Your Favourite Twin
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
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Gaunty me old; Never heard that one but don'tcha wish it were true???
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Originally Posted by Pinky the Pilot
kiwiblue; Way back in the early 80s when I was doing CPL theory, at one stage I attended some evening lectures in Basic Gas Turbines. One evening the lecturer digressed for a while and the subject of the Merlin in its various applications came up.
The Lecturer was a Kiwi and claimed that he knew of a Kiwi farmer who had not one but two intact Mosquitos, slowly rotting away, in a large shed on his property and had been known to escort any prospective purchasers off the property at gunpoint!!
The Lecturer was a Kiwi and claimed that he knew of a Kiwi farmer who had not one but two intact Mosquitos, slowly rotting away, in a large shed on his property and had been known to escort any prospective purchasers off the property at gunpoint!!
Indeed Pinky, it is fact. I wonder if we had the same BGT lecturer... Bob Guard was mine, told some fascinating stories of his experiences down the Kaikouras one night back in the late '70's too...
Anyway I digress. 'Twas back around 1980-81 when I did CPL theory at Nelson Aviation College with 'ol 'Valter Vagtendonk' (good bloke, still going anyone know?) we were told the same story, with the location given as Mapua, not that far away. So of a Sunday, the whole course piled into the few cars we had, and off to Mapua in search of this eccentric old git by the name of Smith (in truth!), whose home we eventually found on the top of a hill. We were just making our way up his drive when we were met by a couple of snarling dogs and the man himself carrying a shotgun -loaded with saltpetre he later told us, but not something any of us were game to put to the test. Basically he wanted us to persist off, but after a bit of fast talking, he agreed to show us his collection.
Up his drive, adjacent to the house was a big 'ol shed, for all the world a barn. I'll never forget him sliding those doors open to reveal the Mosquito sitting there, with a Tiger Moth parked under her nose! What a sight!!!
She's complete, a pair of Merlins, basically brand-new (he used to start her twice a year he reckoned) wing-spars cut outboard of the nacelles, so never restorable to any more than static/taxiing condition. A 250lb bomb sitting on the rack in the bomb-bay and at least 2 .303's in the nose mount. Getting into the cockpit was like stepping back in time -absolutely 'as new' condition, with (from memory) something like 36 & 37 hours showing on the tacho clocks. The old trailing antenna HF radio was there, not a chip off its face with the antenna reel and handle also... an amazing experience! I used to have some photo's of it all, but they'll be in storage somewhere, back in Aotearoa.
There was only the one DH98, but probably parts of others there... the place was a mess of aircraft and parts. There were several DH82, sections of Venom and Vampire (he could probably have built at least a couple of each), radial engines, instruments, other airframes that I couldn't identify and now can no longer remember... it was in truth an Aladdins' cave for an aviation buff!!!
I have no idea of what became of the 'collection' or indeed the man himself -he'd be an old codger now if still going. I do remember him saying though that the Airforce Museum would never see even a bent screw from his collection... he was pretty dark on them, for whatever reason. I've never been back, but may in future make the effort to find out whatever became of it all, would be interesting! Would especially love to see that Mosquito restored. When last I saw her she was painted in pinkish house-primer, as a 'preservative'... I did mention he was eccentric!
Another highlight of my time up there was meeting and spending an evening with 'Popeye' Lucas at his daughters place, out the other side of Richmond if I remember correctly. Another fascinating character with a wealth of stories and knowledge to relate! Very welcoming and I retain to this day a healthy respect for his ability with a bottle of whisky!!! Strange, don't recall how I got home that night... He passed away only a few months later.
Great days indeed
Last edited by kiwiblue; 16th Jun 2007 at 00:29.
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well done Tinpis! Looks like those were taken before my visit... when I was there the shed had been built around the Mossie -the shed would have had to be taken apart to get her out! But now you have me worried that maybe I know you, from back through the mists of time... 
Whilst enjoying a cup of coffee after previous post, I was reflecting on the DH98. Some years ago, there was an article in NZ (now Pacific) Wings about a bloke somewhere S of AKL I think building full-scale replica Mosquitos, using the original construction techniques -quite an exciting prospect! However, I've heard no more of the project. Does anyone know what became of it/him??? Obviously none were completed -would have heard of that for sure!
