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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2013 21:48:22 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2013 21:52:23 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2013 21:53:13 GMT 12
Poor old NZ4114
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Post by suthg on Jan 7, 2013 22:17:19 GMT 12
Strange that someone had removed the engines and then stripped them and left bits and pieces of the engines in a heap and also strewn around. The hull is built strongly isn't it.
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Post by Richard Wesley on Jan 7, 2013 22:18:20 GMT 12
Amazing to see the photos of NZ4114 being scrapped!
I helped with the clearing of the Motat Sylvia Park storage area (maybe in the 90's?) and was amazed at the Sunderland spares. Motat has many duplicate items in store, for example flaps the size of small aircraft wings, elevators, turrets, engine cowlings etc. There is also all the servicing equipment including the clever stands that clip onto the leading edge of the wing to enable engine access and servicing while on land or floating in the water.
I remember the NZ4114 marking cut out too, I expect it will go on display one day in the future.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2013 22:50:54 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2013 22:52:40 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2013 0:17:59 GMT 12
Regarding the sadly broken up NZ4114/P in the b&w photos above, it apparently left Hobsonville on the 11th of July 1967 under tow from the tugboat Rata, to Onerahi. It was to become the Headquarters of the Northern District Volunteer Coastguard Service. Imagine what a great attarction it would be now if they had not scrapped it. I guess a volunteer coastguard organisation would never have had the money to keep it well maintained though. I wonder who came up with the idea of using an aircraft as their HQ - maybe an ex-RNZAF person?
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 8, 2013 8:15:09 GMT 12
Seeing that aircraft scrapped just makes me want to cry....... and so late as well. "If only......" are the words that come to mind. Nevertheless, some good came of it.
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Post by corsairarm on Jan 8, 2013 8:26:06 GMT 12
Dave Are any of the photos have a date written on the back? It would be good to type it in as you go. Does anyone know what happened to the turret and the support vehicles. Cherry picker and Scammel, as I haven't seen them around Motat for years.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2013 8:29:11 GMT 12
Sorry Richard, there are no dates written on otherwise I'd be adding them. I was hoping that you guys who were there can add the dates?
We see a Scammell like that every year at Armistice in Cambridge, and I think it is owned by Andy Moreland (or he'll be able to tell you who owns it) but I am not sure if it's the same one of course.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2013 8:31:53 GMT 12
Although I can say from adf.serials tht the Sunderland NZ4114 was sold for scrap in 1972 so those photos have to be 1972 or later.
It's incredible to think that it was scrapped that late rather than offered to a museum around the world. Very sad.
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Post by corsairarm on Jan 8, 2013 10:13:41 GMT 12
Yeah I agree Dave. Pity the Airforce didn't want the one at Hobby? Then again we all wish these things on looking back at the various old photos we see on here. I wasn't involved in Whangarei but I recognize several faces but only one name Old age I'm afraid I have the same problem with a lot of my photos. I didn't think to date them
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2013 13:24:09 GMT 12
Considering how by 1972 there was a world wide surge towards preservation, especially in the UK with the establishment of Duxford as part of the IWM, I wonder did the scrapping of this aircraft cause some concern around musuem circles? Or did it simply pass unnoticed?
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Post by Richard Wesley on Jan 8, 2013 16:33:48 GMT 12
Does anyone know what happened to the turret and the support vehicles. Cherry picker and Scammel, as I haven't seen them around Motat for years. The Sunderland turrets are still in storage. I worked with the cherry picker in my time with the museum in the 80's and 90's, it was seriously dodgy then, must have gone to a better place in the sky by now. Not sure what happened to the Ford V8 Fire Quad which shows in many of these pictures?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2013 16:49:36 GMT 12
That fire engine is cool!!
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Post by raymond on Jan 8, 2013 18:35:50 GMT 12
Re Post number 3 with the close up of the two on the Sunderland wing: is that Barry East with the Hat on? That fire engine (quad) was the first V8 I drove!!! crash gearbox too I recall it was a forestry water tanker (it was Graeme who showed me how, to drive it)
Any names for the others in the photos?
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Post by corsairarm on Jan 8, 2013 19:16:01 GMT 12
Raymond You are correct, that is Barry East. In the photo of the serial number of the Sunderland the person holding it is Wayne Bridges. I would like to know what happened to the quad. It was used a lot. We sourced it from a forestry mill just out of Rotorua. Tom Craill is shown in the Hind recovery shots with a rain hat on.
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Post by shamus on Jan 8, 2013 19:36:43 GMT 12
Yes Raymond, I am sure that is Barrie East. I recognise the hat. This must have been before the Ventura arrived at Meola Rd.
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Post by raymond on Jan 8, 2013 21:03:17 GMT 12
Thanks I can recall Barry painting the Ventura, the place must have been a second home to him (and a few others as well). Motat used to be running with volunteers I can remember the fire section and the Ag section being very busy places, all those stationary engines running (none of which seam to be around any more)
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