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Post by aileronroll on Nov 25, 2011 18:12:20 GMT 12
Agreed that Sir Tim's Spit is being well looked after by the friendly team at Temora. I manage to fly in there about twice a year. The Spit is refered to by all in Temora as "The Kiwi Spitfire, previously owned by Sir Tim'.
Nigel Lamb gave a fabulous display in it a couple of years ago, clearly Nigel has learnt abit from his years flying with Ray and Mark Hanna!
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Post by spitfire14 on Nov 25, 2011 20:08:02 GMT 12
Thanks aileronroll.
Yes, Nigel Lamb visited Wanaka in 2004 and 2006 and flew magnificent displays in TB863. It is fantastic that we have such passionate and skilled aviators to carry on the legacy of the great and much missed Ray and Mark Hanna.
Nick.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 25, 2011 20:22:02 GMT 12
I never felt angry that the Spitfire went to Temora, but I admit at first i felt sad - although it seemed inevitable it would go eventually as the collection was dissolving. However now we have two Spitties flying in NZ and another well onthe way to being restored to flight. Who would have thought that possible five years ago?
I am forever grateful to Sir Tim for bringing his great collection to NZ and sharing his wonderful enthusiasm and passion for the warbirds and the history with the public. He's a wonderful man. I am also very grateful to Brendon Deere and Doug Brooker for doing the same thing with their beautiful Spitfires. Seeing them in the air together at Whenuapai and then Omaka was a huge thrill.
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Post by spitfire14 on Nov 25, 2011 20:33:19 GMT 12
Here here Dave!  |
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Post by joesmith on Nov 25, 2011 21:18:22 GMT 12
I never felt angry that the Spitfire went to Temora, but I admit at first i felt sad - although it seemed inevitable it would go eventually as the collection was dissolving. However now we have two Spitties flying in NZ and another well onthe way to being restored to flight. Who would have thought that possible five years ago? I am forever grateful to Sir Tim for bringing his great collection to NZ and sharing his wonderful enthusiasm and passion for the warbirds and the history with the public. He's a wonderful man. I am also very grateful to Brendon Deere and Doug Brooker for doing the same thing with their beautiful Spitfires. Seeing them in the air together at Whenuapai and then Omaka was a huge thrill. And to think that we may have the opportunity to see three Spitfires in the air together in the near future .......what about four, that would be good? Andy |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 25, 2011 22:12:56 GMT 12
Three Spitfires and a Mossie would be great enough Andy. But yes, a fourth Spitfire would be amazing.
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 25, 2011 22:35:52 GMT 12
To pull a Dave and stir things up a little, it was an Australian Spitfire before it was a Kiwi one. :-P
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Post by JDK on Nov 25, 2011 23:26:15 GMT 12
Did they ever get the two P-40F's flying together, this one and Stephen Grey's TFC one? No. It was suggested, but there was (I'm guessing) a 'need' for the unveiling to be at Duxford, without any thunder being stolen down under. Agreed that Sir Tim's Spit is being well looked after by the friendly team at Temora. I manage to fly in there about twice a year. The Spit is refered to by all in Temora as "The Kiwi Spitfire, previously owned by Sir Tim'. To pull a Dave and stir things up a little, it was an Australian Spitfire before it was a Kiwi one. :-P And what Andy means by that is the former G-CDAN (as it'll always be to me) was originally a European-based RAAF operated example, now complimenting the RAAF Pacific-based Mk.VIII. By the way, there's also been a bit of concatenation of the Lowy story. David Lowy is the son of Frank Lowy, the founder, developer, and now Non-Exec Chairman of the Westfield group. David has a board role in parts of the Westfield and Lowy empires, but is not the main Lowy in the process. Westfield is also very much a global empire also. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_LowyAs far as I'm aware, Frank has no interest in aviation, but David was a very successful aerobatic pilot before developing the Temora Aviation Museum, as his aerobatic competition career was curtailed by his then other business responsibilities. Regards, |
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Post by spitfire14 on Nov 26, 2011 6:44:45 GMT 12
Yes I can't wait to see the Spitfire Mk XIV NH799 fly again. I never got to see it when it was flying in NZ '94-'95 but I am a Spitfire fanatic and the Mk XIV with that lovely long, sleek nose and all that grunt....whoa!! ;D
If you ever get a chance to visit Temora it is well worth it. David Lowy has done a fantastic job....well done!
Nick.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2011 7:33:40 GMT 12
Thanks for that explanation about the Westfield connection James. I always smile to myself when researching in old newspapers here because in the 1930's and 40's there were Westfield Market financial reports regularly. At first I wondered how it could be as the Mall idea had not even been invented (not here anyway) and when I looked into it a Westfield Market back then was the local cattle sales yards where stock was sold by farmers for slaughter!! The financial figures were sales price, all important to farmers.
