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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2018 21:46:37 GMT 12
Hi all,
I've been looking around for photos, diagrams etc of the Avro Avian type while I plan a (fairly far in the future) model project, and it got me to wondering about those which operated in New Zealand.
Being from Wanganui I have a very tenuous link as IVM ZK-ACM, our last example of the type, was based here for a time and was sadly lost in a fire in I think 1974.
In the spirit of the "Pile" threads for other types, I'd love everyone to chip in with any photos or memories of the type in NZ - including Guy Menzie's trans-Tasman machine.
Have at it!
(PS: this isn't me trying to cheat my way into photos, the one I'd like to build is an Aussie machine and I thought it might be neat to have a repository of the Kiwi Avians for future fans to see)
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 19, 2018 22:36:21 GMT 12
Six Avians in all - plus Menzies trans-Tasman one G-NZAV / ZK-AAC G-NZEE / ZK-AAF ZK-AAN ZK-ABJ ZK-ACM ZK-ADQ
G-ABCF
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Post by kevsmith on Nov 19, 2018 22:48:22 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 21, 2018 19:37:21 GMT 12
OK, I'll start the ball rolling: Avro 594 Avian IIIA ZK-AAC
Destroyed by gale at Parorangi, 7mls from Feilding, 2Feb36 
Does anyone have a photo of this as G-NZAV?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2018 14:19:32 GMT 12
Thank you Peter, I feel guilty about not being able to contribute but I thought it would be neat to have a "one stop shop" for all things Avro Avian in NZ.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 22, 2018 19:21:28 GMT 12
Avro 594 Avian IIIA G-NZEE in 1928
which became ZK-AAF in 1929
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Nov 22, 2018 20:14:51 GMT 12
ZK-AAC damn! Doesn't get much earlier than that Peter, I didn't know you were around then...
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Post by davidd on Nov 23, 2018 17:22:07 GMT 12
I think ZK-NZEE should read G-NZEE. The other (distressed) light aircraft in the photo with Avian AAC escapes me, but I have an idea it may have been the side-by-side Blackburn Bluebird (ZK-AAQ). Peter will know.
David D
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 30, 2018 16:22:31 GMT 12
I think ZK-NZEE should read G-NZEE. Corrected Spartan Arrow ZK-ACQ |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 30, 2018 16:26:52 GMT 12
Now back from a week in wet windy Wellington, a few more on this: Avro 594 Avian IIIA ZK-AAN
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 1, 2018 15:07:38 GMT 12
Avro 616 Avian IVM ZK-ABJ
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 2, 2018 17:33:59 GMT 12
Avro 616 Avian IVM ZK-ACM
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Post by thomarse on Dec 3, 2018 10:13:57 GMT 12
Interesting how advanced aviation was at Martinborough as early as 1929, only to die off completely.
Anyone know when activities ceased? May have been something to do with WW2
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 3, 2018 16:20:34 GMT 12
Avro 616 Avian IVM ZK-ADQ
The Genet engine (above) was replaced by a Gipsy post-WW2  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 3, 2018 16:33:52 GMT 12
Interesting how advanced aviation was at Martinborough as early as 1929, only to die off completely. Anyone know when activities ceased? May have been something to do with WW2 Possibly earlier than that - my 'Air Pilot' dated 1939 does not list a Martinborough airfield.
The Associated Farmers' base strip was located beside the road to the south of the town.
I have flown out of Alistair McLeod's current Martinborough airfield, which is basically a 172-capable grass strip.
