ZK-RMH

[ErrolC]

Apr 27, 2018 17:45:13 GMT 12 jp said:

So how does that work, if the purchaser of the P-40 is a Dubai-based German, with an aircraft collection in UK/Europe?

Who notionally owns it is different from whether it is in NZ or not. There doesn't seem to be any requirement for such objects to be on display, however.

[shorty]

Apr 27, 2018 17:57:38 GMT 12 jp said:

Sorry - didn't realise it was a link - so presumably the Chief Exec has the discretion to allow/forbid the sale overseas, as both aircraft have been sold overseas before......

The "sold overseas before" is bit of a red herring if the sales took place before 1975 which is when the act was passed otherwise you would be trying to apply it to things sold in the 1800s

[Dave Homewood]

Also ZK-RMH may have gone overseas with Ray Hanna but from memory it still had New Zealand based ownership among its syndicate of owners, it was not registered in Britain and had to return to New Zealand after a certain period of flying in the UK.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I can remember ZK-RMH being flown at Wings Over Wairarapa way, way back; and it was painted in RNZAF colours.

(it may have been the WOW when the Bleriot was displayed, although I'm not 100% sure)

Then it disappeared overseas for several years and when it came back, it had a shark's teeth nose. Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!

[jp]

The shark's teeth/chinese markings were applied overseas, and as explained to me by one of the pilots in the original sydicate, attracted more interest at airshows, particulary from children, and as the OFMC income was from movie work, bookings etc was probably a reasonable idea. He also said repainting it to RNZAF colours was a possiblity, but seeing as the paint was in good condition, it wouldn't be happening in the forseeable future. (this was maybe 10 years ago?) He did say, however, that if someone wanted to pay for the paint scheme, they would consider changing it......

[Peter Lewis]

From my records, ZK-RMH was registered as such to Pacific Aircraft Ltd., Auckland, on 4Dec1997 and first flew after restoration at Whenuapai on 19Dec1997.
Ownership was transferred to The Old Flying Machine Co.(NZ) Ltd., Auckland (still as ZK-RMH) 5May1998.
It was used in UK from April999, and the reg ZK-RMH was cancelled on 7Mar2002.
The aircraft became G-CCBE with Classic Aviation, Duxford, on 10Mar2003 and the Chinese Nationalist markings '88' were applied while in the UK.
It then returned to NZ and became ZK-RMH again on 18Jun2003 back with The Old Flying Machine Co.(NZ) Ltd.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Peter, my mistake there regarding the registration. It may be wrong but I recall people from the UK saying it was only allowed to fly in England for a certain period because it had not been rebuilt under UK CAA overview and was on a temporary visiting licence or something.Seems odd it was registered for just three months there.

[Antonio]

Bump

I found this:   Link            

NZ Civil Aircraft blogspot from January 2013 which has an interesting article on ZK-RMH/NZ3009 especially the choice of markings:

"Sometime after 2002 the aircraft was re-painted in this interesting colour scheme. I always thought is was the colours of The Flying Tigers (Claire Chennault's 1st American Volunteer Group of fighter pilots who flew Kittyhawks out of Kunming in South Western China in the early days of WW 2), but that is not the case. Some research by a Chinese friend found that ZK-RMH is painted in the colours of Chinese fighter ace Xu Hua Jiang, who was one of the 2 most famous aces in the Nationalist Chinese Air Force in WW 2. This aircraft 88/663/P-11151 was one of 27 P 40E's delivered to China in early 1943. It has an inscription in Chinese characters on the nose which is "Tai Gong Lin" which translates as ""By order of a respected senior person". This phrase goes back in Chinese history to a famous Prime Minister in the Zhou Dynasty (1050 to 256 BC), and illustrates a difference in Chinese verse American thinking. When American pilots told Xu Hua Jiang that they painted the names of their wives or mothers or girlfriends on their aeroplanes, he thought it better to acknowledge Chinese history on his plane. Of course the NZ 3009 on ZK-RMH is out of place in this colour scheme."




Interesting insight to the scheme, it is nice to be able to share and understand the story behind some these incredible pilots an their aircraft.

[planecrazy]

Wonder what is happening with this girl, still sitting, sold all very silent???

[chrisr]

Is there any update on Zk-RMH? It's been a while

[Dave Homewood]

Still in storage at Masterton, still with the same owner, Dubai-based Oliver Wolfe. Nothing has changed since the court case, as far as I am aware.

[kiwi285]

Jan 2, 2024 21:28:55 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Still in storage at Masterton, still with the same owner, Dubai-based Oliver Wolfe. Nothing has changed since the court case, as far as I am aware.

Is this the same Oliver Wolfe who purchased some WW I aircraft from The Vintage Aviator and has based them at Stow Maries in the UK.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes.

[joey05]

Frank Parker posted on Facebook this morning that NZ3009 is currently being boxed up and has been sold in Oz. Sale was apparently very hush hush and not put to market! Sad to see her go, but by the sounds of it she will be active again, lets hope in RNZAF colours (they already have P40E NZ3094 & P40N NZ3125 - neither in kiwi colours).

[johnnyfalcon]

...oof! That hurt

[Deleted]

I’m very sorry to hear that.

[FlyingKiwi]

That's a shame, but I'm glad it's going to a home where it will hopefully be flown.

[planecrazy]

Hope she stays in RNZAF markings? Be keen to hear where she is heading in OZ?

[Dave Homewood]

It has not worn RNZAF markings on over 20 years, Peter. It is in Chinese markings. I hope it goes back to RNZAF, but doubt it will.

[planecrazy]

Feb 26, 2024 14:09:05 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

It has not worn RNZAF markings on over 20 years, Peter. It is in Chinese markings. I hope it goes back to RNZAF, but doubt it will.

My mal Dave, you are correct, interesting that this will be the third ex RNZAF P40s in Oz
not of which wearing original RNZAF markings.

Also aren't a couple of the Wangaratta restorations ex RNZAF as well?