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Post by Bruce on May 18, 2005 8:24:03 GMT 12
Hi Guys, I was at Tauranga airport last weekend for an SAA meeting and can report a very exciting new air museum will be opening shortly at the airport. Although it doesnt open until May 25th, the hangar doors were open when I passed by, so I could see what was inside - how does this sound: 3x Harvards (Airworthy) Tiger moth (airworthy) 2x Devons Pitts Special Hawker Hunter Spitfire replica (could be airworthy - I couldnt see if it was Wayne Cutworths flying replica as it was towards the back of the hangar) Fletcher FU24 several sailplanes There looks like a lot of other displays as well. If you are over Tauranga check it out, its on the main access road to the terminal. (And write us a report of course....)  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 18, 2005 14:01:00 GMT 12
Interesting Bruce. I guess this will be the Bay of Plenty Classic Aviation Museum which Google found mentioned here: council.tauranga.govt.nz/knowledgebase/q0111"From April 2005 The Bay of Plenty Classic Aviation Museum will be in operation offering static and operational displays,full bar café conference and function facilities." Didn't you say recently that one of Tauranga's World War Two RNZAF hangars was pulled down? What a shame this group didn't save and preserve it. I'm intrigued about the Spitfire. I know a couple of flying replicas are being built here, but is one already flying?? Or is it one of those small homebuilt things that pretends to be a Spitfire? |
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Post by Bruce on May 18, 2005 14:44:23 GMT 12
The Harvards were longtime residents of the old WW2 hangar, and to be honest they are better off in the new hangar, rather than the old bird-filled, leaky hangar. Unfortunately that hangar was in completely the wrong place with the modern airfield layout. The new rows of modern hangars are far better at doing the "aeroplane storing" job, although they do lack the class of the big old wooden ones.... thats life I guess.
with regards to scale Spitfires, Harry Harris of Tauranga has one flying, but this is a half scale microlight. It looks really good in flight and goes quite well, but with a Rotax 582 engine, the sound is just wrong!
The other scale Spitfire at Tauranga is Wayne Cutforths mchine which is wooden, about 7/8ths scale and powered by a Jaguar V12 - much better. It hasnt flown yet but probably isnt far off. As I mentioned I couldnt tell whether the Spit in the hangar was his - I'm not sure as the museum machine has a tropical air filter under the nose, and I dont think Waynes has. At the back of the hangar I couldnt judge the scale, and as waynes is close to full size the difference would be difficult to spot. The museum machine definitely is a replica, probably wood or wood / fibreglass. I have another meeting in Tauranga in a few months, so I'll actually go in and have a look then - although if any of "our" people are over there and get in first, It would be good to hear from you.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 18, 2005 19:16:58 GMT 12
Cheers Bruce, that's interesting.
Do you know which Harvards are based there now? What schemes are they in too? Grey/Dayglo? Yellow? I recall seeing a grey/red one there years ago and had heard of two being based there, but didn't realise there are now three there.
Is there still one based at Pauanui?
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Post by DazDaMan on May 18, 2005 19:17:03 GMT 12
Hi chaps.
First post here - Dave drew my attention with the scale Spits, since I'm something of an enthusiast!!
Harry Harris's aircraft is an all-composites replica, about 65% scale, and powered by a Rotax. I have a few photos of this one in flight, if anyone's interested.
Don't think I've heard of the other one, however. May need to dig around for more info on the Builders' forum.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 18, 2005 20:00:06 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Daz
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Post by DazDaMan on May 18, 2005 23:17:24 GMT 12
Thanks, Dave. Here's a couple of shots of Harry's Spitfire, if anyone's interested.   Last I heard he was planning on doign a kit of the aircraft, but I haven't heard from him in a while. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 18, 2005 23:28:53 GMT 12
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Post by DazDaMan on May 18, 2005 23:37:18 GMT 12
;D
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Post by Bruce on May 19, 2005 8:30:58 GMT 12
To be honest, I didnt get the numbers of the Harvards (I left my anorak behind..  ) but they are the two that have lived at Tga for some time, both in Orange / Grey plus one other, possibly 1098 in Red / Silver. All the harvards are privately owned, but are based in the air museum as a suitable home I guess. I really like the look of Harry's little spitfire, it certainly looks great in the air, But even Harry admits it needs a really loud sound system with a CD of Griffon engine noise! Waynes Spit has been under construction in his panel beating shop down the road from the airfield for a while, but construction slowed for a while and no-ones heard much on it over the last year or so. I was actually quite interested in the Devons, which appear to be from the batch sold to the northland aero club in the 1970s (some of which hung around Whangarei and North shore airfield for years) One of the devons in finished in an RNZAF VIP scheme (with polished metal) and is hanging on the wall (!!!!) inside The other is in need of some TLC but looks like a good basis for a restoration project - airworthy would be nice... |
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) but they are the two that have lived at Tga for some time, both in Orange / Grey plus one other, possibly 1098 in Red / Silver. All the harvards are privately owned, but are based in the air museum as a suitable home I guess. 