Fletcher

[planewriting]

Feb 20, 2023 13:44:17 GMT 12 @zacyates said:

It was wonderful to see BYC being used to make relief flights in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle (along with many, many other aircraft). Terrific stuff.

Thanks for sharing so many photos both here and on Facebook, Warwick.

Full marks to the pilot for pressing BYC into service between Tauranga and Wairoa transporting essential supplies. Great to see and hear a "James Aviation" Fletcher in local skies after all these years.
Well done!

[planecrazy]

Found this interesting story Flechers as ground attack aircraft.


Interesting that this is actually happening with the sky warden.

[Deleted]

There is a key difference: the FD-25 was designed from the outset for ground attack, whereas I believe the Sky Warden and similar designs are adaptations/modifications of existing designs.

[Dave Homewood]

Sept 17, 2021 19:20:05 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

There is some footage of a Fletcher, ZK-CTC, operating in this film in Mount Cook Airlines livery. I never knew they operated ag aircraft before.

I just happened upon this article from The Press dated 27th of October 1972 about a Fletcher pilot for Mount Cook who died in an accident near Fairlie. The truck seen in the video above has Fairlie on the door and I wonder if this was therefore the same aircraft?


Heart attack believed cause of plane crash

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU.

Evidence that shortly before a Fletcher FU24 aircraft crashed into a hill at Clayton Station, near Fairlie, on the evening of August 30, the load of superphosphate was not flowing freely until about last third of his run was given at the inquest into the death of David Russell Wilkes, aged 34, a topdressing pilot. Mr Wilkes died instantly when the aircraft he was flying for Mount Cook Airlines’ Aerial Work division hit the hill preparatory to returning down the block.

The Timaru District Coroner (Mr E. G. Bradley) at an adjourned inquest at Timaru last week, said that because of the issues arising from the death, he proposed not to conclude the inquest until evidence had been taken from the inspector of Aircraft Accidents, Wellington.

Mr T. Gresson represented Mount Cook Airlines, Mr E. O. Sullivan appeared for the widow of Mr Wilkes, and the police were represented by Sergeant E. J. Niven.

Malcolm John Price, of Frankton Arm, Queenstown, a commercial pilot employed by Mount Cook Airlines said he saw Wilkes commence his sowing run, and could see his load was “hung up”; it was not flowing freely until about the last third of his run.

He said that when he last saw Wilkes he appeared to have enough height and room to make his turn safely. He was a very experienced pilot, and flying conditions at the time were perfect.

The pathologist at the Timaru Hospital, Dr L. A. Faigan, said that in his opinion the cause of death was coronary occlusion due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. A certificate produced showed that an analysis of specimens of blood and urine for the presence of alcohol, had negative results.

To Mr Sullivan, Dr Faigan said the coronary occlusion would be a sudden thing. Asked by Mr Sullivan whether there was no possible cause of death other than the conclusion to which he had come, Dr Faigan said he did not claim infallibility, but this seemed to be the most reasonable explanation, and was supported by a specialist pathologist in this field, who had examined his report, and also the microscopic and photographic studies which witness had done in this case.

[angelsonefive]

The accident aircraft was ZK-CFQ, Dave.

[Dave Homewood]

OK, thanks.

[thomarse]

I think that's CTO in the film Dave

Good find!