Nearly June and winter is setting in. The field and surrounds are getting pretty wet. I’ve resisted
putting a notam on the runway up to now but I may not be able to hold off much longer. The 2 large
white cones mark the edge of the soft portion of the runway. Venture any further south of those
cones and you’ll need to be pulled out or at the very least, make a bloody mess.
The tile drains down there are working but it’s between the drains that it’s wet. That indicates that
it’s time for moling again. It’s been a few years since we did it and it’s lasted pretty well. We’ll
probably have to wait until it dries out in the spring to get the conditions right.
Congratulations to Terina Wardley for a first solo. Her mum and dad were there to witness the event
and were rightly very proud.
Terina’s 2nd solo flight was a couple of days ago and she did just over half an hour of solo circuits
after a check ride with me. The very pleasing thing which occurred to me at the time was that with
the wet southern end marked off and the northern extension very wet as well, Terina was doing
touch and go circuits on what amounted to a 500 metre runway. She was touching down within 50
metres of the threshold every time and then going around. This on her 2nd solo sortie!
Her dad Alex was rightly proud and also very elated after he did some circuits in the Rans with me
and then about half an hr of solo circuits. He is hooked and is enjoying some hands on flying after his
usual job of 2nd officer on ANZ 787s.
Jonty and Rueben have completed solo consolidation and are now practicing FLWOP away from the
circuit.
Brittany Adamson has completed the early lessons and is now up to circuit bashing. She too will
shortly enter the “Watch this space “ for impending first solo.
Our Dawn Raid went off without a hitch. 50 visiting aircraft and around 130 for breakfast has set the
standard for this season’s Dawn Raids. Many thanks to all the helpers. The kitchen helpers, the BBQ
cookers, the mark judges and our patron, Bob G on his 4 wheeler who ably coerced the visitors to
“Follow Him” to their assigned parks. A great team effort.
The first round of the Frogley Cup was run after breakfast with Dannevirke taking a slim lead over
CHB into the 2nd round at DV on June 18th
Overall the standard of flying was very high. No one skittled the ToiToi fence although a few brushed
it. I believe that these spot landing on arrival and Frogley type comps have improved the
competence of pilots in placing an aircraft on a spot. Sure some of the approaches leave some to be
desired, the low stalking method seeming to be the preferred, (That’s why its important to have the
temporary fence erected ) but at the end of the day it’s the touchdown point at lowest possible
speed being achieved that is the name of the game.
This coming weekend is the Fielding Dawn Raid. A bunch of us will be away down the west coast of
the SI on the Club Trip. We will have FGJ with us but ETJ and CHB will be there if anyone wants to go.
Get hold of Club Captain Phil Gray and he will sort you out. The weather actually doesn’t look too
flash for the NI but looks pretty good for us down south. Not sure how good the phone coverage is
down there so students will probably have to remain on the ground while I’m away.
Sunday June 18 is the Dannevirke Dawn Raid and second round of the Frogley. We need to have a
strong showing there and try to get the lead back for the final round at Hastings on the last Sunday
in July.
As mentioned last month, we had a very enjoyable trip to Kaikoura and surroundings on a Saturday
last month. The following is a report from Rick Gunson:
Saturday 22 of April the pre planned club trip to kaikoura took place involving 5
aircraft, our own FGJ, 172 OWN, James Greer's 172, Hamish Ross's 182 and Bob
and Jamie Gunson's 180 DXA. 16 intrepid travellers took part in what turned
into a fantastic day due in no small part to Richard Bradleys meticulous
planning and an almost freakishly good day weather wise with hardly a breath
of wind.
My trip down in DXA was very enjoyable and interesting although with some
trepidation about passing over Cook Strait with a recent engine failure fresh in
everyones minds, particularly as DXA had recently returned to the air. There
was no need for concern however as she performed beautifully , allowing us a
good look at the coast and lower reaches of the Clarence where severe recent
flood damage was visible along with several helicopters dousing the slips using
monsoon buckets, the cost of which must be mind boggling.
