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Post by Bruce on Oct 11, 2015 20:01:25 GMT 12
Nice work! worth all the heartache along the way.
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Post by Bruce on Oct 10, 2015 16:51:55 GMT 12
Welcome aboard Bill! I met you at Hamilton on the evening of your arrival during the world record trip. Glad you are coming back for a visit. Summer in New Zealand has lots of aviation things happening, so I'm sure we'll see you around. It sounds like you'll just miss the Sport Aircraft association (our equivalent of EAA) national fly in at Hastings (Hawkes Bay) which is 19-21st February, but I'll extend an invitation to that anyway. I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy your time here.
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Post by Bruce on Oct 5, 2015 20:35:57 GMT 12
Memories, what memories: Like you Dave H, we went expecting great things, but although the 'advertised' didn't arrive there were other compensations: For me it was a chance to sit in a 'Kitty's cockpit once more after a very long absence, with the 'owner' / minder very generously even permitting me the privilege of closing the canopy over 'for memory's' sake ('nuff said). My son was also allowed to 'inhabit' the Corsair's cockpit (aren't they huge - and very dark down below the 'floor'?) and gain a chance to understand what his 'old man' had been talking about for so many years. It wasn't 'Josephine', but close enough for the purpose... A long day certainly, and as already noted, disappointing as to what didn't eventuate, but still worth while. Thanks for reminding us Graeme. BTW: Did anyone else see the Spitfire display that Sir Tim put on over the river flat area between Cambridge and Mt Mangakawa ('Sanatorium Hill') between 1800-1830 that same evening? We had a grandstand view, and suffice to say it was awesome; Sir Tim simply having fun and playing around. Very, very memorable. but alas all too short... I remember that "display" by Sir Tim over Cambridge - a stunning sight and sound. It was Sir Tim just enjoying himself, it wasnt even a practice for the show display which was a lot different, very agressive compared to the informal, flowing aeros that night. Awesome!
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Post by Bruce on Oct 3, 2015 21:57:51 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Oct 2, 2015 20:24:18 GMT 12
In exploring gold mine areas I've seen some pretty massive bits of equipment in very odd places.... complete boilers etc very deep in the bush. I think its more likely than than a mystery German aircraft.
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Post by Bruce on Oct 2, 2015 18:08:34 GMT 12
I think you are thinking of the Dornier Libelle flying boats that came to NZ in the 1920s (One crashed, the other was exported to Fiji) however they had Seimens engines. From what I gather, the German Navy submarine - based observation aircraft were Focke Angelis Gyro Gliders or Flettner helicopters which had Bramo engines. Nothing twin engined. There were a number of Junkers types operated in Australia and New Guinea. I had considered the possibility of the 1909 Mystery Airship sighted around the south Island, however that was before the Junkers company started manufacturing engines.
In the context they were found, could they possibly be related to some kind of industrial or agricultural plant? e.g. Gold mining, sawmilling etc? postwar perhaps someone imported a couple for such purposes (Cheap war surplus) but discarded them?
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Post by Bruce on Oct 2, 2015 11:59:38 GMT 12
On TV they said it was the last surviving RNZ Navy vessel from World War 2 - I don't entirely believe that as I am sure there are a few Fairmile launches around still...
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Post by Bruce on Oct 1, 2015 20:54:35 GMT 12
How do those V-tail Bonanzas steer without a rudder? The "ruddervators" have a mechanical mixing mechanism that operates them differentially for yaw control but at the same time mixes in up and down motion for pitch. its a complex arrangement of bellcranks, but one which works surprisingly well.
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Post by Bruce on Sept 29, 2015 11:54:45 GMT 12
In most other civilised nations, Aircraft are being taken off gate guard and restored..... The immediate problem I see is that with the Macchi sitting nose down like that, none of the drain holes in the underside will be in the right place... It'll rot pretty quickly
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Post by Bruce on Sept 27, 2015 8:52:11 GMT 12
Looks like a pretty good crosswind landing in the A380... somewhere on the net there is the footage of the prototype doing crosswind trials (in Iceland I think...) and the crabbing is even worse....
yep, media ignorance is enough to make you throw things at the tele sometimes....
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Post by Bruce on Sept 26, 2015 19:12:26 GMT 12
I remember reading about this in NZ wings - approx mid 1980s. There are two beavers sharing the same rego for a film shoot at Ardmore. I dont recall the name of the film but at one point it involved someone climbing up a rope ladder dangled from the Beaver - I suppose therefore that one is a stunt double! - probably the Real BDI had a hopper so the stunts needed one without.
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Post by Bruce on Sept 25, 2015 18:02:41 GMT 12
If its any consolation, the wing roots of my Contrail Vac formed Andover were a right pain too, and took a fair bit of internal beefing up. long thin wings are a pain! Stick with it though, It'll be worth it! Maybe the manufacturers name (S&M) has a hidden meaning
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Post by Bruce on Sept 24, 2015 18:56:38 GMT 12
very nice - Bandeirantes are forever!
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Post by Bruce on Sept 12, 2015 19:02:42 GMT 12
once a certified engine has been on a homebuilt, it cant go back. Essentially it has been "Contaminated" by operation in a less controlled environment. In our SAA maintenance courses we talk about "Homebuilt Germs"
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Post by Bruce on Sept 11, 2015 19:58:23 GMT 12
Hokitika?
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Post by Bruce on Sept 9, 2015 12:52:22 GMT 12
A clear breach of the aviation security act. What would happen if we got 100 or so aircraft fly in to assert our "Customary Rights"?
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Post by Bruce on Sept 6, 2015 19:10:15 GMT 12
There is no CAA approval required for aviation workshops for homebuilt aircraft. Its just needs to be fit for purpose - good lighting, level floor appropriate space to work - general good aviation practice. Need to come to one of the SAA "introduction to homebuilt aircraft construction" courses to get all the gen! The workshop idea has merit, there are a few hangars that have been informally shared at various locations (Tauranga for instance) over the years. be careful about liability insurance etc though if you have lots of people doing things, also, parts of homebuilt aircraft need to be segregated from certified aircraft - cant have them catching "Homebuilt germs!"
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Post by Bruce on Aug 30, 2015 17:05:46 GMT 12
I've got plenty of NZ flying footage on my YouTube channel (search for K1W1fly) from GoPro's on my aircraft. I personally don't shoot POV with a head mounted camera (It would annoy me...), but I often run up to 3 cameras mounted on the plane. Making videos when flying is great fun, and allows you share the experience, so good on you for doing it. I look forward to seeing more flying around your patch!
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Post by Bruce on Aug 30, 2015 12:38:29 GMT 12
Looking at the data on Wikipedia, I doubt it would have influenced the war in any way. It was fast, but with a tiny bomb load it would have had negligible impact. With the limited visibility it would have been very restricted for tactical use and the coupled engines were likely to be a maintenance nightmare. An interesting technical approach, but not a war winner.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 29, 2015 16:58:08 GMT 12
I heard we were getting Handley Page Hastings....
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