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Post by dazz on Aug 7, 2018 0:40:54 GMT 12
Given the number of engines on hand, are the any plans to assemble a runable/taxiable Vampire in the future? Obviously a big job, but given what you guys have achieved already, it might be worth a crack!
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Post by kiwi285 on Aug 8, 2018 7:19:37 GMT 12
We have already externally inspected all of the engines and identified which ones are in a condition to possibly build up into runners. The crunch will come when these ones are opened up. But yes the thought is there.
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Post by kiwi285 on Aug 8, 2018 15:39:38 GMT 12
The electricians have put up one of the new LED overhead light and what a difference that makes and we are all amazed at the amount of light that comes from one smallish light. By the time the other two go up it will be like daylight inside the hangar even on the darkest days. 080818 005 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by kiwi285 on Aug 10, 2018 15:15:50 GMT 12
After a break of several months the powers that be decided that we needed to give the P-40 an engine run. So she was wheeled out into the sunshine and after a couple of attempts she was idling away as well as she normally does. I have seldom seen an Allison engine that fires up so readily. 100818 (3) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 100818 (1) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 100818 (6) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2018 22:43:37 GMT 12
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Post by kiwi285 on Aug 22, 2018 16:58:56 GMT 12
Some of the on-going maintenance of the tooling and equipment around the workshop. Dave had his spray gun out today so Wally decided to give the engine hoists a clean in preparation for another lick of paint to keep them from developing rust spots. 220818 (1) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 220818 (2) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by kiwi285 on Aug 24, 2018 16:05:08 GMT 12
As it was a sunny day they wheeled the cleaned engine hoists out and gave them a coat or two of new paint. That should keep them looking good and the rust away for another couple of years.
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Post by kiwi285 on Aug 31, 2018 19:46:26 GMT 12
Some of the timber has arrived and the building begins. We are putting a wall across the end of the hangar to lock off the machinery. 310818 004 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by kiwi285 on Aug 31, 2018 20:00:47 GMT 12
We want to line the walls of this barrier with plywood (between 10 and 12 mm thick). Does anyone have access to or be prepared to donate any sheets to do this. I believe that we will need around 15 sheets to complete the job.
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Post by kiwi285 on Sept 14, 2018 14:14:32 GMT 12
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Post by kiwi285 on Sept 14, 2018 15:17:07 GMT 12
The second great news item is the reason why some of the team were missing last Wednesday. Here is a news release that went out this afternoon regarding some new additions to the museums collection. If you are around new Wednesday, 19th September, come down around lunchtime and you should see some of them arrive and be unloaded. Mass ex-military helicopter arrival at Tauranga Airport… One may be forgiven for thinking a large scale military helicopter exercise is underway at Classic Flyers on Tauranga Airport. On Wednesday, 19 September, five former Royal Air Force “Westland Wessex” helicopters are expected to arrive from Taranaki approximately around lunch time. These helicopters were originally part of a central North Island Logging fleet. This development is also thanks to TIL Freight, (New Plymouth) who have generously contributed their time and energy with these machines over previous years and have now entered into a joint venture with Classic Flyers to transport them to Tauranga for part restoration and some potential sales. Why get five when only one is intended for permanent display? Classic Flyers’ philosophy is to acquire these multiple examples, for potential swaps or sales for further aircraft (or parts) to complete and progress other existing exhibits – and possibly also strengthen other NZ collections as well. For example, does anyone know from where (world-wide) Classic Flyers may obtain a propeller and/or some bomb-bay doors for their current ex RNZAF Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber project? Behind the scenes, Classic Flyers volunteers, with a vast store of aviation history knowledge between them, are researching the individual histories of the five Wessex. The type has served in the Falklands’ War and have also been flown by members of the Royal family whilst serving in the Royal Air Force and the Wessex has also seen service with the Royal Australian Navy. Armed with individual histories, their stories can be told so these heavy helicopter exhibits will also become more interesting to the public and