Mustang ZK-CCG

[aeromuzz]

I wonder how much it would take for Kermit Weeks to part with her now???..............(dreams are free)

[johnnyfalcon]

Swap for a TVAL reproduction something?

[Dave Homewood]

Or he could simply base it at Masterton or Omaka for his regular visits downunder. ;D

[chinapilot]

Great photos Snaphead.

[baz62]

yes very nice photos. Maybe Graham could swap TAF for Kermit's! ;D

[Peter Lewis]

Rukuhia 26Mar1966





Rotokawa 25Nov1967

[Dave Homewood]

It certainly got out and about.

[baronbeeza]

It must have got around, I saw it overhead Westport in 1966, or thereabouts. We didn't see much traffic but the Canberras came down (some local aircrew) and not so often the Sunderland.

[DragonflyDH90]

David, thanks for the further information about Ron. Great pics everyone.

I'll point Greg towards this thread in the next while so he can see what everyone has put up.

[Damon]

Thanks Snaphead for posting your pictures.Very nice to see.Some great detail images too!

[baz62]

One thing I just noticed comparing snaphead's and flyernz's photos showing the starboard (right hand) side of CCG. In snaphead's photos you can see the oil oozing down the sides and this comes from the oil breather hole you can see on the lower part of the engine cowling(vertically in line with the end of the exhausts, the small black hole)
But if you look at flyernz's photos the hole is not there. I'm wondering if they re-routed the breather? There's a photo of a RNZAF Mustang returning to base after an aerobatic display at an airshow and there's this big black oily mess going down the side of the fuselage.
Since you don't seem to see ZK-TAF like that I'm thinking there must be a mod for that?

[thomarse]

I have a lasting memory of CCG. It was sometime in 1967 so could well be when she was returning home from the New Plymouth show.

I was sitting in a Victa on the Western Apron at WLG about to start my DVAs and on a glance around the circuit was surprised to see what I took to be a Cessna Agwagon turning base leg ( I obviously wasn't listening to my radio!) When I got to "Lookout" perhaps 30 seconds later, I couldn't believe my eyes - CCG was on its landing roll, right in front of me.

[agalbraith]

You are right Baz, there was a mod for the oil breather. Take a look at Peter Lewis's photos and take a look at the bottom of the fuse just in front of the rudder hinge line and you will see where it routed out.

She flew for quite some time in the US with the mod still fitted but not now

Cheers
Anthony

[baz62]

Ah ha, nothing wrong with my eyesight then (must be the glasses eh?)
had a look at a few different and currently airworthy Mustangs and some seem to have it and some don't (maybe a similar mod done?)
Must admit i don't recall seeing Mustangs covered with oil quite like those shots of CCG, although the white paint might make it stand out more I suppose.

Looked like the ill-fated "Big Beautiful Doll" based at Duxford had the original setup.

[Dave Homewood]

You might want to lend your glasses to Tom, Baz, he needs then if he mistakes the beautiful shape of a P-51D for a topdresser!

[baz62]

I posted about the oil breather on WIX(Warbird Information Exchange for those going huh?) and a chap who maintains and rebuilds Mustangs had this to say on where they usually route the oil breather these days:
"Usually out the R/H trailing edge wing fairing or some where out the bottom of the doghouse or scoop.
Originally it was a single line from the L/H side of the engine block forward the B or L/H engine bank of cylinders and it exited in the cowling on the L/H side.
Next the connected the above port on the L/H side of the fwd block to a fitting added to the inboard top edge of both Valve or Rocker Covers. This combined system had the exit out the cowling on the R/H side that would coat the side if you do acrobatics with power, particularly any zero or negative G moments. If you run 620 Heads and Banks and use the original breather outlet it can get messy as that was designed for airliners, straight and level flying was the norm, not the fighter style of sky movements."

[steveh]

Nice to see this, only saw her once when it overflew Nelson one sunny afternoon when I was having swimming lessons. Lost interest in swimming for a bit, I do recall loving the noise. Would've been 1963/64 about I reckon. Are there any colour shots of her? I'd be keen to know what colour all those stripes were.
Steve.

[baz62]

I've seen colour photos and I think they were mainly red stripes? And a red spinner and black anti-glare panel on top of the engine cowling Anthony Galbraith or someone who has a colour photo handy can confirm.

[baronbeeza]

Mar 1, 2013 20:00:39 GMT 12 steveh said:

saw her once when it overflew Nelson one sunny afternoon .

I think that afternoon was in 1966.

Oh wait this is not the UK and we get more than one sunny afternoon every year or two. Something else happened for them that year also.

I am wondering if your Nelson sighting was the same as my Westport one. I am guessing but for me 66 or 67 seem more likely.

I was just over the road in a neighbours driveway, that is all I can remember about the location and date. It was daytime and I was not at school.

[agalbraith]

Some of the photos I scanned, courtesy of Ron when he was still alive.







Edit: she now flies with '09's wings

Cheers
Anthony