zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
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Post by zkdex on Oct 13, 2021 13:38:31 GMT 12
Auster Air Services were involved in further water bombing trials on 13 Sep 1957 at Rangitata Gorge. This time they provided two Austers. Quite possibly the two J/5G Autocars BDJ and BDN??
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 13, 2021 14:39:09 GMT 12
I know that Autocar ZK-BDJ was at times rigged as a sprayer, so could be used for fire-fighting.
Not sure about ZK-BDN.
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zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
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Post by zkdex on Oct 17, 2021 14:39:07 GMT 12
I was assuming that the two most powerful Austers in the fleet would be used! They were up against a Beaver at these trials.
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Post by simonrh on Oct 21, 2021 14:38:32 GMT 12
With reference to MadMax's post there are pieces of BMJ at Kairanga !
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Post by wingnut180 on Oct 25, 2021 20:47:35 GMT 12
Re BLX. A wing was seen in Syd Jensen's hangar at Kairanga 17/12/70. BQM was assembled by Snow Bennett chief engineer for Northern Air services at TeKuiti during 1956. BCM was being repaired there also at that time following its F/L in 1956. Jack Worthington was impressed with the corrosion resistance of the fibreglass skins to fertilizer of the Taylorcraft, he installed a hopper in BQM for aerial topdressing, however it was not successful due to its weight and aft C of G issues. The wings were stripped of fibreglass and recovered with fabric with little to no performance qualities, so after 50 hours of productive trials the hopper was removed and returned to a 4 seater. Les Keane began a charter operation following this, but was unsuccessful due to lack of patronage in the area.He then began flying for Rural Aviation as their base pilot at TeKuiti. Bruce Wright of Excelsior Motors in TeKuiti owned it until mid 1975 when it moved north. It sat forlornly in the old aero club hangar, usually with one flat oleo that required a special booster pump on the compressed air to raise the pressure in the leg to wings level. It was renown for its 3 bumps taking off and landing, no matter how expert the pilot was. I did a couple of circuits with Jack Bindon in 22/7/62, no C of A of coarse and can vouch for this charactistic.Despite this, its performance equaled that of the Cessna 180 in cruise, but its weight penalty let it down. Would probably be the only flying 20 in the world today, so really a low time collectable.
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Post by baz62 on Oct 26, 2021 10:52:31 GMT 12
Just remembered that Anthony and I went to look at one parked at Christchurch Airport near the Canterbury Aero Club acouple of years ago. 2019?. From memory it was sold to someone local to be rebuilt? Trying to recall the Rego and think I've got photos.
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Post by ZacYates on Oct 27, 2021 12:57:06 GMT 12
Just remembered that Anthony and I went to look at one parked at Christchurch Airport near the Canterbury Aero Club acouple of years ago. 2019?. From memory it was sold to someone local to be rebuilt? Trying to recall the Rego and think I've got photos. BQM perhaps? I remember it popping up on the NZCA blog a few times: nzcivair.blogspot.com/2016/12/christchurch-odds.html |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 29, 2021 11:14:31 GMT 12
Yes, the one static at Chch was BQM - see 4th photo on the previous page.
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