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Post by komata on Mar 6, 2014 20:53:18 GMT 12
Re '...The aircraft making a take off at the Royal New Zealand Aero Club's pageant at Hamilton on 5 March..'
What took place was not a take off from a standing start, but was rather a 'touch and go' from the south end; with the commentator making it very clear beforehand that the aircraft couldn't land because the runway wasn't long enough.
Essentially it touched, with all wheels on the ground, ran along at speed for some 2-300 feet, then climbed away very steeply.
Certainly an impressive sight on finals, - to say nothing about the noise as it departed.
Definitely in the 'memorable'.category.
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merv
Flying Officer
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Post by merv on Mar 7, 2014 9:39:49 GMT 12
Yes I have two vivid memories of the Vulcan. The first being when we were let out of High School to assemble in Queens Park in September 1956, to observe the very low pass of the very first Vulcan B 1, Atom bomber, XA897, Sadly this very aircraft crashed on 1st October at Heathrow airport returning to London killing 4 crew. The pilot and Co pilot ejected to safety.
The second was at the RNZAC pageant in Hamilton on 5th March 1972. The thunderous noise as it rotated will forever be remembered. After that the aircraft flew back to Ohakea where the crew were then flown back to Hamilton for the evening celebrations where the 6 crew sat at our table. I well remember them telling of their low pass down Milford Sound and how when they pulled away they realised they had to get to altitude quickly as their fuel reserves were low.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2014 11:51:19 GMT 12
Do you have more information on that Hamilton airshow Merv, as in what else took part, and who the pilots were? Cheers.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2014 12:33:54 GMT 12
As well as that 1972 Vulcan visit (does anyone have the serial number and crew names?) there was a subsequent visit in 1973 in which four Waddington-based No. 50 Squadron Vulcan B.2's visited Ohakea for exercises with the RNZAF and RNZN from Feb 23rd till March 1st 1973, along with support from a Lockheed C-130K and a Bristol Britannia. One of the Vulcans flew a fomation with an RNZAF Skyhawk and RNZAF Strikemaster at the Paraparaumu Air Pageant in late February. A photo of this formation taken by Gavin Woodward appeared in the March 1973 issue of New Zealand Wings magazine. This was the Strikemaster's first ever public air display in NZ.
Has anyone got information on either the 1972 or 1973 RNZAC Pageants please? As in aircraft taking part, pilots and crews, etc., for my Airshow Archives.
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merv
Flying Officer
Posts: 60
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Post by merv on Mar 7, 2014 13:10:18 GMT 12
Do you have more information on that Hamilton airshow Merv, as in what else took part, and who the pilots were? Cheers. Sorry but my only information is stored in my memory and it's getting foggy. At the time we thought it rather special to sit alongside and talk to these boys as the night went on. I will however tomorrow get a photo from the Southland Times re Kingston Flyer flyover. |
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Post by Ian Warren on Mar 7, 2014 13:23:23 GMT 12
Errol Martyn has asked me to post this photo, and these are his words: "I took this on the occasion of XH562's Invercargill flyover on 1 March 1972. The 'Kiwi' roundel is clearly visible on both images." Dave , Errol , Love me Vulcan's .. Now I'm sure I can replicate that .. bring 1 of March 1972 and return it to March 2014 |
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gappy
Leading Aircraftman
If your mouth is moving then you're not listening.
Posts: 8 
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Post by gappy on Mar 7, 2014 20:56:01 GMT 12
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Post by mumbles on Mar 8, 2014 9:40:26 GMT 12
I've been searching online to see if anybody has uploaded it to a site somewhere, but no luck.
I know the photograph exists, because I have seen it on the wall of Russell Glendinning's office at Kingston Railway Station.
I know Russell and was paying a social visit while some friends of mine were boarding the Flyer (I was going to drive to the other end of the Flyer journey and pick them up).
I'm also fairly certain I have that photograph in a book somewhere, although I wouldn't have a clue which book.
However, while searching online, I have discovered that the photograph was published on page 145 of a book called “AVRO Vulcan” by Robert Jackson, and that the Vulcan was XH562. Not this one is it?   Reproduced from "V-Force" by the same author. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2014 10:18:59 GMT 12
All I get from that link is a blank page I'm afraid. Does anyone else get anything? |
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Post by nuuumannn on Mar 8, 2014 15:00:57 GMT 12
The serial was XH562, Dave. Don't have crew names. Try RAF Museum.
Here is some information about RNZAF exercises with Vulcans in Australia: In November 1967, 14 Sqn Canberras were sent to RAAF Tindal with 3 Sqn RAAF Canberras normally at Amberley, the former being the 'enemy' air base. A series of these exercises involving Vulcans and the Canberras used Tindal during the following years, with the Canberras, Vulcans and Mirages acting as 'enemy' bombers attacking Darwin, with Mirages sent up to intercept them. In one exercise in June 1968, a Mirage exceeded the speed of sound over the city and caused a spate of complaints from local residents.
