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Post by AussieBob on Jun 26, 2013 12:18:17 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 26, 2013 13:03:22 GMT 12
Ooh, that'll be neat to see some floatplanes operating from Auckland Harbour, cool.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jun 26, 2013 13:15:52 GMT 12
It's been a while...
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jun 27, 2013 14:23:41 GMT 12
It would be good to see if it comes to fruition.
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Post by conman on Jun 27, 2013 15:24:03 GMT 12
Could be quite good, the ones in Vancouver/Victoria are really busy and cool (turbine Otter), I wonder whereabouts they would be based ?
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Post by TS on Jun 27, 2013 17:51:03 GMT 12
Bring it on that would be great to see again.  BUT all I hope is that every person with a Tinny, Kayak, Windsurfer, inflatable , Dingy, paddleboard, rubber ring and ducky plus yachts and Launches. I think I covered everything that I see on the Inner Harbour STAYS OUT of the bloody way and DON'T think that they have right of way when a seaplane is on Final or on Take off as things could get a bit messy  ....... So yes I'm all for it but it may have to be down around Mission Bay area or further East?   |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 27, 2013 18:52:52 GMT 12
The following is an extract from the book, “A Noble Chance” by Captain Maurice McGreal who was a flying-boat pilot with TEAL. It is an entertaining tale about a take-off from Auckland Harbour with a Short S.25 Sandringham 4 flying boat bound for Sydney when Maurice was still a co-pilot....
AUCKLAND was a busy harbour in the middle of the twentieth century and flying boats had often to contend with boat skippers who would hold blindly to their right-of-way in the fond belief that we always had everything under control.
On a sunny morning in July of 1949 the harbour was packed with overseas shipping, held up by some argument with the wharf labourers. It was near 8:00am and we had taxied from the pontoon at Mechanics Bay Flying Boat Terminal bound for Sydney, planning to start the take-off from a point just east of the end of the breakwater, towards the west. I called Whenuapai for clearance through their traffic system.
Boat traffic on the harbour sector we were aiming for seemed clear and the Control launch gave us the OK for take-off. The skipper pushed the two outers to full power and then with a slight pull back on the port outer to correct for the torque, the flying boat started to rise on the step. He added the power of the two inboard engines. I placed my hands on the pedestal behind the four throttles to protect against any creep and now we were on the step and motoring with the speed building past 55 knots.
Slowly, behind the bows of one of the moored merchant ships, came the blunt flat bow of a vehicular ferry from Devonport. I gave a quick signal, pointing, and the skipper nodded. Then as I watched, from behind the breakwater came its twin from the city side terminal and the two were converging across our take-off path. A passenger ferry was also crossing half a mile ahead. Our clear path was narrowing rapidly as the two vehicular vessels closed from left and from right.
The skipper’s eyes were fixed ahead now. I could see that he had made his decision and had assessed his margins. We were set for “GO” and his knuckles were white as he gripped the big black control wheel.
We flashed by the first ferry on the port side with a couple of hundred feet to spare. The city wharves lined the whole of the port side of our run and we edged fractionally towards them to try and win a bit more clearance from the second ferry coming in from the north. High on the step now and racing across the sunlit waters at near 80 knots, a long creaming wake settled back to the sea behind and on the starboard the ferry closed with an uncomfortable nearness.
The skipper suddenly poled back hard and the aircraft leaped a hundred feet into the air and then quickly levelled as we swept across the upturned faces of the passengers standing by their cars on the vehicular deck of the ferry as the stream of water from our keel rained across their faces.
Climbing over the western harbour the skipper put the auto pilot into the engaged setting and with a grin he pulled at his moustache and said, “Got a cigarette?”
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Post by TS on Jun 27, 2013 21:25:29 GMT 12
Very good!!! But only this time things will happen a hell of alot quicker..... |
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Post by scrooge on Jun 28, 2013 9:23:22 GMT 12
How much chop can a modern sea plane take? In summer the inner harbour from the harbour bridge out to around Rangitoto develops into a nasty 2 foot mess from all the boats and launches.
And as for right of way rules- that assumes that the boaties actually know them.
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Post by TS on Jun 28, 2013 10:23:59 GMT 12
How much chop can a modern sea plane take? In summer the inner harbour from the harbour bridge out to around Rangitoto develops into a nasty 2 foot mess from all the boats and launches. And as for right of way rules- that assumes that the boaties actually know them. Next to no wake from a sea plane I guess. But can it land and take off safely,with the size of some of the wakes from all that moves in the Harbour?? As for boaties that know the rules well you would be very surprised at what goes on. I have sailed many a time up and down the Harbour and have had some very close shaves from Launhes and Fizz boats mainly. I have even had a guy call out to me, quote" You F...in yachties go about on purpose just so that you can piss us off"  Needless to say he got a one finger salute etc.....  If I didn't move I would have run aground. I need 360 vision sailing what does a pilot need? |
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Post by flyinkiwi on Jun 28, 2013 10:55:00 GMT 12
From my experience sailing in the Hauraki Gulf I'd say that the rules are seen as more like guidelines than actual laws. - No one is obliged to undertake any sort of training prior to operating a watercraft
- There is a distinct lack of enforcement of any infractions unless someone is hurt or significant damage occurs
- The increasing narcissistic tendencies and decreasing common sense being shown by members of our society in general
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Post by harrysone on Jul 11, 2013 13:15:24 GMT 12
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Post by conman on Jul 11, 2013 13:22:08 GMT 12
Sweet !
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 11, 2013 13:59:42 GMT 12
Nice reference in that rego too, formerly worn by Short Empire ZK-AMA. I'm looking forward to seeing this Beaver operating on the harbour.
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Post by philip on Jul 11, 2013 14:07:32 GMT 12
Is it this one spotted down at Westhaven a week ago? Edit: yep - looks like it Link - C-GBVR |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 11, 2013 14:25:44 GMT 12
This aircraft looks really nice.
Is that a huge tri-maran behind it Philip?
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Post by philip on Jul 11, 2013 14:34:08 GMT 12
This aircraft looks really nice. Is that a huge tri-maran behind it Philip? Yeah Team Vodafone New Zealand. An old ORMA 60 Trimaran thats been cleaning up around Auckland for the last few years with admittedly nobody to race. Bit like the America's Cup :-) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 11, 2013 14:44:43 GMT 12
Haha.
I'd love to find out who is setting up this Auckland Seaplanes company, I'd like to give them a bit of promotion through the Wings over New Zealand Show if they want it. If anyone knows who to contact please drop me an email or PM.
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Post by harrysone on Jul 11, 2013 14:46:14 GMT 12
I'll see if I can get some more photos shortly, its in the Prada compound about 3 minutes walk from my office  |
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Post by philip on Jul 11, 2013 14:48:17 GMT 12
AUCKLAND SEAPLANES LIMITED Company number: 3621131 Incorporation Date: 26 Oct 2011 Company Addresses: Registered Office 28 Dedwood Terrace, Saint Marys Bay, Auckland, 1011 , New Zealand Directors Showing 2 of 2 directors Masako MORITA 28 Dedwood Terrace, Saint Marys Bay, Auckland, 1011 , New Zealand Christoph Josef-hubert SATTLER 28 Dedwood Terrace, Saint Marys Bay, Auckland, 1011 , New Zealand aucklandseaplane.com |
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Needless to say he got a one finger salute etc..... 
