WIGRAMS DH Devon - NZ1803

[Ian Warren]

Getting some photo's for another FSX project, Barf at Wigram gave me opportunity to jump into the hangar queen
Devon, I lucky to get a ride in one a few years back as a sack spuds or just weight during a twin engine rate
training flight with good friend Dave Horsburgh , that was a memory that will never go, simply absolute fun !

and for the ex-navigation trainees and radio operators out there

[Dave Homewood]

They had a very tight cockpit, didn't they? Not a lot of room at all.

[Ian Warren]

You right, It dose put it in perspective, you start thinking about the what ifs and if you had to get out in a hurry, I think the best example to follow would be that little video Gavin did when in the Mosquito.

[hardyakka]

Jan 4, 2015 10:55:52 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

They had a very tight cockpit, didn't they? Not a lot of room at all.

I was lucky enough to have a couple of friends in a Devon syndicate and got to fly in the co-pilot seat a few times. Although a bit of a struggle for a fat bastard like myself to get into, once you are seated, it was snug but not uncomfortable. A lot of British aircraft of that era are the same way.

[noooby]

I can almost smell the interior looking at those photos! I'm 6ft 2in and while I found the cockpit snug, it certainly wasn't uncomfortable and was easy to get in and out.

On one ground run, we had her cranked up to +6 boost when the instructor gave us a (false) fire signal to make sure we were still checking outside.

Got everything shut down alright and getting out of the seat was easy, but getting those damn fuel tanks shut off took me some time! Everyone else was out and running and I was still up front swearing and the fuel cocks!

[camtech]

NZ1803 was the last Devon I worked on, getting her ready to go on display in the museum. Still remember the smell!

Not a lot of room in the cockpit, especially working on the instrument panel.

My first flight ever was in a Devon (transport version) while in the ATC at school in Christchurch in either '62 or '63. As the SNCO, I got to sit in the co-pilot seat, and even to handle the controls briefly. Mind you, I got blamed for the two cadets in the cabin who threw up during a very smooth, non turbulent flight of about 30 minutes.

Just thought - these aircraft were just a wee bit younger than me!

[Bruce]

Back when I was working at Ardmore we used to look after 3 Devon / doves (UDO, KTT and RNG). I quite liked them as although they leaked oil and the Pneumatic Brakes were terrible, they were easy to service and had a real "classic" feel (and smell) to them.
I do remember going along as "Ballast" on a test flight in RNG after a major inspection (there seemed to be quite a few "observers" on board!) which included an in flight engine shutdown to test the prop feathering system. The problem in this instance was the prop didnt feather, and nor would the engine restart. With a reasonable load on board and one prop windmilling, we started losing altitude pretty rapidly. We did get a restart in the end, but the hills of the Hunua range were starting to look pretty close!

[Dave Homewood]

NZ1803 was also the Devon that crashed into bush in the foothills of the Southern Alps during a navigational exercise in the 1960's, if you read the excellent fictional novel by the late Errol Brathwaite called 'The Long Way Home'. I think it's interesting that both this Devon and Errol ended up as fixtures at the RNZAF Museum. Errol was a guide there for many years before his death. I wonder if he ever saw the irony that the aircraft he 'crashed' in the 1960's was one of the survivors in the museum he worked at.

[sailorsid]

The photos certainly bring back memories and the smell. The Marconi radio and intercom gear was what I trained on way back. If you looked back through the 700s you would find my name on a few entries.

[Ian Warren]

I do like the old scope fixture , to get this charged up again and operational would be a real buzz , to teach today's generation how this worked would really blow there minds .. course many today just go/say Nah and walk away.

[baz62]

Jan 5, 2015 14:56:02 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

NZ1803 was also the Devon that crashed into bush in the foothills of the Southern Alps during a navigational exercise in the 1960's

Really? I never knew that. Must have been a reasonable "landing" since she must have been repaired and flew on the retirement flight in 1980.

[Dave Homewood]

Read the full post Baz!!

[Dave Homewood]

It was fiction, i.e. not true, a story.

[baz62]

Didn't connect it with the fictional story as I thought the comma meant the bit after was just saying read the story. (See? I read the whole post. )

[Dave Homewood]

Haha, now we know why they used to teach reading and comprehension at school. The second bit is the tricky bit.

[tbf25o4]

Ah those photos bring back many memories of long nav flights sitting in the front right hand seat as a stand in signaller in the late 1970s
The morse key can just be seen under the yoke to the right hand end of the instrument panel. Was always a challenge to operate trying to avoid inducing
some unintentional changes to the flight by bumping the yoke! On a hot summer's day the cockpit got very hot, and during the winter only the lower legs
got any warmth. When operating in the SAR role with the back door off and the drop board and load installed, with max fuel, pilot, signaller, nav, and observer the poor old devon was technically 'above max all up weight' for take-off.
I always remember one pilot coming onto the intercom as we lined up on the 'taxiway/runway' stating, should we have a cough in an engine during takeoff, is still on the ground
I will brake and we well go through the end fence. If just airborne, then it was nice knowing you!

[Dave Homewood]

Did the Devons carry a Lindholme raft set-up in the SAR role Paul?

[tbf25o4]

Hi Dave,

Basically there were two droppable loads in the SAR role. An overland one which contained water, food and basic survival tentage, flares etc, and the maritime one which if I recall correctly was an MS9 liferaft, with all the survival gear, water food and a radio (Gibson Girl?) The maritime one was generally described as the 'Lindholme" package

[Ian Warren]

Back in the Devon yesterday, again another photo shoot, as Dave pointed out "Not a lot of room at all" .. I have to return on Monday simply because I was not relaxed and comfortable and took some shoddy photos , this for the incoming Flight simulation model by/at www.aeroplaneheaven.com/product_dove.php , great thing is studying the types and really looking, GREAT!