tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49132162612349702062024-03-14T03:57:45.800+13:00Ageing thoughts of a budding aviatorHow an old fella came to fulfil a dream - and other matters.Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-55668926550546270402022-01-05T14:38:00.000+13:002022-01-05T14:38:31.500+13:00Yet another change from the Nieuport -but not aircraft<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> With the discovery of not one, but two daughters I never knew I had, I dipped my toe into the waters of Ancestry. This was to confirm what my father had already achieved (without the interweb) and maybe see what else was lying around. Having gone back in time on the direct line, I thought I'd see what some of the branch lines might produce. And came across a surprise!</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEa87dkCHR5fbDoprTKSm_Qleps8Y9lttaeQrOKpCJmH82a3zavo8KJcOwbIo13T-0sLnBn0lT6TAUu5-_cjfnf6juvIR4kEV1c36Byfw_hLCp493ydhp2e9RQ_Q7IcP4V7yKIHide1c_zjGsbMoQ2EK6kk61dP2boWVTeBb5R37x0UXsB57IBt5An4w=s618" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="618" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEa87dkCHR5fbDoprTKSm_Qleps8Y9lttaeQrOKpCJmH82a3zavo8KJcOwbIo13T-0sLnBn0lT6TAUu5-_cjfnf6juvIR4kEV1c36Byfw_hLCp493ydhp2e9RQ_Q7IcP4V7yKIHide1c_zjGsbMoQ2EK6kk61dP2boWVTeBb5R37x0UXsB57IBt5An4w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">A cousin twice removed (grandfather's nephew) had a newspaper clipping of said cousin wondering whether he would be entering his RAF BE2e in an aerial pageant -in Queensland, of all places! This got the juices excited so on the hunt I went. It seems not only was he an owner of the BE2e (how this 1915 era aircraft got to Ozzie I have yet to discover)</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">but he was also a part owner of an Avro 504K fitted with an inline engine rather than the usual rotary. Even more excitement. Then it transpires that he, the pilot and a few others decide to set up a small airline (at roughly the same time as Kingsford Smith was thinking along similar lines, but after QANTAS had started) called "Queensland Air Navigation Ltd." in 1928. Like a lot of small companies at the time it didn't last too long and folded in 1931.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3mpdmYbiOHWCsYkLhwgHFcJCSIclLMivqphb-N8J19Ua4d763XoAHn6YgsDg_2ZF1EHja_yxrat2P0mUI1a5JQvKXz1XHa2MJuJF7S33jGQaTNtwlouyKwlnW9B1vlwuBJtv9vr4nGiM6m1coyvLqAsZeqfvp2ieoKvsBRz0QpfNr4eYvfQIhlHh1tg=s568" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="568" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3mpdmYbiOHWCsYkLhwgHFcJCSIclLMivqphb-N8J19Ua4d763XoAHn6YgsDg_2ZF1EHja_yxrat2P0mUI1a5JQvKXz1XHa2MJuJF7S33jGQaTNtwlouyKwlnW9B1vlwuBJtv9vr4nGiM6m1coyvLqAsZeqfvp2ieoKvsBRz0QpfNr4eYvfQIhlHh1tg=s320" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">However with 'some help from my friends', I was presented with an article about the company complete with illustrations of the aircraft 'on the books'. The interesting thing for me was the colour scheme they adopted: black and white chequerboard on the tail. Which happened to be the same adopted by a NZ WW1 ace called 'Grid' Caldwell of 74 Squadron fame. And what else did I find? Another Caldwell was engaged as a 'promoter' of the venture! Whether they were related or not I have yet to determine. But wouldn't that be great for a co-incidence?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One mystery remains: the 504K is shown with the name of the company on its side (but no chequerboard pattern), but there is no record of it ever having been on the company's books. More searching is required!</span></p>Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-26216482756348861602021-07-14T10:41:00.000+13:002021-07-14T10:41:57.829+13:00A change from the Nieuport<span style="font-family: arial;">It is now almost a year since the Nieuport last flew. That insurance premium really put a knock on my thoughts of flying it. Added to which our Test pilot has been busy on all sorts of other projects - and now COVID-19 has put us all in lockdown. I started this particular blog in April 2020 and it is now May 2021. COVID has changed our version of 'normality' and New Zealand has been fortunate in its stance of isolating ourselves from the rest of the world as long as possible to keep its citizens as safe as possible. We succeeded while the rest of the world struggled and continues to struggle to contain the pandemic -one not seen since the Spanish Flu of 1918.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">However, to quote an annoying advert, "But wait, there's more!!": late in 2020 I received a phone call from a TV journalist wanting to see me about a family matter. Obviously with my curiosity piqued I had no choice but to say "Sure!". What transpired after our meeting was that a young lass (39 years old -definitely young to me!) was looking for her biological father -and he was me. This was not a complete surprise to me as I had been part of a sperm donor programme back in the late 1970s/early 1980s; although the parents of any issue were told that they were NOT to tell their children of their origins, people being people, some of them did. The advent of AncestryDNA and other such companies has made it a lot easier to find matches. The hard bit is tracking down the fathers. Whether they consent to making contact with said offspring is entirely over to them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For myself, I have no problems in being contacted.