Post by madmax on Jun 19, 2022 13:27:32 GMT 12
Nice to see Chrislea Ace ZK-ASI in the heading photograph. I first saw this aircraft on Hood aerodrome Masterton in 1955, also had my first flight that day. A 20 minute scenic flight in NAC DC3 ZK-AYK
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Post by madmax on May 20, 2022 9:09:37 GMT 12
Waco UOC ZK-AEL/ZK-ALA was at one time in the Chewing Gum Field museum but of course is now back home in NZ
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Post by madmax on Feb 23, 2022 16:04:46 GMT 12
The two helicopters accompanying this expedition which flew at Wellington were a Sikorsky HNS-1 and Sikorsky HO3S-1,I have photographs, taken by my family, of them in flight and and on the deck of the Northwind. They were accompanied by a Grumman biplane which took off from the harbour and landed at Rongotai. I have an idea it also landed at Nelson. The two helicopters which were said at this time to be ageing were reputed to have been dumped overboard after the ships left New Zealand
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Post by madmax on Feb 22, 2022 13:31:47 GMT 12
I recall DGY running out of fuel and landing in a paddock adjacent to Milson airport during a pageant. It was fairly new at the time and was flown by the company test pilot. I don't think any damage occurred.
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Post by madmax on Feb 6, 2022 14:22:09 GMT 12
Dave, Hope they have survived
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Post by madmax on Feb 6, 2022 11:27:21 GMT 12
Hi Dave, No idea how long repairs took, the pieces of Southern Cross wing ribs I passed on many years back to the late Keith Trillo
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Post by madmax on Feb 5, 2022 23:37:14 GMT 12
Prior to the Southern Cross wing being repaired at the A & P Show Grounds it had proposed to transport it to the Dominion Aeroplane Co Dannevirke for repairs but it was then realized it was too long to fit through the Manawatu Gorge without the possibility of further damage. In the 1980s I met a woman in Palmerston North whose father, a cabinet maker, had been in charge of overseeing repairs, she had retained several of the wingtip ribs and gave two pieces from them as a memento.
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Post by madmax on Feb 4, 2022 22:21:15 GMT 12
On the subject of aero engines in cars, some years ago Robert McNair fitted a Gipsy Major engine into an Riley sports car and I vaguely recall a car which raced at Palmerston North in the 1960s called the Lycoming Special. Undoubtedly fitted with a Lycoming aero engine
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Post by madmax on Jan 22, 2022 11:08:15 GMT 12
During the 1980s I delivered an aircraft to a member of the Wairoa Aero Club and while there met a club member who, as a young lad, had been a passenger in ZK-ASZ in April 1957 when it crashed at Wairoa. Regrettably I'm unable to recall his name.
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Post by madmax on Jan 16, 2022 11:09:10 GMT 12
I Have a sneaking suspicion the late Keith Trillo had a full set of NZ Wings mags
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Post by madmax on Jan 9, 2022 17:29:11 GMT 12
Hi ZacYates, If you're referring to the original BEF yes, it was imported in 1954 having served the RAF as T5625 then the Herts and Essex Aero Club registered G-AIDR. That would explain the fuselage anti-spin strakes seen in photographs taken prior to the 1971 rebuild. It was one of the few Tigers imported during the early 1950s which escaped being used for topdressing.
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Post by madmax on Jan 8, 2022 23:23:56 GMT 12
Hi ZacYates, The story with BEF is that it crashed near Te Awanga HB while being flown by the owner Bill Shaw. I'm seem to recall it spun in during a low level turn and the accident may have occurred on Bill Shaw's farm. Bill obtained an ex RNZAF fuselage from someone in Blenheim and BEF was rebuilt including a couple of new wings by Temp Martin. The deal was that the rebuild was exchanged for Bill vintage Model T Ford car.
I purchased the original airframe from Bill, the front frames were beyond repair and were donated to MOTAT. I commenced building a Tiger using the rear fuselage frame from BEF and front frames from an ex Hawera Aero Club aircraft, I cannot recall the registration, which I had obtained along with a quantity of other Tiger components from Ivan Strathern, Hamilton who owned or had owned at that time ZK-ATM. I planned to use a Gipsy Major engine from Auster BWH, however circumstances changed and the project was sold. I'm unable to recall who bought the airframe and other components except the engine was sold to Tom Williams at Masterton.
Bill later purchased DHA from G F Scobie at Omaka so possibly the fuselage for the rebuild of BEF came from him also.
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Post by madmax on Jan 7, 2022 14:00:40 GMT 12
Thomas, thanks for that will have a read
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