Introduce yourself

[corsair67]

Yeah, a big welcome Andrew: Caribou pilots are more than welcome here! ;D

Any tales of Caribou flying you want to share with us will be gratefully received.

Cheers,
Craig (a Caribou fan)

[Citabria]

Thanks Guys,

Many a tail from the Bou days..... but I just need to suss out who lurks the boards so I can adjust the amount of poetic license But to get you started there have been flames, fainting and lost at sea adventures all waiting to be told!

Well Peter, you need to hop your behind over here and I'll get you wheeling on your first flight, ;D alternatively pop out to Curtis at Camden if you are Sydney based.

I have some video of a three pointer and wheeler landing on my web site www.legrope.com.au/PAS . It's one of the things I'm hoping to learn how to do some more of as I "have all the gear just no idea !" when it comes to video and pictures.

The Citabria is a great little training for taildragging and aeros and as I'm learning the craft of instructing I'm enjoying it even more. Did two hours yesterday, CCT's, Aeros and spin training and I should have a banner hook installed by the weekend.

Well better go and lurk a few boards!

See ya

[planeimages]

Hi Richard,

The video is excellent. You will agree that Citabrias are bouncy little things. The first t&g was a wheeler and it took a while to settle but he held it well. The second landing looked like a 3 pointer but I sensed that he touched on the tailwheel first. Been there, seen that.

On the video front try to hold the camera still and let the action unfold. Like your shots out the screen. Avoid panning with the camera rolling. Take a shot, turn it off and move to the next point of view and roll again.

The only time you should pan is when following an object or a very slow swing to show a scene.

A "lipstick" lens would be ideal to position it so the viewer could see the pilot's actions.

I went to Curtis' at Camden to check out the cost of a pair of a/cs for air-to-air. This was rather beyond my means for a Citabria/Decathlon camera ship and a Pitts subject a/c.

I don't want to fly myself again, too old to keep the brain in gear reliably, but will jump at any chance for an air-to-air photography session.

I know what you mean about instructing being fun. My day job is the running of my advanced driving schools at Oran Park near Camden" www.finlays.com.au FYI.

Cheers

Peter

[Citabria]

Thanks for the tips Peter, I'm about to build a mount for the camera as I want to use it as a training aid for my students. That vid was a test of the audio as I have wired it into the intercom.

Yes you are correct, the first is a wheeler and the second a three pointer where he touches down tail wheel first. That for me is a perfect situation as it means he almost has the stick fully back.

Had a look at your site, now that must be fun! Must give you a good sense of satisfaction knowing that your work helps save lives as well. Grew up in Camden so I know Oran park as well. Have also attended many driving courses over the years and I always learn something....

I saw that you have raced at BTH. Went to school and learnt to fly with Jerry Trevor-Jones there. When the race was on I used to spend the day at the field fill all the aircraft with fuel as they had something like 200 arrive over the weekend. My reward was a flight over the action on race day. Was there for "The rock" and saw the Camero flip onto it's roof... 85 or 86 I think.


Cheers

Andrew

[corsair67]

Well, sounds like the Caribou stories will be worth waiting for.

Just remember; your secrets are safe with us. It's the outsiders who visit that you have to worry about! ;D

[planeimages]

Hi Citabria,

Glad to be of help. I felt that touching on the tailwheel first might have stressed the airframe but I see your point about the stick being almost fully back and hence, presumably, stalled.

Thanks for the kind comments about the driving school site.

My wife and I spent the weekend with Kevin Bartlett and his wife in Queensland and the topic of the Camaro was mentioned in dispatches.

Cheers

Peter

[virgil]

What's your name?

Peter Evans


Where are you from?

Papakura - about a mile SE of the base leg for 03.


How old are you?

Post WW2, just.


What is your main interest in aviation? Is it historic? Airlines? Military...

