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Post by Bruce on Jul 15, 2014 21:03:28 GMT 12
Recently posted on Youtube by Archives NZ is this newsreel which includes very good footage of Mk III "Takitimu" on completion of its airliner conversion for NAC. Quite a rare gem of footage!
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Post by davidd on Jul 16, 2014 9:51:24 GMT 12
Yes Dave, a very interesting piece of film of RMA Takitimu. However please note that "RMA" indicatee "Royal Mail Aircraft" and definitely NOT "Royal Mail Auxiliary" as the narrator would have it - what a howler. "RMA" was supposed to have the same degree of authority and gavitas as RMS (for Royal Mail Ship), but somehow this has been lost in translation. Also to state that the aircraft had been "completely re-engined" is something of an overstatement, as although the engine type was changed from Pegasus 18 to Pegasus 38, this involved the addition of a certain amount of oil piping, etc, and the change from DH counterweight props to DH/Hamilton Standard Hydromatics, with full-feathering capability. Thus the engines were in fact the same units; only the props were new, and provided a much safer aircraft in consequence. For a large four-engined flying boat intended for passenger carrying, which was slightly underpowered at the time of manufacture, the fitting of non-feathering props was certainly penny-pinching taken to extremes, although this was probably because the specification they were adhering to was the original Air Ministry one, and the existing S.30 Empire boats flown by TEAL over the Tasman also had the original non-feathering props, although they too were upgraded at some point (1942/43?) with Hydromatics. At the time of the infamous open sea alighting over the Tasman in (January?) 1943 following engine failure, feathering props are defintiely mentioned. It is more than likely that Air Ministry considered that operational (combat) aircraft being delivered to the RAF (Lancaster, Mosquito, Stirling, Beaufighter) should have higher priority in receiving Hydromatics than non-operational Sunderlands to the NZ Government.
David D
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Post by hairy on Jul 28, 2014 19:42:29 GMT 12
This Archives NZ video (below) was posted today on the very interesting TIMESPANNER Facebook page. Weekly Review #172 from 1944, the first part of this film covers the arrival of the Sunderlands and also includes footage from inside the Lodestar just after the collision showing the damage. Sorry Dave, there are no interior shots but they do mention that "passengers on the flying boats today include nearly 100 men returning from duty"  |
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Post by davidd on Jul 29, 2014 9:36:21 GMT 12
Great clip of a very serious and rather Scottish W/C Don Baird on this film; I wonder why the Americans he met seemed to so admire their Sunderlands? Probably being polite and neighbourly I reckon. Also enjoyed the NZ farming scenes, real wartime propaganda, with enough truth to make it all rather interesting. I particularly liked the playful collie sheepdog engaged in an apparently endless battle with the front wheel of a tractor!
David D
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Post by camtech on Sept 9, 2017 13:45:24 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 9, 2017 14:25:30 GMT 12
Now that one is a really beaut shot!
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Post by davidd on Sept 11, 2017 11:41:33 GMT 12
Agree totally Dave, absolute cracker technically speaking, although rather too peaceful and lack of movement for my liking!
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 28, 2017 1:11:43 GMT 12
 TALL TAIL: Some idea of the size of a Sunderland flying-boat's tail unit can be gained from this picture, taken yesterday at Hobsonville. NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME 81, ISSUE 25070, 7 DECEMBER 1944 |
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