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The upshot of all this was two days of filming in Blenheim,, a further two days filming in Auckland, getting to meet the (new) family and then waiting for the post production to be done and the show aired. I believe the show was a success in terms of bringing matters out into the open, not just about donor children but also adopted children. They can now see that it is possible -even if needing a lot of paper trails to follow- to find your origins if that is what you are searching for. Some may be quite content with not knowing; that is their choice. But if I have been instrumental in facilitating their searches and showing that secrecy is not necessary, then I have been part of a beneficial programme. What more could you ask for? Maybe another daughter, perhaps? Well, that is what has happened: I now have two daughters I didn't know I had -plus two extra grandchildren.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The rest of 2021 is going to be interesting!<br />
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</div>Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-69792187067132542232019-05-06T16:59:00.000+13:002019-05-06T16:59:29.628+13:00Another PrivilegeThe great air-to-air photographer Gavin Conroy took some shots of the plane before the Air Show. A suggestion was made that more shots could be taken once the vineyard leaves start to turn colour. That was arranged but it was also arranged that I would have a first hand experience of flying along side her in a Tiger Moth - what an experience! It gave me a much better appreciation of what those WW1 pilots had to put up with in terms of keeping the head moving to see just where the opponent might appear from. My photos are not as good as Gavin's though. But here are my versions anyway:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An odd coupling: 1916 Russian Nieuport with a 1950s Chinese trainer (chase plane)</td></tr>
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Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-81453385249908087302019-04-24T10:02:00.000+13:002019-04-24T10:02:55.205+13:00Now it has flown for the public!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to prove it, here is a video of it with its sister ship (a bit wobbly at times -the camera, not the aircraft!- . but you'll hopefully get the message.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxBqktU4KvOy7aULEgO8sliJTLWeSJT5mpO0hfdTZPm9tycgUKu8O5V7ZuRoCOy4tryXgsd37S3uR5zbdSO9A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-7862772104864530072019-03-31T16:38:00.000+13:002019-03-31T16:38:13.871+13:00The Eagle has flown!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 19 March 2019, ZK-XVI finally flew in the capable hands of Ryan Southam. He was up for about 10-15 minutes, returned to put in a report -and promptly took to the air again for a further 10-15 minutes. Whoopee! Nine long years of work paid off in the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just a couple of minor niggles: the right brake wasn't functioning properly and the ASI needs some investigation as it appeared to be over-reading, e.g. it showed the stall at about 50 kts whereas it should have been around 35-38 kts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">HOWEVER (there is always one of those, isn't there?) the 3rd party insurance costs for me to fly it are prohibitively expensive. How I go about that will be the next challenge!</span>Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-87465903351384527762019-02-12T13:19:00.002+13:002019-02-12T13:19:40.332+13:00A year has passed - but did I have fun?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always worked on the basis of "if there's nothing to say, then don't say anything" which accounts fro the fact that it is now over a year since my last post. So what has prompted this one? Well, believe it or not but the paperwork has been finally completed and we now have the go-ahead from SAC to do some test flying - YEE HAA!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Part of that has meant the removal of the rockets (boo hoo...) but I do what the experts tell me so that was today's chore plus giving the ladies a good bath!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was a little concerned that our test pilot (who is on the tall side) wouldn't be able to fit in out 7/8<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ths</span> scale N17 but he assures me he can -and in fact our cockpit has more room than Graham's full size N11. There's a turn up for the books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The next pictures I'll post will be when the flying starts so I won't bore you with repeats of what's already been published (and I haven't changed either...). Till the next time!</span>Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-68177741165874853442018-02-04T11:23:00.000+13:002018-02-04T11:23:23.011+13:00Of Rodents, Men and Intentions...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Or to misquote some Scottish saying: "...oft gang aglae." (I think that's how it's spelt.