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Post by Damon on Apr 15, 2009 19:56:14 GMT 12
Thanks P.G.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 15, 2009 22:03:58 GMT 12
Great photos John, but any chance of editing your post so the pics are under each other rather than side by side? (inserting a line between them helps) Its just it makes the "last 100 posts" function on the forum go a bit screwy, and you have to drag everything across to see it! Cheers mate. I have sorted the pictures out, and very nice photos thjey are too John. |
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johnh
Squadron Leader
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Post by johnh on Apr 15, 2009 22:40:23 GMT 12
Thanks Dave.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 16, 2009 9:35:12 GMT 12
Got these last friday at Whangamata.Walter poweredZK-CCT ZK-CCT is currently based at Thames, just over the hill. It was the first dual control trainer, assembled (in the USA) 13Jun55. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 16, 2009 9:38:13 GMT 12
I think PDZ was used on a Fletcher originally,no doubt one of the register geeks will be along shortly to confirm that. First ZK-PDZ was Cessna U206F ex ZK-DFW, from July98 to Nov00 and then became ZK-JMS to make way for the Cresco. |
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Post by mstokes on Apr 19, 2009 13:54:45 GMT 12
I unfortunately just got back to Aussie today after a week back home, but managed to score some Fletcher shots. EMX at Tauranga on the 14th of April  Fletcher 2000 at Te Kuiti on the 16th   Next day, earning money spreading fertiliser in Whawharua, nice to wake up to ;D  A visit to Super Air in Hamiltion on the 17th, and EMX seems to have followed me over.  A new 2000 being put together... the fuselage stretch has been done, preparing for the cockpit and internals to be refitted.  |
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Post by Fletcher400 on Apr 19, 2009 14:00:43 GMT 12
Awesome mate! Like the early morning shot you got
Cheers
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2009 14:16:36 GMT 12
Would be very interested to see more of the Fletcher 2000 - is this essentially a PT-6A Fletcher with larger hopper?
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Post by mstokes on Apr 19, 2009 15:48:25 GMT 12
That's right Zac, the 2000 has a 1.3 tonne hopper and the PT6-34-AG wacked onto the front. I have some walkaround pics if you are ever interested.
The fuselage is basically stretched a bit and the cockpit moved forward, so the Cresco entry steps are added onto the airframe, but other than that it is all Fletcher...
Bit like Coke Zero, it is meant to be the original enhanced, but can it be ;D
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weheka
Squadron Leader
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Post by weheka on Apr 19, 2009 17:51:13 GMT 12
I would be keen on seeing "any" Fletcher photos you have. Is it a -34 or -15 AG in this aircraft Mike?
Did you get the impression that Superair are going away from the Walter conversions, or is it just they have stretched the fuse, and with the extra load they think the PT6 is more suitable?
I realise you cannot compare the engines.
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Apr 19, 2009 21:48:50 GMT 12
Some pilots have declined to fly the Walters for obvious reasons.....  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2009 7:23:58 GMT 12
 Care to explain?! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 20, 2009 8:17:33 GMT 12
I met the firefighter who took that photo at Raglan last year. He said it was pure chance he was there on the scene as it happened. He had a really good display of photos he'd taken at all sorts of emergency incidents, all worthy of awards.
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Post by mstokes on Apr 20, 2009 11:45:12 GMT 12
On the Walter, I know the hours on the engine are much shorter than the PT6 and the conversion was done on the basis that the engine can be exchanged every 1500 hrs or so from the manufacturer.
I did ask the unit price of the PT6 and was very surprised at the cost, it did seem dramatically cheaper than even 2 years ago. Maybe the global economic climate has meant that P&W are dropping the price, or that there is some surplus from parked up aeroplanes that need to go out.
From a purely proven background, I think we all know the PT6 is a rugged and reliable powerplant (but expensive as well), but I was in the Czech republic last year, and it is funny that on the ag front there, the airframes and engines are all quite short on lifespan (Zlin 137T airframe 3000hrs and Walter 1500hrs). Maybe the mindset there is to keep production rolling and that replacement is better than repair.
If you think about how many hours some of those Fletcher airframes have done...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2009 17:54:21 GMT 12
For those who want to drool over some glorious 400 sound, and see what a topdressing sortie or three looks like from in the cockpit, check this out:
Subject aircraft is ZK-CRF, the first Fletcher built entirely in NZ. Launch customer? Wanganui Aero Work! Tell ya what, I was stoked to see it on this vid! Looks like Fieldair marks....? Unsure of when it was shot.
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Apr 22, 2009 19:42:04 GMT 12
CRF is now based at Matamata,it was at Tauranga a month or 2 back for some maintenance and I saw it topdressing near Te Poi a couple of weeks back.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 22, 2009 22:21:59 GMT 12
Someone mentioned a dual control Fletcher, something I hadn't heard of before. Does anyone have a photo of a dual control Fletcher's cockpit please?
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Post by mstokes on Apr 30, 2009 21:48:13 GMT 12
Hi all, I had a chat over the phone to Lou Forhecz the other day about his previous book (of which I have now obained a copy) and having lived down the road for a few years, we started talking about dad's old operation and he asked me for some images. I believe that Lou is quite keen to put together another compedium of sorts about operations, operators and the like. He has asked me for some images including those not just of Fletchers, but also people and loader trucks and the like. If anyone else has some interesting images, I am sure he would appreciate them. I think a book on the people and stories of the industry would be a great thing to have, I know the original topdressers was brilliant because of the stories about those in the industry. I will certainly pass some images and stories onto Lou, but if anyone else also wants to contribute, I am sure he would really appreciate it. And Dave, I was all over EMX when I was in Hamilton, but I don't have any cockpit shots  . The dual control Fletcher basically has two full seats and two sticks, but as far as I aware, throttle quadrants are only on the left. I remember watching Chris Rika having some dual training done with Les Marshall on a Country Calendar special a few years ago and it showed that it looks like a bit of a tight squeeze in there! Cheers Mike |
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2009 7:33:43 GMT 12
I managed to snaffle some B&W shots from work after they were thrown in the bin (!!!!) that I think I'll pass on to Lou. Great news Mike, about time a new book about the industry came out!
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Post by fletcherfu24 on May 1, 2009 7:37:40 GMT 12
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Care to explain?!
. The dual control Fletcher basically has two full seats and two sticks, but as far as I aware, throttle quadrants are only on the left. I remember watching Chris Rika having some dual training done with Les Marshall on a Country Calendar special a few years ago and it showed that it looks like a bit of a tight squeeze in there!