Whilst enjoying a cup of coffee after previous post, I was reflecting on the DH98. Some years ago, there was an article in NZ (now Pacific) Wings about a bloke somewhere S of AKL I think building full-scale replica Mosquitos, using the original construction techniques -quite an exciting prospect! However, I've heard no more of the project. Does anyone know what became of it/him??? Obviously none were completed -would have heard of that for sure!
Silly Old Git
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Fav Twin
Clue: Had the wing area of a Cessna Cardinal, weighed 10,800lbs MTO, had 665shp each side, and NO ailerons.
Answer: The Mitsi Mu-2 Rice Rocket.
Loved em, though one was responsible for the scariest flight of my career to date!
Answer: The Mitsi Mu-2 Rice Rocket.
Loved em, though one was responsible for the scariest flight of my career to date!
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
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Well well; It seems that occasionally the apocryphal story has more than a little truth to it!!!
Thank you kiwiblue for confirming the basics of that story I heard way back then. And yes, if the grey matter has'nt been too damaged by good Aussie Red wine over the years, we did have the same BGT lecturer.
My initial opinion still stands; That airframe belongs in a proper museum!!!
And for what its worth; I know about three people whom are qualified in the construction/maitenance of wooden aircraft (albeit Sailplanes) and IMHO would be more than capable of constructing new wings for said airframe.
I'm told that the relevant plans and specifications are still available.......
Thank you kiwiblue for confirming the basics of that story I heard way back then. And yes, if the grey matter has'nt been too damaged by good Aussie Red wine over the years, we did have the same BGT lecturer.
My initial opinion still stands; That airframe belongs in a proper museum!!!
And for what its worth; I know about three people whom are qualified in the construction/maitenance of wooden aircraft (albeit Sailplanes) and IMHO would be more than capable of constructing new wings for said airframe.
I'm told that the relevant plans and specifications are still available.......
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Originally Posted by Pinky the Pilot
...we did have the same BGT lecturer.
Originally Posted by Pinky the Pilot
That airframe belongs in a proper museum!!!
And for what its worth; I know about three people whom are qualified in the construction/maitenance of wooden aircraft (albeit Sailplanes) and IMHO would be more than capable of constructing new wings for said airframe.
I'm told that the relevant plans and specifications are still available.......
And for what its worth; I know about three people whom are qualified in the construction/maitenance of wooden aircraft (albeit Sailplanes) and IMHO would be more than capable of constructing new wings for said airframe.
I'm told that the relevant plans and specifications are still available.......
The skills to restore/rebuild a machine like that are definitely still extant... have you had a look at Tinpis' links? Another couple... Colin Smith from Mandeville (down south) NZ, who does some amazing work on other older DH airframes, and of course OFMC in the UK. I've visited both of these places, Mandeville several times and in both cases left extremely impressed with the care, skill, precision and absolute craftsmanship of those involved in these restorations. Simply superb work.
Silly Old Git
I remembry calling into John Smiths place about 40+ years ago
There were P40 and Mustang I think and all still had a good coat of paint on them
He was an ornery old coot then which is normal for Kiwi farmers
The farm he has would be worth $gazillions on the Real Estate market now
There were P40 and Mustang I think and all still had a good coat of paint on them
He was an ornery old coot then which is normal for Kiwi farmers
The farm he has would be worth $gazillions on the Real Estate market now
The Beagle 206 handled like a big Chippie. Heavy, she'd need earth's curvature to fly. The owner I flew for christened his Winston Spencer Beagle. When light she was a well schooled pony, no less a thoroughbred than the highly esteemed AC50, but what a panoramic view by comparison!
The late Brian Walker (BJ), who could do anything with a Mossie in his heyday, (as Cinesound clips show well), flew the DH103 Hornet in England in 1948, and always said it was the best and most perfectly harmonised aeroplane by far he'd ever flown. And he'd flown a few in his many active years.
By the way, can anything good be said about the handling qualities of the Metro?
The late Brian Walker (BJ), who could do anything with a Mossie in his heyday, (as Cinesound clips show well), flew the DH103 Hornet in England in 1948, and always said it was the best and most perfectly harmonised aeroplane by far he'd ever flown. And he'd flown a few in his many active years.
By the way, can anything good be said about the handling qualities of the Metro?