On to Kaikoura where we were collected by a very affable bus driver who gave
us an informative tour around the town, with a few insights into lives and
livelihoods affected by the earthquake before delivering us to a very tidy pub
on the waterfront for lunch. It would have been very easy to settle in here for
the afternoon but Quail Flat was calling so we departed a very quiet, possibly
still shellshocked community, for the peaks and valleys of the kaikoura Ranges
and Clarence River where a small but interesting piece of history awaited.
Getting over the ranges and into the river valley was probably the most exciting
flying of the day , a little different from stooging around CHB !! An hour at Quail
Flat exploring the past and unfortunately more earthquake damage and we
were on our way again to Cape Campbell. I would recommend a visit to Quail
Flat if you ever have the chance, a cool little corner not over run with tourists
with an interesting past too detailed to cover here. One aspect I will remember
is a couple of discussions about which direction to depart, two differing views
with equally valid reasonings , fortunately my gut feeling was reinforced by
Ross and we took the downhill in FGJ.
Cape Campbell was inundated by an AOPA fly around by the time we arrived
but half an hour or so there by the beach devouring some top notch egg
sandwiches and bacon and egg pie whilst savouring the vista topped Quail Flat
for me , magic.
The flight back to YP was incredibly smooth with the mischievous antics of the
RH seat helping to keep me focused on the final few miles and providing some
light entertainment for the back seat px. Some light rehydration was taken
upon return to YP with stories and smiles to match, a great day had by all.
Rick Gunson
Thanks Rick. It certainly was a great day and hopefully we’ll have a report on the SI trip next month.
A decision still hasn’t been made on the future of the Tiger following its nose over. The committee
has had several letters/emails from members, sharing their thoughts on her future. Please add to
these if you are so inclined.
On the subject of BEF, Ron Day has compiled the following:
With the future of our Tiger Moth ‘BEF’ a topic under discussion at present, I thought it a good time
to review its history. I know I’m not the first to do this, but the internet now provides quite a lot of
information that has not always been readily available.
She is not one of the 345 produced by De Havilland New Zealand at Rongotai - BEF had originally
seen service in the RAF.
DH82A ‘Tiger Moth’ c/n 83323 was built in 1940 by Morris Motors, and as T5625 was allocated
(along with R4750) to 595 Squadron, RAF Aberporth in Wales.
It is reasonable to assume it was finished in the standard scheme for trainers at that time – Dark
Earth and Dark Green camouflage upper sides and Yellow underneath.
595 Squadron was operational from 1 December 1943, so what T5625 was doing until then has yet to
be discovered.
Co-incidentally Aberporth’s elevation, not unlike Waipukurau, is 430 feet above sea level.
The Squadron was engaged in army co-operation duties, which included glider towing tests and antiaircraft target practice. The Tigers however were employed as general hacks and for Air Traffic
Control familiarisation flights.
It was probably due to these roles that it owed its survival - by avoiding the rigours of being flown by
student pilots. In August 1946, T5625 was disposed of as ‘surplus’, being put on the UK civil register
as ‘G-AIDR and purchased by the Herts & Essex Aero Club, of Broxbourne Herts. It then sported an allover silver dope finish.
In another New Zealand connection, Broxbourne had, during WW2 been used as a 'Repair &
Maintenance Depot' for RAF training aircraft. Among the many Percival Proctors and Miles
Magisters, was a famous Gull Six flown by New Zealander Jean Batten and subsequently
‘commissioned to active service’ by the RAF. ‘G-ADPR’, in which she made the first ever solo trip from
England to New Zealand in 1936, and many other record-breaking flights, now hangs in the Auckland
Airport International Terminal (the Jean Batten International Terminal).
Tiger Moth G-AIDR was one of ten similar machines acquired by Herts and Essex between July and
October 1946. Their subsequent survival rate was not high. One was destroyed in a crash but eight
Tigers (along with five other aircraft) were lost in a devastating hangar fire on 23rd June 1947. Of the
remains only AIDR was repairable, so was rebuilt using spares and salvaged parts. It then went on to
serve for six more years until the club closed and it moved to the Stapleford Flying Club, still in Essex.
