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Post by paddy on Apr 4, 2012 8:21:57 GMT 12
The racks were not "cut off". The two that are still on the wings were unable to be removed, the other two came off with a lot of effort. What was cut off were some of the underwing stores as the racks were completely seized. I believe it was the paint shop that did the cutting, and they cut through the lugs on the stores. They were hard enough to take off when the A/C was in service. They were torqued to 700 foot pounds. It took 2 of us swinging on a 6 foot torque wrench to refit them.
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Post by mumbles on Apr 4, 2012 10:16:20 GMT 12
Yeah it is the wrong colours and they have used gloss paint! The markings are all wrong as well. I think they used automotive paint My wife laughs at how the first thing I said when I saw it on Saturday was "they never looked like that!" . I know one of the guys that put it together originally, and he is most unimpressed with the new look, and how it was treated on show day. Shuffled off into a corner, no placards or explanation, or in fact anything to give it some context. About the one consolation is the gloss finish will be a bit more durable.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Apr 4, 2012 11:34:40 GMT 12
Yes, at first glance before I noticed the colour changes, was that the gloss may have been applied to protect the paint a bit better than the matt finish. Still a bit peeved that they cut the lugs off.
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Post by Calum on Apr 4, 2012 13:46:38 GMT 12
I can understand the gloss finish as it will make it easier to keep presentable. But they could have least got the colours right
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 4, 2012 15:05:51 GMT 12
Personally I think "Shuffled off into a corner" is not fair. It was parked on the hard stand next to the No. 75 Squadron Association's tent. It was also at the cross roads between the aircraft displays, the hangar displays and the food vans, and pretty much seemed to have constant traffic filing past it.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Apr 4, 2012 17:52:09 GMT 12
Without inducing a thread hijack, re reply #4: Obiwan, great pics cheers! Check out the crowd control and security fence! Those were the days... I thought I read on this forum that Wigram's runway wasn't sealed until the 1990s...?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 4, 2012 18:43:19 GMT 12
It wasn't, the runway that opened in 1991 was the first proper runway there. Before that aircraft had operated from what was actually a taxiway.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Apr 4, 2012 19:18:16 GMT 12
The racks were not "cut off". The two that are still on the wings were unable to be removed, the other two came off with a lot of effort. What was cut off were some of the underwing stores as the racks were completely seized. I believe it was the paint shop that did the cutting, and they cut through the lugs on the stores. That was what I was told, sorry if it isn't correct. I have since found out that the Safe Air guys have found a full set of U/S racks in the disposal package and they will be refitted in due course - well done guys! I was also dissapointed that no external stores were put on or around the aircraft, but the seized racks explain why nothing was hanging from it. When presented to the Ohakea Museum in 2003 it had a full compliment of weapons and stores as shown in the photos of it outside the old museum. I heard the MER and 6x500lb'ers were taken back by the Armourers. I wonder where the buddy store is?
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Post by mumbles on Apr 4, 2012 22:24:23 GMT 12
Personally I think "Shuffled off into a corner" is not fair. It was parked on the hard stand next to the No. 75 Squadron Association's tent. It was also at the cross roads between the aircraft displays, the hangar displays and the food vans, and pretty much seemed to have constant traffic filing past it. Fair enough, I was only repeating what was said I did think it looked a little isolated from the other ground displays though, maybe a little info about the history of '57 would have been good. I'm pleased that someone has taken an interest and got it spruced up, even if it does set off my modeller's accuro-meter ;D So kudos to whoever got that organised. I'd rather it looked a bit off than not see it around at all.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 4, 2012 22:34:46 GMT 12
Yes I agree that for the general public a board with a few words would have been nice but I got the impression it was parked away from the active aircraft simply so it was closer to the No. 75 Squadron Reunion do.
It looked better than the big garden gnome thing they had out the front of their tent. What was that about? Oggie told me there was going to be a Jimmy Ward VC bronze statue there and I was quite looking forward to it, but that thing was definatley not what I expected. I really hope that was not meant to be Jimmy Ward depicted!
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Post by skyhawkdon on Apr 5, 2012 7:55:20 GMT 12
Yep, that was the wax mould for the Jimmy Ward statue Dave. It has nothing to do with the 75 Squadron Association but those behind it asked to have it in our area for fund raising due to the 75 Sqn connection. I'm sure the bronze finished product will look a lot better than what we saw at Ohakea! He did look a bit our of proportion and imposing, but that is "art" for you! Here are some photos for those wondering what we are talking about. A very special group photo this one - some of our WWII veterans who were able to attend the 75 Squadron Association reunion
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 5, 2012 9:31:25 GMT 12
Had the wax melted in the sun? It looked like a gargoyle. Sorry to be critical, but I hope you're right that the finished statue will look a lot better.
