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Post by flyjoe180 on May 21, 2008 14:59:15 GMT 12
Here is a photo of the Moa Point area where the buildings would probably have been. It's been built over by the looks of it. The photo was taken from the east, the end of the runway is to the left of the photo, beyond the new DHL building (yellow signage). There does seem to be a lot of old brick debris around the beaches, maybe that was from these DH buildings?  |
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Post by shorty on Jun 22, 2008 12:09:04 GMT 12
Yes, that looks like it. Thanks. I never realised the prop hub was hinged like that on a Tiger Moth. You have me confused there Dave, what do mean hinged? If you are talking about the spinner go with the comment that it has just been slid on backwards for the reason stated. If it was slid on the correct way it could possibly be overlooked that it wasn't properly attached. Onece the final inspection had been done the spinner would be attached correctly. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 22, 2008 21:40:40 GMT 12
I don't understand what you and Bruce mean by 'slid'. They way I see it, the spinner cap seems to be pointing backwards like a door hinged open, but I wasn't sure. I was hoping someone would pick up on my comment and explain it better. What's the spinner made from? Aluminium? Or is it rubber and in this shot pulled back on itself?
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Post by shorty on Jun 22, 2008 21:46:53 GMT 12
Aluminium with a hole in the centre for the retaining bolt. They have reversed it, pushed it onto the extended bolt (so it wouldn't get misplaced).Once the inspections are done it will be turned around so it faces the right way, slid over the bolt into position and fastened.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 22, 2008 22:11:23 GMT 12
Ah I see, now I get it. Thanks.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2017 22:38:10 GMT 12
Resurrecting a great old thread to add some earlier photos taken inside the de Havilland Rongotai factory. These come from the EVENING POST, dated 5 JUNE 1940, via Papers Past   |
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Post by madmax on Jul 4, 2017 9:58:46 GMT 12
The De Havilland propeller shop building shown in the first photograph on page 1 of this thread was originally the Airwork hangar built around 1936 by the Brazier Bros and takeover by de Hav during WW 2. It stood until the mid 1950s when it was demolished to make way for the new airport extension.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 4, 2017 10:50:43 GMT 12
What was Airwork doing before the war? What was their role? What were they flying in those pre-helicopter days? Did the company continue through the war, or was their staff and equipment all impressed into RNZAF service?
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Post by madmax on Jul 4, 2017 12:08:23 GMT 12
Dave, Air Work [NZ] ltd as it was originally known, was established at Rongotai in 1936 by brothers Arthur (Bill) and Charles Brazier and operated from their workshop/hangar situated at the south eastern side of the airfield (situated about 100 metres in front of what is now the ANZ hangar). Both brothers joined de Hav during the War years and following WW 2 re-established their business in Christchurch where they were joined by brother John who is attributed to have undertaken the first commercial aerial topdressing flight in NZ on 27 May 1949. The aircraft used was DH 82 ZK-ASO
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 4, 2017 12:41:54 GMT 12
Thanks Madmax, but before the war were they flying anything? Or were they a maintenance company?
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 4, 2017 13:15:21 GMT 12
Back in 1966 (when I was 12 years old), I was visiting Christchurch and cheekily went to Airwork NZ at Christchurch Airport and asked them for a Piper catalogue (they were the NZ Piper agents). They handed me a large, lavishly-illustrated 1965 Piper Aircraft Catalogue, which I took home with me to Hastings at the end of the school holidays.
Back in 2012 after our Mother died (our Dad had died the year before), during the big clean-out before selling their house, my sister found a box of aviation-related stuff in the shed which had obviously belonged to me. Amongst that box was the 1965 Piper Aircraft Catalogue, still in really good condition, and I've still got it.
That catalogue was from the years when Piper were selling the 400hp PA-24-400 Comanche 400.
I imagine one of those beasts would be rather expensive to operate with today's fuel prices.
