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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 11, 2008 23:30:59 GMT 12
Great stuff. I remember seeing the Fokker replica at Hamilton and at Ardmore, just wonderful. I really wish they would get it flying again soon. I'd really like to see it back in NZ someday. Wouldn't it be great to see it flanked with all the Fokker replicas at Masterton!
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Post by shorty on Sept 12, 2008 10:35:48 GMT 12
Moving on to Tiger Moths, I'm not going to get too carried away with these, just a few of what I think are the more interesting ones. Starting with three wartime shots from Omaka. Again we have variations in markings with a coloured rudder and cowling, serial position and hyphens and lack of fin flashes. The photo of NZ 656 may have been at some sort of display with the cars parked on the airfield.  NZ 656 by Neville Mines, on Flickr  NZ 711 by Neville Mines, on Flickr  NZ 665 by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 12, 2008 11:00:01 GMT 12
NZ-656 looks to have the red cowl and rudder of the Central Flying School. RNZAF Station Tauranga, so it's a fair old way from home.
Tiger Moths seem to be the only type I've seen with the dash in the serial.
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Post by shorty on Sept 12, 2008 11:52:57 GMT 12
Two more, the first being the Moth Doctors doing their thing at Wigram. That looks like Ernie Thompson wielding the spanner. Note the fin of Mustang 27 on the floor.  scan0135 by Neville Mines, on Flickr and then we have that one time most common of mods, the topdressing version. This one caught at the opening of Hamilton airport.  scan0136 by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by shorty on Sept 12, 2008 12:02:57 GMT 12
To finish the Tigers two more modified ones. ZK-ATM seen at Ardmore in Feb 67 in it's coupe form. It has since reverted to standard but I think it would be nice to keep one as a coupe to illustrate the variation.  scan0138 by Neville Mines, on Flickr And finally we have Ron Alexander flying ZK BSN at Omaka in 1970 with Jack Moon riding on top during the hey day of the Golden Age Flying Society. Ron's mother often flew on top .  scan0139 by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 12, 2008 13:31:08 GMT 12
Was that coupe canopy a postwar conversion or was this one of the RNZAF's ATC Touring Flight Tiger Moths that had the canopy fitted in wartime?
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Post by John L on Sept 12, 2008 14:44:34 GMT 12
Probably a postwar conversion. Could be based on the Canadian Tigers who manufactured a Coupe version - must have been damn cold flying in an open cockpit in Canadian winters.
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Post by shorty on Sept 12, 2008 17:18:29 GMT 12
from ADF serials
Built at Rongotai. BOC Unit 18 Rongotai 27 November 1942. Issued free to Stratford Aero Club from Woodbourne on 20 June 1949 and entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-ATM. To Airspread Ltd, Tauranga on 22 June 1951, converted to topdresser and named "Mighty Atom". To Airspread Taranaki Ltd on 08 February 1955. To R. Hilder on 12 August 1959 and fitted with the canopy ex ZK-ATB during rebuild. To Messrs Verrity and Gadsby. To J. Pheasant, New Plymouth in 1964. To E. Cox, Auckland in 1966 and operated by Auckland Flying School named "Mighty AT'M". Crashed on takeoff from Ardmore at 1015 hours on 29 September 1967 while towing an advertising banner. The aircraft stalled at fifty feet and overturned on hitting the ground. Cancelled from register on 12 October 1967. Restored to register on 16 August 1971 with J. Greville, Auckland. To K. and B. Wylie, Hamilton on 04 January 1973. To G. Grocott, Wellington on 04 June 1975. Cancelled from register on 22 May 1980 as exported to UK. Shipped to United Kingdom in 1981 and entered the British Register on 21 September 1981 as G-BJLI. Cancelled from British Register on 26 November 1981 and entered the Swiss Civil Aircraft Register as HB-UPM to G. Grocott, Zurich. Currently registered to Captain J. Schott, Winkel.
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Post by shorty on Sept 13, 2008 11:44:32 GMT 12
A couple of shots of DH 86s to keep Dave smiling. First up is a fairly well known photo of NZ553 (ex ZK-AEG) showing the racks for 25 lb bombs fitted under the centre section.  NZ 553 by Neville Mines, on Flickr Next up a post war shot of ZK-AHW (ex NZ554 and ZK AEH) taken in either 1945 or 46 (registration was cancelled in Oct 46). Parked behind it appears to be a Hudson, possibly one of the civilian registered crew trainers?  scan0140 by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 13, 2008 13:23:22 GMT 12
Very nice, I've never seen that second Express shot before. It looks like the struts may have been red like the nose, letters, cowls and stripes.
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Post by kiwi on Sept 13, 2008 17:50:20 GMT 12
I wonder if that J Pheasant mentioned in the ADF aircraft history , is John who still owns a Tiger Moth flying out of Tauranga?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 13, 2008 23:50:54 GMT 12
Yes, John Pheasant, long-time owner of Tiger ZK-AIA was an engineer with Rural Aviation at New Plymouth. He has an amazing fund of stories about getting bent Cessnas back to Bell Block.
Over the years Tigers ZK-AIW ZK-ANN ZK-ATM and ZK-BBF have passed through his hands. He currently flys recent restoration ZK-BFF.
