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Post by mumbles on Mar 18, 2015 21:02:07 GMT 12
I happened to notice the other day that it's now thirty years since ZK-TAF started flying in NZ - ZK-TAF's North Island debut came at the airshow to open the Civil Aviation Calibration Flight hangar at Paraparaumu, on 02 March 1985, after making it's South Island debut at the end of January. Dad and I happened to be there and he took these pics (scanned from prints, so the resolution isn't too awesome at this size). It was a beautiful late summer's day and I remember it well.     The late Trevor Bland was doing the display flying of it at the time I think. |
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Post by baronbeeza on Mar 18, 2015 21:28:12 GMT 12
It would have been Trevor, John Dilley was here for the test flights and then he gave Trevor his conversion soon afterwards. I am guessing the first flight would have been in January and probably towards the end of the month.
I know a couple of the guys from 4 Hangar volunteered to work over their Xmas holidays on it giving Ray Mulqueen any assistance they could.
Bags Ross and Al Lane were the two that come to mind. Noel Bennie and JD Sell may have been there as well as they certainly worked on it later.
That 30 years sure went fast.....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 18, 2015 21:30:43 GMT 12
I was just thinking on Saturday while chatting with Ernie Thompson about the early days of NZ Warbirds that it is 30 years since the Mustang began flying. Great photos Sam. Yes, it was indeed Trevor flying it at all the displays back then.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Mar 18, 2015 22:22:49 GMT 12
The first time I saw ZK-TAF being displayed was at Ohakea in 1986?
USAF F-15, RAAF Mirage and a few other toys got displayed....yet it was the P51 which got my attention the most.
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Post by aileronroll on Mar 19, 2015 9:15:45 GMT 12
Any guess to how many hours she has flown over the past 30 years? ...... and im guessing by less than half a dozen pilots??
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Post by ZacYates on Mar 19, 2015 11:26:22 GMT 12
Beautiful, and a milestone that really crept up on me! There's a cool photo of Tim waving the CAA certificate with TT, in front of TAF, in February's NZ Aviation News (in a very fine obituary for TT). Very cool and a coincidence!
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Post by stu on Mar 19, 2015 13:58:48 GMT 12
Rescued from my late father's vhs collection.....
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Post by baronbeeza on Mar 19, 2015 14:41:18 GMT 12
Great video. Is that me talking at the 17:33 mark ? There were a lot of things I didn't know..
Who was your father Stu ? He certainly got about. Many familiar faces also.
Who was Noel driving the tug when it first comes out of the hangar ? He was one of the guys that worked on the assembly during the Xmas break also.
I think that is JD Sell sitting alongside also.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 19, 2015 14:44:43 GMT 12
and im guessing by less than half a dozen pilots?? John Dilley (test pilot only) Trevor Bland B.J. Rhodes John Denton Graham Bethell Brett Emeny Hmmm, anyone else? |
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Post by TS on Mar 19, 2015 15:34:45 GMT 12
The late Peter Houghton. Some great shots in there Stu. Love the one from N E's deck. I was standing there that day.  |
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Post by rayo on Mar 19, 2015 19:00:43 GMT 12
My first view of a Mustang since the Early 50's when the TAF used to fly over our Farm. Palmy Airshow January 1986    |
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Post by rayo on Mar 20, 2015 8:15:50 GMT 12
I was just thinking on Saturday while chatting with Ernie Thompson about the early days of NZ Warbirds that it is 30 years since the Mustang began flying. Great photos Sam. Yes, it was indeed Trevor flying it at all the displays back then. After reflecting on the the discussion here about Display Pilots it raises a couple of questions for me. Did Sir Tim never display it himself? Who do you reckon are the 2 different Pilots in the Drivers seat in photo's I posted? And finally Sir Tim Wallis has my undying gratitude for bringing this aircraft to NZ and kickstarting the NZ Warbirds scene as we know it today. Thanks Sir Tim  . Kind Regards RayO |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 20, 2015 12:49:16 GMT 12
Sir Tim was never able to fly any of his American Warbird aircraft as they have toe brakes, and his disability stemming from his 1968(?) helicopter crash prevented him using the toe brakes. His Spitfire of course had brakes on the control stick.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 20, 2015 12:51:24 GMT 12
My guess in answer to your second question Ray would be Trevor Bland and John Denton.
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Post by rayo on Mar 20, 2015 13:50:52 GMT 12
Ah yes Dave of course now I remember about the Brakes. Ok I noticed the different helmet colours.
Thanks
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Post by baz62 on Mar 20, 2015 15:26:37 GMT 12
Sir Tim was never able to fly any of his American Warbird aircraft as they have toe brakes, Something in common with Douglas Bader who was a bit concerned on climbing into a Harvard MK1 for his check ride before being allowed back in the RAF as it had toe brakes. Fortunately for him most British types like the Spitfire and Hurricane had the brake lever on the spade grip. Yes Sir Tim has done a great service to the Warbird scene in New Zealand, those early WOW shows were a real eye opener for us WW2 aircraft fans. |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Mar 20, 2015 15:34:48 GMT 12
Sir Tim still gets out and about around the country to the various airshows.
He was at the recent Wings Over Wairarapa. I've seen him at a couple of TVAL mini-airshows too.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Mar 20, 2015 20:06:02 GMT 12
Who do you reckon are the 2 different Pilots in the Drivers seat in photo's I posted? I was there! It was the first time I'd experienced the P-51 PRESENCE! The sound, the speed, the size of the prop - were (and still are) stunning... Trevor Bland flew, you can see his distinctive red helmet in both pics. Thanks for the memories |
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Post by rayo on Mar 20, 2015 20:33:13 GMT 12
I was there! It was the first time I'd experienced the P-51 PRESENCE! The sound, the speed, the size of the prop - were (and still are) stunning... Trevor Bland flew, you can see his distinctive red helmet in both pics. Thanks for the memories Well spotted I think you are correct. I have just been back to the original scan and enlarged it. What appears to be a white helmet is in fact Sun reflection on the canopy. Sometime I will create a thread and post the rest of the photo's of that day and a couple of other early Airshows. A good job for winter. |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Mar 21, 2015 2:19:50 GMT 12
Great! Looking forward to it. There is a thread dedicated to past airshows
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