Flying On The Edge - Confessions of an Ag Pilot

[airtruk]

Flying On The Edge - Confessions of an Ag Pilot by Bernie Haskell is now available and was advertised in the Rural New last week for anyone that might be interested.

The book is $35.00 + P&P.

I received my copy yesterday and there's some great reading. 62 short chapters of adventures both here and overseas.

The book can be ordered by either calling or e-mailing Bernie:

[e-mail] or

0800 362 529

Attachments:

[11SQNLDR]

Thanks for this mate, will it be available in local bookstores or just by ordering direct from Bernie?

He's a decent bloke, only did one flight with him in JAD where we dumped out a bunch of skydivers from 12,000ft over Hastings then enjoyed an impressive 'Beta descent' passing the meatbombs on the way down ;D

[thomarse]

I'll be getting a copy!

I guess there are others on this Board who have also read Barry Cardno's autobiography "Let Fly!"?

[Mr Cresco]

Gidday Everybody! 

Following on from my limited author's test print run in 2011, I have now commercially printed the greatly improved new edition of my book, "Flying on the Edge - Confessions of an Ag Pilot".

The new 347 page book contains new and updated stories, lots of full colour photos and my own cartoons throughout the text and a colour location map etc.

The book is self-published, produced and printed right here in New Zealand to keep us proud.

The book can be purchased directly from my website www.flyingontheedge.co.nz.

"Flying On The Edge"

If you wish to purchase multiple copies, then contact Flying on the Edge - Bulk Sales to gain a quote for pricing and shipping.

I absolutely enjoyed re-living my life as an ag pilot as I wrote the book.

Cheers Bernie

[Mr Cresco]

Hi All, I will be posting some classic photos of Cresco action in the 70's, 80's & 90's when I worked for Uncle Ozzie and in my own business, Jetspread Aviation based in Taupo. Cheers Bernie

[Mr Cresco]

Hi Guys, here is the start of some historical photos of the first few cresco's LTR and JAD. Ive got boxes of old skool photos, so will start scanning them to load up. Enjoy! Cheers Bernie.



LTR at Singapore Airshow. Fitted with spraying microairs. Circa 1982-83. It flew via Lord Howe on the way to Australia, then later to Singapore.

[Mr Cresco]

LTR on the extended overseas tour, or big sales OE! At Tamworth, NSW. Superair were great hosts! many thanks!

[Mr Cresco]

JAD Performing the first certified parachute drops At Matamata Circa 1985.







The NZ Skydive Team below......

[11SQNLDR]

Awesome piccies mate!

Did you bring LTR into the A&P Showgrounds in Hastings around that time? I have some old pics including the departure from the small paddock on the Saturday & wonder if that was you?

[Mr Cresco]

Sorry I have a touch of amnesia here, but I was certainly the only one flying LTR at the time. I was in and out of all sorts of places doing air shows and demonstrations, both here and overseas, showing this marvellous aircraft off. Just for the record I had my name on 2 Crescos [JAD,LTR] while still working for James Aviation. Shortly after I formed JeT Spread Aviation with JAD, I got Civil Aviation approval for parachuting and PAC did the conversion kit. It took about 3 hours to change to parachuting, then I would do 3-4 days parachuting then convert back to topdressing in about 4 hours. Cheers Bernie.

[The Red Baron]

Judging by all the bodies cramming in the hopper came out?.

[starr]

Just received the book. looks like it is going to be an interesting read. To the photo Bernie posted on May 22, the person with him is the late Eddie Sagar. Eddie was my driver when I first started in Warkworth in 1969. He was an excellent driver and gave me a lot of help, especially in directions to different strips. I missed him when he decided to leave Warkworth, but we keep in touch over the years. Very sad that he departed this world at such a young age.

[gustav10]

Jun 9, 2015 14:55:28 GMT 12 The Red Baron said:

Judging by all the bodies cramming in the hopper came out?.

Yes, that was part of the quick change kit. Once we did the changes a couple of times we got quite good at it.
Bernie, have you got any of the pix we took of JAD with the "rocket pods" fitted?

[Mr Cresco]

Yep! the hopper came out and we got 15 in the back and me and a passenger in the front. I could do a round trip to 15000 feet in about 16 minutes beating the meat bombs to the ground and loading up as they landed. With the Crescos rapid climb to drop height the expanding, foul gut gasses prompted many ribald comments as they wafted through the cramped space in the back. These guys lived on garlic and baked beans I'm sure.

Be keen to hear your comments Dave.

[Mr Cresco]

Sorted the rocket pod photo out for the next lot of photos.

[isc]

Garlic and baked beans, thats the rocket power that gave you the rate of climb. isc

[Mr Cresco]

And here it is, the first and only "Ground Attack Cresco", complete with contract mercenaries for hire to tackle all your farming invaders and pests!!!

[Mr Cresco]

These next photos are of real and practice fire bombing. This first one landing on the Desert Road in 1988. You can see the fires in the background.



Landing on the Desert Road from another angle.....1988



Below, fire bombing practice (or ground attack) at Murry Mutuschkas farm using hay doused in diesel, Nov 1988.



Two Jetspread fire bombers line a stern performing demo for DOC around the Taupo area. Rear of the Cresco is a Fletch 400.



Below, fire bombing demo for overseas visitors in Earthquake Gully in Taupo.



Fire bombing demo at Taupo Airfield cira 1986.

[Mr Cresco]

JAD fresh out of the paint booth at PAC, in the new Jetspread livery, replacing the James colours. And in the background the two Carvairs that headed to Hawaii many years later. circa 1983/4.

[baronbeeza]

rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/4332/carvair-zk-nwa-crash