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jay has had the misfortune for his engineering staff to suffer some rather severe medical problems, so progress has been non-existent. However, at a recent encounter (after the first flight of the Comper Swift he'd been renovating), he did say that we were 'the next cab off the rank'. From that I'm assuming that he was referring to our aircraft and not speaking literally...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Meantime I have been preparing for the day when I can 'mount up' by taking more taildragger lessons in a Piper Pacer. Our CFI informs me that if I can master this particular beast I should have no trouble with the Nieuport. The problem is the mastering bit. Occasionally my landings are better than my take-offs and then I revert to the norm. Consistency is my problem at the moment. Although, saying that, I do presume that he means consistently OK rather than consistently bad...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">To fill in time I've also made an attempt at writing a short book for the younger generation dealing with WW1 flying from an NZ perspective. I'm fortunate in having some offspring to do the critiquing before I try to find an illustrator to help in the collaboration. Seems the idea might be right, there's just a few questions about Target Audience Age Group, Plot Definitions and similar suggestions. I mentioned this to my favourite author recently (Derek Robinson) who told me that his wife just tells him to "nail his butt to the chair". From that you will gather that she is American...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And talking of America, what on earth will we do for entertainment once the Donald is gone? That's assuming that his bigger button hasn't been inadvertently pressed. The way his hands keep flying around that wouldn't be too hard, would it?</span>Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-34790976310343112232017-03-12T14:27:00.000+13:002017-03-12T14:27:18.373+13:00A long time coming...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't believe that we are nearing the end of a journey that started so many years ago. Jay and his team have not only run the engine in situ but have also taken it out for a brief taxi! Wow! Just a few more bits'n'pieces to go apparently and then it's into the paperwork. Who knows, with the biannual Air show coming up, it might even get to fly in it -wouldn't that be something?<br />
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There is a slight snag though: we do need a test pilot and the one we'd lined up has since moved out of the district. So the search starts for another -any volunteers out there?</div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-9877731024278909572016-12-07T16:35:00.000+13:002016-12-07T16:35:43.889+13:00A long time between Posts'She' has been sitting in JEM Aviation's hangar for a few months now with Scottie taking an interest in her now and going over her with not so much a fine toothcomb but as a good eye for what's what. <br />
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One of these 'whats' is the brake system: he said it would never work. My immediate thought was that it was something I had done in assembling it -you can imagine my relief when told that it was the actual design itself which was at fault -not my doing! So he is now redesigning things so that they <em>will</em> work. Still hopeful that it will be flying this summer (Jay would like the space in his hangar back!), but I guess we will have to wait and see. Mother Nature has been a bit active recently which has given some a dose of the heebie-geebies; fortunately Jay's hangar was not affected.<br />
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With that, it's a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all my readers -all 2 of you.<br />
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Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-29566032711880565102016-07-03T17:35:00.001+13:002016-07-03T17:35:14.468+13:00Complete Non SequiturIn my working life I spent most of it as a Business Analyst with Air New Zealand on the computer side of things. When a problem or proposal came up there would always be a meeting of interested parties and I could never work out why it would take these people so long to arrive at a solution which I would have thought up within the first 5-10 minutes. Surely all these other people must be as intelligent as I? So my <em>modus operandi</em> thereafter was to let these people talk themselves through to the (mostly) logical conclusion before offering my thoughts or confirmation.<br />
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Late in my working life I was persuaded to take a Mensa test (the organisation open to those with IQs in the top 2% of the population, in case you didn't know). Well, knock me down with a feather duster: not only did I pass but it appeared that I was in the top <u><strong>1%.</strong></u> So that was the explanation! But it was too late to change my working methods as everyone else was used to the way I worked. <br />
