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Post by angelsonefive on Mar 29, 2010 18:00:35 GMT 12
Helicopters NZ were certainly around then, but if I recall correctly Mr Alexander had his own business, Alexander Helicopters Ltd.
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fbarryf
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 3
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Post by fbarryf on Apr 20, 2010 12:24:06 GMT 12
Hi Guys,
I was flying Vampires on this exercise but unfortunately I have no photos to add to this site. Furthermore my memories of the whole affair are pretty vague apart from the overwhelming one that it was all good fun. The Vampire pilots from Ohakea were split into two groups and initially I was based at Ohakea and took on the role of attacker to those based at Rangataiki. On one occasion we were tasked to take a section of four aircraft to carry-out a dusk attack on the airfield and then position to Whenuapai. Early next morning we did the reverse by participating in a dawn attack before landing back at Ohakea and breakfast. As leader, on the way South I took the four to visit a former wings-course friend of mine farming in the Waikato. After a fly-by of my friend's farm we completed the exercise without incident, although I was forever reminded by my friend and his associates that cows being milked did not take too kindly to being visited by a section of low flying Vampires early in the morning.
Some days later, along with others, my role was reversed to being based at Rangataiki as a defender and in close support of the Army in the Taupo region. Operating from Rangataiki was quite a challenge with the amount of pumice dust that was always present, particularly on take-off. The Army Engineers were magnificent and fully employed restoring the airfield to acceptable levels as the Vampire’s low-slung jet exhaust managed to gouge out huge areas of pumice if not careful with throttle application. Full power on take-off from a standing start was a sight to behold and the solution was rolling starts with slow application of power. I seem to recall that all engine intakes despite our best efforts displayed a sand-blasted effect. That there were no serious incidents operating off the pumice strip was probably more to good fortune than anything else. As I say, two weeks of fun flying, no longer an option for modern pilots of the RNZAF.
Barry Flavall
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Post by oj on Apr 21, 2010 22:27:45 GMT 12
Great to have aircrew input on Rangataiki Barry. I do recall there was one flight incident when someone lost a turbine blade or two on take-off in a Mk5 and did a successful 180 turn-back and dead-stick landing. Not sure who; might have been Goldsworthy? OJ
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Post by Freighter5910 on Feb 23, 2014 16:53:14 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2014 19:45:52 GMT 12
Super photos, thanks for posting these!
It must have been very dusty with the props and the Goblin running!
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zolteg
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
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Post by zolteg on Feb 24, 2014 22:59:22 GMT 12
My oh my. Didn't realise the history of this strip. I met an Andover there in 1986 when on an army Annual Camp as a U/T (well, someone had to put up the tents and dig the telephone lines into the ground....). I recall being astounded at the short landing, then the Andover backing up - had never seen that before.....
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Post by oj on Dec 4, 2014 21:43:58 GMT 12
We had a bit of discussion on this exercise at the Hamilton RAeS Meeting last week. Our guest speaker was ex-RNZAF pilot Ken Brooking who was at Reflex 2 flying Vampires.
Again, I appeal to you all to talk/email to your friends and relations about this significant exercise and try to find the old guy that has all the other photos!
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Post by thomarse on Dec 5, 2014 15:58:35 GMT 12
I clearly recall an item on the TV news at the time, showing the billowing clouds of dust. How about TVNZ archives?
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Post by starr on Dec 5, 2014 16:49:57 GMT 12
First time I have looked at this thread. SPANZ as far as I know put in the strip which was across the road from the old pub. It was on land owned by Poronui Station and sold to Stevensons some time later. Jack Humphries and I operated DC3 AZL off that strip in December 1962 and January 1963. The pumice dust was quite thick on takeoff. I will see if I still have any photos taken at that time. We stayed in the pub. Had quite a time there.
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Post by oj on Dec 5, 2014 21:28:28 GMT 12
Great to see some more response to this. I can tell you that in the photo above labelled "A general view of the camp, at least the part visible from where the Freighter was parked." that those tents are some of the airfield operational tents. All the accommodation, messes, admin, medical etc (and the eight-man back-to-back army field crappers) were across the highway behind the tall pine trees. it is really pleasing to see how interest has been rekindled. The exercise is gradually being recognised for its significance at last.
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 10, 2014 10:21:09 GMT 12
Fascinating stuff! Some brilliant photos - the colour slides are very atmospheric, but for me the winner is the Hastings coming in to land. Wonderful!
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Post by angelsonefive on Dec 20, 2014 12:53:43 GMT 12
Some faint recollections of Reflex II ( or the Brigade Ex. as we usually referred to it ) from my point of view as a baggy pants private in the 2nd Battalion, NZ Regt, later 1 NZ Regt and 1 RNZIR :
The Hiller helicopter of Alexander Helicopters ( pilot Mike Alexander ) ferrying our CO Lt-Col. Robert M. Gurr around the battalion positions.
A Harvard making a very low level run at the control tower or watch office, whatever, at the airstrip then pulling up from ground level into a spectacular climbing roll, missing the structure by mere feet.
The Gov. General Sir Bernard Ferguson, resplendent in Brit. Army para smock and tamo'shanter cap addressing us during a break in the "battle". He was accompanied by his ADC, a British Army Captain, in similar attire. Bernard Ferguson had been one of Orde Wingate's Chindits in Burma. A brigade commander if I recall correctly.
The cold snap that brought snow to Helwan Camp just a day or two after our arrival from Burnham.
Flying back to Ch-Ch in a Bristol Freighter at the end of it all. A lovely day for flying and a great trip.
a15.
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Post by oj on Oct 22, 2019 20:36:38 GMT 12
Hi Guys, Here we are five years later and still hoping that perhaps some new readers or old guys cleaning out their archives might have found more photos to share with us. Or perhaps further narrative from anyone else who was there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 19, 2022 13:39:27 GMT 12
Birdie
Vampire fighter pilots have been painting their simulated "kills” beside their cockpits during the army exercises being carried out in the Rangitaiki area. The kills are recorded by a camera which take a shot each time the firing button is pressed. According to the drawings on one of the Vampires, its pilot had “killed” one and a half Vampires, a field gun, a truck, a jeep and a bird. The bird was a real kill. It was struck by the wing of the aircraft and evidence of the hit is still there—(P.A.)
PRESS, 11 OCTOBER 1963
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