|
|
Post by Ian Warren on Sept 30, 2015 11:46:17 GMT 12
Was this the 1973 Airshow at Wigram? Now that photo is a step back in time, I sat up on the garage roof with my brothers, I was 11 then, I'm so sure that definitely is the 1973 Wigram airshow  |
|
|
|
Post by suthg on Sept 30, 2015 12:19:54 GMT 12
When living in Christchurch about 1978 or 79 in Linwood Ave, I remember a huge number of Harvards up in the sky over the city centre around an August - September time I believe. Making a lot of noise haha! Another time obviously.
|
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Sept 30, 2015 17:58:18 GMT 12
When living in Christchurch about 1978 or 79 Won't be 78 or 79 as the retirement flight was 1977.  |
|
|
|
Post by suthg on Sept 30, 2015 20:44:48 GMT 12
Well perhaps it was 76 or '77 then. I was trying to remember when I lived in Inman Ave, as I was in ChCh for two years 72-73, then a year shearing back north, then back ChCh private boarding '75, and out flatting '76 onwards. So perhaps it was the mass hysteria of '77 then. Thanks for the correction Baz!!
|
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Oct 20, 2015 21:59:00 GMT 12
Have posted these before, have got myself together with my pic's a lot better images this time around.    The ex Alpine Fighter Collections Zero replica, a Harvard doing a pretty good impersonation of a Zero, on Lord Howe Island heading for Oz.     One of the most fluky pic’s I have ever taken, she came in from an unusual direction, the southwest, pointed and pressed and got her between the mountains!  |
|
|
|
Post by Ian Warren on Oct 21, 2015 6:26:01 GMT 12
 Love the external fuel tank on the HavO 
|
|
Ces
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 5 
|
Post by Ces on Feb 7, 2016 0:13:09 GMT 12
 A couple more from the same day I went for a ride.  |
|
|
|
Post by NZ1009 on May 24, 2016 0:03:59 GMT 12
 Woodbourne RNZAF Station Harvard aircraft now proudly carries Blenheim's Coat-of-Arms on its tailplane. It is the first piece of station equipment to be so decorated. Here LAC EJ Taylor is seen with his handiwork. |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 24, 2016 1:56:32 GMT 12
What serial was that RNZAF Station Harvard?
|
|
|
|
Post by mit on May 24, 2016 12:37:15 GMT 12
What serial was that RNZAF Station Harvard? I think it is NZ1009 Dave Firstly, NZ1009 taken inside one of the concrete hangars at Whenuapai 6July1963. Just the place for a lad with a Russian folding camera at the height of the cold war. I think that this was visiting from the EFTS at Wigram at the time, but I do see that there is a coat-of-arms painted on the fin? This Harvard was later a reserve aircraft for the RNZAF Historic flight and is now with the museum at Wigram  |
|
|
|
Post by mit on May 24, 2016 12:40:26 GMT 12
The following photos show NZ1083 with the Marlborough coat of arms and NZ1074 with presumably some Auckland related coat of arms (All RNZAF Museum)  And NZ1083 later on |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 24, 2016 14:08:39 GMT 12
Thanks Mit. So the aircraft that got the coat of arms on the tail were generally considered as Station hacks?
|
|
|
|
Post by davidd on May 24, 2016 14:36:37 GMT 12
Dave H,
Have following notes on allotment of Harvards to and from Woodbourne from 1952 to 54, (probably Harvards at WB 54 to 59), then 1960s, for duty as station "hack": also some movements of Harvards to Hobsonville as station hack. So NZ1083, 1010. 1009 at Woodbourne. However there could have been earlier and later aircraft at both stations. I think there was also a station Harvard at Taieri in late 1950s after the TAF Squadron was disbanded and prior to station closing.
21/10/52; First Harvard (NZ1055) allotted to Station Woodbourne as “hack” aircraft in post-WW2 era. This particular Harvard was replaced by NZ1004 (the last of the Mk. 2s in service) in June 1954.
29/2/60 (Technical, No. 1 RD); Harvard NZ1083 removed from storage at 1 RD and allotted to Woodbourne as Station hack (A502 dated 11/2/60, on 7/3/60; next see under date 14/2/63.)
22/6/61; Harvard NZ1010 allotted from Woodbourne (storage) to Woodbourne “as replacement for NZ1083” per A633 of this date, “despatched 27/6". (Ref. Allotment register; note, this a/c almost immediately to Ohakea as temporary replacement for NZ1014 on 10/7/61 (A637 of 5/7), as 1014 sent to WB on 14/7 for demagnetisation (A638).