I have always believed that at least 5 Tigers were delivered to the RNZAF as coupe models from new. Obviously ZK-ATM was open cockpit during it's topdressing days and converted to a coupe top later.
I flew (as a passenger) in a coupe Tiger once, an interesting experience. Set me up for my Thruxton Jackaroo flight in Australia years later.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2008 0:08:35 GMT 12
Does the canopy make it quite quiet Peter?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 14, 2008 7:49:25 GMT 12
Quiet? Quiet and Tiger Moth go together like Military and Intelligence or Honest and Lawyer. My memory is that it made a noisy draughty vibrating Tiger Moth into a noisy vibrating Tiger Moth. (As you can guess, I've never really been a Tiger Moth fan). The aircraft involved was ZK-AJP, owned at that time by Ron Shewry from Tahora down Taranaki way. The coupe top was hinged on the starbord side, so you lifted it up and climbed in from the port side. It did not seem to seal very well. I see the date was January 1966, at Ardmore, and I was no doubt enthralled by the scantily clad lady on the cowl.   |
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Post by shorty on Sept 14, 2008 11:06:28 GMT 12
Staying roughly alphabetical the next four aren't particularly stunning but as the Rapide/Dominie is one of the nicest looking aircraft ever buit (IMHO) here they are anyway, starting with a slightly faded photo from the air show at Ardmore in March 1965, (with another canopied Tiger in the background) then two of the air race scheme and when it was sponsored by Monteiths and then finally a shot at Woodbourne with Freighters in the background and visible off the wing tip a "spare" Freighter parked over in the Longbank/Fairhall area.  scan0154 by Neville Mines, on Flickr  scan0142 by Neville Mines, on Flickr  [/url] scan0141 by Neville Mines, on Flickr  scan0143 by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by shorty on Sept 14, 2008 19:00:56 GMT 12
Moving on to another lovely de Hav aircraft. The first two photos are probably RNZAF Museum photos but I am including them here because of the interesting history of these two aircraft. The first one NZ 2331 is the one that crashed just outside Woodbourne when after an air show the pilot did low level beat up and, spotting his parents car returning to town did a low roll over it but clipped a tree and crashed killing both the crew. Or at least that is the story I was told by several people in the late 60s. Notice that it has a D/F loop fitted,the only other photo I have seen with this fitted is one in Brendon Deere's book. It may even be the same aircraft.  NZ 2331 by Neville Mines, on Flickr The second photo is of interest as it is the aircraft that ended up with J Clarke at Maheno (south of Oamaru) and then to Ferrymead where it is slated for restoration.  NZ 2328 Y-CC by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2008 19:14:33 GMT 12
That story of the crash of NZ2331 is very sad. An interesting photo though.
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Post by shorty on Sept 14, 2008 19:53:16 GMT 12
The next two photo are as sad as the Rukuhia ones. First we have the view driving along the main road through Woodbourne,this are would be in the region of 5 hangar, between the engine test house (later the NDT section)and the fence.  Woodbourne by Neville Mines, on Flickr ![]()
The location of this aircraft I'm unsure of, Written on the back it says "far side of Woodbourne" and I thought Fairhall way but I don't think so now judging by the cars in the background. there were a number broken up in the first paddock on the town side of the diversion bridge on the left hand side heading to town, aand my guess is that is where this was taken. In those days the bridge hadn't yet ben built and it would be an easy shift to get them off the station and over to there. There is also what looks like an engineless Oxford in the background although it may be an Anson. There was an Anson broken in up in the paddock between the two MQ housing areas.
The serial of this mossie waould probably have been NZ 2379 which was RF 753. the only other RF serial was RF 719 NZ 2364. Both never flew in NZ and both were sold from  NZ 2379 by Neville Mines, on Flickr Finally as well as taking the two Sqdn Ldrs to see John Chambers i was also tasked with taking them to look at MOTATS Mossie and right now I can't for the life of me remember the name of the other guy in the photo. Now identified as Jim Mungall, Taken about 1982  NZ 2305 by Neville Mines, on Flickr When I scan my slides I have some I took of the Mosquito bits in the orchards of Rapaura Road, (nose cones, nacelles etc) John Smith got a lot of these. Also Ruffell broke one up for the engines to put in his hydroplane Tru-Jen. I took photos of that stuff (and the Oxford at the same site) in 1968 but by the time I bought a nearby house in 1981 the area was all built over. I also have photos taken at John Smiths place over the last 40 years but they are not for posting. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2008 20:36:00 GMT 12
Amazing photos Shorty, the coloured shot o the Mossies at Woodbourne is the first pre-musuem days of NZ Mosquitoes I've ever seen in colour. And the Motat Mossie has come a long way since that photo.
I reckon that's an Anson in the background of the second shot.
Did you ever get over to Upper Moutere and see anything of the Mosquitoes and Mustangs broken up for the orchards there?
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Post by shorty on Sept 14, 2008 20:58:09 GMT 12
Did you ever get over to Upper Moutere and see anything of the Mosquitoes and Mustangs broken up for the orchards there? No, in those days I was a teenage JAFA, didn't set foot on the Mainland until I joined the mob in 1967 |
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