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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 24, 2005 13:31:04 GMT 12
What does the future hold at the Museum of Transport and Technology's aircraft division?
There are several projects underway which are exciting. I know of these:
- TBF-1C Avenger is under restoration
- New hangar extension for next year which'll house all the aircraft hopefully
- Fokker Friendship at Christchurch which they own is to eventually make its way north
- Bruce jas mentioend they're building a replica of the Walsh bros flying boat, and a replica Tui Sport wasn't it?
- The Mossie will be completed soon I hope, it looks great now
- The Hudson may finally get to spread its wings when the new buildings done
Anything else on the cards?
I hope they take the Ventura back down off its poles. And restore the Harvard back to pristine condition.
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Post by Bruce on Oct 24, 2005 16:05:52 GMT 12
and of course the Cliff Tait Airtourer as well....
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bear
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by bear on Oct 25, 2005 13:02:44 GMT 12
Hello chaps. First time caller, long time listener.
I was at MoTaT a few months ago (with a toddler), and made a few observations...
Although it's funding is limited, and dependant on volunteers, I felt some small improvements could be easily accomplished in order to enhance it's reputation, and thus draw more visitors. Despite having an interest in aviation, I aren't really in much of a hurry to go back!
1) The inside of the main display hangar could be kept a bit tidier. At my visit there was a awful lot of clutter (desks, boxes, fan, etc) by the P-40 wall, which detracted from the displays big-time.
2) Sign-post the outside stuff. Hopefully an additional hangar with eliminate this, however, at present it is hard to know where the other 'stuff' is, apart from the Hudson hangar.
3) It seems to lack much in the way of interactive stuff for the kids. Not necessarily a high-tech flight sim., but even a cockpit mock-up with 'dud' buttons. Some stuff for the kids (big and small!) to play with would eliminate the constant stream of "dont touch" phrases from parents to kids. (The prop with the motion-sensor is great though!).
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Post by hairy on Oct 25, 2005 15:53:54 GMT 12
I would like to know what has happened to some of the aiviation stuff that have "gone missing", including a Tiger Moth, a full set of Mosquito plans (several large boxes worth), the remains of the Bennett AirTruck etc etc.  Please don't get me wrong, the crew they have now is very dedicated as is the management (to a degree), these disappearances are historical ('70s & 80s). The Herald did a short article a couple of months ago about missing and sold donated cars, so it isn't just aviation that has had this problem. PS. they now also have the Aero Commander twin that was derilict opposite the Warbirds hangar at Ardmore. PPS. Sorry Dave, according to the crew out there, the Ventura (Lexington  ) will be in the air in the new building also. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 25, 2005 18:39:53 GMT 12
Hi bear, welcome to posting on the forum. It's always great to have new input.
I do see your points and I would agree that the museum can look a little cluttered. Some of this is due to the huge number of exhibits in the tiny floor space they have, and I hope that with the extension of the hangarage this will be addressed and sorted out. If it was ephemera like you describe, desks, boxes, etc, this may have been temporary and yu picked a bad day when they were having a cleanout or shift around. I certainly have not struck it looking untidy, just jam packed.
As for signs for the outdoor aircraft and directions between the hangars, yes I agree with that. Such signs would certainly be useful to visitors. Perhaps if someone here reads this and is going to the museum, a gentle suggestion coud be made. They may not have realised the need.
Some interactive displays would indeed be an added bonus. I had never considered this before because I don't have kids to entertain and when I was a kid and visited I was always enraputered by the planes and models etc. But I guess kids of today's Playstation generation certainly may not appreciate the museum these days the way we did as kids if it doesn't have a flight sim with all the bells and whistles, etc. And last year when my late Dad and I visited Wigram we both did get a great kick out of flying their Mosquito flight sim. I guess it is down to money. I think from the plans I've seen, when the museum is expanded it won't simply be another hangar extension, but is intended to be a full upgrade to bring it up to the level of other national aviation museums around the world. That's the impression I get. As it's now funded by the Government and five Auckland councils, there is a lot more being spent and they want their return, so from what I gether they hope to bring it up to top attraction standard. I hope by then it will have solved deficiencies of today.