valuable as collectable items. The helicopters should attract considerable attention in coming months, along with other pending new project arrivals at Classic Flyers before the end of the year. Our management and volunteer team are always happy to welcome potential new members too. Come on down to Classic Flyers at Tauranga City Airport for a look. The Westland Wessex HC.2 was a British-built, turbine-powered development of the American Sikorski H-34. It was developed and produced under licence by Westland Aircraft (later Westland Helicopters), mainly for the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm. The first flight was in 1958 and the aircraft was introduced into service in 1961. One of the main changes from Sikorsky's H-34 was the replacement of the piston-engine powerplant with a turboshaft engine; the Wessex was the first large mass-produced helicopter designed around use of a gas turbine engine. Early models were powered by a single Napier Gazelle engine, while later builds used a pair of de Havilland Gnome engines. These HC.2 model helicopters are big machines with the following statistics showing their size and presence. The airframe is just over 20 metres in length with a rotor diameter of 17 metres. The top of the mast is 4.85 metres above the ground. The empty weight is 3,770 Kg and the loaded weight is 6,140 Kg and it is powered by two De Havilland Gnome turboshaft engines each developing 1,000 Kw of power. P1400416 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr P1400417 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr P1400448 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr P1400461 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by tbf25o4 on Sept 14, 2018 16:23:43 GMT 12
If someone can locate their RAF serials then some research on their histories can be undertaken. I flew in 103 squadron RAF Wessex at Singapore in the early 1970s
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Post by kiwi285 on Sept 14, 2018 22:53:28 GMT 12
We have all of their serials and have started looking for histories.
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Post by delticman on Sept 15, 2018 6:48:51 GMT 12
The second great news item is the reason why some of the team were missing last Wednesday. Here is a news release that went out this afternoon regarding some new additions to the museums collection. If you are around new Wednesday, 19th September, come down around lunchtime and you should see some of them arrive and be unloaded. Mass ex-military helicopter arrival at Tauranga Airport… I'm a long way from my note book. I think I had seven total but they were in a new Pole Shed at Ford's property. I saw them in the partly built shed and the two ZK-registered machines were outside. Looking at your photos, they appear to be in an engineering workshop complete with a overhead crane. It's great to see them in a new home and not destroyed by a passing tornado. While on the subject of military helicopters, does anyone have any information about the UH-1H helicopters that were imported by Lakeland and stored at Murupara and Rotorua. I was once told there were twenty of them. R
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Post by baz62 on Sept 15, 2018 16:09:31 GMT 12
Rodger van der Zanden arrived up from Gisborne in one of their Austers 140918 001 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr AXJ is a J5 Adventurer and is from the same sub-group of Austers as my J5F. Only real difference is mine has wing tanks while AXJ still has the nose tank behind the instrument panel. Pretty much the same as the J5 Austers operated by the RNZAF. She has recently had the engine overhauled due to a cracked crankcase (a relatively common Gipsy issue although the Australians crankcases don't seem to crack).
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Post by nuuumannn on Sept 15, 2018 16:16:22 GMT 12
Brilliant. The Air Historic Branch will have their AM Form 78s (Aircraft Movement Cards). The Uruguayans used ex-RAF examples, too. Wessex ii Wessex 01
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Post by tbf25o4 on Sept 16, 2018 9:43:44 GMT 12
Great news that you have all the RAF records for each machine. Would make an excellent complement to which ever one you display showing its career via pictures and text.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 16, 2018 11:01:45 GMT 12
We can maybe find some Kiwi connections from their service career too.
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Post by kiwi285 on Sept 17, 2018 14:41:11 GMT 12
Here is the info on the 5 Wessex helicopters that are due at Classic Flyers starting on Wednesday 19th September.
These are all HC.2 model machines.
XR 511 Built in 1963 S/no 136
XS 675 built in 1965 S/no 194
XT 606 built in 1966 S/no 533
XT 680 built in 1968 S/no 548
XV 730 built in 1968 S/no 625
Any and all information gladly accepted.
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Post by l29 on Sept 17, 2018 15:33:50 GMT 12
What about all the spares he had for them? There were container loads of parts.
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