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Post by Antonio on Nov 30, 2022 22:21:55 GMT 12
Vampire NZ5772 Ohakea June 1967 You sure that is Ohakea??? |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 30, 2022 22:58:50 GMT 12
Thats what is written on the slide.
But yes, I had my doubts when I looked at it.
Anyone want to play guessing games?
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Post by TS on Dec 1, 2022 7:33:02 GMT 12
Vampire NZ5772 Ohakea June 1967  went on the pole at Ohakea August 1975  taken down and refurbished 2008 - 2011 refurbishment at Ohakea 16Mar2008   back on the pole at Ohakea 15Sep2018  I wonder why they never put the Pitot tube back on the port tail fin... It clearly is visible when on the pole originally. But not after restoration...  |
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Post by planewriting on Dec 1, 2022 8:53:37 GMT 12
"I wonder why they never put the Pitot tube back on the starboard tail fin... It clearly is visible when on the pole originally. But not after restoration..."
Um, I think you mean "port" - left, not "starboard" - right.
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Post by TS on Dec 1, 2022 9:16:59 GMT 12
"I wonder why they never put the Pitot tube back on the starboard tail fin... It clearly is visible when on the pole originally. But not after restoration..." Um, I think you mean "port" - left, not "starboard" - right. Ooops!! yes my mistake, corrected.   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2022 10:53:25 GMT 12
Probably plugging any hole where moisture could ingress. I seem to recall a lot of the woodwork was replaced with GRP during that big tidy up too, so it does not rot in the pole.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 1, 2022 16:49:28 GMT 12
Vampire FB5 NZ5774 at the Rotorua airport opening paegent, 3Oct1964 now in Canada |
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Post by delticman on Dec 1, 2022 22:17:00 GMT 12
Thats what is written on the slide. But yes, I had my doubts when I looked at it. Anyone want to play guessing games? That shot is at Hamilton just to the James end of the terminal building- perhaps where the fire station was or is. The big hangar on other side is the Air Parts hangar and then there is a gap to right and the Robertson Aircraft Service hangar. On the top of the canopy of the second aircraft, is the roof of the old control tower, I think the second control tower. I wonder if the shot was taken in March 1966? |
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Post by shorty on Dec 2, 2022 1:58:56 GMT 12
How many RNZAF Vampires ended up Overseas?
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Post by camtech on Dec 2, 2022 13:26:13 GMT 12
How many RNZAF Vampires ended up Overseas? Four I believe, Shorty. Canada 74, USA 76, Indonesia 08 and West Island 55. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2022 16:17:43 GMT 12
And as far as I can tell all still survive - 74 may be at Mont Joli (per the Musée de la Défense aérienne/Air Defense Museum as it's no longer with them), 76 is stored with the Flying Heritage and Combat Armour Museum, 08's still on museum display at Yogyakarta and 55 at Wangaratta.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 2, 2022 17:02:20 GMT 12
Vampire FB5 NZ5776. now in the USAundated  At Christchurch (Wigram?) 20Nov1972  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 2, 2022 17:36:24 GMT 12
At Christchurch (Wigram?) 20Nov1992 1992? When did it go to the USA? I was based at Wigram all through 1992 and kept a close eye on RNZAF Museum happenings, but I do not recall seeing two Vampires out in front of one of the hangars like that. NZDF Serials says this aircraft went to Ken Jacobs in 1973, and I wonder if your date is meant to be 1972? |
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Post by camtech on Dec 2, 2022 18:09:52 GMT 12
Note the Harvards in the background.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 2, 2022 18:21:44 GMT 12
I was based at Wigram all through 1992 and kept a close eye on RNZAF Museum happenings, but I do not recall seeing two Vampires out in front of one of the hangars like that. NZDF Serials says this aircraft went to Ken Jacobs in 1973, and I wonder if your date is meant to be 1972?
Ah yes, corrected.
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 83 
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Post by skyman on Dec 2, 2022 19:12:28 GMT 12
I was working in the aircraft maintenance hangar at Ohakea in 1972 and 1973 and while there I recall NZ5772 coming in with a jagged hole part-way along in the leading edge of the starboard wing. The aircraft had been on an air-to-ground gunnery sortie at the nearby Raumai air weapons range firing its 20mm guns at a ground target. On this very rare occasion one of the 20mm practice rounds had ricocheted after striking something hard around the target. After the ricochet struck the wing, the pilot called off the sortie and returned to base.
As far as I am aware the Vampire never flew again due to the internal damage in the wing. So, after a repair job and tidy-up it was chosen to be mounted at the main gate.
Al
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 3, 2022 16:09:17 GMT 12
Vampire FB9 WR202/INST171 now at MOTATHobsonville 8Jul1963  at MoTAT 16Jul2011  Thats all I have of Vampire survivors! |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Dec 3, 2022 18:01:59 GMT 12
Well done Peter! Very much appreciated and unexpected. An apt salute to an often-overlooked gem
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Post by sputnik767 on Dec 3, 2022 19:26:56 GMT 12
That is an interesting picture of the vampire at Hobsonville and great to see.
The red inverted triangle on the pod has frustrated me for years whenever I have looked at it at motat.
But it has been there for years, even more than I have been on this planet and my kids take great delight in telling me how old I am....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 3, 2022 23:15:01 GMT 12
An apt salute to an often-overlooked gem With the resurgence of this thread, the allocation of Air Force Museum Vampires to several museum collections, and my now completed release of the month-long Vampire episodes for the WONZ Show through November, it has been a bit of a Vampire renaissance for the "often-overlooked gem" over the past month. I am very pleased that this is the case. Vampires were a very important part of RNZAF service, and their history has never been that thoroughly recorded. I am amazed there has never been a book on the type, along the lines of Don's Skyhawk book. I am sure if someone had the enthusiasm, it could be done. But they need to start now as there are very, very few of the early and original Vampire pilots and groundcrew left now to interview. |
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