Motat activity (photos from 9th of November 2005)

[Dave Homewood]

When I popped into the Motat restoration hangar yesterday I was quite amazed by the buzz of activity.

Currently under restoration are the Harvard, Mosquito, Avenger, Agwagon and also the building of a new replica of the gorgeous little Tui Sport




























I'm not sure what this wing is for


Or this one (Tui Sports maybe?)

[Dave Homewood]

This is one of the museum's latest acquisitions, the Airtourer that Cliff Tait famously flew around the world



This was a bizarre item, an engine off (I was told) a crashed Air New Zealand jet - DC-8 perhaps?


The C47, back in lovely new colours as of last year (I hope it gets under cover soon though so the poaint stays on thsi times)


The lovely old Sundy still looking forlorn. Nothing looks to have progressed in its restoration since I last visted in June last year (I may be wrong, but visually it looked the same)


The poor old Lodestar awaiting its turn in the restoration shop




And I found out what happened to the Beenett Airtruk!!

[Dave Homewood]

Here are some general shots around the museum taken yesterday

[Dave Homewood]

This hanging jobby (whatever it is, tri-colyte??) was new since I visited last year




This Tiger was a new one on display since I last visited (though they had had it some time in storage)

[Dave Homewood]

The mighty Lancaster
(Always difficult to photograph becuse it has little lighting and then really glaring light from the font hangar windows at the cockpit end)

[Bruce]

Its all looking very exciting there - best Ive seen it ever!
The unidentified wings are indeed off the Tui - I guess they are wanting to get a move on cos we are trying to get it at SportAvex in Tauranga in February.
I believe your mysterious "hanging Jobby" is actually a 1970s man -powered flight attempt!
I think that the "Mystery" jet engine is indeed off the ANZ DC8 that crashed at mangere. looks like a JT-3 and just below the intake is a blower nozzle which prevents FOD getting sucked into the engine - as used on DC8s and 707s - what an interesting relic!.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Bruce. So both sets of wings are for the Tui?

This is the Fleet Air Arm section of the museum, run by the NZ FAA Association. They have some lovely murals that bring the place really to life.

























A model of the Tirpitz being attacked by Fairey Barracudas




Here are some model ships in the FAA section










I then took the tram from Motat 2 to Motat 1




.....where NZ'a earliest aviation days are celebrated (amnog other exhibits like steam, science, trains, old buildings, vehicles, etc...)

Richard Pearse - the first man to fly a powered aircraft (if you believe the write-ups on the exhibits)

Here's the remains his actual March 1903 first flyer (if these remains were Spitfire they'd be rebuilt!)




And here's the replica of that same plane built to his plans for a TV drama about his life in 1975




And here is his third aircraft - this is original and the first stol design






And here is a motorbike he handbuilt in 1912


Jean Batten
A plaque commemorating Our Jean


Here she is in 1978 for a publicity shot standing in an Air New Zealand DC-10 engine with a model of her Gull (the model now hangs in this Motat exhibit)


An unusual one - a Pobjoy Niagara


And an engine from a famous plane - The Southern Cross


I hope you enjoyed these snaps, If you're ever in Auckland make a trip to Motat a must.

[Bruce]

even more photos Dave....
Yes both of those wings are for the Tui. The lower wing (being covered in front of the beech AT11) sits below the fuselage like on a Bristol Fighter. The larger top wing is the one strapped to the mezzanine floor.
BTW the Niagara engine is off Monospar ZK-AET - and the mysterious Airspeed Oxford replica.....

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, I recognised the Pobjoy and thought you in particular would find it of interest. There was no-one around to ask about it (doubt they'd have any idea of this mystery Oxford replica either).

I'm looking forward to the Tui Sport being complete, it's a really neat aircraft.

[steve]

Great pics from Motat and nice to see an averger under reconstruction...talking about avengers...what was the fate of the averger on display at RNZAF Te Rapa for years...as kids driving through Hamilton in the 60s that was always the first site of Hamilton!

[Dave Homewood]

The Avenger fromTe Rapa was transported to Wigram in the 1980' and replaced by a Vampire. It was restored for the museum and nowadays it looks as lovely as ever in the scheme of NZ2521, a No. 31 Squadron Avenger that was lost on operations (the Navigator of which was Cambridge's Malcolm Harsant -
see www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Malcolm%20Harsant.htm)