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I guess that must mean that my brain is wired differently to others. I don't boast about it ('hiding lights under bushels' comes to mind, but why you would want to do that I have no idea; I'd have thought you'd set fire to the damn thing...). That probably also explains my sense of humour...weird.Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-78892777866490587082016-05-17T17:11:00.003+13:002016-05-17T17:11:51.277+13:00Bath time, armed (and dangerous?)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3MPKpiW4xQ/VzqY39XcT3I/AAAAAAAAAXE/wLOFRAqI-rg3fZsCTWRJDXe9U6M-iR1OQCK4B/s1600/P17-05-16_11.30%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3MPKpiW4xQ/VzqY39XcT3I/AAAAAAAAAXE/wLOFRAqI-rg3fZsCTWRJDXe9U6M-iR1OQCK4B/s320/P17-05-16_11.30%255B1%255D.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After some considerable time, the ladies I felt needed a bath -and what better time to do it than in this Indian Summer that we seem to be enjoying here in Marlborough! So out of the hangar they came (accompanied by the rest of the aircraft resplendent in her new official rego letters) for a bath in cold water. I didn't have time to find a goat to milk nor a heater, so cold it was.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqh7m2v0HNo/VzqZXB5Lq0I/AAAAAAAAAXM/E0NBT8xe8e4SkbFoGkkSqFb9sdtkrtRPQCK4B/s1600/P17-05-16_13.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqh7m2v0HNo/VzqZXB5Lq0I/AAAAAAAAAXM/E0NBT8xe8e4SkbFoGkkSqFb9sdtkrtRPQCK4B/s320/P17-05-16_13.03.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having done that it was time to mount the Lewis gun which proved once again a saying I had from my work time: "Nothing is ever as easy as you first thin." I thought I had lined up all the holes correctly and that all the bolts would just slip in like -well, use your imagination, I'm sure you can come up with something appropriate. So, some couple of hours later with both audible and inaudible imprecations, it has all come together. But I suspect it will have to be revisited (in fact, I'm sure of it!) in order to get it properly aligned. Well after the time I'd allotted for the exercise I left her to regain the shelter of the hangar and the tender mercies of Jay and whoever he can inveigle into getting her airworthy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's to the next episode. </span></div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-25963909397070541762016-03-02T12:50:00.000+13:002016-03-02T12:50:32.273+13:00The paperwork has started!<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are now the proud owners of the reserved registration letters ZK-XVI. I'm sure you can all work out the reason for that particular combination! So we have two years to complete the aircraft and get it officially registered.</div>
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Still a bit more work to do, of course, but Jay (and his team?) will no doubt get round to it in that timeframe...</div>
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I must say that this is starting to get a bit exciting now that we are getting that close and we'll be able to find out just how successful we were in its build.</div>
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Here's to the next phase!</div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-40943635005857033472016-02-21T15:39:00.000+13:002016-02-21T15:39:18.988+13:00Boo Hoo!My training on the Cub has come to a sudden halt. Nothing to do with me I hasten to add! At our (MAC) recent 'Healthy Bastards' flying competition, someone borrowed the Cub for the Short Take Off and Landing competition. It appears he got a bit overenthusiastic in the Landing bit, braked too hard and put the aircraft on its nose. So, it needs a new prop and engine but how long this will take no-one yet knows. Meantime the aeroclub is hunting around for a temporary replacement since that was the only taildragger on the books. Bummer!<br />
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However next month (March) I have to do some flying on the Dynamic to maintain my microlight licence so the birds can't relax just yet!<br />
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And the paperwork for the Nieuport has started: I have just paid for the reservation of the rego ZK-XVI (valid for 2 years); it should be flying well within that period (I hope!). No guesses needed for why I chose those letters.....Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-7569937437755049562016-02-10T16:40:00.000+13:002016-02-10T16:40:52.460+13:00One small step...<div style="text-align: justify;">
My, how time flies! I see it's some time since I last posted anything -let's put that down to the holiday season and a few other things. Like our main wing man went down with severe back pain and has been 'hors de combat' ever since. In fact so bad that he has had to pull out of the completion of the project. All is not lost, however, as the aircraft has been moved to JEM Aviation's main hangar for completion. I'm hoping for this Southern summer but will have to see, of course.</div>
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Meantime I'm working on completing the Lewis gun fitting for the top wing. As well as giving my CFI a work-out for his heart as we continue to strive to reach the required standards in the Piper Cub. I'm somewhat proud to say that progress is in fact being made! So his heart rate doesn't have to suffer quite so much as it did during my first attempts.</div>