Anything and everything since I was about 4 years old. Can remember seeing Mossies, P51's, Cats & Sunderlands flying around when living in Blockhouse Bay and I think that started me off. I told you post WW2 just


Tell us about your background in aviation. Are you just an enthusiast or have you got more hands on experience? Are you a pilot? Do you have an Air Force Background? Or a civil aviation background?

Learnt to fly at Ardmore in the 60's and gained PPL. Left flying for some years due to usual reasons such as marital status, living overseas etc. Returned to NZ in 1980 and re-gained PPL in 82. Being doing it ever since. Mostly fly bug smashers, have a multi engine rating (had to do it just to say I did it!), and now and then get to ride in exotic beasties such as T6's, P51's and TMG - thanks again Simon. As long as I keep my Class 2 I'll keep doing it.


Do you belong to any aviation groups, like the NZ Warbirds, RNZAF Association, Royal Aeronautical Society or CAF, etc?


NZ Warbirds, currently on Committee and also QA Manager for their Part 149. Also seem to get lumbered with open days and airshows.

Are you an aircraft modeller? (Scale or R/C)

No.

What are your favourite aviation books?

No Highway, Neville Shute
Fate is the Hunter, Ernest K Gann
Sagittarius Rising, Cecil Lewis


What are your favourite aviation films or TV programmes?

Whatevers going. Not Top Gun but!


Do you frequent other aviation forums?

Just superficially.


Have you any comments or suggestions for this forum, to hopefully improve your own personal usage and enjoyment on the forum?

No, just keep it up and thanks for a good site.

[corsair67]

Welcome aboard, Peter.

[Smith]

Hi, I'm Don Smith, Auckland born living in Wellington. Married with kids. Occasional aquaintance of Chris (TNZ).

I'm also gnome on the Key Publishing Aviation Forums (lots of posts) and WIX (few posts).

For them's what wonder; "gnome" comes from exasperation trying to find a login that worked on Key Publishing, listening to Chris Knox one night while randomly thinking of names, therefore thinking of Tall Dwarves, and reflecting on seeing him live in a pub when I was working for a Bank (swiss gnomes) and putting it all together as gnome. And then rather liking the name.

My interest is primarily RAF Bomber Command and, as a sub-set of that, the service of my step-Uncle F/sgt L F English, also an Aucklander, who served and lost his life with 619 Squadron in 1943. I "hope" to create a website to him and his fellow crew, subject to the niceties of working through conflicting information, and family preferences and simply being busy earning a living. Even typing up a message like this sucks up valuable time I ought to be dedicating to my main vocation.

My major warbird interest is the Lancaster (and it's Luftwaffe foes). As a child I saw the now-MOTAT Lanc fly over Auckland in its French Aeronavale colours. When was that? And I heard and saw it in the early 80's, on the grass beside Meola Rd (before it got taken inside) with 3 engines running! Fantastic. Before I skip this mortal coil I would like to taxi in Just Jane and fly in the CWH machine. And take a tour of Linconshire and various locations in Germany. There will be a delay however, related to family and funds!!! LOL.

Nice to be back here after a bit of a sabattical.

[pvsjetstar]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Paul Sheehan, born on the North Shore, Auckland where I lived until I moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2001.

I'm 58 years old and worked as a Flight Attendant for Air New Zealand from March 1980 until I retiired on 9 July 2004. For the last few years that I flew, I commuted from Melbourne (130 round trips!) to do my flying days and then came home for my days off.

My hobby is aircraft/airline research and I have a fantastic library of aviation books that I have built up over the last 30 odd years.

On 17 December 2003, my first book was published, "The Aircraft of Air New Zealand and affiliates since 1940" which is available in bookstores in NZ and Australia and it was also released in the USA, UK and Europe. Have a look at it on www.transpressnz.com

I'm currently writing a completed pictorial history of all Qantas aircraft since 1920 which will include all other airlines associated with QF including Eastern Australia, Sunstate, Southern Australian, Air Pacific and the whole NZ operation since the collapse of Ansett NZ. It will be packed with great photos and a short history of every single aircraft involved.

