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Post by corsair67 on Feb 3, 2008 13:03:57 GMT 12
Dave, after I posted that, I decided to have a look online, and I have found a copy through a bookshop in Christchurch. Ordered, and awaiting processing.  |
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Post by SEAN on Feb 4, 2008 10:16:11 GMT 12
Incidentally, from memory the three 727s were NZ 7270, 7271, and 7272! I know all the references say otherwise! I've been wrong before....once upon a time...... We now have a photo of 71 at Whenuapai, , which would seem to confirm that the two flyers were 71 and 72, because 70 never went past Woodbourne. Had a look at the "Doomsday Book" the RNZAF Aircraft Register and on page 247 it lists NZ7271, NZ7272 and NZ7273, NO NZ7270. The complete entry for NZ7273 is: RNZAF Serial No - NZ7273 Manufactures Air Frame No - 19893 Engine Serial No's - P65409B, P653621B, P653919B Year of Allocation - 1981 Vessel - Ferry Flight Brought on Charge at Wigram 06 May 1981, CRV 386 US$1'950000.00 (complete) Reason for Write off - Reduced to sapres to support other two Aircraft Notes - Hulk sold to Acme Metal & Drum Co Christchurch $8760.00 June 84. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 4, 2008 11:08:42 GMT 12
Sold to ACME Metal and Drum Co. Hmmm, oned by Wile E. Coyote perchance? Taht's where he got the engines for his jet-powered roller skates. ;D
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 4, 2008 11:11:07 GMT 12
Hey Sean, that info is fascinating. What chance is there of getting all the A-4 related data for me for the book I'm working on. If you can, send it to me at don.simms@xtra.co.nz. Cheers. Don
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 4, 2008 11:16:51 GMT 12
Did the two that kept flying cost the same price of nearly $2,000,000? Or were they more costly?
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Post by phil82 on Feb 4, 2008 11:45:48 GMT 12
Sorry, it looks like the info I was given [ from a Sqn Ldr who was on the procurement of the three aircraft and flew back on the first one!] was incorrect, but he was adamant the serial were 0, 1,2! They must have had some booze on board.
No one seems to have ever seen NZ7273!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 4, 2008 12:03:28 GMT 12
Have any RNZAF serial number sequences ever begun with NZxxx0?
I think they all start with NZxxx1 don't they?
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Post by SEAN on Feb 4, 2008 13:06:33 GMT 12
NZ7271 US$2'650'000.00
NZ7272 US$2'800'000.00
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Post by SEAN on Feb 4, 2008 13:12:12 GMT 12
Have any RNZAF serial number sequences ever begun with NZxxx0? I think they all start with NZxxx1 don't they? Looks like you are correct. At a quick glance, the only exception seems to be NZ6000, the Zeke. |
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Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 4, 2008 15:24:33 GMT 12
As I wrote the policy for allocation of serial numbers back in the early 1990s (see the ADF serial site for a copy of the policy) the allocation of the Boeing 727 serials was derived from
NZ7001 - NZ7999 being heavy transport
NZ7271 first two being in the heavy transport allocation, the last two the individual aircraft number. the reason for allocation 71 - 73 was a play on the aircraft type "727" the same applies for the 757 with NZ7571, NZ7572.
Paul
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Post by SEAN on Feb 5, 2008 11:51:30 GMT 12
Hey Sean, that info is fascinating. What chance is there of getting all the A-4 related data for me for the book I'm working on. If you can, send it to me at don.simms@xtra.co.nz. Cheers. Don Don, sent this to you this morning..... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 5, 2008 19:53:13 GMT 12
Well, while looking for something else I just found a photo of NZ7273 with its serial number showing, in the June 1981 edition of NZ Wings. I have photographed it (no scaner here at home) thus:  |
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Post by beagle on May 5, 2008 20:56:37 GMT 12
Very good Dave. I new there was a picture around somewhere, but most of my wings" are in boxes now so didn't go through them for a check.
See also the paragraph above it regards the herks gets new outer wings back then.
I was sure that they got something done with their centre sections back in the very early 70's. Could have just been reskinned. Something is racking my brain that in the early 70's they started, Lockheed started using a new alloy. T5656 rings a bell.
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Post by sniff on May 5, 2008 21:17:28 GMT 12
The aircraft have been upgraded throughout their service to extend their lives. Between 1972 and 1975 all the aircraft returned to the Lockheed Georgia plant for centre-section modifications on the wings. In 1981 the aircraft returned again for outer wing panel refurbishment. The frequent low level operations in New Zealands's turbulent conditions have put considerable strain on the aircraft wings
From SPAR:
Spar Aerospace Limited (Spar) has developed an Outer Wing Improvement Program (OWIP) to extend the structural fatigue service of original production outer wings on the C-130/L100 Hercules.
The structural fatigue service of C-130/L100 original production outer wings is 12,500 hours. When C-130/L100 operators reach this milestone they face the expense of replacing the outer wings. OWIP more than doubles the aircraft’s outer wing fatigue service by installing preventative modifications.
OWIP was designed to ensure the structural integrity of the outer wings and is focused on their primary structure — the outer wing spar box. The design philosophy is based on refurbishment rather than rebuilding. It ensures that the fatigue service of the wings can be safely extended and provides a cost-effective option to the operator of the C-130/L100 aircraft.
Spar has successfully installed the OWIP modification for both commercial and military operators of the Hercules aircraft, including the fleet of Canadian Air Force CC130 aircraft whose outer wings had reached their fatigue service of 12,500 hours. The installation of the Spar outer wing modification has allowed these aircraft to fly 25,000 hours, double their production-designed fatigue service.
I think SPAR did our outer wings, but I stand to be corrected
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Post by beagle on May 5, 2008 21:20:11 GMT 12
Was that first part taken from the 40 sqn book " To the Four Winds"
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Post by sniff on May 5, 2008 21:26:19 GMT 12
My post, Beags? Nah, just from a bit of Google.... It could have been plaigerised from any source, lets just call it research.  |
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Post by beagle on May 5, 2008 21:48:40 GMT 12
I think SPAR did our outer wings, but I stand to be corrected
It says in that article in the wings that they went back to Lockheed. But i supposse it could have been sub contracted without us knowing, the public i mean |
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Post by nzav8a on Jun 11, 2008 21:20:28 GMT 12
NZ7273 Christchurch 6 May 1981  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 11, 2008 21:57:11 GMT 12
Now that's a great shot! Well done. Thanks for posting it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 13, 2008 19:06:18 GMT 12
In the February 1993 issue of NZ Wings there's an excellent article on the Boeing 727's in RNZAF service by Peter Clark called 'The Blue Circle Airline'. It also mentions NZ7273
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