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Post by hairy on Jan 19, 2011 21:03:35 GMT 12
I am not sure why but I have this aircraft filed as being one of those flying Cook Strait. If it is can anyone identify the airfield. I wish I had been better organised over the years! ^^^^^Niiice. ^^^^^
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Post by hairy on Jan 19, 2011 21:10:39 GMT 12
In Paul Sheehan's (a member here) excellent "The Aircraft of Air New Zealand and affiliates since 1940" the four C-46s were; XT-840 XT-844 XT-846 XT-864 To paraphrase the book (buy it at Tech-Books in Auckland if you want the full version ;D)............. The first 2 arrived at Paraparaumu on 12 April 1951 commencing trials two days later on the Paraparaumu - Woodbourne route and regular operations commenced on 16th April. The 3rd aircraft at the end of May and the 4th one a little later. 3 were operated at a time with one being in reserve. Apparently the pilots weren't too happy as they were paid per flying hour and the trip only took 30min with an hour turnaround each end. Once the Bristols arrived the first C-46 left on 28 June 1951 back to Formosa via Brisbane. The 2nd one repositioned to Auckland on the 18th of July to wait for the other two to join it on 23rd July, all 3 finally departed on 27 July back to Formosa.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 19, 2011 21:45:02 GMT 12
What is the flag on that C-46's tail? Is it pre-Communist China? Where were they from, these XT- registered Commandoes?
I reckon the Commando is a cool looking aircraft and an overlooked workhorse alongside the Dakota, a bit like the Hurricane to the Spitfire.
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Post by kb on Jan 19, 2011 22:05:52 GMT 12
Dave, these aircraft were American owned but registered in Formosa (Taiwan). It later morphed into Air America. As Shorty has previously suggested, a very interesting airline.
BTW, I am still intrigued by the fact that the C-46 posted by Marcus does not have a Bu. Number painted on it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 19, 2011 23:25:21 GMT 12
Thanks
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 20, 2011 22:31:59 GMT 12
Thanks for the gen on the C-46s. It all helps. The XT registrations were current in mid-1951, the change to B registration prefix came later that same year. Therefore the XT registrations would have been on the four aircraft operated in NZ. The CIA connection is valid - apparently they took a financial interest in the company's ownership from July 1950. There is a minutely-detailed paper on CAT in the 1950s at www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/speccoll/Leeker/history/Japan.pdfHowever, it makes no mention of the New Zealand operation. Too insignificant I guess.
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Post by hairy on Jan 20, 2011 23:44:47 GMT 12
To quote Paul Sheehan's book again.............. "Towards the end of their stay in New Zealand the 'XT' registrations were changed to 'B' registrations with the aircraft retaining their numerical identities."In fact the CIA had full ownership after the (northern) Summer of 1950. From Christopher Robbins "Air America"............... In the summer of 1950 Chennault was back in Washington once again in desperate straits for funds. The Agency (CIA) decided that its operations in the Far East would have a continuing need for secure airlift and therefore to buy Civil Air Transport outright. It then sought the approval of the Department of State and spoke to the Assistant Secretary of State for the Far East. He pointed out that it was basic US policy not to get the government in competition with the private sector but agreed in the circumstances, as there was no private industry involved in the area at that time. They also accepted the Agency's somewhat implausible logic that by buying the airline they were denying its assets to the Red Chinese. The state Department decided it would go along with the deal on the understanding that the CIA would divest itself of the private enterprise as soon as it was feasible. In fact the Air America complex grew and grew and was used by the CIA, as a solely owned proprietary, for twenty-five years......... ...........Under the new arrangement CAT was recognised as a Delaware Corporation under a CIA proprietary holding company called the Pacific Corporation and thus became the original link in the CIA air empire. Its new base was in Washington D.C for administrative purposes and in Taipei, Taiwan. Air America is a fascinating book well worth a read.
