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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 30, 2018 0:25:54 GMT 12
Yes I'd agree. I think that apron is actually concrete though, in big rectangle blocks, isn't it? If that is the place we're thinking then the right hand house across the way is probably the house at 141 Brigham Creek Road on Google Streetview and the sun is catching its windows.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 31, 2018 23:21:54 GMT 12
The Boeing Stratocruiser seems to have been a might beast, and I do regret that Pan American ceased to fly them into NZ well before I became aviation-aware. They would have been an impressive sight. This photo shows PAA's Clipper Nightingale being refueled at Whenuapai. There is a small '22V' painted low down on the front fuselage just above the APU intake, and a bit of checking reveals that this is N1022V, which was the prototype aircraft, first flown 8Jul1947. After an upgrade to production standard it entered service with PAA 24Oct1950 and was retired by them in 1960.  |
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Post by davidd on Sept 1, 2018 8:22:17 GMT 12
Yes Peter, like you I have never seen one of these in the flesh, but marvellous photos like this (and in-flight shots even better) can give a good impression of these streamlined monsters. However the civilian models were not persevered with because of their general complexity (especially those four-row engines), but the USAF did keep theirs going for a considerable period longer, mostly as air-to-air tankers. The story I liked about these machines is the one about their internal meteorology. The cockpit was so roomy that under certain circumstances, what was effectively a small cloud could form above the pilots' heads, and when changing altitudes, a fair imitation of falling rain could be experienced! Don't know if they ever managed to concoct a "fix" for that particular phenomenon.
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 1, 2018 10:48:34 GMT 12
Did you chaps know that a Boeing Stratocruiser very recently returned to the air in the USA?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 1, 2018 17:19:35 GMT 12
News to me. I hope they have shares in an oil well! (Kermit - are you there?)
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 1, 2018 17:26:42 GMT 12
Now for something a bit smaller. Three Tiger Moths, the middle one with the engine running, in front of a Harvard. The left Tiger is ZK-ARZ, middle one, ZK-AIA and the right hand one is obscured.
ZK-ARZ was with the Auckland AC from June 1948 to March 1951, and wore the coupe top while with that club. It went to Aerial Agriculture Ltd., Hastings in 1951, and I think we can safely assume that the top was removed while in their employ.
My pick is the photo was taken at Mangere within that 1948-51 time period at an open day or air display.
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Post by baz62 on Sept 1, 2018 18:30:50 GMT 12
Did you chaps know that a Boeing Stratocruiser very recently returned to the air in the USA? Yes saw an amazing shot of it in formation with the B29 (Doc). Not the most attractive aeroplane but certainly imposing! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 1, 2018 18:47:33 GMT 12
Sorry Peter, my mistake, the aircraft that has returned to the air is the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation's Boeing C-97G Stratofreighter "Angel of Deliverance". Very similar though.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 3, 2018 21:45:49 GMT 12
Now for a nice shot of NAC's first Vickers Viscount, ZK-BRD at Whenuapai.
The engines are running and the pax can be seen waving goodbye from the cabin windows. Ah, those were the days!  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 4, 2018 23:21:11 GMT 12
Going back a bit in time, this is the DH89B Dominie ZK-BBP of South Island Airways. SIA was a division of Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch, and operated from early 1953 between Nelson, Christchurch. Ashbuton, Timaru and Oamaru. Never profitable, the service was shut down in February 1956. 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/12/oamarus-first-christchurch-connection.htmlI assume that this photo was taken at Christchurch, and ZK-BBP is seen in front of NAC DC-3 ZK-AWO 'Putaitai' and another of the same type. This Dominie was eventually sold into Australia in 1958 as VH-AAG and was retired in 1963.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 5, 2018 18:03:06 GMT 12
This photo shows the Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31E ZK-CAM in its original "Rail-Air" livery and named 'Merchant Venturer'. ZK-CAM came from the Pakistan Air Force and arrived in NZ in September 1961. It was withdrawn after a bad landing at Woodbourne 14Jan81 @ 20288.35hrs. No idea where this was taken. Suggestions?
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Post by baz62 on Sept 6, 2018 15:17:50 GMT 12
Possibly Harewood?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 6, 2018 17:21:32 GMT 12
You could well be right.
I don't know enough about the backgrounds there over the years to tell.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 6, 2018 17:32:57 GMT 12
This one shows Freighter ZK-CAL, 'Merchant Trader'.
ZK-CAL was also ex-Pakistan Air Force and arrived in NZ in December 1961.
Its last flight took place on12Dec1980 and was WFU Woodbourne @ 17458.02hrs
Obviously at some sort of display day, and I suspect at the Mangere airport opening in 1966, where this aircraft was part of the static display.
The sign board seems to display photos of the 'cargon' loading system as used by Straits Air Freight Express at the time.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Sept 6, 2018 19:13:54 GMT 12
Big queue.
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Post by rone on Sept 7, 2018 12:01:53 GMT 12
With regards the Stratocruiser, I watched a few depart Whenuapai back in the day. They were reputed to burn/use 4gallons of oil on startup, not sure if that was for 1 engine or all 4. I do know there was a hell of a lot of smoke. I have a photo somewhere with 4 clouds of smoke.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 7, 2018 17:01:02 GMT 12
ZK-BUV was the third of five Lodestars to arrive for Gisborne-based Fieldair. This aircraft had an interesting and rather convoluted previous history, which included service with the RAF and then some years in Spain. After conversion to topdressing duties it arrived in NZ in 1958, and was part of Fieldair's contribution to the Airland (NZ) Ltd. consortium from 1960. It is said to have carried the name "Makutonga", but that is not evident in this photo. ZK-BUV made its last flight on 8Jan1973, and has been resident at Gisborne airport ever since. Looking at the background of this photo, I would say Mangere in its pre-international days.  |
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Post by planewriting on Sept 7, 2018 18:56:31 GMT 12
I agree with Johnny, if that was at the opening of Mangere I would have thought there would have been more people lining up. It wasn't often a SAFE Air Bristol was open to the public in Auckland. If I remember rightly, the Bristol was somewhere near the Air New Zealand hangar. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 7, 2018 19:16:39 GMT 12
There were two SAFE Air Bristol Freighters at the opening of Auckland International Airport, ZK-CAL and ZK-CLT, both on static display.The airshow was held over three days so perhaps this was the third day, or very early on the first day, when the queues were shorter.
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Post by davidd on Sept 7, 2018 22:53:51 GMT 12
Good view of the planform of BUV's wings, the "Batwing" feature has disappeared on this bird, but looks as though it still has its original tailcone.
Dave D
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