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And, of course, I have to get down to the question of the paperwork; it seems it's not as onerous as I first feared (according to our Sports Aviation people). I just have to register our preferred registration letters with the Civil Aviation Authority and the Sports people take over from there. So, onward and upward!</div>
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Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-43510696316882626002015-10-29T14:27:00.000+13:002015-10-29T14:27:10.591+13:00Sopwith Camel<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXGW2CCKaIo/VjF0FP_6oAI/AAAAAAAAAWw/KKf8QyJ0t9Y/s1600/Sopwith_Camel_taking_off%252C_Masterton%252C_New_Zealand%252C_April_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXGW2CCKaIo/VjF0FP_6oAI/AAAAAAAAAWw/KKf8QyJ0t9Y/s1600/Sopwith_Camel_taking_off%252C_Masterton%252C_New_Zealand%252C_April_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXGW2CCKaIo/VjF0FP_6oAI/AAAAAAAAAWw/KKf8QyJ0t9Y/s320/Sopwith_Camel_taking_off%252C_Masterton%252C_New_Zealand%252C_April_2009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
NO!! This is <strong><u>not</u></strong> my next project, so you can rest easy and get your breath back.<br />
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I had often read that the famous Sopwith Camel was possibly responsible for killing as many Allied airmen as its opponents. Having now had three lessons on the Piper Cub taildragger I can now better appreciate what the writers were getting at! </div>
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Despite my CFI being kind enough to praise my efforts, there were occasions when things started to go a bit sideways and he had to take over control. And this on a rather mild type of aircraft. The Camel was a completely different kettle of fish, basically being like a modern fighter -completely unstable. And there was no dual cockpit trainer version either. So the pilot had to listen carefully to what he was told, memorise it and out it into action when required -if he could.</div>
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But the challenge is good and each lesson does see an improvement which is not something to be sneezed at. Here's to the next one!</div>
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Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-49885812014040662342015-10-17T13:50:00.001+13:002015-10-17T13:50:46.971+13:00Tail dragging<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a 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imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for Marlborough Aero Club+ERB" border="0" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" height="201" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="1324z3irMvsk4M:" 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" style="height: 159px; margin-top: 0px; width: 316px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, this is not the Omaka airfield!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Had my first experience in the Cub since about 4 years ago - boy what a difference to the Dynamic and its conventional' undercarriage! Much slower (so there is more time to think about what you're doing -at least in the air...) but landing is much harder work. My CFI congratulated me on managing to stay on the runway rather than careering off into the long grass, but have to say it's pretty hairy trying to keep a straight line. I must consciously train my legs and feet to be a bit more mobile than they have been up to now! Next lesson next week so will see how we progress on that.</div>
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Meantime Rex has managed to put his back out while shifting furniture for his house move so there could be a bit more time in the hangar than I was hoping for. Still, Rome wasn't built in a day -I wonder what the Romans would have thought if they'd been confronted by aircraft such as ours. A basis for a fantasy novel, perhaps? </div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-41861795574394884232015-09-30T12:47:00.000+13:002015-09-30T12:47:39.541+13:00What's been happening over Winter?Actually not a great deal. Basically it's been too bloody cold to do anything and now that Spring has sprung Rex is in the middle of downsizing houses. So not much can be done until that is completed. Marty is manufacturing the bottom panel to take into account the air filter (which wasn't in the original plans).<br />
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<em><strong>However</strong></em> - I have been getting back into the saddle (OK, pilot's seat) and today I passed my BFR (Biannual Flight Review) so that I can now get my licence back. Next step (in a couple of weeks) is to get some taildragger experience in preparation for the first flight. I'll not give a date on that just in case someone above has a different idea....<br />
