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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 15, 2021 14:23:31 GMT 12
Am I correct in remembering that a pair of Strikemasters arrived at Wigram in either very late 1992 or early 1993 after the type had left service.
I remember them arriving and they got put into our hangar, No. 6 Hangar, up our S&S end when they arrived as the Friendships were long gone. They did not stay there for too long.
We looked them over and were pretty shocked at how rough and worn the paint was on them. We figured they'd stopped doing paint upgrades since they were leaving service.
Now, is my memory correct that they were to become instructional airframes with No. 2 Technical Training School? Or were they for the Museum? Surely f it was the latter I'd have thought better looking examples would have been chosen. And only one seems to have been allocated to the RNZAF Museum at Wigram back then?
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Post by camtech on Dec 15, 2021 14:26:43 GMT 12
I'm assuming the Friendships were stored outside at that time.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 15, 2021 14:29:00 GMT 12
I think they were long gone by then? Or in outdoor storage at least. NATTS closed in mid-1992. As you will know the hangar was only for maintenance rather than storage, they lived outside most of the time. Although they did sometimes squeeze smaller aircraft in behind an F-27 when NATTS was still around. But my memory was the two Blunties had that end of the hangar to themselves.
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Post by camtech on Dec 15, 2021 14:42:19 GMT 12
The Friendships didn't leave until around mid 1995 IIRC. I believe they were parked more outside 7 Hangar.
I note NZ6368 "delivered to Wigram for 2TTS" but no date
Also NZ6373 "delivered to Wigram for Museum", but again no date
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 15, 2021 14:50:14 GMT 12
Ah right, so if that is them then they arrived the same day, but one for the museum. I think they must have been among the last ever Strikemaster flights by the RNZAF.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 15, 2021 14:51:43 GMT 12
Hang on, nzdf.serials says NZ6368....
"Crashed during training flight near Pahiatua 27 October 1992 when aircraft failed to recover from a spin commenced at 20,000 feet.
This was a test flight after the ailerons had been re-rigged. Pilot ejected safely.
This was RNZAF's 9th successful ejection and the 6th in New Zealand."
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Post by tbf2504 on Dec 15, 2021 15:24:17 GMT 12
Dave, the strikemasters were the only aircraft in service that had no major repaint during their career. So apart from touch-ups they were indeed in a tatty state. Also the "100 MPH" tape over the various
inspection holes in the wings didn't do much for the overall look!
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Post by McFly on Dec 15, 2021 15:34:59 GMT 12
Hang on, nzdf.serials says NZ6368.... "Crashed during training flight near Pahiatua 27 October 1992 when aircraft failed to recover from a spin commenced at 20,000 feet. This was a test flight after the ailerons had been re-rigged. Pilot ejected safely. This was RNZAF's 9th successful ejection and the 6th in New Zealand." Should buff right out...!  "View of the wreckage of No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6368, flown by Flight Lieutenant SL Singleton-Turner, RAAF, which crashed on 27 October near Pahiatua, after failing to recover from an intentional spin. The pilot ejected safely. Oh3338-92 (28/10/1992)" (Air Force Museum Collection) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 15, 2021 15:36:32 GMT 12
Yep, the ones I saw were rough, but not that rough.  |
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Post by l29 on Dec 15, 2021 18:49:46 GMT 12
I recall two strikemasters in 6 hangar in the opposite end to the friendships. I also rember them both leaving on trucks.
The museums example never flew in.
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Post by camtech on Dec 15, 2021 19:49:30 GMT 12
Dave, one of yours would have been NZ6373, destined for the museum. The other I'm not sure at this time. 6374 finished up at Wanaka's Warbirds and Wheels, but I believe spent time at the Ohakea Museum prior. Would welcome confirmation.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 15, 2021 20:38:20 GMT 12
I was really starting to doubt my memory and wonder if the two in No. 6 Hangar had merely overnighted and returned to Ohakea, so it is good to see some confirmation from L29 that there were indeed two in the hangar, albeit down the other end (which is where I suspected they had moved to as the 2TTS Devons and the Museum's spare aircraft lived there).
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Post by planewriting on Dec 15, 2021 21:04:15 GMT 12
According to a list I have in 2012 I have the remaining Strikemasters located as follows:
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6365, c/n P167-80. (Blenheim, Woodbourne).
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6366, c/n P167-81. (Blenheim, Woodbourne).
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6373, c/n 343. (Christchurch, Wigram).
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6374, c/n 344. (Wanaka).
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6375, c/n 345. (Blenheim, Woodbourne).
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6376, c/n 346. (Blenheim, Woodbourne).
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Post by l29 on Dec 15, 2021 21:49:58 GMT 12
Correct, two Devons were also in the same end. I was really starting to doubt my memory and wonder if the two in No. 6 Hangar had merely overnighted and returned to Ohakea, so it is good to see some confirmation from L29 that there were indeed two in the hangar, albeit down the other end (which is where I suspected they had moved to as the 2TTS Devons and the Museum's spare aircraft lived there). |
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Post by camtech on Dec 15, 2021 22:18:19 GMT 12
NZ6374 indeed spent time at the Ohakea Museum, but when did that museum close? And when was it lent to the Wanaka establishment, which, by the way, has just closed down, with both the Aermacchi and Vampire being trucked out. No sign of '74.
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Post by l29 on Dec 15, 2021 22:43:38 GMT 12
The vampire, strikemaster and Skyhawk were returned to wigram. The aermacchi is still on the pole falling apart. NZ6374 indeed spent time at the Ohakea Museum, but when did that museum close? And when was it lent to the Wanaka establishment, which, by the way, has just closed down, with both the Aermacchi and Vampire being trucked out. No sign of '74. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 16, 2021 7:37:37 GMT 12
NZ6374 indeed spent time at the Ohakea Museum, but when did that museum close? 13th of May 2007. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 16, 2021 7:38:46 GMT 12
And Strikemaster NZ6374 remained at Ohakea till the closure.
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Post by mit on Dec 17, 2021 9:15:58 GMT 12
Dave, the strikemasters were the only aircraft in service that had no major repaint during their career. So apart from touch-ups they were indeed in a tatty state. Also the "100 MPH" tape over the various inspection holes in the wings didn't do much for the overall look! The Aermacchi, were never painted either they are in the factory paint. The strikmaster did go from the wavy line to a fade between the camo and the belly grey not sure how that came about. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 17, 2021 9:33:11 GMT 12
I was totally unaware of that. I assumed they would have been repainted at major servicing and when they were re-winged, etc,
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