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Post by shorty on May 28, 2014 20:01:56 GMT 12
I'd be keen to see the Sunderland display from the opening of Rongotai again
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Post by suthg on May 28, 2014 21:02:42 GMT 12
Without the belly-skid... apparently the runway is not level and rises towards the south, I believe it was a tailwind pass.
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Post by komata on May 29, 2014 8:18:32 GMT 12
One which never eventuated 'because of the wind' was a 'live fire' by a New Zealand Army 40 mm Bofors' at Hamilton - a poor unsuspecting Cessna 172 being the proposed target.
It was literally called off at the last minute, to a uniform 'Oooohh' of disappointment from the crowd.
The Cessna DID do a series of diving attacks on the silent Bofors' but it wasn't quite the same....
Not sure of the year - early '60's.
It would be interesting to see the event repeated - to its conclusion....
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Post by shorty on May 29, 2014 9:15:41 GMT 12
The "belly skid" as you call it was the highlight which makes it worth seeing again!
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 29, 2014 10:18:50 GMT 12
The Sunderland accident at Rongotai was a seriously bad mishap and put all on board in serious danger. I don't want to see that again. However I would love to see a Sunderland flying sometime. But I know it'll never happen again.
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Post by TS on May 29, 2014 10:39:32 GMT 12
Ok Gents here you go for a trip down memory lane ( for those that where around then  ) |
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Post by komata on May 29, 2014 10:46:53 GMT 12
Re: In respect of the 'Belly skid' alluded-to above, and for the benefit of anyone who may be wondering, this may help....
The Sunderland was (literally) a flying boat, and as such used 'nautical' terminology (as do all 'marine' aircraft which have their 'bodies' in the water). This fact causes immense confusion to many, especially as pure (non-wheel-equipped) flying boats are an extinct species, and have been replaced by amphibians (those aircraft which can land on both terra firma and in water).
Because of the 'nautical' aspect of their construction, on flying boats, the 'normal' fuselage with which we are familiar with, becomes a 'Hull, which is joined to a 'Keel' (as in a 'normal' water-based boat). It was the aircraft's Keel which hit the tarmac. As this was somewhat unexpected, it is now part of the 'legend' surrounding the opening of Rongotai (Wellington airport).
I hope that this helps clarify the terminology vis a vis flying boats and 'land planes'. Linguistically, the matter of descriptors in respect of 'aircraft on and in water' is a complex one, so its easy to become confused. That is a subject on its own, and well-outside the scope of this thread...
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Post by komata on May 29, 2014 11:07:35 GMT 12
Nz5218
Many thanks for posting the video. While I wasn't there, identifying the at one time VERY familiar aircraft types was an absolute delight (and yes, I got them all). But as for the Sunderland!!!
Despite the circumstances, there is still absolutely NOTHING like the sound of four P & W Twin Wasps in formation and attached to an MR.Mk.5!!!
Memories, what memories....
It was all rather a long time ago, and thanks again, it quite made my day.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 29, 2014 11:23:43 GMT 12
Some of you latecomers to the forum need to have a read of this excellent thread, the onboard story from one of the crew members on that Sunderland, AVM Robin Klitscher rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/18188 |
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