I'm looking for a few photos and hope that someone out there will be able to help me. I need:

Fiji Airways DH89, Fiji Airways DHA-3 Drover, Fiji Airways Beaver on floats and Air Pacific BAC1-11 in the first (original) colours.

As I live in Australia, the best way to get any photos to me would be by email ([e-mail]) but I'd need your ok to use any photos for publishing. Also I'd need an approx date of the photo, where it was shot and the photographers name (for acknowlegment in the book)

Like I said, I have a great book collection and my favourites would be 8 of the Putnam series on de Havilland, Shorts, etc etc.

I'd be really grateful for any help anyone can offer me. Thanks for your help!

[ranger]

G/day all. My name is Dave Masterson, I am 46yrs old and live in Batemans Bay NSW, Australia.

I have a keen interest in aviation, mainly the RAN FAA and work in my spare time at the Naval Aviation Museum at Nowra in the archives section.

I worked for a time with the Federal Airports Corporation at Sydney Airport as a safety officer, but now work with the Shire Council. I held a student pilots licence (Ultralight) and flew and soloed on that great Kiwi Ultralight the B22 Bantam..great little plane. Thought I'd come aboard and enjoy your interesting site.

[corsair67]

Welcome Dave,

It's great to have another (Honourary) Canberran onboard! ;D

I must get down to Nowra again sometime to have a look at the FAA Museum as I dare say it has probably changed quite a bit since I was last there in 1992.

Anyway, great to have you onboard.

[beagle]

What's your name?
Alan Smart ( beagle)

Where are you from?
Living in Rolleston but originally from Dunedin

How old are you?
43

What is your main interest in aviation? Is it historic? Airlines? Military...
mainly miltary from all eras but also civillian


Tell us about your background in aviation. Are you just an enthusiast or have you got more hands on experience? Are you a pilot? Do you have an Air Force Background? Or a civil aviation background?
It was either follow daddy into the bread factory or find something else.
so I joined the Air Force at 16 in 1980 in the trade of Safety and Surface Worker (now technician)
did 22 years before meeting a lovely lady and moved away from the hype and hustle of Auckland.

Do you belong to any aviation groups, like the NZ Warbirds, RNZAF Association, Royal Aeronautical Society or CAF, etc?
Was with the local Blenheim branch of the Aeronautical Society there while stationed at Woodbourne during 93-97
too busy with other stuff now

Are you an aircraft modeller? (Scale or R/C)
have built afew models during my time but they usually ended up broken during moves or seeing if they could really fly after afew drinks at the baggies bar.
Did make a 1/48 scale of a herk while on a stint at 40Sqn and was nearly finished, but some cat got into the hangar one night and tiped over some MEK onto it and 1/2 melted the thing.
It was a pretty big model.

What are your favourite aviation books?
have collected every pacific wings since 1979 and got nearly all australian aviation copy since 1983.
pacific wings is pretty dreary nowadays.
I think the internet has had anfluence of monthly magazines as most info found in them has been reported on aviation related sites during the month up to their release.


What are your favourite aviation films or TV programmes?
battle of britain
reach for the skies
hanover st (ok so it has more of a romantic story line)
final countdown
watched Top Gun about 75 times, yeah alright.............
there has been some pretty good small movies on youtube


Do you frequent other aviation forums?
yes


Have you any comments or suggestions for this forum, to hopefully improve your own personal usage and enjoyment on the forum?
only just joined but maybe in the future I could maybe suggest new ideas.

[planeimages]

Hi Alan,

Glad to hear someone else enjoyed Top Gun. Absolutely the best modern Jet cinematography ever. The film used many real-life scenarios from Vietnam. Lt.Commander Randy Cunningham was the role model for Cruise, etal. He faced off his F4 against the best of the Asian best, looked the man right in the eye and shot him down then returned to his carrier to the adulation of the crew and his squadron. The term "going ballistic" is right out of Cunningham speak.

