|
|
Post by kiwined on Jan 5, 2022 6:34:07 GMT 12
Dan - I used to go for rides with your Dad in the back of the Airtruk when he worked for Barr Bros. My time wagging school was split between going in the Airtruk with your Dad, the Hughes 300s with Marine or Les in the James Aviation fletcher  He would always have a seat for this young kid so loved going out with them for a mornings ag work. Was just weird sitting in the back seat facing backwards though. |
|
zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
|
Post by zkdex on Feb 8, 2022 18:57:14 GMT 12
Thanks you all for the photos and information posted in this thread. As mentioned in another thread some time ago, I remember one (or two?) of these Air Truks being used to subdue a scrub fire at Naenae in the Hutt Valley. Timing would have been summer of either 1969/70 or 1970/71...before those jolly choppers took over!
What I clearly remember of the aircraft was the red and white 'checker' pattern on the wings. Thanks to all your posts and especially the excellent photographs, I have narrowed the list of likely candidates to two operated by Air Contracts Ltd: ZK-CWU and ZK-CWY. (ZK-CWZ was written off in June 1969...while ZK-CWW did not start with Air Contracts until 1971).
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2022 15:29:01 GMT 12
Long shot rewuest: anyone have photos to share of ZK-CVA and/or CJT during their time leased to Wanganui Aero Work (Sept72-14/02/74 and 14/02/73-14/06/74 respectively)?
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 13, 2022 22:14:48 GMT 12
I have photos of ZK-CJT dated 11/73. Its at Ardmore, rigged as a sprayer, and shows no operator signwriting.
|
|
|
|
Post by thomarse on Feb 14, 2022 20:29:10 GMT 12
Long shot rewuest: anyone have photos to share of ZK-CVA and/or CJT during their time leased to Wanganui Aero Work (Sept72-14/02/74 and 14/02/73-14/06/74 respectively)? Okay so here might end a theory of mine... Who flew them and where Zac? Did Ashley Haycock have one based at Hunterville? |
|
|
|
Post by delticman on Feb 15, 2022 8:17:28 GMT 12
Long shot rewuest: anyone have photos to share of ZK-CVA and/or CJT during their time leased to Wanganui Aero Work (Sept72-14/02/74 and 14/02/73-14/06/74 respectively)? Okay so here might end a theory of mine... Who flew them and where Zac? Did Ashley Haycock have one based at Hunterville? Ash always flew Fletchers or Cresco's at WAW at Hunterville but before that Ash flew at Hunterville for Air Contracts with a PL12. For memory I thought the Airtruks were only in Wanganui but one was in Raetihi, see the Fletcher facebook page. |
|
|
|
Post by thomarse on Feb 15, 2022 11:57:36 GMT 12
For memory I thought the Airtruks were only in Wanganui but one was in Raetihi, see the Fletcher facebook page. Give me a clue please Ray - I can't find it Cheers |
|
|
|
Post by delticman on Feb 15, 2022 15:09:18 GMT 12
For memory I thought the Airtruks were only in Wanganui but one was in Raetihi, see the Fletcher facebook page. Give me a clue please Ray - I can't find it Cheers A posting by Peter Wolfe, 24th January. I found one in late November early December as well with CJT and spray gear. Just at the moment I cant look at my files as the desk top is in hospital. Aero work had both CVA and CJT, but not together. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2022 17:22:12 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2022 17:18:11 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by johnm on Jul 24, 2022 18:12:31 GMT 12
you often see reference to a noisey plane - the airtruk
the exhaust seems further away and rearward than others like a C180 / a fletcher / or beaver ...................
might have been not much sound treatment to the cockpit ?
I guess if you were sitting backward in the passenger pod - at least you had the back of your ears to fold over ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 30, 2022 22:14:38 GMT 12
Unusual plane tested
(N.Z. Press Association) . AUCKLAND, April 2.
Nearly 20 years ago., at Te Kuiti, Mr Luigi Pellerini, an Italian, designed an odd looking aeroplane. This week, a New Zealand-built version flew crabwise, achieved a giddy, almost vertical climb, and tumbled like a falling leaf. The performance would have torn the wings off many small aircraft. The verdict of the test pilot: as solid and safe as a house.
