|
|
Post by hairy on Sept 30, 2009 18:26:43 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by Damon on Sept 30, 2009 20:30:08 GMT 12
It should be flying here in N.Z
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Wright on Sept 30, 2009 23:08:16 GMT 12
A shame she's left NZ. I'd be surprised if she ends up in Kiwi colours.
|
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Sept 30, 2009 23:18:57 GMT 12
I hope it ends up with a shark mouth painted on it! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2009 6:15:49 GMT 12
I hope it ends up with a shark mouth painted on it! ;D And a nice glossy paint job  |
|
|
|
Post by sputnik767 on Oct 1, 2009 6:55:00 GMT 12
There are so many things that could be said about the rights or wrongs, the despute over the ownership etc
I find it sad that another piece of history has left our shores....
I thought things had been tightened up to prevent the removal of artifacts from our shores....
I had heard a rumour that motat had lodged an interest in this airframe, but it was only a rumour...
|
|
|
|
Post by vs on Oct 1, 2009 8:38:11 GMT 12
I guess it is someone elses train set.....but it is still a bummer, would have been great to see it at the airforce museum....perhaps they could do a deal with the US Navy and borrow one?
Any news on the Huricane?
|
|
|
|
Post by Richard Wesley on Oct 7, 2009 7:18:01 GMT 12
Yes, should be on display at Motat. Would like to write a book about the saga of both the Kittyhawk and the Corsair, the way a good-will based volunteer museum can be screwed over well and truly by those who were once its trusted volunteers.
Two problems exist with putting things to right in this case. One lies with the statue of limitations - you can in fact steal something and as long as nobody has the time, money or effort to go after you, once seven years is up you are home free. The second is with the fact those who know the whole story are now very very few and far between.
|
|
|
|
Post by vs on Oct 7, 2009 16:23:00 GMT 12
I imagine that the total numbr of Corsairs is now 1? Would be great to one day see a Corsair down at Wigram. Would look amazing lined up with he Avenger, P40, Hudson, Anson, PBY and other World War 2 combat types
|
|
|
|
Post by Richard Wesley on Oct 7, 2009 19:27:08 GMT 12
I was wondering what other peoples views were on the RNZAF Museum's decision to swap the Corsair they had for the P40? I guess I have spent a lot of time around P40's being involved with Motat and having had Avspecs just down the road so am lucky. I've only spent a very small time being able to enjoy a Corsair at various airshows recently.
I still feel that although yes, it was the wrong model, and yes the P40 is going to be great, the museum should have held onto the Corsair for permanent display? With a Mustang and Spitfire in the collection already, a radial would have simply been more valuable for the collection.
|
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Oct 7, 2009 19:59:46 GMT 12
It was the right decision to swap the Corsair, being such a late model it did not represent a New Zealand connection, it was not even a mark that Kiwi's flew whereas the P 40 was the first "real " fighter type we got and the type that scored all the RNZAF fighter wing's victories.
It was also a chance to get the more significant type without having to justify the cost of a "non useful, not current" type aircraft to Treasury or any other Government Dept that holds the purse strings and also without depleting the Museums non public funds.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2009 20:05:32 GMT 12
My view is that the RNZAF Museum (as it was then) was for RNZAF aircraft....to me, a late-model Corsair wasn't appropriate. If it had been a -1D or a FG-1D then I'd have been up in arms about the swap! Unless there was an RNZAF pilot who flew that mark with the US or French forces, I don't think it would fit. The purist in me would shudder at its inclusion - yes, I'd be seeing a real -5/-4(whichever it was) Corsair  !, but it'd be out of place to me. Yes, Wigram should have a Corsair, but to my mind it should be one of appropriate mark. I've always thought of the P-40 and Corsair being integral to the wartime RNZAF - thanks to Warbirds Over Wanaka, largely - and I'd rather have both than just one.....but both accurate. I'm disappointed that the former MoTaT/Jowitt machine has left NZ, but I'm pleased it at least has a better chance of being on display or even flown now. I know nothing about the situation around its departure from MoTaT etc (given the full detail I'd be keen to hear both sides of the story though), and yes it surely is a sad loss to NZ, but at least it hasn't been scrapped. It survives! I agree, the US has far too many Corsairs! While we're at it, I say we get a Dauntless too. Who else wants to repatriate NZ5062? |
|
|
|
Post by John L on Oct 8, 2009 16:45:21 GMT 12
I say we get a Dauntless too. Who else wants to repatriate NZ5062? Yes please - in RNZAF markings, too, please. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2009 16:52:40 GMT 12
Good man!
|
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Oct 8, 2009 17:22:43 GMT 12
The RNZAF Museum's Corsair is an interesting example of the dilemma museums face when given an aircraft that isn't actually exactly what they wanted for their collection!
I gather at one point there was the intention to modify the F4U-5 to make it look like either an F4U-1, F4U-1D or FG-1D, but I've heard that the work required was beyond what the museum was keen to attempt.
I've always been interested to find out if the RNZAF actually stipulated to Disney the exact type of Corsair they were after when they struck a deal with them over support for the movie "The Rescue"?
I think the Kittyhawk swap option was an appropriate decision for the museum to make at the time, as it will make a great addition to the displays when it is finally completed - plus it meant that they didn't butcher a Corsair, which is now being rebuilt to flying status.
Now all they need to do is unbolt the nose section off the ex-RAAF Canberra Mk 20, and replace it with the B.8 nose they have in storage! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2009 20:05:52 GMT 12
Nah, they should take the wings off the Aussie one and bolt them onto the B8 fuse It will be fantastic to have a KIWI Canberra on display at Wigram. |
|
|
|
Post by vs on Oct 10, 2009 11:35:50 GMT 12
I think it was the right decision to swap the -5 Corsair. They really do look quite different......very droopy nose etc. There are enough F4U1D's around that I am sur one day they will be able to aquire one. At least they got a P40 out of it and by the soun of things, it is not to far from being completed. Oxford is looking as though it is going well too!
|
|
|
|
Post by corsairarm on Oct 13, 2009 18:59:12 GMT 12
When I joined MoTaT a week later it was anounced that the original Corsair has been sold and as compensation MoTaT had been given the last remaining airframe. I still have the Herald article that confirms this. The replacement Corsair was transfered to Ardmore for Ross to restore. It was left there when MoTaT vacated its Ardmore hangar and Ross took over the hangar. I left MoTaT in the early 80's when, in my words, there was a coup, and the then Chairman and secretary were voted off the committee.
The Corsair is especially important to me as my father was an armourer on a Corsair squadron. May it, one day,return to NZ and MoTaT where it belongs.
|
|
wings
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 4
|
Post by wings on Nov 7, 2010 21:41:19 GMT 12
There is no doubt in my mind about the Asplin Corsair being Motats - I was there for the recovery. Jack Asplin personally gave the aircraft to Motat. The deal was made by Jack and Tom Craill on behalf of Motat.
Wings
|
|
|
|
Post by zman280 on Nov 9, 2010 7:32:10 GMT 12
Unfortunately this sort of thing still happens with volunteer groups.
It is so important to have a good paper trail about ownership of items, with out it you get some unscrupulous people come through and start claiming item as theres because they know about the poor recorded keeping
|
|
!, but it'd be out of place to me. Yes, Wigram should have a Corsair, but to my mind it should be one of appropriate mark. I've always thought of the P-40 and Corsair being integral to the wartime RNZAF - thanks to Warbirds Over Wanaka, largely - and I'd rather have both than just one.....but both accurate.