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Talking of Spring, the days are warming up even if the evenings aren't and we have a couple of wee lambs chomping through the paddocks with their mums. Not ours but it does save me on petrol mowing them!Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-57763909922177391302015-06-21T15:57:00.000+13:002015-06-21T15:57:29.470+13:00Make that a feather or three.....<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Had my 3rd flight the other day and was told that the rust is starting to disappear. Seems I'm getting to grips with the Dynamic rather than the other way round..... But there's going to be about another 5 hours odd before I can get my licence back. After that it'll be on to tail dragging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rex has started to deal with the flying and landing wires and I have yet to complete the engine cowling fixture. I also have to source a turn & bank indicator that will be small enough to fit somewhere handy around the cockpit. It looks like the back of the upper wing may be the only place left for it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather has been somewhat cold lately which is a bit off-putting for doing any work in the hangar. I guess it's a time of hibernation for lots of creatures and the older you get the more inclined you are to follow suit. I cam across an article the other day referring to an elderly man of 72 -I'm two years older than that and don't feel elderly at all. I wonder what criteria these people use to deem a person "elderly": it can't surely just be age, can it?</span></div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-61649592786685857322015-05-19T17:14:00.001+13:002015-05-19T17:14:21.159+13:00I have wings!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Managed my first flight in 3 years this morning -in a Dynamic. Just as well I had the CFI with me as it's a lot more complicated than the Tecnam since it has a constant speed prop which needs to be handled. I always thought that the words meant that the engine did all the controlling of the prop pitch but, no, it's the pilot that has to deal with it. Met up with a Nanchang pilot at lunch who explained it to me in terms of a car and having to change gear which made things plainer -apart from the fat that there are infinite combinations of engine and pitch! But at least I get the idea now. It's a slippery little beasty with almost too much power for its own good. Rather glad that I didn't have to start off with from the very beginning!</div>
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So today was an introductory flight with the CFI congratulating me on my performance after a 3 year gap. I didn't have enough time to watch his face or body language as I was dong the circuits, which was probably just as well. So next week we'll hopefully start in earnest so that I can get my Microlight Licence back -and then start to think about tail-dragging....</div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-90259011389037568112015-05-16T13:55:00.002+13:002015-05-16T13:55:54.619+13:00Nieuport AccessoriesWhile we wait for Rex to return from OZ to finish the rigging I thought I'd tackle a couple of accessories: a mount for the Lewis Gun that I made some time ago and a 'truck' for the rear end to make it easier to manoeuvre in and out of the hangar.<br />
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I'll be trying to copy the French Moreau mount -with some help from Ryan Southam in the welding department:<br />
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As for the rail wheel truck, I'll be seeing John Evans on that one as he made one for Graham's N11. But I do have some of the parts which is a good start I guess.....<br />
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Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-62769764566999097792015-04-09T14:42:00.001+13:002015-04-10T12:29:29.642+13:00The ladies on public view<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, we managed to get everything sort of attached and looking pretty good for the <a href="http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/">Classic Fighters</a> Airshow here at Omaka. The ladies went to support Paul Chernikeeff</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on his <a href="http://www.rotecengines.com/">ROTEC</a> stand and received a great deal of attention. No surprises there! <a href="mailto:lonewolfdesignnz@gmail.com">Chris Boyce</a> produced a great explanation of history behind our Nieuport 16 and its colour scheme.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Where to from here, though? As it's nicely assembled we'd like to get it weighed to make sure it comes under the microlight category. Then we need to do a bit of surgery - the very nice under panel aft of the firewall no longer fits now that we have installed an air filter! Words were said. After that it's a case of getting the correct hardware for attaching the panels to the under surfaces, having a test run of the engine, get a proper inspection performed and then face the paperwork. We still aim to have it flying this year but who can tell? You will of course be kept informed.......</span> </div>
Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-38760001578662032872015-03-26T16:54:00.001+13:002015-03-26T16:54:03.808+13:00Not only fly, but fire!As you can see, the aircraft is coming together nicely and is starting to look like a war machine!<br />
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The next stage is to replace some temporary fittings with the permanent ones, plus a bit of a modification for the front lower panel to accommodate the air filter (which wasn't there when we first got it).<br />
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Then we will get it inspected and certified -but not until after the Classic Fighters Airshow this Easter.<br />
