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Post by baz62 on Jul 18, 2020 10:56:52 GMT 12
Nice work. Makes you wonder why they put a mud guard on the tail wheel. It's not something you normally see there.
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Post by agalbraith on Jul 18, 2020 11:05:17 GMT 12
It's British Baz....like all quality engineering at the time mate, you needed to put mudguard's and spats on to make them look dapper
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Post by shorty on Jul 18, 2020 11:06:45 GMT 12
And we expect to see them fitted to some certain Austers!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 18, 2020 11:33:51 GMT 12
Baz,as the RAF operate them in places like the Middle East it might have been more about catching and suppressing dust off the airfield than mud.
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 18, 2020 11:37:14 GMT 12
Beautiful work Steve, that looks fantastic!
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Post by baz62 on Jul 18, 2020 13:24:15 GMT 12
Yes good point Dave. And I suppose it was the Spats era although on Austers.....ewww. One type I've never seen spats on are Tiger Moths but have seen them on other Moths. Fox Moth ADI for one.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 19, 2020 14:03:58 GMT 12
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Post by baz62 on Jul 19, 2020 14:50:48 GMT 12
Lots of Austers have worn spats Baz. They look fine to me. My eyes! My eyes! You're in good company as Graham Orphan also has the same affliction for spats on Austers. Sorry I meant affection....
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Post by vultee43 on Jul 19, 2020 21:59:38 GMT 12
Yeah, nah. Too deco.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 19, 2020 22:09:14 GMT 12
Austers are not pretty to start with, so either way is fine.
Some Vildebeests an/or Vincents did operate without spats in NZ for some reason, and they just do not look right.
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Post by davidd on Jul 20, 2020 11:06:57 GMT 12
The removal of spats from Vildes/Vincents in NZ was sometimes commented on in reminiscences, and occasionally alluded to in RNZAF files. Primarily it was to do with frequent "clogging up" of the spats with sticky mud (and perhaps grass clippings), usually during winter and spring, which if left too long might result in so much unwanted friction that the aircraft might eventually go over on its nose. However I have never actually read that this ever happened for real in NZ, but it is quite possible that some pilots felt the increasing drag on the mainwheels and became afraid that it just MIGHT happen. Quite frankly I do not know why these rather elaborate pieces of metalwork were ever conceived in the first place, as any perceived increase in cruising speed would likely have been of microscopic proportions. I have also read of other aircraft fitted with spats suffering similar problems so it would seem that this problem was not unknown throughout the world aviation scene, to pilots, other occupants, and technical staff. And not quite the same thing, but I once saw a (spatted) Pitts Special being taxied along by an unusually unobservant pilot (think he was one of a syndicate) with half flat tyres. A friend of mine managed to attract the pilot's attention, and pointed out the problem, which seemed to surprise the pilot somewhat. Had he continued unchecked, he might have found his take-off unusually sluggish, with an unexpected tendency to lift the tail. David D
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Post by vultee43 on Jul 20, 2020 21:18:50 GMT 12
Austers are not pretty to start with, so either way is fine. Some Vildebeests an/or Vincents did operate without spats in NZ for some reason, and they just do not look right. A bit harsh Dave! Austers have a certain charm. Will agree on the Agricola. Not pretty.
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Post by baz62 on Jul 21, 2020 8:42:08 GMT 12
On behalf of all Auster owners I thank you Vultee43! (Not you Agricola owners sit down.)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 21, 2020 11:21:38 GMT 12
The Austers all look the same when compared with the beautiful Vincent!
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Post by Brett on Jul 21, 2020 11:45:08 GMT 12
Mike Maniatis had N9410 fitted with spats. It is / was New York based, and frequently seen at Old Rhinebeck.
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Post by baz62 on Jul 22, 2020 12:56:53 GMT 12
The Austers all look the same when compared with the beautiful Vincent! Beautiful? Have you got a white stick?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 22, 2020 13:20:33 GMT 12
Jokes aside, have you actually seen one in real life, Baz? Many people who used to rib me about liking the Vilde and Vincent have completely changed their tunes after visiting Steve's Vincent at Forum Meets, etc, and seeing what a work of art and engineering they are, and how massive too. The Wigram Vildebeest does not yet convey this but it will if they ever finish it. It will be one of the most impressive and dominating aeroplanes in the collection in my opinion. And when people learn that airmen, including lots of Kiwis, actually flew operationally an even wet into battle in them, they'll have a whole new appreciation.
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Post by vultee43 on Jul 22, 2020 14:28:33 GMT 12
They do look a truly impressive beast, especially when you look at their era.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jul 22, 2020 20:26:21 GMT 12
Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The current canine trend is to be enamoured by French Bulldogs...can't see it myself. To me, there aren't many airframe designs that don't have some beauty about them - even the Wright Flyer. The Vickers effort as above has a pugnacious air about it, but purposeful and proportioned appropriately. Not to mention its intimidating size. Likewise the Auster J5F, proportioned beautifully - probably very similar proportions to the Vincent.
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Post by vultee43 on Jul 22, 2020 20:53:28 GMT 12
Maybe an 'ugliest aircraft' thread coul be started.
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