Originally Posted by Q-RTF-X
I was on 617 (ground crew) at the time the aircraft was returned to the squadron from NZ after a team from AVRO then another team from 617 had it back into service. Word at the time suggested the experience of the Vulcan at Wellington was later repeated that same day when an RNZAF Sunderland in the throes of a low fly past encountered an unexpected downdraft and scraped its keel along the runway; the tale continues that later, after landing, the damage caused it to take on water and sink.
There is an account of the Sunderland incident and aftermath by the co-pilot here:
Wings Over New Zealand - Blast from the Past
Further down the thread there is a picture of the touch-and-go as well