Years ago, someone described the machine as looking like a London double-decker bus, cut short just behind the driver, and trailing a couple of flagpoles, with flags. Two prototypes of the aeroplane were built in New Zealand. They showed themselves to be remarkable agricultural aircraft, able to lift more than their own weight in superphosphate, and fly as slowly as 40 m.p.h.
Finance could not be raised in New Zealand to put the PL11 aircraft into production, so Mr Pellerini went to Australia. In the early 1960s his design was bought by a Sydney company, now called Transavia, and Mr Pellerini was asked to refine the machine. The result was the Transavia PLI2 Airtruk, now used in Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, and Australia. New Zealand firms have bought these solid workhorses, too.
FULL CIRCLE
This week the Airtruk story turned a full circle — the plane is being built again in this country. Barr Brothers, Ltd. of Ardmore, completed the first two PL12s of a steady production which is expected to average 12 aircraft a year.
A test pilot, Mr I. Wilson, put one of the aeroplanes through a remarkable demonstration. Among other feats, the cumbersome-looking aircraft took off in the distance of three cricket pitches, and landed in the distance of one.
“As solid and safe as a house,” said Mr Wilson later. The production aeroplane looks basically like those early Te Kuiti aeroplanes, but the construction is much more modern. Mr Pellerini originally used engines, undercarriages, flying controls, and canopies from old R.N.Z.A.F. Harvard Trainers. The aircraft now is built entirely of metal and fibreglass, with a Continental engine.
EXPORT HOPES
Mr A. G. Orsborn, New Zealand manager of the parent company, Transfield, Ltd, said there were plans to share production with the Australian company. Wings and other components would probably be made at Ardmore land shipped to Sydney. It was hoped to export many of the New Zealand aircraft, particularly to South and North America. Mr Pellerini is now retained as a consultant by some big United States companies.
PRESS, 3 APRIL 1973
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 19, 2023 16:20:59 GMT 12
Recently sufaced on the Airtruk facebook page - a video history:
|
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Nov 19, 2023 16:41:58 GMT 12
Thanks Peter
One thing it doesn't mention is the Airtruk (ZK-CWX) did very well for the Auckland Gliding Club for several years towing (even double towing) gliders. It was a bit different to the conventional rule of following the towplane's tail. In this case you stayed on a track between two of them!
|
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Nov 20, 2023 17:06:28 GMT 12
A few from Hazair hangar in Albury, NSW.   Looks like the camo ambo is the one from the pic's above from the now defunct Bankstown museum.   |
|
|
|
Post by Antonio on Nov 20, 2023 17:33:58 GMT 12
They are so fugly!
but charismatic...
|
|
|
|
Post by kevsmith on Nov 20, 2023 21:14:36 GMT 12
Peter, re the double towing by the Airtruck, double towing at the AGC started a few years before with the Tiger Moth AQA towing the two K7's GCS and GDC on the 30th Aug 1964 and I was in GDC with student R Gatland. The following weekend, Sept 5th 1964, I did my first double tows as the tow pilot in AQA, towing the two K7's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 20, 2023 23:25:50 GMT 12
Would that have been Arthur Gatland, Kev? He is a well known glider pilot these days.
|
|
|
|
Post by kevsmith on Nov 21, 2023 22:11:44 GMT 12
No, it was Rosemary Dave, Frank and Annes oldest daughter.
I have Arthur in my logbook as starting flying with the AGC on 1st December 1964 with basic exercises. He probably did some learning before that as elsewhere it is quoted he started flying in 1963 at age 13.
|
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Nov 23, 2023 9:38:41 GMT 12
Peter, re the double towing by the Airtruk, double towing at the AGC started a few years before with the Tiger Moth AQA towing the two K7's GCS and GDC on the 30th Aug 1964 and I was in GDC with student R Gatland. The following weekend, Sept 5th 1964, I did my first double tows as the tow pilot in AQA, towing the two K7's. Yes, there was for many years a picture on the AGC clubhouse wall of ZK-AQA doing a double tow. Reverting to Airtruk ZK-CWX, some years after the Auckland Gliding Club dispensed with it, CWX crossed the Tasman Sea to Australia and these days forms part of the Queensland Air Museum collection at Caloundra. |
|
