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Post by Bruce on Apr 10, 2017 16:47:57 GMT 12
Does that mean it's too big to fit in at Devonport? Or is the home port a symbollic thing? Symbolic, each RNZN ship has an Honorary home port, generally related to the name of the vessel - Canterbury has Lyttelton, Otago has Port Chalmers etc. Te Kaha Is Napier, Te Mana Tauranga. They are all based at Devonport.
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Post by Bruce on Apr 10, 2017 13:34:11 GMT 12
He was such an influence in my household, Mum and Dad both adopted many of his catchphrases. "That'll be the door"/"That'll be the phone" apparently came from Buck House, and then Fred Dagg's "Kick it in the guts, Trev", "B-r-u-ce", "Ah, yeah, gidday...", "Get in behind", "And over she goes, Trev", and oddly Mum and Dad had a habit of calling each other Trev when they were trying to get each other's attention. Many times I recall Mum would be talking to a customer or visitor and say "Are you there Trev?" or "Can you do this Trev?" and the person would be like "I thought his name is Gordon". I guess you had to be there but to me as a kid it was natural, haha. And no-one could ever have done Wal Footrot justice on screen like John Clarke did. He was a legend. We're losing too many Kiwi legends lately. That'll be the phone.... poor Bloke obviously didnt have his Gumboots on...
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Post by Bruce on Apr 8, 2017 17:09:51 GMT 12
The old freighter has been a landmark there for so long, its sad to see her go, but I'm glad its going to a great collection in a most appropriate place in the UK. I wish them all the best!
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Post by Bruce on Apr 6, 2017 11:35:27 GMT 12
Te Kowhai Airfield is currently NOTAMed closed due surface conditions - I hope it dries out for the weekend!
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Post by Bruce on Apr 6, 2017 10:27:30 GMT 12
ahh the rose -tinted spectacles of someone who has no experience of aircraft engineering, preservation and restoration....
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Post by Bruce on Mar 21, 2017 21:41:03 GMT 12
Of course they wore hats, ties and waistcoats.. you cant expect your staff to work half naked!
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Post by Bruce on Mar 20, 2017 19:56:04 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Mar 20, 2017 19:53:01 GMT 12
That will have been in the phase when they were removing the asbestos cladding. They will be re-clad
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Post by Bruce on Mar 16, 2017 14:59:58 GMT 12
Both the big "Sunderland" and smaller "Catalina" hangars will be saved according to the release, and restored into practical, useable facilities. They wont have the ambience of a hangar, but at least will be preserved and loved by future generations. The apron area is more of a concern as that gives everything context. A developer just sees an empty space as somewhere to build expensive things. Sometimes that open space is the most valuable thing - why turn a nice, atmospheric waterside nook, with lots of character into a crowded urban area just like the rest of Auckland?
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Post by Bruce on Mar 14, 2017 17:56:50 GMT 12
The Rukuhia wartime tower was a tiny thing looking like a glorified phone box. there's photos around the forum somewhere of it (with aircraft dump pics from memory...)
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Post by Bruce on Mar 13, 2017 22:12:12 GMT 12
The contrasting weatherboarding is pretty trendy! the kind of thing you see on modern houses... Nothing new! the vehicle behind the Oxford looks to be an engine test stand truck - at least there is something tall and bulky on the back. Where would you find Oxfords and Engine overhaul facilities? I wondered about Woodbourne, but I dont think it is. No Hangars visible, just those low "huts" with fairly distinctive bracing.
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Post by Bruce on Mar 8, 2017 11:59:37 GMT 12
It is nicely rebuilt (although we did a nice job of it in the 1990s at Gulf too...) I have to say that although the colour scheme is the accurate factory scheme, I dont think its particularly attractive. Much prefer the silver and charcoal scheme we put it in... (my own taste of course...)
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Post by Bruce on Feb 19, 2017 16:13:15 GMT 12
Looks like a Lauthala Bay posting would have been sheer hell!