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Post by madmax on Jul 4, 2017 15:57:15 GMT 12
The Brazier brothers were engineers and initially operated out of the Wellington Aero Club hangar, I do not know if either were pilots however I don't believe they owned any aircraft. They serviced a number of aircraft including Canterbury Aero Club's Monospar (ZK-AET I think) and I have a pix of CACs Hawk ZK-AFJ in front of their workshop. Whether they worked for WAC prior to establishing their own business I'm unsure.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 4, 2017 16:56:32 GMT 12
The Brazier brothers were engineers and initially operated out of the Wellington Aero Club hangar, I do not know if either were pilots however I don't believe they owned any aircraft. They serviced a number of aircraft including Canterbury Aero Club's Monospar (ZK-AET I think) and I have a pix of CACs Hawk ZK-AFJ in front of their workshop. Whether they worked for WAC prior to establishing their own business I'm unsure. BRAZIER, Arthur Herbert Thomas, Ground Engineer's Licence No 56, 8 Dec 30; Pilot's ‘A’ Licence No 785, Canterbury AC, 18 Mar 35. BRAZIER, Charles Hammond, Ground Engineer's Licence No 120, 8 Jul 35. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 4, 2017 22:57:46 GMT 12
From the NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 14 SEPTEMBER 1940   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 10, 2017 20:10:20 GMT 12
Another sadly poor quality reproduction from Papers Past, but these shots appeared in the Press newspaper on the 28th of March 1941:   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 10, 2017 20:17:14 GMT 12
And I have been sent these three shots from Paul Sheehan, who says: Hi Dave The attached photos might be of interest for those following the thread above. Perhaps the engine test facility is the building at the bottom of the road going up the hill to the right. All photos from the Alexander Turnbull Library. Cheers Paul Sheehan Melbourne    |
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Post by craig on Jul 13, 2017 6:31:58 GMT 12
Is that shed on wheels???
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Post by Bruce on Jul 13, 2017 9:51:27 GMT 12
Is that shed on wheels??? That will be when they moved the hangar during the 1950s rebuild of Rongotai. jacked up on half a dozen small trucks and driven across the airfield / worksite. I have seen period newsreel footage of it (I think on the Archives NZ YouTube Channel) but I cant find it to reference. |
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tpb18
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by tpb18 on Jul 30, 2017 10:52:48 GMT 12
Hi all
Interesting thread. Arthur (Bill) Brazier was my grandfather and Charles & John great uncles. I believe he did have a pilots license (trained in India/ Africa) but according to my father was Engineering Manager at Airwork up until his death. He was also involved with South Island Airways & was a Squadron Leader in WW2 working in aircraft maintenance around the North Island (Rongotai etc) during much of the late 1930's and 1940's. As you probably know John was a lot younger and was a pilot in Israel in WW2 later worked on topdressing and became ceo of Airwork before it changed hands early 1980's. I have been trying to find any footage or photos of them at work? Anyone know if it exists? There are a few Whites Aviation photos taken around 1948. ~ Cheers ! Thomas.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 30, 2017 13:49:37 GMT 12
Hi all Interesting thread. Arthur (Bill) Brazier was my grandfather and Charles & John great uncles. I believe he did have a pilots license (trained in India/ Africa) but according to my father was Engineering Manager at Airwork up until his death. He was also involved with South Island Airways & was a Squadron Leader in WW2 working in aircraft maintenance around the North Island (Rongotai etc) during much of the late 1930's and 1940's. As you probably know John was a lot younger and was a pilot in Israel in WW2 later worked on topdressing and became ceo of Airwork before it changed hands early 1980's. I have been trying to find any footage or photos of them at work? Anyone know if it exists? There are a few Whites Aviation photos taken around 1948. ~ Cheers ! Thomas. As I mentioned earlier, Arthur had obtained a Pilot's 'A' Licence in New Zealand, No. 785 on 18 March 1935 with the Canterbury Aero Club. When did he go to India/Africa? John, incidentally, was one of the few to obtain a New Zealand 'A' Licence during war, No. 1667 on 3 June 1941 with Airwork. He later enlisted with the RNZAF, on 11 July 1942, thence to Canada on the Matsonia on 12 Feb 43 for further training. He was probably sent on to the UK for attachment to the RAF in late 1943? Israel did not come into being until 1948, perhaps you mean Palestine or the Middle East in general? Errol |
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