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Post by pepe on Jan 1, 2022 9:54:00 GMT 12
From what I have researched, the parts recovered seem to be from NZ2411 and where: the engine in very good nick, full propeller assembly, tail wheel and the guns. Although the guns where not at TATAM when I visited so have likely been spirited away. TATAM is small but they have a lot of fascinating bits and bobs such as turrets from Oxford and Ventura plus a Harvard from Kaikoru that got very close to complete restoration. There's only three sources online talking about the Tongaporutu wrecks and they were forgotten about quickly at the time as the next day the Tangiwai disaster occurred. But it will be interesting to see how much is left in situ indeed. You probably have already seen this article from the Tainui Historical Society: www.waitomo.govt.nz/media/wlja5xaf/tainuitradingpostjune.pdfIt appears that the first aircraft discovered was "a mass of red hot wreckage" at the bottom of a large crater. The second aircraft discovered near the coast may be less extensively damaged.
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Post by pepe on Dec 27, 2021 8:44:32 GMT 12
A great watch. It is like a condensed version of the that very good TV series "Sailor".
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Post by pepe on Dec 15, 2021 7:51:06 GMT 12
Aren’t the MRH90s quite a lot different from our NH90s? Unlike converting the A4G to Kahu spec, could they be converted to a similar spec to our machines. Perhaps purchase a few to strip for parts? Australia is dumping all of their NH-90’s not just the MRH-90’s. Our NH-90’s were ordered to the same spec as the RAAF ones, so it shouldn’t be a problem for us to buy a few. Apart from convincing the Government to find the cash to: A. Purchase the aircraft. B. Provide additional operational funding. I'm not holding my breath given recent discussion about deferring existing Defence Force capital projects...
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Post by pepe on Dec 7, 2021 13:34:11 GMT 12
Magnificent work!
Though I have one small suggestion. I think the aircraft would be better mounted with the undercarriage up. I can forsee the wheel bays becoming home for @ 200 assorted birds...
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Post by pepe on Dec 7, 2021 12:53:04 GMT 12
Thanks Errol.
I have also just discovered a NZ Passenger Register for a Mr D.V. Zotov (aged 19yrs), RAF Cadet who on 28 Nov 1958 departed Wellington onboard the Athenic for London, UK. This all confirms my memory of him being aged @ 40 years old when I flew with him.
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Post by pepe on Dec 7, 2021 12:37:46 GMT 12
Nice try, but yeah nah... and one is not a "real" Spitfire ....
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Post by pepe on Dec 7, 2021 12:01:32 GMT 12
There is some tantalising stuff on the name of Dmitri Zotov that I have always wanted to know more of since he sent me off on my first solo which eventually led to a career in aviation. Being a keen glider pilot, I have come across the name of a Dmitri Zotov before here in the U.K. Dear old Wally Kahn (who sadly passed away just a few years ago and was a laugh a minute) wrote this of Dimitri: Walter Kahn wrote: >Wasn't one Flight Lieutenant Dimitri Zotov RAF whose flight was described >in one National Newspaper thus:- > >White Russian New Zealander flies German glider across the Irish Sea from >Scotland to Ireland. As I said, Wally was a hoot. The stories he used to tell were legendary, no doubt spiced with a little ‘embellishment’ (why ruin a good story by telling the truth?) and he was well-known for his book, Glider Pilot Bold, which recounts his days in the RAF at the end of the war as he found himself at the heart of setting up the Services gliding clubs in Germany in 1946. He could reel off tales of breaking into German barns to confiscate Germany booty for the price of a packet of cigarettes. I well remember him telling me how he arrived at the Wasserkuppe to find dozens of gliders being piled up to be burnt by US troops when he spotted the Horten 4 flying wing and managed to convince the tenacious US troops (who were hell-bent in carrying out their commanding officers orders (apparently a US officer had been killed the day before trying to fly a glider so they were all being destroyed) that since the Horten was missing its rudder and tail, they may as well let them have it! It was the only Horten 4 to eventually come to the U.K. for evaluation and in the end, ended up in the US where Rudi Opitz (ex-German WW2 test-pilot) flew it a lot during the 50’s in comps etc there. Anyways, back to Dmitri…. It seems he had a Airforce career as his name appears in Cranwell’s course lists. I haven’t found any RNZAF links yet, but it would be fascinating to learn more about Dmitri and his time with NDAC. I think he had at least one son who I think lived further north? Certainly snippets on the web suggest that there was possibly more to Dmitri than meets the eye, especially his work on aircraft incidents/accidents. Maybe someone will be able to give a more complete history. I wonder if Dmitri is still on this Earth, if he is, he will be a ripe old age now….after all, we are all getting old! My memory may be fading, but I didn't that think the Dmitri Zotov I knew (albeit relatively briefly) would have been old enough to have served in or around WWII. Which years did he attend Cranwell? Perhaps I have misjudged his age or there is a son/relative with the same name?
