Announcing RNZAF Ejections Episode on World Podcast Day

[Dave Homewood]

Today, the 30th of September, is International Podcast Day. I just want to say thanks to everyone out there who listens to my podcast, The Wings Over New Zealand Show, and a big thanks to all my wonderful guests from over the years.

In just over two months time the WONZ Show will turn 10 years old, and I hope to coincide the same 10th anniversary week with the 250th episode, if the stars all align. I am working behind the scenes on plans for lots of shows to come soon and in the near future.

One upcoming episode that I can a now reveal is currently in the works is a feature on RNZAF ejections - with interviews with some of the men who have ejected from RNZAF jets over the years, and people who worked on ejector seat systems. I am excited about this episode and I hope it will be a popular one. This will be some weeks away but I have started recording, so watch out for it.

[Dave Homewood]

So far I have made two recorded interviews with pilots who ejected from RNZAF aircraft for this upcoming show. And they are really amazing stories! Venom pilot Geoff Hubbard, and Strikemaster pilot Pete Lindsay. I am lining up others.

[mcmaster]

Not RNZAF but the RAAF F-111 at Ohakea might be a stretch Dave but I recall someone close to this event on the forum a while back ..
manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/3847c8d6-26f9-439a-830d-ab9e56623833#tab-item-description

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks McMaster. For this one I am sticking to RNZAF aircraft and aircrews. I think I have enough lined up right now for a very full episode.

However if this episode is popular - and I am certain it will be - I cannot see why I would not do a follow up down the track with another episode focusing on more ejections and emergency escapes.

[Dave Homewood]

My interview with Skyhawk pilot and WONZ Forum member Phil Barnes is now recorded for this episode too. Another amazing story!

[Dave Homewood]

I interviewed three ex-Safety And Surface Workers the other night, Geoff 'Polly' Polglase, Terry 'Gnome' Austin, and Evan Allen, who all worked on the parachutes, liferafts, and survival equipment used in an ejection. My plan was to trim some details about these items from the interview and put little five minute segments between then main interviews with the ejectees. However the discussion went on far longer than I anticipated and there is so much more detail too than I expected. I think I might dedicate one episode to the pilots and passenger who ejected, and have a standalone separate episode to follow it up with the S&S Workers and also an Armourer that I still plan to record with, to talk about the ejection seats from the groundcrew point of view. Does that sound like a good plan?

[baz62]

Yes that sounds logical to me.

[Dave Homewood]

As with most projects things have evolved with this project. I decided rather than one long episode, I will release each story as a separate stand-alone episode. You can now access the first episode here:
cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2021/10/wonz-246-great-escapes-1-geoff-hubbard/

[vs]

Have listened to both ejection podcasts so far. Both have been excellent. Was very interesting hearing about Venom operations which I knew little about. The second episode was also interesting as I remembered that accident happening…..was good hearing it from the pilot involved.

Keep up the good work Dave! Been some great subjects!