Plane lands on Durban beach
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SRT a nice one! 
I well remember a Flt. Sgt. kindly informing a National Serviceman, in no uncertain terms, that a 'plane' was used for smoothing wood.
Those flying thingies spread about the squadron dispersal were AIRCRAFT!
I well remember a Flt. Sgt. kindly informing a National Serviceman, in no uncertain terms, that a 'plane' was used for smoothing wood.
Those flying thingies spread about the squadron dispersal were AIRCRAFT!
Last edited by ian16th; 5th Feb 2013 at 14:02.
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SRT
Nice one!
Article said a husband and wife were unhurt - probably standing on the beach when the 'plane" landed
Guess it's what you would call a close shave?
Nice one!
Article said a husband and wife were unhurt - probably standing on the beach when the 'plane" landed
Guess it's what you would call a close shave?
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Just popped over to avcom.co.za and what i gathered is the engines stopped due to fuel starvation. Dirt blocked the fuel filter, filter has now been cleaned. Aircraft has taken off from the beach.
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The above just illustrates the utter bolleaux that is published on t'internet, whether or not it be due to inept reporting and/or gash (mis)use of English.
Way back in 1951 - 1952 when I was at RAF Thornhill (Gwelo/Gweru) in S. Rhodesia five Harvards that had been assembled at Ysterplaat near Cape Town and were being flown up Rhodesia got lost en-route and did wheels-up landings on the beach north of Durban.
Rhodesia Herald newspaper at the time had pictures of the aircraft on the beach, but despite searching the web I've never found any photos of this event which was the talk of the station (RAF Thornhill).
Any readers out there possibly from South Africa who can throw light on this event or source me to photos?
Thanks
RAF Thornhill (5 FTS) Harvard over Rhodesia
WT
Rhodesia Herald newspaper at the time had pictures of the aircraft on the beach, but despite searching the web I've never found any photos of this event which was the talk of the station (RAF Thornhill).
Any readers out there possibly from South Africa who can throw light on this event or source me to photos?
Thanks
RAF Thornhill (5 FTS) Harvard over Rhodesia
WT
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... five Harvards that had been assembled at Ysterplaat near Cape Town and were being flown up Rhodesia got lost en-route and did wheels-up landings on the beach north of Durban.
Or perhaps it was a "jolly" off the normal route to visit Durban - after 65-years the memory does get hazy as to why they wound up on a beach north of Durban!
As I commented in another thread about the Ysterplaat - Rhodesia routing:
As I commented in another thread about the Ysterplaat - Rhodesia routing:
...From my notes recorded whilst at 5 FTS, Harvards for the Rhodesian Air Training Group were shipped from the UK to Cape Town in South Africa and assembled at the RAF Erection Unit located at the South African Air Force base at Ysterplaat near Cape Town.
After assembly they were flight tested and then flown up to Rhodesia by instructors sent down from R.A.F. Thornhill to collect them. Standard procedure was for the pilots to travel down in an R.A.F. Thornhill based 3 Aerial Navigation School (3 ANS) Anson to Ysterplaat. Collect the newly assembled Harvards and fly them up to S. Rhodesia accompanied by the Anson for navigational purposes. From my notes the Harvards and Anson flew via Beaufortwest, Bloemspruit, Pretoria (Zwartkop) and R.A.F. Heany (4 FTS) and then on to 5 FTS...
After assembly they were flight tested and then flown up to Rhodesia by instructors sent down from R.A.F. Thornhill to collect them. Standard procedure was for the pilots to travel down in an R.A.F. Thornhill based 3 Aerial Navigation School (3 ANS) Anson to Ysterplaat. Collect the newly assembled Harvards and fly them up to S. Rhodesia accompanied by the Anson for navigational purposes. From my notes the Harvards and Anson flew via Beaufortwest, Bloemspruit, Pretoria (Zwartkop) and R.A.F. Heany (4 FTS) and then on to 5 FTS...