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Post by pepe on Dec 7, 2021 11:39:44 GMT 12
Can't they park one up at Whenuapai as a gate guardian? It would look great. Don't think the poles would be strong enough to support it...! Anyhow there's already a Spitfire there... IMHO a P-3K2 is a much more appropriate candidate for a gate guardian than a Spitfire (I don't think too many Spitfire squadrons operated from Whenuapai...) An Orion gate guardian would certainly be more difficult to establish and maintain.
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Post by pepe on Dec 3, 2021 21:57:42 GMT 12
The Northland Districts Aero Club was incorporated into the Whangarei Flying Club which is still going strong down at Hangar 10. We have a fleet of two Tecnam P92 microlights, ZK-KFP and recently purchased ZK-TNZ, while there is a Savannah S kitset currently being assembled. Out of lockdown we are flying around 80 hours a month. See: www.whangareiflyingclub.com/ which has a History page. We still have a few photos from the NDAC days around the walls. My father was a keen member of the NDAC and I remember flying with him in the Club Archer ZK-NDA, as well as taking a few lessons in the Tomahawk ZK-DEH while I was still at high school in 1975. it nice to hear that Whangarei Flying Club is going well. The Archer II ZK-NDA (now ZK-KCC) was also my favourite aircraft. It is still one of the few aircraft that I can remember having to actually to work really hard to induce a stall (fully or basic). From memory it was flown out from the USA @ 1981 (courtesy of Dennis Thompson Intl.). The story goes that that ferry pilot had problems on the first leg (California-Hawaii) and was only saved by ATC in Honolulu before he disappeared off radar. He was quite upset by this and another pilot was required to be found (which took some time to achieve). The ironic thing about this was that when it eventually arrived it was full twin pilot IFR and the only aircraft that could complete the Whangarei Air Taxi scheduled service under IFR conditions (with two pilots?). I don't ever remember this happening for the obvious economic reasons.
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Post by pepe on Dec 3, 2021 7:28:16 GMT 12
CHE was the NDAC Victa,I learned to fly in it in 1978/79 at Whangarei.They had an earlier one which crashed over Dargaville way. ZK-CHF was the NDAC Victa, as per my previous post. ZK-CHE was owned from new by the Auckland Aero Club, and then went (via AESL) to the Northern Wairoa Aero Club at Dargaville in May 1973. They kept it until April 1984 when it moved to the RNZAF Base Woodbourne Aviation Sports Club. Following that it passed into private ownership in February 1992. Of course, CHE could have been loaned or leased to NDAC during its time at Dargaville. ZK-CHE was definitely resident at NDAC until February 1984 (last entry in logbook) which is in line with the change of ownership you refer to. It was the secondary trainer to the Tomahawk while I was a student (1982-83). From memory it was having some ongoing serviceability issues towards the end which may have prompted its transfer south.
