| AZB October 2009 |
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| On the 5th of October 2009, I met up with Hallett Griffin and Barry Christie at Walcha to prepare for the next days topdressing. The next morning we flew from Walcha to Armidale then on to a strip East of Guyra. Barry flew a Cresco and Hallett and I went up in the Beaver. Below are photos from that day. Ian Lupton owns the farm where we were. He is originally from Waverley, NZ. As Lenn Bayliss, a fellow enthusiast who was present said "I wouldn't have missed it for quids!!" Thanks to Barry and Hallett for the privilege. All photos copyright © Graeme Mills |
Pre-flight at Armidale with Lenn Bayliss (photo 1 far left) and the boys from Superair. More kiwi's here than Ozzies!!
Departing Armidale then some air-to-air shots of the Cresco, then approaching the strip.
Some landing photos
Some loading area photos
Some take-off photos
More take-off pics
Some airborne photos 2 start-up shots
Static shots on the strip
At Barry Christie's strip at Walcha the day prior
Engine serial plate, manufacturers plate, airframe serial and 2 cockpit shots
Thanks go to Roger the loader-driver, for his patience and assistance.
Hallett and Barry back at Armidale Hallett departs for Moree
Barry flew this Cresco VH-UFI
Some loading scenes
And some take-off scenes
I'm the hell outa here Job done VH-EUO a Garrett
powered Fletcher
powered Fletcher
The first Beaver purchased by Fieldair, originally imported by De Havilland, Wellington
Aircraft received crated at Mangere (Logbook entry dated 18/12/1951)
Lawson Field saw the capabilities of this aircraft and bought it 19/12/1951, accompanied by Noel Marshall and Bob Allen
Aircraft assembled, including DHC hopper, at Mangere and inspection carried out under Works order no. B4007 dated 21/12/1951
Test flown 21/12/1951 Flown to Gisborne 23/12/1951 taking 1 hour 40 minutes No hopper installed on first arrival, noted by Granville Jones
Although there is no entry in the Logbook, it disappeared from Gisborne in January, presumably to have a hopper installed in Wellington
First operational job performed off Gisborne Aerodrome by Gerry Oman March 1952 as noted by Loader Driver on the day Gilbert Bull
First strip job at Rere completed 22nd March 1952 taking 14 hours 25 minutes flying time
First 50 hour inspection carried out 1st April 1952, signed off by Snow Bennett
Flown at Gisborne by Gerry Oman, Noel Marshall and Bob Allen, later by Bruce Thompson
30/07/1955; Fuselage Tail structure damaged. Skin replaced from Stn 228.80 to Stn 245.39
25/08/1959; Withdrawn from service for complete overhaul incl. new hopper, signed off by J.R.Dunstan tt 3,953.25
Restored as the East Coast Air Services "Flagship" 10/07/1961. Flown by Don Thorpe
Based at Gisborne, Wairoa, Hastings, Waipukarau, Masterton and Dannevirke
Flown by Jack McCurdy at Wairoa 1965. Forced landed in swamp, Wairoa, 20th March 1967. Jack McCurdy injured
To Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd. 18/12/1970.
10,000 hours reached May 1971 Flown by Tiri Manahi at Dannevirke 1972 - 1975 and featured in a Country Calendar episode dated 23rd March 1975
Withdrawn from service 6/07/1976 as C of A expired tt 12,716.40
Withdrawn from service 21/11/1983 as C of A expired tt 15,818.25 Stored at Gisborne
To Fieldair Holdings Ltd. Palmerston North, 30/03/1984. Rebuild started late 1986 at Gisborne
23/06/1987 Complete overhaul completed. All Agricultural equipment removed. Back to standard configuration.
To Motiti Island Air, First flight 31/07/1987 Tga - Motiti - Tga
15/08/1989 Centre fuel tank removed. Hopper, hopper box and controls fitted
To Hallett Griffin, P. North, 14/04/90 Operated as topdresser from Hallett Griffins base at Kairanga tt 16,256 hrs
Last entry in NZ logbook 17/11/1992 tt 17,190.90 hours
Sold to Barry Christie at Walair Ltd., Walcha, NSW, Australia 16/03/98 where it was active topdressing.
Total time over 22,000 hours October 2006
Sold back to Kayla Holdings, Hallett Griffin 23/02/2009.
Performed last topdressing in Australia 06/10/2009 by Hallett Griffin on Ian Lupton's farm at Guyra, NSW
Flown to Bankstown by David Salter 10/12/2009 and wings removed for Container shipping to NZ by John Land at Airag Ltd.
