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MOTAT
Mar 19, 2019 14:06:42 GMT 12
Post by vs on Mar 19, 2019 14:06:42 GMT 12
Looks great!
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MOTAT
Mar 19, 2019 15:31:27 GMT 12
Post by agalbraith on Mar 19, 2019 15:31:27 GMT 12
WOW, she looks great! Seems strange not seeing her with that yellow tinge on her....I got quite used to that
Wonderful work and thanks for the photo's
Anthony
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 19, 2019 20:30:58 GMT 12
I think the Solent will look even better indoors under the lights. It's going to rival the Sunderland for stunning restorations. Now we need them to repaint the hideous paint job on the P-40E.
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MOTAT
Mar 20, 2019 17:12:27 GMT 12
Post by pjw4118 on Mar 20, 2019 17:12:27 GMT 12
Baz , as you so often say an Auster is a " gentlemans carriage " so it is being treated with humility , reverence , and a butler is in attendance.
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Post by pjw4118 on Mar 20, 2019 17:16:12 GMT 12
By the way unless you noticed , the Solent doesnt have a tail or rudder so its going to be a handful in a cross wind .
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MOTAT
Mar 22, 2019 16:40:25 GMT 12
via mobile
Post by baz62 on Mar 22, 2019 16:40:25 GMT 12
and a butler is in attendance. Ha ha brilliant! I sent you a PM too.
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Post by emron on Mar 24, 2019 16:50:41 GMT 12
Flying Boat Update
Great progress has been made by the weekday team. They got the beaching gear painted and re-attached, ready for the Solent to be lowered back onto them this morning. That allowed the jacks to be taken down and hauled out of the way. The Sunday team then concentrated on connecting the towing rig in preparation for the move tomorrow. The right float was also hung on during the week so Dennis and I made final adjustments to the rigging and then screwed on the last of the covers which completed that job. The fin and rudder were also painted and ready to be hung back on once the Solent is indoors. Frank had sorted out the attachment pins for the fin along with the bolts for the rudder hinges. I helped finish off securing the bottom flange on the rudder and gathered the set of bolts to tie down the rudder to the torque tube inside the tail, then cleared out the bolt holes top and bottom so they should join up easily. Cross fingers for a trouble-free moving job tomorrow as the weather forecast is grim for later in the week.
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Post by emron on Mar 24, 2019 17:23:21 GMT 12
Just a reminder that the Aviation Display Hall and the MOTAT 2 site at Meola Rd are closed to visitors for the duration of the exhibit relocations and building renovations. Expected to re-open first week of April. In the meantime MOTAT 1 site is open for business as usual but with reduced admission charges. More details: www.motat.org.nz
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Post by Richard Wesley on Mar 27, 2019 11:34:28 GMT 12
Interesting to see this on the Motat website, seems there is a new helicopter in the collection...
"The refresh of M2 and our Aviation Display has been a long time in development and we will be working as quickly as possible to ensure our spectacular collection of heritage aircraft are re-positioned swiftly and safely.
We can’t wait to reveal the new reconfigured exhibition hall in April.
Our newest acquisition, the J47 2A Ranger Bell Helicopter will also be on show alongside old favourites suspended or positioned in a fresh new way.
And of course, the highlight of the project will be our precious flying boat cousins, the Solent and the Sunderland, safely together and undercover in all their gravity defying glory!
For further updates or more information on this project please email:
makingmotatbetter@motat.org.nz
Best wishes from all the team at MOTAT."
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Post by emron on Mar 27, 2019 19:36:38 GMT 12
Richard, breaking the coded message I think that might be a Bell 47J-2A Ranger. When I stopped by at MOTAT this morning, on the way to work, I followed a 40ft container down the driveway. I wonder what was in that? I’ll let the sleuths figure out which one. When I got further down the yard I came across an incredible sight – empty space – not an old aeroplane to see. Yesterday was quite a milestone, the first time that MOTAT got all it’s Aviation collection under cover since the Solent first arrived on the site all those years ago. Hopefully much anguish and criticism from the past can be laid to rest. Work was still in progress in the Display Hall and access restricted but I might get a closer look there at the weekend.
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 27, 2019 20:02:27 GMT 12
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MOTAT
Mar 27, 2019 20:37:36 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 27, 2019 20:37:36 GMT 12
Is that the Bell 47J that Phill Hooker had and restored a few years back? (I don't mean his M*A*S*H one)
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motat
Warrant Officer
Posts: 38
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Post by motat on Mar 28, 2019 10:28:02 GMT 12
The Helicopter was donated to MOTAT by Helicopters (NZ) Ltd and it was used for over a decade to support the offshore oil rigs and refineries in New Zealand. The helicopter is immaculate (I would say beautiful) and comes with its logs books and other documentation recording its extensive use in New Zealand.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 28, 2019 10:52:37 GMT 12
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motat
Warrant Officer
Posts: 38
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Post by motat on Mar 28, 2019 11:39:01 GMT 12
The one and the same Helicopter
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MOTAT
Mar 28, 2019 11:46:34 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 28, 2019 11:46:34 GMT 12
Cool!
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Post by TS on Mar 28, 2019 14:17:40 GMT 12
Just like to add what forum member andrewpit mentioned on ZK-AVM Thread... "Is CHG still sitting outside at Ardmore ? Are there any plans for the hulk as one these sitting under the Solent would look pretty amazing" Bloody hope so it would really look like a "David and Goliath" theme. Go for it MOTAT...
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Post by emron on Mar 29, 2019 18:39:05 GMT 12
Widgeon! hmmm, that's not much bigger than a Solent float is it ? Oh well, a little red helicopter will do in the meantime but it really ought to get dressed up on floats if it's to be seen in company with the Flying Boat for long. Then it gets to maintain the aero - nautical theme.
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MOTAT
Apr 1, 2019 15:02:16 GMT 12
Post by corsairarm on Apr 1, 2019 15:02:16 GMT 12
Just like to add what forum member andrewpit mentioned on ZK-AVM Thread... "Is CHG still sitting outside at Ardmore ? Are there any plans for the hulk as one these sitting under the Solent would look pretty amazing" Bloody hope so it would really look like a "David and Goliath" theme. Go for it MOTAT... I must admit that sounds and is a great idea BUT I don't think it will happen, much the pity. It's is also a but longer than a Solent float and much wider.
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Post by andrewpit on Apr 5, 2019 13:45:05 GMT 12
I went to MOTAT yesterday and new layout is great. The Lanc is back in its old position facing you as you walk in with the Kittyhawk up front and the others in lines down each side. The Solent looks like new and it is amazing how much space there still is in the new hangar. Well done to all who worked on the Solent as until you see it in real life you cannot appreciate the standard of workmanship. I would guess the last time it looked this good was it left the Shorts factory.
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