History of NZAR

[lineboy_nz]

Apart from the odd car-race... what was Ardmore Aerodrome used for between 1945 and 1961?
I've been looking around on the web and don't seem to be able to find anything.

Thanks in advance.

[Oktas8]

There was the Ardmore Teachers' College (teacher training) during that time I think.

For more info you could try the Papakura District Council (http://www.pdc.govt.nz/), or contact the RNZAF Museum (http://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/) in Christchurch.

O8

[tinpis]

Teachers were still there in the mid 60's.
I had heard Ray Reekies school records and class photos were kept somewhere does anybody know where?

[Yankee_Doodle_Floppy_Disk]

There was also an Engineering College at some stage.

[blackburn]

The Auckland Gliding Club was a long term resident at Ardmore at least through the 50's and 60's. Their Hangar was the southern one of the three hangars west of the Taxiway between the western ends of the RWYS i.e. opposite the present position of the TWR. James Aviation and probably Barr Brothers (operating in the Auckland area from 1950 onwards) had top-dressing operations from there also. The original James DC3 top-dresser (AZL) was certainly well known there for many years from 1956 onwards and Barr Brothers ultmately operated from the northenmost of the centre hangars near the TWR. There were some private aircraft based at NZAR also and I remember (1960) some derelict machines one of which looked like it had been a Proctor or similar laying outside what became the Aero Club's Maintenance Hangar. The Engineering College was part of Auckland University - the exact name I do not recall.

[tinpis]

The original James DC3 top-dresser (AZL)

Many a trip in that old girl over the Hauraki gulf.
One arm paper hangar single pilot and roll up a smoke on long final .:p