Prepared for shipping container January 2010. Placed into container 27th January 2010 and sailed from Sydney 7th February 2010
Will be re-registered as ZK-AZB and painted in the old 1960's Fieldair colours and will remain a topdresser, being available for Airshows and Displays
Aircraft received crated at Mangere (Logbook entry dated 18/12/1951)
Lawson Field saw the capabilities of this aircraft and bought it 19/12/1951, accompanied by Noel Marshall and Bob Allen
Aircraft assembled, including DHC hopper, at Mangere and inspection carried out under Works order no. B4007 dated 21/12/1951
Test flown 21/12/1951 Flown to Gisborne 23/12/1951 taking 1 hour 40 minutes No hopper installed on first arrival, noted by Granville Jones
Although there is no entry in the Logbook, it disappeared from Gisborne in January, presumably to have a hopper installed in Wellington
First operational job performed off Gisborne Aerodrome by Gerry Oman March 1952 as noted by Loader Driver on the day Gilbert Bull
First strip job at Rere completed 22nd March 1952 taking 14 hours 25 minutes flying time
First 50 hour inspection carried out 1st April 1952, signed off by Snow Bennett
Flown at Gisborne by Gerry Oman, Noel Marshall and Bob Allen, later by Bruce Thompson
30/07/1955; Fuselage Tail structure damaged. Skin replaced from Stn 228.80 to Stn 245.39
25/08/1959; Withdrawn from service for complete overhaul incl. new hopper, signed off by J.R.Dunstan tt 3,953.25
Restored as the East Coast Air Services "Flagship" 10/07/1961. Flown by Don Thorpe
Based at Gisborne, Wairoa, Hastings, Waipukarau, Masterton and Dannevirke
Flown by Jack McCurdy at Wairoa 1965. Forced landed in swamp, Wairoa, 20th March 1967. Jack McCurdy injured
To Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd. 18/12/1970.
10,000 hours reached May 1971 Flown by Tiri Manahi at Dannevirke 1972 - 1975 and featured in a Country Calendar episode dated 23rd March 1975
Withdrawn from service 6/07/1976 as C of A expired tt 12,716.40
Withdrawn from service 21/11/1983 as C of A expired tt 15,818.25 Stored at Gisborne
To Fieldair Holdings Ltd. Palmerston North, 30/03/1984. Rebuild started late 1986 at Gisborne
23/06/1987 Complete overhaul completed. All Agricultural equipment removed. Back to standard configuration.
To Motiti Island Air, First flight 31/07/1987 Tga - Motiti - Tga
15/08/1989 Centre fuel tank removed. Hopper, hopper box and controls fitted
To Hallett Griffin, P. North, 14/04/90 Operated as topdresser from Hallett Griffins base at Kairanga tt 16,256 hrs
Last entry in NZ logbook 17/11/1992 tt 17,190.90 hours
Sold to Barry Christie at Walair Ltd., Walcha, NSW, Australia 16/03/98 where it was active topdressing.
Total time over 22,000 hours October 2006
Sold back to Kayla Holdings, Hallett Griffin 23/02/2009.
Performed last topdressing in Australia 06/10/2009 by Hallett Griffin on Ian Lupton's farm at Guyra, NSW
Flown to Bankstown by David Salter 10/12/2009 and wings removed for Container shipping to NZ by John Land at Airag Ltd.
Prepared for shipping container January 2010. Placed into container 27th January 2010 and sailed from Sydney 7th February 2010
Will be re-registered as ZK-AZB and painted in the old 1960's Fieldair colours and will remain a topdresser, being available for Airshows and Displays
2 Group photos at the end of the day
At rear: Jeffrey Greene (farmer) Evan
Davies, Roger Viday, Hallett Griffin,
Sy Allsep, Ian & Murray Lupton
In front: John Land, Graeme Mills &
Barry Christie (left photo)
In right photo front row middle is
Lenn Bayliss
At rear: Jeffrey Greene (farmer) Evan
Davies, Roger Viday, Hallett Griffin,
Sy Allsep, Ian & Murray Lupton
In front: John Land, Graeme Mills &
Barry Christie (left photo)
In right photo front row middle is
Lenn Bayliss
On the 27th of January 2010, I drove down to Bankstown to see AZB being put into the container for the "cruise" home.
John had already put the wings and control surfaces in along with 3 engines. All that remained outside was the
fuselage, undercarriage and a few boxes. Thanks to John and the crew at AirAg for allowing me to get in the road!!
John had already put the wings and control surfaces in along with 3 engines. All that remained outside was the
fuselage, undercarriage and a few boxes. Thanks to John and the crew at AirAg for allowing me to get in the road!!
This slightly modified TK Bedford surpassed all ideals loading into the tin can.