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Post by Simonjg on Mar 21, 2007 11:05:33 GMT 12
Tigers Blood Thunder Mustang sponsored by Drumsara Pinot Noir from Central Otago Unofficially at this stage : has today broken the Auckland – Christchurch world FAI speed record. 1 hour 36 minutes, flown by Rob Burns and co pilot Chris Bromley. A full report will be at www.kiwithunder.com tomorrow. ;D |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 21, 2007 11:11:40 GMT 12
That is great news Simon. Pass my congratulations on to Rob and Chris.
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Post by Simonjg on Mar 21, 2007 11:31:12 GMT 12
Boys are about to head back shortly:
Celebration drinks, tonight at Auckland aero Club, all welcome.
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Post by Simonjg on Mar 21, 2007 12:35:49 GMT 12
At this stage Unofficially ZK-TMG Tigers Blood Thunder mustang had a average speed of 465 km/h
The current record holder:
Class C (Aeroplanes)
Sub-class C-1c (Landplanes: take off weight 1000 to 1750 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Speed over a recognised course : 397.60 km/h
Date of flight: 04/04/1996
Pilot: Christopher Robin TOMS (New Zealand)
Course/place: Auckland (New Zealand) - Christchurch (New Zealand)
Aircraft: Lancair IV
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 21, 2007 16:12:14 GMT 12
Great work guys; and it's good to see Tigers Blood's speed being put to good use.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 21, 2007 17:09:34 GMT 12
Fantastic stuff! Well done guys. Man that's quick!
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Post by turboNZ on Mar 21, 2007 21:02:19 GMT 12
Awesome stuff !!
That's nearly 300mph !!
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Post by beagle on Mar 21, 2007 21:19:30 GMT 12
1 hour 36.
The gate to gate time of a commercial 737 must be not too much quicker than that. Just checked the air nz site 1 hr 20 min
mind you I have been in the jump seat of the 727 when w ehad them and we were empty and did it in 1 hour.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 22, 2007 8:35:18 GMT 12
Great shout too Simon, thanks!  |
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Post by beagle on Mar 22, 2007 8:58:51 GMT 12
So are they going to race it at RENO
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 22, 2007 12:42:23 GMT 12
This is from today's NZ Herald  |
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Post by stu on Mar 22, 2007 13:40:48 GMT 12
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Post by Simonjg on Mar 24, 2007 9:19:53 GMT 12
FAI record applied for.
Rob Burns (pilot) and Chris Bromley (co-pilot) have set a new unofficial record time in the C1c class between Auckland and Christchurch of 1 hour 36minutes and 38 seconds for an average speed of 465kph (251kts). This beats the previous record set in 1996 by Chris Thoms in a Lancair iv.
After waiting several weeks for suitable weather they took advantage of a high pressure system passing over the country to get a smooth run direct from Auckland International Airport to Christchurch International a distance of 404km. The flight had a number of highlights for the pilots, after all how often do you get to fly down the main runway at an International airport at 350kts to get a start time and finish with a fly by of the tower at another at 360kts, all without getting in trouble! And at one point be 50 nautical miles off shore.
Many many thanks to the very helpful and professional team at Air Traffic Control for making it all possible and providing the clearances and assistance as we progressed down the country.
And for the record, there is still a LOT more speed left in the Thunder Mustang.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2007 9:44:33 GMT 12
It must have been a damp ride home! Great photo with that bucket of water just about to hit them.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 30, 2007 7:54:55 GMT 12
From the letters column, NZ Herald Friday March 30th:
"Speed Record
According to a Herald article, Robert Burns has claimed the Auckland-Christchurch speed record for a single-engined piston aircraft. He recorded a time of 1h 36m in Kiwi Thunder, a Mustang P51D lookalike.
But in September 1951, I was part of a team testing Mustangs that had been in storage and were being introduced to service in Air Force territorial squadrons. On a delivery flight in one of these from Whenuapai to Wigram, I calculated a time of 1h 31m.
B A Wood
Group Captain (retd), Titirangi"
I don't know how the weight classes compare between the two aircraft types, they could fall into different FAI classes.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 30, 2007 12:28:32 GMT 12
That's intereresting. Perhaps an Auckland to Christchurch air race between Kiwi Thunder and ZK-TAF could be arranged.
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 30, 2007 12:42:05 GMT 12
I think the major difference here is that Grp Cpt Wood's record isn't an officially verified record. Plus, I bet there are some Skyhawk/F-111/Phantom/Hornet/etc pilots who could also boast about how much quicker they flown the route too!  |
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Post by Bruce on Mar 30, 2007 13:04:06 GMT 12
FAI categories are based on weight. I once attempted a Record Rotorua to Kaitaia flight in a C172, which would have qualified as there was no existing record for the weight category. Unfortunately the weather prevented the overhead Rotorua start. The be an officially verified record there have to be stements from official observers at the start and finish points. Is quite a fun thing to try, it just takes a little organising in advance.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 30, 2007 13:24:26 GMT 12
Regardless of the records, it would be interesting to hear more from Gp Capt Wood about his time testing and delivering the Mustangs.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 30, 2007 13:26:47 GMT 12
Also my comment about the race is because the times are so close, wouldn't it be really interesting to see?
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