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Post by planewriting on Dec 3, 2018 22:15:07 GMT 12
That photo of ZK-ADQ with Tiger Moth ZK-ANH is rather interesting. It will be appreciated that it is a post Word War II photograph meaning that ZK-ADQ had a reasonably long life time compared to its contemporaries. Quoting directly from www.ab-ix.co.uk/pdfs/avian.pdf I record. 435 Avro 616 Avian IVM Regd G-AATV [CofR 2388] 1.30 to Shell Mex Co of Egypt Ltd; flown by F/O Bill Barrington-Mason. CofA 2406 issued 31.1.30. Regn cld 3.33 as sold abroad. Regd SU-AAG. Regd G-AATV [CofR 5354] 12.9.34 to GT Jarman. CofA not renewed. Regn cld as sold 2.3.35. Regd ZK-ADQ 5.5.35 to KR Johnstone, Timaru. Fitted with Gipsy Major. Regd to PH Wilton. Regd 10.5.42 to CHR Liddell, Wellington. Regd 19.5.48 to Southern Cross Aviation Service Ltd. Crashed Willowbridge, nr Waimate, Ashburton 13.6.48. Regd 5.7.48 to JH Craig. Regn cld 29.10.48. Tiger ZK-ANH was actually a pre-war example having been ZK-AGF which served in the RNZAF as NZ710 and was eventually written off at Echolands on 27 April 1954 |
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Post by davidd on Dec 4, 2018 8:19:33 GMT 12
Peter, I have to quibble with the geographic description of Willowbridge mentioned in the www reference immediately above. Although a rather old-fashioned description (from "The New Zealand Guide", by E S Dollimore, published by Wise Publications, 1952), I would definitely choose this version over the more recent internet one.
Willowbridge (page 878), Canterbury province, locality in Waimate County, about 5 miles south-eastwards by road from Waimate. Railway station 127 miles from Christchurch. (Ashburton, of course, as everyone who has driven this road by car from Christchurch knows, is about 50 miles, and by rail, exactly 53 statute miles.)
Waimate (page 795, not to be confused with Waimate North in Bay of Islands County, Waimate Plain near Hawera, or Waimate Islet, Coromandel harbour). Borough within Waimate County .... 5 miles SW by road from main Timaru - Oamaru Highway at Deep Creek Corner, 5 miles SW by road from Studholme Junction, 29 miles SW by road from Timaru, and 40 SE by road from Kurow. In other words, nowhere near Ashburton.
Also interesting to compare in the two photographs of ADQ is the apparent reversal of the undercarriage arrangements, the change-over from high pressure to low pressure wheels and tyres, and the quite sensible adoption of a Tiger Moth oil tank. I wonder if the second photograph (obviously at Rongotai) was taken immediately after the engine change and other modifications mentioned.
David D
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 4, 2018 8:50:15 GMT 12
'ZK-ADQ at Rongotai July 1947' on the label.
Note that at that time both ZK-ADQ and ZK-ANH were owned by aircraft engineer Charlie Liddell, and both aircraft went to Southern Cross Aviation Services of Napier on the same date of 19May48.
My guess would be that Liddell carried out the re-engining exercise.
Fate of the Avian: "Crashed Willowbridge, near Waimate, when the under-carriage collapsed in a heavy landing".
The late David Phillips, who grew up in Ashburton, made the comment that the wreck was sold to a couple of local young guys who had plans to make it into some sort of crazy car. Obviously, this did not eventuate.
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Post by madmax on Dec 4, 2018 10:18:28 GMT 12
Charlie worked for Aircraft Engineering Rongotai at that time and the conversion was carried out under their licence. It was supposed to be sold to a member of NACs Rongotai ground staff, whose name I am unable to recall, however as in Lynn MacGregor's usual bumbling style the conversion was so protracted that the deal fell through. Although perhaps in fairness to Aircraft Engineering I expect they would have been swamped with work at that time from an emerging agricultural aviation industry as they developed and fitted hoppers to many DH82s in the late 40s and early 50s.
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Post by thomarse on Dec 4, 2018 11:08:56 GMT 12
Possibly earlier than that - my 'Air Pilot' dated 1939 does not list a Martinborough airfield. [/div] The Associated Farmers' base strip was located beside the road to the south of the town.
I have flown out of Alistair McLeod's current Martinborough airfield, which is basically a 172-capable grass strip.
My understanding is that the field shown in the photo was a mile or two East of town, about opposite the golf course |
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