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Post by classicman on Apr 13, 2010 3:51:52 GMT 12
The Airtourers certainly were used by the University Officer Cadets during their time at Canterbury University. The dreaded "Flight Grading" occurred at the end of your first year, and guys were occasionally chopped as a result. I soloed in NZ1762 Dec 11 1987.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 13, 2010 9:39:22 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum classicman. Thanks for confirming that.
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Post by classicman on Apr 13, 2010 15:31:25 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 13, 2010 16:40:47 GMT 12
Excellent photos!!
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Post by Bruce on Apr 13, 2010 17:53:30 GMT 12
That looks like a lot of fun - definitely "motivational" !
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 13, 2010 18:12:19 GMT 12
Wonderful photos, classicman. Thank you for sharing.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 13, 2010 22:58:53 GMT 12
Nice photos. Good to see NZ1763 which became ZK-WBW in there. I couldnt find ZK-WBW in the current listings .When did 'WBW' leave these shores and when.Shame its gone. We had a lot of problems with parts. As an example, when the electric flap motor went u/s and had to be replaced, the guy who had the only spare in NZ wanted megabucks. We finally managed to get one (the trim motor off a Canberra was identical) from the UK via Singapore. I still wanted to keep it, but was outvoted by the other guys. She was bought by Ian Close in Victoria, and was flown across via Norfolk Island to become VH-VVZ. That was at the end of 2006. Still, we can enjoy the memories - Mrs flyernzl and WBW at Kaikohe during a trip we did around Northland
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Post by oj on Apr 14, 2010 21:56:47 GMT 12
Don't knock the T6-24 Electric Flap Motor. This English-Electric AE259 Actuator was indeed used on the Canberra, in two places; as rudder trim actuator and aileron-bias actuator, hence it's ready availability at the time we developed the electric flap on the Airtourer. The RNZAF actually supplied the first few actuators for the T6-24's from their surplus Canberra spares. For subsequent T6-24's AESL purchased the actuators from UK suppliers. They are very good for the application, being extremely low-geared, making very precise flap movements possible. They also had the built-in Desyn position indicators to operate the flap position indicator, also a Canberra instrument which we re-calibrated and changed the dial markings to suit the T6 application. Of course they always were expensive, being a precision, high-altitude-rated, military-engineered item. Not your Cessna 150 flap-grinder here! I recall the cost price to AESL in about 1974 as being about $1,500 per unit, so they are probably worth their weight in silver these days. OJ
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 14, 2010 22:16:30 GMT 12
Try ten grand. Then there's the installation . . .
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Post by classicman on Apr 18, 2010 19:43:13 GMT 12
You are right Beagle, there was an Airtourer based at NZWB during the early 90's as well. As the then Base Adjutant was the only pilot posted to the base at the time, he had his own personal aeroplane to play with! And during 1991/2ish an Airtourer was attached to 14 Sqn. The Strikemaster was nearing the end of its life and airframes and flying hours were limited, so the newly-graduated pilots were dual-qualified onto the Airtourer in an attempt to give them some continuation flying. Not quite what they envisaged after graduation! They ended up flying sorties with the NZ Police on drug-spotting operations in the Central Nth Island, and the boys ended up being pretty good at spotting a plot. Rumour has it that (as with the Hueys) there were actually shots fired at the spotter plane from irate growers. (This of course could just be a case of "bar-story-itis" which occasionally happened at NZOH!) So the wee Airtourer really earned its keep.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 3, 2010 16:42:09 GMT 12
Did you know that when these four aircraft were disposed of by the RNZAF, they received 56 different tenders for them. Most came from new Zealand, some from Australia (where one went) and one each were from as far afield as Hong Kong and Bahrein. That seems quite a popular disposal.
What is the process for the RNZAF if they get a lot of tender bids like this and if they were all a similar price? Would they simply pick the winners at random?
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Post by ianclose on Jul 12, 2010 22:04:17 GMT 12
I bought ZK-WBW (NZ1763) from the RNZAF's flying club at Whenuapai in late 2006 (Whenuapai Aviation Sports Club - . The aircraft was delivered to Melbourne by club member Sgt John Edmonds. It was put on the Australian register as VH-VVZ as VH-WBW was already taken. The plane has now been fully restored externally to how it was in RNZAF service according to photographs taken in 1983 (the second paint scheme using the UniversJ type). I have good photos of all four Airtourers and a lot of documents from the RNZAF museum in Christchurch to guide anyone restoring one of these airtourers. The markings vary amonst the four airtourers, and vary even from the official RNZAF specifications - particularly the position of the roundels on the side of the fuselage. If anyone wants more information or copies of photographs and other documentation, I can help. Contact me at work on +61 3 9646 4760 - ask for Ian.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 12, 2010 22:40:11 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Ian.
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Post by ianclose on Jul 12, 2010 22:42:15 GMT 12
Thanks Dave. Still finding my feet. Tried to post a photograph or three but without success. I'll keep trying.
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 12, 2010 22:46:43 GMT 12
Dave, when I worked at Wanganui Aero Work ZK-LDG lived in the local Aero Club hangar. I got to drool over her on several occasions and see her taxi. I don't remember if I saw her fly, though. Murray was in our hangar often getting paperwork signed off etc.
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Post by murray86 on Jan 21, 2017 19:33:14 GMT 12
Sorry Guys< I've been a little Remiss. I restored the aircraft to it's original RNZAF colour scheme in 2011 after getting approval from the CAA and RNZAF. It is still based at Whanganui, housed at the Aeroclub. It operates under the call sign of Airtourer 61 for obvious reasons.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 21, 2017 19:52:21 GMT 12
Very nice to see Murray. Well done.
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Post by ZacYates on Jan 23, 2017 12:28:03 GMT 12
She looks fantastic Murray, bravo!
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Post by apteryx on Jan 29, 2017 9:57:22 GMT 12
Excellent work, Murray; the plane looks fantastic. I have NZ1761 in my logbook from Air Training Corps days, and recently became re-acquainted with ex-NZ1762. The Airtourer T6 is a lovely aircraft.
I have copies of some of the original RNZAF checklists and a photo of the instrument panel; get in touch if you'd like copies.
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Post by baz62 on Jan 29, 2017 12:49:10 GMT 12
and recently became re-acquainted with ex-NZ1762. The Airtourer T6 is a lovely aircraft. That's the one I flew in when I too was in the ATC. Which squadron were you in? I was 18 based at Wigram.
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