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Post by dakman on Jan 23, 2011 12:25:01 GMT 12
Thanks to all for the postings on this thread great to see Have a query that am sure can be answered Polynesian Airlines operated two Percival Prince aircraft as ZK BYN -BYO Where these aircraft flown in New Zealand? servicing etc ? and their fate
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 23, 2011 14:20:05 GMT 12
There were three actually. Percival P.50 Prince Mk 3 ZK-BMQ c/n P50/38 ex A90-1 VH-RSX 'Princess Maureen' was with Polynesian Airlines Ltd., Apia, Western Samoa from 13Ju59 until damaged on landing with burst mainwheel tyre at Faleolo 4Dec60, ran into ditch & DBR, pilot Reginald R Barnewall. Derelict at Faleolo. Percival P.50 Prince Mk 4E ZK-BYN c/n P.50/48 ex G-AMPR VR-TBN was with Polynesian from Feb1961 until WFU @ Faleolo 25Jul63 at 3059hrs. Sold to Australian dealer Central Aircraft Exchange, Sydney in mid-1965, aircraft remained at Western Samoa and B/up at Faleolo Airport 1965-66. Percival P.54 Prince 3A ZK-BYO c/n P.54/25 ex VR-TBD was with Polynesian from Feb1961 until WFU Faleolo Airport Mar63 as uneconomic to overhaul @ 3046hrs. Sold to Australian dealer Central Aircraft Exchange, Sydney in mid-1965, aircraft remained at Western Samoa and B/up at Faleolo Airport. Derelict Fuselage extant there for a time marked with " UA Saemolia OE" in crude letters. Last reported seen derelict at Apia 3.81. So none left Western Samoa after service. Presumably Central bought BYN and BYO for engines/avionics. I have not seen any report of any of the three visiting NZ at any time. Maybe servicing was onsite or Australia. When I was in Apia I asked around Polynesian Airlines about the Percivals , but I only found one fellow there who had any recollection of them. Bear in mind that materials are expensive and in short supply in the islands, so anything left lying around gets 'used up' pretty quickly. I do have one very poor photo of ZK-BMQ, so if anyone can add more photos that'd be most welcome.
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Post by dakman on Jan 23, 2011 14:39:57 GMT 12
Thanks Peter had forgotten about BMQ great pics thanks for the details of the other two I found a poor shot of BMQ ?? no reg apparent derelict so any other photos would be very welcome
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 23, 2011 16:10:11 GMT 12
Thanks Dakman. I have added my photo of ZK-BMQ to the post above. As you can see, its a copy from the local Samoan newspaper, of shaky quality. Be nice to see yours - and any others.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 14, 2018 20:08:55 GMT 12
RAF VL248, this was the flying workshop with the Royal Flight. Anyone know why, and when, it was here? The National Library has a couple of photos of Wing Commander Eddie Tacon sitting in this Viking. Both are dated 6 April 1948 Wing Commander, E W Tacon, at the cockpit controls of the Vickers Viking C.2 VL248 airplane, King's flight, Whenuapai Air Base, Waitakere City, Auckland From here link
Link
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 14, 2018 21:46:17 GMT 12
RAF VL248, this was the flying workshop with the Royal Flight. Anyone know why, and when, it was here? The National Library has a couple of photos of Wing Commander Eddie Tacon sitting in this Viking. Both are dated 6 April 1948 Wing Commander, E W Tacon, at the cockpit controls of the Vickers Viking C.2 VL248 airplane, King's flight, Whenuapai Air Base, Waitakere City, Auckland From here link
LinkThe Viking was visiting New Zealand in preparation for a projected tour by HRH King George VI in 1949. This was cancelled owing to the monarch’s ill-health. Errol
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Post by davidd on Jan 15, 2018 12:17:55 GMT 12
Why is OUR NATIONAL LIBRARY (!!!) using peculiarly American spelling? Has the Museum's staff been overrun by expat Americans who insist on using THEIR spelling at our expense? I just KNEW it would come to this! David D
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Post by kevsmith on Jan 15, 2018 14:45:19 GMT 12
I recall seeing one of the Polynesian Prince’s at Whenuapai probably late 1960 or early 1961 parked alongside a hangar used by TEAL. Was surprised to see NZ rego on a foreign aircraft. No other details remembered.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 15, 2018 16:17:09 GMT 12
I recall seeing one of the Polynesian Prince’s at Whenuapai probably late 1960 or early 1961 parked alongside a hangar used by TEAL. Was surprised to see NZ rego on a foreign aircraft. No other details remembered. An excellent article on these Polynesian Princes by Tom Singfield appears in the September issue of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand quarterly journal, The Aero Historian. Errol
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jan 15, 2018 16:37:49 GMT 12
Why is OUR NATIONAL LIBRARY (!!!) using peculiarly American spelling? Has the Museum's staff been overrun by expat Americans who insist on using THEIR spelling at our expense? I just KNEW it would come to this! David D Consider yourself damn lucky that at least the (American) spelling was correct! Would you like to join me in establishing the 'Apostrophe Police Inc.' I am looking for members but it's hard to find anyone who cares about proper grammar and punctuation... (journalists and "proof"-readers included) Gets off soap box and goes looking for a beer...
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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 16, 2018 10:16:46 GMT 12
One of my pet peeves! Sign outside a shop: "Record's and CD's"
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Post by delticman on Jan 16, 2018 10:23:58 GMT 12
One of my pet peeves! Sign outside a shop: "Record's and CD's" I'm looking for the person who started calling the places where trains stop, Train Stations. Also coupled with this one of the cub reported that a fire near Rolleston recently had got to the train lines. Then there is this other person who came up with aircrafts, singular or plural.
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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 16, 2018 10:29:36 GMT 12
And then there's the word 'transportation'; it's Transport! Also, it's just 'unique'; it's not 'more unique', or 'very unique' - just 'unique'. Billy T. James joke; "How do you catch a unique pig? You neek up on it!
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