Fletcher

[iflylo]

I also noticed a few comments on DQ-FEL I have a couple of pics of that machine too

[iflylo]

heres a few more, ZK-DDA East of Hastings not sure when, I think it was a new machine off rebuild, and the engine gave up on takeoff with a load in it, the James engineers from palmy I think came up and they all put a new engine in and flew it out.

[Deleted]

Some great shots! Much as I hate to see broken Fletchers, it's still interesting to see the accidents.

[hawkesbay]

Hey Zac does the dorsal fin meet with your approval?

[thomarse]

Fair to say CMG's pretty munted. Where/when was the accident?

I never saw her in that scheme - was the paint still wet on her when she met her end?

[Deleted]

James, on a Walter it looks very nice indeed I think you'll agree though that EGK just looks a tad odd...! Can't wait to see the new and improved EML in the flesh.....skin.....whatever...

[mstokes]

The shots of DDA are impressive, engineering in the field! Reminds me of a lot of those war time dioramas and photos you see from time to time.

The broken backs on CMG and FEL are quite sad. Probably 40% of the 300hp fleet left at that time written off.

Are those pictures of FEL in Fiji? I would be interested to know the nature of her work over there and if the loader was also sent over.

[iflylo]

Hahahah yea CMG was broken pretty bad, she hit fairly hard, the pilot was trying to climb over the hill after take off but went to put the 3rd stage of flap on and it wasn't clicked in properly and when he let the flap handle go it ended up dropping all the flap and sinking down on to that hill.
I cant exactly remember when it happend, I think it was 91 or 92, some where around then, it was at a place called Argyle south west of hastings.
Im not sure what happened to FEL but yep it was Fiji, but couldn't tell you any more then that .
hahaha engineering in the field are part of Ag, we used to have to do it quite often, but then we used to have better luck with our gear then most operators. be lucky to have one break down a year so thats not too bad.

[furyfb11]

Here are a few more Fletcher photos this time scanned slides which I'm afraid are starting to show their age


CRP Aerial Farming Palmerston North 2/67


CBD James Aviation Palmerston North 1966/67


BHQ Robertson Air Service 7/1/66


BIO Hamilton 7/1/66


BOF Advance Aviation Kaikohe 12/1/66

[iflylo]

Here's on of BIX when it was brand new off overhaul, doesnt she look pretty



and one of COA or CQA im not sure, I think its COA

[iflylo]

Heres one of SAJ not long after we got her from Superair in Australia she is ex VH-DCM and i think she used to be ZK-CTQ but im not 100% sure bout that.



this is her a few years later wearing our colours,

[iflylo]

and a few more of CMZ, this one was taken about 4yrs back on the same airstrip that CMG was written off on.



and another one of CMZ sorry about the quality, it didn't seem to scan properly.. I definitly need a digital camera

[Fletcher400]

Great shots there Rik - Always good to see the 400hp fletchers, what year did you get SAJ?

Great to see a shot of ZK-CRP up abit further, recently done a kit for a guy doing one as CRP down in Dunedin.

Cheers.

[Fletcher400]

You are right, it was ex CTQ

s/n133 ZK-CTQ to VH-DCM withdrawn from use and cancelled in 1982. Rebuilt 1994 as ZK-SAJ

[hawkesbay]

Hey Rik, spend some very long hot days battling uphide in one of thoose 400s and will think they not so pretty

[iflylo]

Hi Allan thanks for confirming that, we got SAJ in 94, ex superair Aust, we brought her to replace CMG
Hawkes bay I know what you mean, Iv spent a lot of time rebuilding bits and pieces on fletcher, helping with cylinder changes and head down arse up on a rivit dolly rebuilding firewalls and down the back end working on the very rear of the fuse and I still love them as for flying them on the long hot days it cant be any worse then driving the loader in the Hawkes Bay summers and Iv done a fair bit of that over the years.. so flying is just natural progression

[hawkesbay]

Where abouts are thoose two photos taken of BIX and other one, guessing the later Hastings or thereabouts with that Midland Agwagon beside it

[iflylo]

yea they were both taken at Hastings

[thomarse]

Those Hastings shots are a history lesson in themselves - they show several different stages of the metamorphosis of Bridge Pa, especially the one of the 300 out the front with the Agwagon. Now, I remember when that front row was Cubs, Barr Bros and Sherwood 240hp Fletchers and even the odd 150hp Pawnee!!!

Back a bit, do I detect (poor eyesight) that CRP says "Advance" on the tail but "Aerial Farming" on the cowl? My memory tells me that the appearance of CRP was the first sign of the James takeover of Aerial Farming; also that it was the only sign for quite some time while Pawnees and perhaps a remaining Ceres or two lived out their useful existences.

Did James ever develop a logo to suit the Aerial Farming name? Can't say I ever saw one.

[furyfb11]

I have had a closer look at my slide it has A in white followed by irfarming in black on the tail and Aerial Farming Holdings Ltd Palmerston North on the cowling