However, its registration was soon cancelled as "sold to New Zealand", becoming ZK-BEF.
At that time it was one of the few Tiger Moths imported for non-agricultural use.
After a number of owners, it was substantially damaged when crashed 26/1/67at Pirinoa, and this
newsletter has in the past carried an article about its salvage and rebuild by Faranty (Frank)
Desborough.
If anyone has this issue at hand I would very much like to obtain a copy.
BEF was rebuilt using the fuselage of NZ810, itself having been damaged in 1942 and reduced to
being an instructional airframe.
After all its adventures, how much of the original T5625 remains in BEF is impossible to tell, but its
identity at least reaches right back to Britain in 1940.
Ron Day
Thanks Ron. I think she went to Whakatane on her arrival in NZ where she was used at the aero club
there. Several private owners followed including locals Bill Shaw and lastly Graeme Taylor from
whom the club purchased her.
The crash that Farranty rescued her from was on the side of Mt Ruapehu. It was during a major
eruption so can be dated accurately. Farranty was writing a history that included that event but a
house fire that he suffered a few years ago may have put paid to that. Correct me if I’m wrong
anyone please.
A few weeks ago I sent an email regarding submissions to CAA on the PPL medical revue. I have to
say we have had a very good response and many people have indicated that they have sent in a
submission. There is still plenty of time. Submissions close on June 19.
I’ll redo the links below for you to down load if you maybe have lost the previous ones or have
maybe forgotten. I can’t stress strongly enough that this is very important and everyone should
submit. Don’t be too concerned about answering all the questions. The important ones are around
the type of medical you think should be adopted as a substitute for the class 2. The drivers licence
standard seems to be the one adopted overseas. The private car or commercial drivers licence
(heavy traffic/taxi/bus ) being the options to choose from.
The links are as follows:
http://www.caa.govt.nz/assets/legacy/policy_rules/regulatory-policy/PPL-Medical-CertificationConsultation.pdf
http://www.caa.govt.nz/assets/legacy/policy_rules/regulatory-policy/PPL-Medical-ConsultationFeedback.doc
Duty Pilot List:
June 4th: J. Marshall
June 11th: C. Dooney
June 18th: J. White
June 25th: B McGregor
July 2nd: R Kent
July 9th: L Giblin
July 16th: T Jefferd:
July 23rd: D Mohi.
Also coming up is the trip to Hallett Griffin in early July. The 2nd I think.
I’ll confirm that.
The plan is to fly to a nearby strip in the Manawatu and then be driven to Hallets.
There we will peruse his setup and his collection of vintage and veteran Ag aircraft and associated
machinery. Bear in mind. Not everyone gets to see this collection. We are very privileged to be
invited.
With sadness I must make mention of the premature passing of one of the clubs past members,
Darryl Russell. Darryl was a passionate member and competition flyer and also held the position of
Club Captain for a number of years.
As Club Captain, Darryl wielded a swishy stick and members were cajoled and encouraged to
participate fully in club activities from club competitions, club trips, social events and working bees.
Our thoughts are with his family at this time, particularly his son Desmond, who followed Darryl’s
lead and obtained his pilot’s licence and is an active club member.
You may remember I included an item from Neil Faulknor in the Feb NL about an article he had
come across regarding an accident involving ex President Stan Murphy and a Tiger Moth in 1938.
Stan’s nephew Peter Murphy from Napier, read the article and fished out the photos below of the
incident. Many thanks Peter.
If you have deleted the Feb NL, you can pull it back up from the club website,
www.chbaeroclub.co.nz
Peter also supplied the following info which is of interest.
Pat Murphy (Peter’s dad) 1st person to solo from Waipuk airfield, 10/02/37
Stan Murphy solo at Waipuk 09/06/37
Peter Murphy solo at Waipuk 20/07/74
Tim Murphy (Peter’s son) solo at Northshore ?/?/2010.
Tim is currently living in Napier and intends to complete his PPL with us in the near future.
That’s all from me
Take The Spoon Out Of The Sink.
Ross Macdoanld