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Post by pepe on Dec 2, 2021 13:45:20 GMT 12
Thanks Pepe and Peter, Thats really made my day as I soloed in the Airtourer in 1982. Dmitri was my instructor who sent me solo. I was still a teenager at the time and I think my original log book will be long gone and haven’t seen it in 40 years! As I get older the memory fades somewhat and to make things worse, at the time was no more than a kid who hadn’t worked out which way was up. I was a member of the NDAC for only about 1 year. I remember Wimpy, I guess he would be long gone now. The other big-wig was of course Dave Callum, along with his son, who’s name I can’t recall. Of course Dave owned the Doves and I remember the rugby tour they did in the Dove with other members/friends. The other guy I remember really well, was Bruce Shepard who had his lovely little Turb in the hangar on the other side of the field. Is Bruce still going? (There was also a Jodel 120 and a Evans Volksplane based there at the time). 1982 was also another significant year, as it was the last time Jean Batten visited NZ and her nephew, Rick. Rick lived next door to us in Ruakaka and I remember being in awe seeing such a famous aviator. Of course we all know what happened a little time later and remember Ricks efforts in trying to get Interpol involved in trying to find out what had happened to her after she wasn’t heard of. Looking back on it, was a pretty progressive time for NDAC. The last time I visited Onerahi was 2019 and drive up to the old clubhouse. It was like visiting ghosts from the past as everything was long gone. I went down to the Whangarei Aero Club a few hangars down and made some enquiries there as to what happened to the old NDAC, however I was from another era as hardly nobody knew much about it or any of the names mentioned…still, happy days. Thanks again for the info guys, SF We are of the same era as I also soloed in 1982 but completed most of my training in the Tomahawk. Whimpy Baker was a great instructor and passed away quite a few years ago now. You could always spot an NDAC trained pilot by Whimp's ex military oval circuits. Dave Culham died more recently but his son, Shane, still runs the large family business, Culham Engineering. I can't update you in regards to Bruce Shepherd, but do remember the aircraft you refer to. I am lead to believe the old clubrooms may soon become a victim of a new development to house the rescue helicopter base
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Post by pepe on Dec 2, 2021 13:12:19 GMT 12
CHE was the NDAC Victa,I learned to fly in it in 1978/79 at Whangarei.They had an earlier one which crashed over Dargaville way. It was an AT-115 ZK-COY which crashed about 1972 near Pakotai.
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Post by pepe on Dec 2, 2021 8:14:18 GMT 12
Does anyone know if Dmitri Zotov ever instructed at the old NDAC? Also there was a Victa Airtourer based there in the early 1980’s, can anyone remember the reg? SF Dmitri Zotov did indeed instruct at the old NDAC. He gave me my type rating on the PA-32-260 (ZK-DBP) in August 1983 (according to my old logbook). I also a had couple of aerobatic lessons with him in the Victa AT-100 ZK-CHE in the same month. Unfortunately the "concrete sparrow" was rather underpowered (with two onboard) for that particular purpose with most of the hour long lesson spent slowly clawing back up to altitude. R W (Whimpy) Baker was the CFI there for many years. Other instructors included Alan Ward and Warwick Bruce. It was a busy club in those days and also operated a twice daily scheduled service (Whangarei Air Taxi) to/from Auckland (and later Great Barrier Island). Aircraft operated included two Devons (ZK-UDO & KTT), later a GAF N22 Nomad (ZK-NDB), a couple more Cherokee Sixs (DSQ & DUO), Archer II (NDA) and a Tomahawk (ESG).
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Post by pepe on Nov 26, 2021 19:36:06 GMT 12
All that wonderful fresh sea air but the mass psychosis of mask-wearing continues unchallenged ... You would have sailors in the US Navy not follow their orders?? Doesn't seem to be the recipe for a very effective military...
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Post by pepe on Nov 13, 2021 22:28:09 GMT 12
According to the excellent Naval-History.net website both the sailors you refer to were indeed bombing casualties but not while actually aboard HMS Leander. The ship did not arrive off Syria until the 13th June 1941. 7 June 1941: Zander, Desmond W. Stoker 1st Class, 1727 RNZN - air raid ashore. Collins, Patrick J. Stoker 1st Class, 1911 RNZN (HMS Abdiel, RN minelayer) - air raid (possibly also ashore) www.naval-history.net/xDKCas2530-RNZN.htmA search of the AM Online Cenotaph confirmed both sailors were buried in Alexandria, Egypt. www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph
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Post by pepe on Nov 12, 2021 11:19:03 GMT 12
Taking the "glass half full" view, we could equally celebrate the fact that we haven't experienced the problems other users have. I would expect No.3 Squadron should receive much of the credit for this.
I am not an expert on the subject, but is 2000hrs over @ 9 years an excessive amount for military rotary aircraft?
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Post by pepe on Nov 5, 2021 9:02:23 GMT 12
I have also read (somewhere) the upgraded RAN frigates have an increased draught with a resulting loss in speed. The quarterdeck on all the ships were also fully enclosed to assist with buoyancy.
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Post by pepe on Oct 21, 2021 12:23:47 GMT 12
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Post by pepe on Oct 10, 2021 9:06:43 GMT 12
Given that Australian Army still operates @ 40 NH90 (and there are no plans to replace them), I would expect that the RAN ones will simply transfer between services.
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Post by pepe on Sept 29, 2021 11:56:53 GMT 12
" Fill her up, check the oil and clean the windscreen, please...."
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