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The final embellishment will be a mounting for the Lewis gun replica on the top wing. After that we will let it fly around for a year or so before we start to think of a change of colour scheme -or even configuration. The ladies need to show themselves off!!Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-15611896429922731602015-03-19T09:28:00.001+13:002015-03-19T09:28:04.656+13:00Have wings, will fly further!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of happy chappies having successfully mounted both sets of wings and with the engine cowling temporarily in place.<br />
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A couple more wires to mount and a lot more nuts and bolts to put in place and she'll be looking good for the coming Classic Fighters Airshow.<br />
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Plus a few extras to try to make it look even better than she is at the moment. It is almost a shame to take her out into the bright Marlborough air, she looks so pristine! (I did give her a bath the other day....)<br />
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It's been a long haul since I forget when but it is so good to see her almost ready for her first flight. There is of course the inspection to take place plus some (or should that be 'a lot of') paperwork and the payment of certain monies to certain regulatory bodies before that can be accomplished. But, hey, she should be in the air this year!<br />
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<br />Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-62043769686430437522015-03-11T19:42:00.000+13:002015-03-11T19:42:08.209+13:00Have wings, will fly<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1yOppQReSs/VP_hl8DVtrI/AAAAAAAAAU8/3JS2FCinb-Q/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1yOppQReSs/VP_hl8DVtrI/AAAAAAAAAU8/3JS2FCinb-Q/s1600/004.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>...well, once we get them mounted, it will. All nicely painted and roundels applied. <br />
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Chris is our master decal applier, seen here attending to the upper wing, top and bottom. Plus the completed lower wing.<br />
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Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913216261234970206.post-84511051869321475862015-02-12T13:38:00.001+13:002015-02-12T13:38:11.362+13:00Nothing is ever as easy as it first appears......That was my working life mantra for a long time. I should have remembered it this time round.....<br />
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I thought it would be an interesting idea to fit the Nieuport with Le Prieur rockets (dummies to start with but who knows what we might come up with in future!). Bearing in mind the need for as little weight as possible I thought I would merely screw the required tubes to the interplane struts. This was not met with approval! The revised suggestion was that we have a piece of aluminium strip anchored to the top and bottom screws of each of the 'V'-shaped interplane struts which hold them in place and then weld the tubes to these strips. OK, that sounds fine, but how do you do that when the strips are not fitted on the struts? After all, there is a distinct possibility that the struts would catch fire if they were fitted. And the strips have to be held in a certain position to get the angle of the tubes right. <br />
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An idea! Make up a jig which will hold the tops and bottoms of the strips in the right places and angles to match up with the strut bolt holes. To do that I firstly managed to dismantle a large cardboard box and pressed it firmly on the ends of the bolts; that gets the relative positions of the bolt holes in their correct places. I then made up two jigs, one for the bottom pair of holes and one for the top. All seems to be OK so I hand the job over to another new 'volunteer' (Ryan Southern) to do the actual welding. Having completed the first set (just as well!), I returned to trial fit the completed arrangement, only to find that the holes don't line up! Various words were vocalised '<em>sotto voce': </em>consultations are needed.<br />
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How this happened is now unknown so the proposed solution is to fill in 3 of those predrilled holes in the strips (the fourth one being the 'anchor') and then drill new holes in the correct places. This I have yet to do, the first matter being how to determine where the new holes need to be drilled. Clamps and a punch come to mind. Watch this space!<br />
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Meantime we await the painting of the wings, wheels, ailerons and part of the cowling. Once the wheels have been done we can refit them and wheel it round to the other hangar to repossess our engine which has been on loan to Graham for at least a year and which he has nicely run in for us! So the hope now is that we can get the machine readied for at least a static display at the upcoming Classic Fighters Air Show at Easter. Whilst it would be nice to think that it had flown by then I think that the title of this piece says it all....<br />
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Ed the Aviatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864689937486470494noreply@blogger.com0