Critics should remember that the actors were there to portray the characters. I think they did a superb job even if the scene with "Charlie" was a bit overdone and a bit soft porn. Cruise and Kilmer delivered the swagger associated with US fighter jocks. Sure there was some b/s and pandering to racial minorities but the film served the US military well with the recruiting doors being knocked down for months after its release. Most of the poor devils ended up flying "truckloads of dogshit out of Hong Kong" or worse.

Gaye, my wife and Felicity, our daughter, are off to see a "chick flick" so I am about to sit back, relax with a white, wind up the sound and let TG rip. Felicity has made friends with several US service people and quotes every word to them.

Thanks for your patience. I get verbal diarrhoea.

[hairy]

pvsjetstar said:

On 17 December 2003, my first book was published, "The Aircraft of Air New Zealand and affiliates since 1940" which is available in bookstores in NZ and Australia and it was also released in the USA, UK and Europe. Have a look at it on www.transpressnz.com

Hi Paul, I recently bought your book (from Techbooks in Newmarket). I went for something else but saw your book and was intrigued enough to buy it instead, and I must say I'm glad I did and I reccomend it anybody else on this forum. I will be looking forward to your next release. Thanx.



ps. I bought it before seeing your thread on the forum.

pps. Are you related to either one of another pair of flying fool Sheehans I have met, Jeff or Dave?

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, I've been away a few weeks from the forum with computer propblems - now checking back I see our membership has rolled over the 200 mark. Awesome. I think tere were about 145 when I left about 7 weeks ago!

Welcome to all the new members who've joined.

A special welcome to beagle, Alan Smart. You probably don't rememebr me at all but I'm fairly sure I recall you - S&S at Whenuapai back in the day (1990). Seems a long time ago now. I was a baggie in the Parachute bay and then the Liferaft Bay before 1TTS. Does my memory serve right that maybe you were involved in painting the Lancaster at Motat with Sid Wakelin and the W/O?

[beagle]

gidday
1990, i was at 5 sqn
i remember the lancaster painting
it was done with different sqn colours on each side from memory.
the w/o you are thing off is Peter Gardner
Sid got out with a few of the other and went to the RAAF

ps how do you post images

[lesterpk]

Been here a while but never filled one of these in, figured with ex-S&S trying to take over I had better come out of the closet.

What's your name?
Les Stockley

Where are you from?
Hobsonville now, originally the Thames Valley.

How old are you?

What is your main interest in aviation? Is it historic? Airlines? Military...
Military ;-)

Tell us about your background in aviation. Are you just an enthusiast or have you got more hands on experience? Are you a pilot? Do you have an Air Force Background? Or a civil aviation background?
Currently serving in the RNZAF, S&S tech like Beagle and Dave were. Have done a few hours towards a licence a few years back.

Do you belong to any aviation groups, like the NZ Warbirds, RNZAF Association, Royal Aeronautical Society or CAF, etc?
Nope, but does the Air Force count?

Are you an aircraft modeller? (Scale or R/C)
R/C mostly, prefer gliders and electric. Used to build plastic kits but biffed all my stuff in a move overseas a few years back.

What are your favourite aviation films or TV programmes?
Remember Call to Glory? It could have just been this thing I had for Elizabeth Shue though...

Do you frequent other aviation forums?
Yep. Pprune and a few others.

Have you any comments or suggestions for this forum, to hopefully improve your own personal usage and enjoyment on the forum?
Maybe time to add an S&S gossip thread Dave?

[beagle]

beat ya to it dave

[pvsjetstar]

Hi Hairy,
Thanks for the kind words about my book and glad to hear Tech Books still keep it in stock.
My next effort is going to be a much larger volume and I'm hoping for about a Novenmber 07 release at this stage. I have some truly great pix for it athough I must say one or two airlines are a bit mean when it comes to supplying rare shots> Howver, I've mainly overcome those issues and I'm sure I'll end up with a very worthwhile and very collectible book.
Cheers,
Paul