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Post by b10m on Apr 5, 2012 16:25:24 GMT 12
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Post by motoxjase on May 10, 2012 11:05:50 GMT 12
Just had all the gear that was used to get the Tbird over to OZ transfer through our depot and I had a look and reading the stamp plates etc was really interesting. What I think is the main cradle used to lift the Skyhawk was manufactered in 1969 by the Douglas Corporation, had USN and TA-4G on the Stamp plate, also boxes with No2 Squadron, Fly-away Boxes written on them along with tool boxes and what I think is main-jacks??? For joe average like myself it made for an interesting morning having a look at all this gear that has so much history.
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E.T.
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by E.T. on May 14, 2012 20:08:48 GMT 12
I always knew the Skyhawks were used in the 1977 NZ-made film "Sleeping Dogs" starring Sam Neill in his first major film, but I never actually saw the film. The book was often compulsory reading for School Cert English if I remember correctly. Well (I loooove Google!): www.veoh.com/watch/v18706041g8fS9nAj?h1=Sleeping+Dogs+%281977%2C+Roger+Donaldson%29slide forward to about 1:20 for the Iroquois chase and 1:23 for the Skyhawk strike.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2012 21:36:14 GMT 12
It is a classic film. I have watched it several times.
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Post by lesterpk on Jun 9, 2012 3:04:58 GMT 12
A couple scanned from the album Full chute deployed at Nowra Easty's solo display at Ohakea during the disbandment displays. Photo is not upside down, slats fully out while inverted, this is when the damage was done to good old '05.
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E.T.
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by E.T. on Jun 18, 2012 21:00:47 GMT 12
As seen on some of the other threads, I found one of my "hidden" webpage of Skyhawk images: kiwisoldier.150m.com/stories/airforce/skyhawk.htmThe stories that go with them: first pair - NZ6208 "Broken Nose" Pre-Kahu 2 Squadron on the compass swing (B727 landing in background) next pair - '51 pre-Kahu 2 Sqdn practicing Ground Hot Refuels next pair - '56 pre-Kahu 2 Sqdn tail-off engine run (for a stubborn fuel-flow transmitter fault) '16 from the Gumboot Sqdn (75 ambushed by 2!) next pair - pre-Kahu 2 Sqdn liveweapons formation takeoff next 4 - '56 stripes trial and 50th anniversary Gold jet next pair - Kiwi Red Ohakea air show solo Kahu Skyhawk ('05) display Ohakea air show next pair - first "unveiling" flares Ohakea air show '05 Kahu Skyhawk landing in front of the crowd same airshow Kahu Skyhawk heading for Dunedin airshow/flypast next pair - 2 Sqdn Kahu Skyhawks with live rocket pods at Auckland during "the Great Container Hunt" last 3 RNZAF Official self explanatory (hopefully) Does the video work? It's not for me, but I hope it does for you - it's an awesome low pass in the Waiouru training area. Not my recording.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jun 18, 2012 21:07:01 GMT 12
Nope, video doesn't work for me either George.
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 19, 2012 18:58:50 GMT 12
As seen on some of the other threads, I found one of my "hidden" webpage of Skyhawk images: kiwisoldier.150m.com/stories/airforce/skyhawk.htmThe stories that go with them: first pair - NZ6208 "Broken Nose" Pre-Kahu 2 Squadron on the compass swing (B727 landing in background) next pair - '51 pre-Kahu 2 Sqdn practicing Ground Hot Refuels next pair - '56 pre-Kahu 2 Sqdn tail-off engine run (for a stubborn fuel-flow transmitter fault) '16 from the Gumboot Sqdn (75 ambushed by 2!) next pair - pre-Kahu 2 Sqdn liveweapons formation takeoff next 4 - '56 stripes trial and 50th anniversary Gold jet next pair - Kiwi Red Ohakea air show solo Kahu Skyhawk ('05) display Ohakea air show next pair - first "unveiling" flares Ohakea air show '05 Kahu Skyhawk landing in front of the crowd same airshow Kahu Skyhawk heading for Dunedin airshow/flypast next pair - 2 Sqdn Kahu Skyhawks with live rocket pods at Auckland during "the Great Container Hunt" last 3 RNZAF Official self explanatory (hopefully) Does the video work? It's not for me, but I hope it does for you - it's an awesome low pass in the Waiouru training area. Not my recording. A very interesting website, ET - and what a great selection of stories and images you have.
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