Sometimes when I'm in an overcrowded mall now I think of those cattle sales yards. Lots of dumb animals milling around while people make money from them. Nothing really changes.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2011 7:38:02 GMT 12
And Andy and James, I am confident that the history of TB863 was always pretty well promoted in NZ and celebrated. It almost always wore its No. 452 Squadron colour scheme here when it easily could have worn the more popular scheme with locals of No. 485 Squadron. And its history with the Australian squadron and subsequent RAF squadrons were always well celebrated in articles and airshow commentary. It also once flew in Luftwaffe markings, for the 1950 Farnbough Airshow, too.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2011 12:08:31 GMT 12
I (literally) mourned the "loss" of TB863 to Australia but I came to realise it was going to the best possible caretakers for her, and for a wartime Ozzie squadron bird to finally come home is wonderful. And I don't know if it's just me but it does appear in Jase's photos that she is in immaculate condition, better than new.
Kudoes to TAM for such a great job, and yes, I'll be quite happy when the three Spits escort the Mosquito and the FW190 is scrambled to meet them!
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Post by McFly on Nov 26, 2011 12:41:05 GMT 12
I never felt angry that the Spitfire went to Temora, but I admit at first i felt sad - although it seemed inevitable it would go eventually as the collection was dissolving. However now we have two Spitties flying in NZ and another well onthe way to being restored to flight. Who would have thought that possible five years ago? I am forever grateful to Sir Tim for bringing his great collection to NZ and sharing his wonderful enthusiasm and passion for the warbirds and the history with the public. He's a wonderful man. I am also very grateful to Brendon Deere and Doug Brooker for doing the same thing with their beautiful Spitfires. Seeing them in the air together at Whenuapai and then Omaka was a huge thrill. And to think that we may have the opportunity to see three Spitfires in the air together in the near future .......what about four, that would be good? Andy Hmmm....perhaps keep an eye on Whenuapai in late Feb 2012..  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2011 14:26:53 GMT 12
Are you getting the plastic one flying Marty? ;D
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Post by aileronroll on Nov 26, 2011 15:32:06 GMT 12
Without starting World War 3.....
I don't think it really matters that much when a historic aircraft leaves NZ these days, the reality is there is so much amazing stuff arriving on the NZ Warbird scene. As far as im aware everything that has left in recent years have gone to very good homes and are well looked after by those that can afford them.
The reality is also the world is forever becoming a smaller place, New Zealand's World class display pilot's are still seen displaying the world over. Whilst we are forever thankfull to Sir Tim and Co for proving to us all that historic aircraft are a reality for New Zealand lets not forget our past and present display pilot's who have made the whole thing possible also... Ray and Mark Hanna, Tom Middleton, Trevor Bland, John Lanham to name a few. I have not lived in NZ for over 10 years now but I'm sure there are new and younger fabulous display pilots continuing their legacy along with the new bread of warbird owners for whom Sir Tim has set an amazing yard stick to follow!
For a further bleat about Termora for the expat Kiwi it has the feel that Wanaka had(and I'm sure still does) 20 years ago, a small, very friendly and well run run outfit with a total aviation feel about it. Display days also provide steak sammi's of the quality I recall from Wanaka years ago!
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Post by spitfire14 on Nov 26, 2011 16:24:23 GMT 12
Dave, probably just an accidental slip of a finger on the keyboard but TB863 flew with 453 Sqn RAAF, not 452 Sqn ;D
Cheers,
Nick
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2011 17:21:00 GMT 12
Yes, finger trouble. Whoops.
Bah, it's not 485 Sqn so what does it matter? ;D
Aileronroll, you're right that there have been many greats in the NZ warbird scene in the past and there remain many greats now, some of the best in the world in fact, and there are many mroe coming through too. Apart from Sir Tim, the other group who need a special mention has to be Trevor Bland and the original group of NZ Warbirds piltos and owners that got the whole movement really going back in the late 1970's. Truely heroes, all of them.
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Post by McFly on Nov 26, 2011 18:35:33 GMT 12
Did somebody mention Sir Tim, Spitfires and 485 Sqn all in the same post...? ;D  (Sir Tim Wallis discussing the logistics of swapping places with SQNLDR Sean Perrett during the 485 Sqn reunion at Whenuapai) |
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Post by oldfokker on Nov 29, 2011 18:27:55 GMT 12
Great collection Jason - top effort in the heat. Good to finally see the Fury - a few more from a top weekend. OF    |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 30, 2011 15:06:07 GMT 12
Fair few layers of Meguiars on that beautiful Sea Fury by the looks of it, nice pics oldfokker, cheers!
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