14/2/63; Harvard Mk. 2A* NZ1009 allotted from Wigram to Woodbourne for establishment. Harvard Mk. 3* NZ1083 allotted from Woodbourne to Wigram for establishment, both effected 7/3/63. (Ref. Allotment register, A863, A864 respectively.)
4/11/63; Change over of Harvard at Hobsonville. Mk. 2A* NZ1013 allotted from Hobsonville to Woodbourne for major servicing, Mk. 3* NZ1076 from Wigram to Hobsonville, both despatched 11/11/63. (Ref. Allotment register, however below see under date 5/12/63.)
11/11/63; (MR&SU, Hobsonville). Flight Lieutenant Lambert picked up our replacement Harvard from Woodbourne, NZ1076.” (Ref. Unit history, presume replaced NZ1013.)
5/12/63; Harvard NZ1013 allotted from Woodbourne to Hobsonville for establishment, effected 17/12. (Ref. Allotment register, A953, however see under date 9/12/63.)
9/12/63; Harvard Mk.2* (3* I think!) NZ1076 allotted from Hobsonville to Wigram, for IRR storage; was this the end of permanent station aircraft for Hobby? (Ref. Allotment register, A958)
20/5/66; Devon NZ1820 allotted from Wigram to Woodbourne for establishment, effected 1/6/66. Harvard NZ1009 allotted from Woodbourne to Wigram for LTS, despatched 30/6. (Ref. Allotment register, A312, A313)
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 24, 2016 14:43:08 GMT 12
Thanks for that.
|
|
|
|
Post by NZ1009 on Jun 20, 2016 21:57:22 GMT 12
The Birdlings Flat airfield was still available in 1959 however the Air Weapons Camps had come to an end before that. The airfield was used by RNZAF Austers and a Harvard in 1959 for an Army Artilitery exercise. However by 1969/1970 it was being described as the 'old satellite airfield' so I imagine it stopped being used in the 1960 - 1969 timeframe and probably closer to 1960 than 1969. As regards position, the following Google Earth picture shows: - the site from where the sounding rockets were launched (from www.astronautix.com/sites/birsflat.htm) - the site of the concrete blockhouse (which was not associated with the rocket launching).  From the following two pictures, from the shape of the Lake Ellesmere coastline (assuming that it has not changed too much), I would place the airfield buildings shown in the second picture at Marker A (Latitude 43°49'0.54"S, Longitude 172°36'23.08"E). However, from the third picture I would place the airfield buildings at Marker B (Latitude 43°48'48.88"S, Longitude 172°38'9.96"E). This is based on assuming the road coming in has not been relocated.    From www.mapspast.org.nz/ I have found a map which shows the location of the Birdlings Flat airfield. It is at Marker B in the Google Earth picture in the quoted post. The targets shown on the map can be seen in the last picture in the quoted post.  |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 20, 2016 22:33:20 GMT 12
That spit is a much larger piece of land than I'd realised.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 20, 2016 23:02:07 GMT 12
I drove out to the Birdlings area a few years ago.
Not much left to see on the ground.
|
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Jul 15, 2016 23:23:13 GMT 12
Anyone notice that Harvard NZ1015 is now on the civil register as ZK-RNZ registered to the RNZAF and similarly their Tiger Moth has reverted to ZK-AIE? Does anyone have the answer as to why has occurred?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 16, 2016 1:38:39 GMT 12
From what I understand from a talk given by then Chief of Air Force AVM Graham Lintott about five years ago this is part of a plan that has been in the works for several years to civilianise them, and to set the RNZAF Historic Flight up as a Trust rather than a military unit, because the Government bean counters were cutting funding of all sorts of "non-essential" units and they were hoping to ensure these assets were retained in a way that meant the accountants could not squeeze them out of existence.
As it happens I don't think either aircraft has flown in a few years, and I'm told the RNZAF removed their staff from the Historic Flight some time back due to lack of money. The RNZAF's plans to add a Devon, Iroquois and Sioux to the Flight have also all dissolved. So a sad state of affairs really.
|
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Jul 16, 2016 9:00:15 GMT 12
Thanks Dave. Actually the Harvard has been a regular flyer often attending the TVAL days at Masterton. With it going on the civil register I would like to think that will remain the case. The Devon, NZ1819, did appear on the civil register as ZK-DVN2 on 13 Dec 2010 registered to the Central Flying School (RNZAF)but was cancelled on 6 September 2011 as withdrawn from use.
|
|
Love the external fuel tank on the HavO 
