Photo of Harvard ZK-WAR - What was the date?

[Dave Homewood]

Peter Layne has asked me to post this photo as he has several questions he'd like answered:

He says:

Attached photo of NZ1092 / ZK-WAR was taken some time ago outside the Auckland Gliding Club's former Ardmore hangar.

What I am trying to establish is when and, if possible, who is occupying the rear seat? I believe Trevor Bland is in the front seat.

Clues we have are that WAR was subsequently repainted white but when?

Also, the Gliding Club's markings were overpainted, but when? The club moved to Drury in the 1980s.

I wasn't sure which heading to load such a thread. Would you mind setting one up with the photograph included and asking if anyone knows the photograph's approx vintage?

Thanks in advance

[Dave Homewood]

My own observations:

The aerial mast is still on WAR there. That was removed later. I am not sure when, though. It still had the mast in September 1998.

This is after the original scheme that had Lady Wigram painted on the cowl, but before it was sold by the syndicate on 29 October 2008 to the late John Walton at which point it got the fox stickers added to the cowl as nose art.

This photo by Colin Hunter shows it on the 11th of April 2009, with the fox art, and without the mast. I think it had been repainted in the same scheme about the time John Walton bought it.


In fact the mast had been removed already here in this photo by Sam Rudge taken on the 11th of April 2004.

[Mustang51]

Side note.....all personal preferences I know but I like them with the mast.

[planewriting]

Russell Thorne wonders if the rear seat pilot is Frank Parker? Comments please...

Now one from the red face department, in small letters on the back of the photo is "RLE May 82", which translates to, taken by Ross Ewing in May 1982. The date ties up with the gliding club's move to Drury. When though, was the Lady Wigram marking removed?

[Dave Homewood]

I just asked Heidi Bland, and she thought approx 1981, so the 1982 ties in perfectly.

Also she said, "Hmmm he does look familiar but I can’t put a name to the face sorry. Could be ex RNZAF looking at the helmet complete with mask as civilian passengers only wore headsets. I’ll send it to my sisters and see if they know …"

[Dave Homewood]

As well as the Lady Wigram nose inscription it had some yellow bits on it too in that first civilianised paint scheme. Wingtips, etc. I think those markings vanishes within two years or so of its initial return to flight.

[Dave Homewood]

OK, I think the question is answered now.

I contacted Trevor Bland's daughter Heidi, who consulted Trevor's logbook for May 1982. It seems the chap in the back was likely Peter Dingwall, and the date the 9th of May 1982.

[ErrolC]

I'll dig out the newspaper photo of my ride with TB around the same time!