Was anyone here at Ohakea in 1959 when the Vulcan

[yogi]

yes fantastic photos!

[wcdr]

This may have already been answered elsewhere but I thought I would chime in here. the canopy was jettisoned as a precaution that if upon landing the rest of the under carriage gave way the crew had a way out as the crew door is on the bottom of the aircraft. This was also the reason for replacing the pins on the seats as a heavy impact may have set them off. I am unsure of why they decided to stay in the back instead of bailing out and im sure only they now know the reasons why.

Mumbles is correct in the vulcan being jacked up at the front to allow the tail to clear the hangar door. There is now an opening in the hangar to allow tails of such aircarft to enter and exit freely.

My grandfather is pictured in many of these pictures surrounding the incident and i have a few more i will try and upload. He was an ex RAF technician based at ohakea at the time of the crash and because of his knowledge of the vulcans was involved in this incident from the start and assisted the RAF or AVRO (i cant say i know exactly) crews which came to NZ to repair the vulcan

I have pictures of it sitting outside prior to the main repair starting in which it is not heavily guarded. As far as my grandfathers account goes it was not a blue steel carrier it was still set up for its original role and I cannot recall the system it had on it.

I will put some more info up once I have run it past my father who has a much better memory of the event.

[oj]

I was lucky enough to see it under repair in the hangar as a 14 year-old. My elder brother was in the mob and based at Ohakea at the time.

But of course I would not pretend to offer any expertise on this thread ......

[oj]

Oh dear. Very sorry. Should have read the top of the string. I told you that back in December 2009.
Must be the EOA kicking-in!

[Dave Homewood]

Something that I did not know, I don't think, is the RAF pilots who came to New Zealand to return the repaired Vulcan to the UK were both Kiwis.

From The Press, 6th of June 1960:

AIR TESTS FOR VULCAN

Flight To Britain On June 25

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON N„ June 4.

The Vulcan bomber which crash landed at Ohakea last November will leave for Britain on June 25.

The aircraft's undercarriage was damaged after a mishap during the air display marking the opening of Wellington Airport. Maintenance crews from the British manufacturers of the aircraft, who have been carrying out the repairs, were joined recently by a Royal Air Force team who will conduct ground and air tests within the next three weeks.

Two pilots coming out from England to fly the aeroplane back are New Zealanders. Flight-Lieutenant Colin Bell, the first pilot, hails from Auckland, and the second pilot, Flying Officer John Ferrier, is from Christchurch.