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Post by obiwan27 on Nov 7, 2022 12:08:40 GMT 12
 Highlight of my weekend was a visit to the Air Force Museum at Wigram, to enjoy my 15 minutes in the cockpit of the museum's 2-seat TA4K Skyhawk. The event was put together as a fundraiser and was sold out in short order when it was posted up on the museum's FB page. Essentially an ex A4K pilot (Hosky) was tasked with giving us a briefing on the aircraft and i's operation while seated in the 'office'. I can testify to it being a snug fit up front, with a huge array of switches, dials and knobs, from the panels 180 degrees and down left to right, plus the control panel up front and heads up display, control stick and throttle. 'Hosky' the guy who provided my briefing, gave a fantastic overview of what was involved in a shipping strike, including evasive maneuverers and tactics if the ship managed to get a radar lock on your aircraft. The experience served to remind me of the sheer class of the A4 pilots and the technical staff that supported them. What a fantastic asset this country had and such a crying shame that we lost our Air Combat and Strike capabilitity.  A4KExperience by Ken Tod, on Flickr |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2022 12:30:42 GMT 12
Cool stuff.
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Post by baz62 on Nov 7, 2022 16:33:12 GMT 12
In the afternoon my son Daniel and his mate Tim also got to have a sit. Dan couldnt remember the pilots name but I shared a photo with Don Simms who thought it looked like Ted Tyrrell who had been picked to be the first RNZAF F16 pilot back in 2000.....and sadly we know how that turned out! Possibly not the same pilot you had Ken. Photo of a very happy Dan with Ted.  Resized_received_816659932878297 by Barry Tod, on Flickr |
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Post by obiwan27 on Nov 8, 2022 10:42:34 GMT 12
In the afternoon my son Daniel and his mate Tim also got to have a sit. Dan couldnt remember the pilots name but I shared a photo with Don Simms who thought it looked like Ted Tynell who had been picked to be the first RNZAF F16 pilot back in 2000.....and sadly we know how that turned out! Possibly not the same pilot you had Ken. Photo of a very happy Dan with Ted. Resized_received_816659932878297 by Barry Tod, on Flickr Glad to see Dan enjoyed it. He must have found it a light squeeze. Hosky was on in the morning when I went for my experience, and I have now amended my original post to reflect that. |
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Post by baz62 on Nov 8, 2022 12:02:34 GMT 12
Thanks I'll edit my post. |
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Post by Calum on Nov 8, 2022 13:55:54 GMT 12
Last time I sat in one I found the seat had shrunk
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Post by ZacYates on Nov 9, 2022 8:39:45 GMT 12
You lot are making me second-guess my lifelong desire to sit in one of these!
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 9, 2022 8:47:21 GMT 12
Am I right in thinking that only the AFM is allowed to offer this on the Skyhawks (and Macchi's?) due to the loan arrangements elsewhere?
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Post by skyhawkdon on Nov 9, 2022 10:17:28 GMT 12
Possibly that is a condition of the loan for the Skyhawks, but the Macchi's now belong to the museums concerned so in theory can do what they want with them. Having said that I have seen people in the cockpit of Skyhawk 01 at Classic Flyers (including trying it out for myself!). But that was part of 2 and 75 Sqn reunions so perhaps we were allowed!
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Post by ZacYates on Nov 10, 2022 8:40:24 GMT 12
Am I right in thinking that only the AFM is allowed to offer this on the Skyhawks (and Macchi's?) due to the loan arrangements elsewhere? NZ Warbirds has their Aermacchi open for visitors to sit in during their open days. It's great to see kids getting to sit in a jet! |
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