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Post by Bruce on Feb 16, 2017 21:13:38 GMT 12
It seems Group Captain that with all your expertise you should be like a few others and be in a glass case. I find it somewhat odd that someone posts a thread with "thoughts about..." in the title to prompt discussion and sharing of thoughts, then gets somewhat rude and aggressive when people have differing opinions and point out difficulties with the original idea. (none of the other respondents have been rude or derogatory by the way...) I guess that is the modern internet "debate" when people post things expecting to get a tummy rub and complete agreement. Next, according to Godwin's law, we should get a reference to Hitler...
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Post by Bruce on Feb 16, 2017 17:05:30 GMT 12
Neither myself nor Beeza are knocking MAFFS at all, it is indeed a workable solution, but if you look at it, it is in no way an "Alloy Tank and Fittings, No great expense". It is Very complex, to cover factors that we have alluded to. It is for example a pressure vessel system - anything involving pressure vessels is far from simple. I agree it could be a good system for NZ, but be aware that installing it takes time (24 hours is stated). In the Christchurch fire scenario, you would only see the aircraft starting to operate about now (by the time someone decided it was needed, made the aircraft and crew available, installed the MAFFS gear, ferried to Christchurch to set up etc). Also, is the terrain and environment suitable to use the C130 in? also remember the US Forest service banned the use of high - hour early model C130 firebombers after the wings fell off one... The best solution for a quick response would have been the Victorian BAe 146 tanker, but that is tied up fighting an even bigger fire in NSW at the moment... I'm sure that far more informed people than us will analyse the use of heavy tankers in the aftermath of this blaze, and hopefully a realistic solution will be devised.
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Post by Bruce on Feb 16, 2017 14:22:37 GMT 12
Also, heavy fire tankers do not just drop water - it is generally accepted amongst the firefighting operators now, that a big dump of water on its own is not as effective as a mix with either fire suppressant or retardant. Note that is two very differentadditives for different jobs, and each additive has different mixing and distribution requirements (for example, you dont put supressant foam additive in before loading, otherwise you get a massive foamy mess that you cant actually carry!). Most water tanker hopper doors esentially open the entire bottom - and have HUGE vents to let the air in as it fills and empties. Even a large diameter pipe produces enough resistance that dump times become too long. It sounds nice and simple to put a tank of water in a plane, but there is a LOT more to it than the general public think.
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Post by Bruce on Feb 16, 2017 9:30:48 GMT 12
the Christchurch fires are definitely an example of a fire that needs heavy waterbomber capability, however it is pointless basing such a bomber permanently in NZ since there would only be 1 or 2 fires needing such an asset every year. A "quick change" solution in theory makes sense. The problem is the practicality of such an installation. However I dont think dumping water out the back door of a Herk would be workable for C of G and discharge pattern reasons. Something that can take a Belly tank might be a better solution. Alternatively a Bristol Freighter with "Ag Hopper" openings in the floor! (as the RNZAF machines had...)
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Post by Bruce on Feb 15, 2017 11:54:32 GMT 12
And please RNZAF, not sure how I've not been able to, but I've never seen a flare drop from a Herc. That would be nice. Followed by a genuine fire-fighting demo by an NH90... Have to be careful in the middle of "summer"
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Post by Bruce on Feb 3, 2017 14:32:36 GMT 12
There are so many events being held over summer now that it is impossible to pick a weekend that doesnt clash with something - There is literally something happening every weekend for the next few months. This weekend for example, the SAA National Fly In (Great Plains) clashes with the Omaka STOL comps. Last year the Fly-In clashed with Art Deco Weekend (in the same area). It happens... and its a good inidcator on the level of aviation activity that is actually happening now, for which we can be grateful...
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Post by Bruce on Feb 1, 2017 18:54:49 GMT 12
Not specifically a Leander Cruiser, but this amazing video shows the convoluted process of launching and recovering a Walrus / Seagull from a 1940s Royal Navy warship.
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