Unlikely stablemates.
It would have been a few years since NZ6372 has been in a hangar with an aircraft with a hook and pretty sure last time it would have been an A4.
Strikemaster News!
Strikemaster 62 in now sitting at the wharf in Perth and we expect to see in here at Ardmore mid March. Other than the red backs Steve was most impressed with the aircraft, it has flown very few hours since it left NZ over 20 years ago and is something of a time capsule even still having the old “horseshoe” parachutes fitted. Ex Blunty types can look at the newly added photos on the project page and it will bring it all back.
Strikemaster 72 is now finished and awaiting NZCAA inspection prior to Dave Brown carrying out the test flights.
Strikemaster 70 is heading South mid next week to spend a hectic few days operating out of Wanaka, joining it on this southern safari is the P51 Mustang ZK-TAF.
Strikemaster 62
Steve is heading to Western Australia next week to repatriate this aircraft. We are pleased to have been associated with bring these aircraft back from extinction in their native land.
2014, looking forward.
Almost every one is now back at work after a well-earned break. I have posted some more photos of the p40 E and you will see with the addition of some fuselage skins there is very good visual progress, work will continue on this and we may as the year moves on start on other components for this aircraft.
With about 6 hours on the new engine since fitment to CAG it has had the cowls off to give it the once over, all is good. Hopefully next time you see her flying the drop tank will be back in place on the centre rack.
Work also continues on the T51 which is now only months from flying, more photos on it soon, Strikemaster 72, the Bearhawk wings, Spitfire items and Mosquito fuel tanks.
We also have a couple of other exciting things on the horizon so keep looking for a couple of major announcements that will come this year.
I hope 2014 will be an exciting one both for us and those that follow our blog/website/Facebook page.
Cheers.
Hawker Tempest for Sale
The Tempest project is now for sale on the “world market”. A huge thank you to those people who have contacted us and offered support, in all sorts of ways to restore and keep the project here in New Zealand but as we have not reached the threshold needed the decision has been made to actively market it overseas.
All is not lost we are still hopeful that we will see this magnificent aircraft fly in New Zealand. As you can imagine we are very keen to continue the rebuild to fly.
It is being marketed by Platinum Fighter sales check it out at http://www.platinumfighters.com/#!tempest/c4nw John and Simon have a great inventory of aircraft for sale and we think the Tempest project fits nicely in there.
Name Required.
We were just wondering what was the correct terminology for a group of spotter’s, gaggle maybe?
Once in a lifetime.
We knew it was unseasonably cold here at Ardmore this morning but when we looked out the window it was like hell had frozen over.
It has been bought to our attention that photo’s such of this of Andrew doing manual labour are very rare and probably even non existent on this side of the Tasman.
The new Aussie gardner.
Big day.
It has been a big day today with a low power engine run on P40 CAG post engine change and currently high powers happening on Strikemaster 70 post 100 hr annual and repairs.
Marty now has about 3 days worth of paperwork to do tomorrow and then it will be all go.
The Strikemaster has been held up awaiting parts but will soon be back gracing the sky around Ardmore.
Unusual Repair.
To the list of non aeronautical items we now add an H1 Hummer. William has riveted the rear LH quarter back on after a small issue with a wheel departing.
Steve and Paul had a couple of days in Nelson visiting friends, clients and suppliers. We got to see the mighty Sabre engine which is now domiciled in the WOW museum and also visited Bill Reid and were privileged to see his Anson fly once again and also view his Fathers log book and photo album from his time on 486 Sqn.
H1 Hummer repair.
Hummer Left rear quarter repair
Napier Sabre
Paul, Steve and Bill Reid.
Update
The old engine is now out of Kittyhawk CAG and the new engine is now clearing customs. The engine bearers are being removed and all items forward of the firewall are being given a “freshen up”.
Strikemaster 70 now has new wing bolts fitted to the LH wing and is having the UC rigged . It and Str 72 are having new lower stick fittings manufactured, this is the last of the big ticket items for both aircraft.
The T51 has had the inner UC doors and uplocks fitted.
Engine out.