Either way it's a darned sight better than it was in the past, and the great foresight of the founders back in the 1960's and 1970's is certainly paying off at last after decades of neglect, even if that neglect could not be helped and was not intended. If you look abroad, some great museum collections with much less problems have disappeared and their collections scatterred. We are fortunate indeed this has not happened and that now it is finally recognised by officials in Wellingotn and the councils as a valuable asset.
There is a Tiger Moth on display in the main hangar by the way, sitting atop of the room with the RAF airfield model in it. Is this the one you mean Marcus? Or did they have anoither that's disappeared? I seem to recall seeing a Bennett Airtruk there n an almost complete state in the early 1980's. I think it was there. I remember thinking how boring and ugly it was, and waiting ages whilst Dad had a good look at it, as he found ag planes of great interest. That ugly plane sticks in my mind. If it wasn't there, it may have been a Rukuhia airshow, but I dont think it was.
Pity about the Ventura. Can't they add on just a little bit more to the building and give it some floor space? Or hang something dull and worthless like a civvy plane instead?
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Post by hairy on Oct 26, 2005 10:12:53 GMT 12
R.e the Tiger Moths, they had THREE! The one I specifically refering to is ZK-BJH, which was presented by the Manawatu Aerial Topdressing Co. with a cut down forward fuselage to represent an Ag-Tiger. The one on display is either ZK-AIN or -BAD painted to represent the other(  ). The AirTruck on display is a later Australian Transavia product, I was referring to the remains of the prototype built in Te Kuiti by Bennett aviation out of surplus Harvard parts.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 26, 2005 14:04:05 GMT 12
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bear
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by bear on Mar 29, 2007 14:00:20 GMT 12
I attended last weekends "military weekend" at MOTAT and although it was only for the last couple of hours of the show, it was excellent from what I saw. Too bad I didn't have a spare $95 on me - I would have loved a "MASH" Sioux ride. Probably the cheapest warbird flight around too. Since my last visit some eighteen months ago (see above post), improvements to the aircraft display hall/hangar have taken place. Firstly, it was tidy, and secondly they now have a sit-in flight sim (and it's free). It's well worth the visit at $14 (adult), but I'm even considering a 12 month pass- great value at only $35. Following the show, I checked out the MOTAT website and discovered the plans for the hangar extension. Earthworks are currently underway on the new site of the restoration hangar and the planned completion date is meant to be 2010. Check it out and see if you can pick out ther new display aircraft. I assume the Avenger has wings folded and is next to the current FAA exhibit (although I hope it's in RNZAF colours) and the Friendship and Mossie are sitters.. www.motat.org.nz/Projects/Funding%20-%20Aviation%20hangar.htm |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 29, 2007 14:19:14 GMT 12
It's good to hear the event on the weekend went well.
That plan is interesting, thanks for pointing it out. The Avenger seems to be behind the Dakota, and yes with folded wings. Good to hear the earthworks have begun!
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 29, 2007 14:53:11 GMT 12
I noticed in the current Air Force News that the RNZAF have donated a life jacket and survival kit to Cliff Tait so that it can be exhibited with his Airtourer at MoTaT. The RNZAF loaned they same type of equipment to Cliff back in 1969 when he embarked on his epic journey to fly the Airtourer around the world.
From the look of the photo in the magazine, Cliff's 'little girl' has received a new coat of paint too. The article also mentions that Cliff works as a volunteer at the museum.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 29, 2007 15:29:25 GMT 12
Yes, the Airtourer has been repained and looks nice now.
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mktt500
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by mktt500 on Apr 10, 2007 22:13:07 GMT 12
I always make a point of visiting Motat when in Auckland, usually just to see the magnificent Sunderland. I used to get quite depressed seeing at the sight of the moss (or whatever it is or was)covered old dear. That was until my last visit 2 years ago, I was there with my wife and 2 sons and while peering into the restoration hangar was accosted by one of the most enthusiastic of people Ive met. I was given a grand tour of progress on the Sunderland (while my boys played around old aeroplanes-heaven for them, and my wife paced...)
I was assured the Sunderland was in good hands.
After this I had the feeling my idea of giving it back to the RNZAF was a bit unfair. All it needed was a roof over its head so the restoration could be less ongoing.
It seemed, I also discovered that the 'covering' on the Sunderland was preserving it until it could be housed under cover!
I do look forward to to the new building. Less drastic than my friends plan to wait until his rival Lancaster crews had all died, tow it outside and replace it with the boat!
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) will be in the air in the new building also.
).