In May 1972, ADEX Top Limit saw another joint RAF, RAAF and RNZAF exercise with eight Skyhawks led by Wg Cdr F.M. Kinvig and four Vulcans, again from IX Sqn. Mirages were again defending Darwin and RAAF loan Phantoms were used also. These exercises were carried out because the Indonesians had received Tu-16 Badger bombers and the Aussies wanted to test their northerly defences by using heavy bombers as intercept targets. Good practise, I'd imagine, for the Skyhawk guys as well.
Not strictly relating to the RNZAF, but interesting nevertheless, during late 1974, Vulcans again arrived in Autralia for exercises with the RAAF's new F-111s and departing Darwin for Singapore, Vulcan XM597's crew was advised of bad weather incoming toward the city, but they elected to go anyway. Once they arrived in Singapore they were horrified to learn that Darwin was struck by Cyclone Tracy.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2014 15:42:30 GMT 12
"Try RAF Museum."
Yeah right! They don't answer enquiries from outside of Pomgolia...
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Post by nuuumannn on Mar 8, 2014 17:03:16 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2014 17:24:30 GMT 12
I can assure you that it is in my case, and I have heard several other kiwis say exactly the same thing. I won't be bothering again, after several attempts in the past. They're hopeless.
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gappy
Leading Aircraftman
If your mouth is moving then you're not listening.
Posts: 8
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Post by gappy on Mar 8, 2014 18:44:16 GMT 12
Edited to SNAFU please ignore. |
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gappy
Leading Aircraftman
If your mouth is moving then you're not listening.
Posts: 8
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Post by gappy on Mar 8, 2014 19:39:38 GMT 12
Awesome, I imagine full power at this point.
Found some good footage of 'Rongatai' incident, however links didn't seem to work.
Try Yahoo, type: Wellington airport opening, Vulcan, then make your choice. Plenty of info.
Interesting enough, my sister [RNZAF] was aboard the Sunderland when it scraped it's bum the same day.
Also, it has crossed my mind that due to the planform of the Vulcans wing, it is highly likely that 'wing in ground effect' would have assisted the pilot immensely. This comment in no way detracts from the skills of the aircrew but it may have allowed that extra sec or two too react appropriately.
Hope this of interest, Roger PS just found some really good stuff re Vulcan at Ohakea. ie Photos and a very interesting story re 'pre-crash' preparation Check out www.elocal.co.nz/view_article~id~360.html
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Post by nuuumannn on Mar 10, 2014 1:09:20 GMT 12
Careful, Dave; you appear to be cutting your nose off despite your face. I know of lots of New Zealanders, Australians, Americans, Canadians who receive and have received info from there; do you think books like Night after night or Errol Martyn's For your tomorrow volumes would get published without RAF Museum help of some sort? Take a look in the acknowledgements sections of these histories, Dave; they're not hopeless.
Like I said, send the request via the link I provided you; you'll see.
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Post by eieio on Mar 10, 2014 19:46:37 GMT 12
In one exercise in June 1968, a Mirage exceeded the speed of sound over the city and caused a spate of complaints from local residents.
Was done at an R A A F Darwin show by [ Mirage ] in 1966 ,didn't seem to be a big deal .
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mrjohn
Squadron Leader
Posts: 106
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Post by mrjohn on Mar 20, 2014 19:55:27 GMT 12
My very good friend, photographer and author here across the ditch, Neville Parnell went to NZ on his honeymoon. Stipulation was that there were "No Aircraft" on the entire trip. That agreement no doubt Purgatory for him. While cruising down Milford Sound observing the seals what should roar down just above them........... a Vulcan. Lovely pic he has of it as well....... Is that picture available on-line? I remember the day well as I was on duty at the Flight Service station at the Milford Sound airstrip. The aircraft came from Queenstown over the Homer Saddle (i.e. following the road) and went over the airstrip at a comfortable altitude, 3000' maybe. They went down the Sound out to sea then flew back up the Sound and over the airstrip at just a few hundred feet, they went up the Cleddau Valley and I was told they went around Mt Tutoko like they were enjoying themselves, once around that mountain and down towards the Sound again, very fast and very low, very low. They went down the Sound at a hell of a bat, it took 20 minutes for the sound to die away and several hours for the smell of kerosene to dissipate. I would really like to see that picture! |
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Post by alias on Mar 26, 2014 13:34:23 GMT 12
Courtesy of Aeroplane Monthly..
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Post by alias on Mar 26, 2014 13:39:05 GMT 12
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