Spitfire at Ardmore today (Saturday 6th)!

[Swoop]

I've just had a txt from one of the engineers ot at Ardmore airport.

The Spitfire aircraft will be doing test flights today!!!
TV1 news will be doing a short article for tonights show.

If anyone is plane mad:banana:, it might be a good excuse to go for a ride out that way.

[Magua]

The Spitfire? Tim Wallis'?

[Swoop]

The Spitfire? Tim Wallis'?
Nope. Mk IV just out of the shop from rebuild for a US owner.
Edit: Doh! Why did I type 4? Def. a Mk V. *note to self - leave the roman shit alone*The interior of the cockpit is IMMACULATE.:drool:
When she took off......:thud:!!!

The P-51 was out-and-about as well today!:drool:

[gijoe1313]

Yep, saw the Mustang flying over the Mangatawhiri dam today with zeocen - we were riding the back blocks of Mercer/Hunuas and I took up the gravel way to check out the dam...

And damn, what a site! Beaut day, water was sparkling like diamonds and then like a holy vision, I espied the P-51 flying overhead ... :gob:

Awestruck I was - great ride with a mate, great view... and then to see that WWII vintage plane fly over just took it over the top!

I'm still hankering to see a P-38 lightning flying though ... one of my all time fave Warbird!

[James Deuce]

Nope. Mk IV just out of the shop from rebuild for a US owner.

The interior of the cockpit is IMMACULATE.:drool:
When she took off......:thud:!!!

The P-51 was out-and-about as well today!:drool:

Won't be a Mk IV - that was a Griffon engine development model. Looks like a Mk Vc to me.

[0arbreaka]

Its a Mk V spitfire, apparently going to a rather wealthy texan collector.

[TLDV8]

I'm still hankering to see a P-38 lightning flying though ... one of my all time fave Warbird!

Not quite ready for take off.

P38 ... Pic A6a ..A5a ..A3a ..Solomon Islands,jungle shots are Bougainville Island.
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/PNG/?start=all


<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/PNG/A1a.jpg>

[Pussy]

Not quite ready for take off.

P38 ... Pic A6a ..A5a ..A3a ..Solomon Islands,jungle shots are Bougainville Island.
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/PNG/?start=all


<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/PNG/A1a.jpg>
That pic is what's left of an F4U Corsair

[TLDV8]

That pic is what's left of an F4U Corsair

That is correct.

[Usarka]

The interior of the cockpit is IMMACULATE.:drool:



cool, i dont think i've ever seen a cockpit of a spitfire in colour!

[Pogo2]

Was flying overhead Ardmore for about 10-15 mins last week. there was quite a crowd gathered to see it too. Like everyone has said, off overseas - pity 'bout that

[gijoe1313]

Very cool photos there TLDV8! And yah, very good to have Ardmore on your back doorstep! Love looking at the Dakota and the Catalina and all the other kewl flying machinery!

[howdamnhard]

THATS NOT A P38.:crazy:


Not quite ready for take off.

P38 ... Pic A6a ..A5a ..A3a ..Solomon Islands,jungle shots are Bougainville Island.
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/PNG/?start=all


<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/PNG/A1a.jpg>

[gijoe1313]

Nope it isn't! A nice front shot of a Corsair with it's seagull wings! Corsairs, Buffalos, Tomahawks, Cobras, Mosquitoes, Typhoons, Bf109s, Me109s, Zeroes, Marauders, Beauforts, Mitchells, Lancasters, Stukas, Stormoviks, Polikaparovs, etc etc ... more of my fave WWII planes!

[SPman]

Lots of photos here
http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=Airshows&action=display&thread=1191053077
Avspecs latest finished project - a superb MkVc - see it quick because it'll be packed up and shipped off to its American owner very soon.
I'd like to see the Mosquito when they finally get it back in the air
Check them out
http://www.warbirdrestoration.co.nz/current.html

[TLDV8]

THATS NOT A P38.:crazy:



Not quite ready for take off.

P38 ... Pic A6a ..A5a ..A3a ..Solomon Islands,jungle shots are Bougainville Island.
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/PNG/?start=all


You click on the link and go to Pictures A6a ..A5a ..A3a

The picture of the (Solomon Islands) Corsair was more aimed at those who know a little about Ardmore (in WWII) ,the Corsair and the pilots trained for the Pacific arena in that aircraft.
Some will remember the Corsair that went to the US in the early 1970's,it is now back here i believe in RNZAF colours.
Some will also know of Jack Asplins (sp) garage that was just before the Hamilton airport and the many planes that were parked beside and behind it. (The Corsair in question was towed from there)
I was lucky enough to have had those planes to "play" in as a kid.

[Swoop]

Oh well. Since the thread is still going - I'll add a few more piccies!

1: Hard-shell helmet. styled on the leather hat but much greater protection. (I hate seeing pictures of warbirds with the pilot wearing a modern bone-dome)
2: Mosquito in the assembly frame.
3: ...
4: There were a few bikers having a look.

[Swoop]

Ahhhh.
Aircraft porn!:yes:

[nudemetalz]

Nice pics. Shame about the Spit Vc going overseas, must mean we don't have a flying one here in NZ anymore :(

[Magua]

Nice pics. Shame about the Spit Vc going overseas, must mean we don't have a flying one here in NZ anymore :(

I'm sure Tim Wallis still has one? It's a shame that he has sold so many of his aircraft.

[nudemetalz]

I'm sure Tim Wallis still has one? It's a shame that he has sold so many of his aircraft.

Nope - (taken from the NZFPM website)

The Mk V : - In early 1999 the aircraft left the Alpine Fighter Collection . It is now part of the Flying Heritage Collection

The Mk XVI : - The aircraft was sold and shipped to Australia after the 2006 Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow. It will continue to fly as part of the Temora Aviation Museum collection.

[Swoop]

Just thought I'd add these photo's to this thread. Taken at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Spitfire MkXVI(?)
Cutaway engine. Note the crankhandle to operate!
Mitsubishi Zero.
Doodlebug (I didn't know that we had one in NZ).

[Pussy]

Just thought I'd add these photo's to this thread. Taken at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Spitfire MkXVI(?)

That is indeed a Mk XVI... they were made in two variants.. bubble canopy and razor back.
The razor back is essentially a Mk IX with a Packard built Merlin, and a pointed rudder

[Magua]

Doodlebug (I didn't know that we had one in NZ).

There's at least one other at Motat (if it's not a fiberglass copy).