NZFF

... Haven't been for years.
Impressed by the aviation display hall, spotless and aircraft well kept.
They were busy attaching a wing to the Devon (under the Sunderland wing) at the time.
Volunteers all, and loving it.











Why did I decide to post these here, you ask?
Well...



As I think about it, I've never stood next to a Lancaster!
Quite a large beastie, actually.

Charl, I agree, they do it well there.
So glad that you got to see the main exhibit, referring to shots 3 (albeit distant) , and #6 .
I realize you had to spread your time on the whole display, however, I look forward to the as yet unpublished detailed shots of the "main attraction"

Great post Charl ...thanks very much.

Splitpin wrote:Charl, I agree, they do it well there.
So glad that you got to see the main exhibit, referring to shots 3 (albeit distant) , and #6 .
I realize you had to spread your time on the whole display, however, I look forward to the as yet unpublished detailed shots of the "main attraction"

Great post Charl ...thanks very much.

Oh you mean the Sunderland!
Here it is:



Actually I thought the Turbine Fletcher would look really cool, suspended from the ceiling of the Den.
Note here that if the holding cables should fail, there is a failsafe and totally expendable safety cushion provided beneath:



There are other pictures available, but Postimage for some refused to accept them so I'll stop here

"Oh you mean the Sunderland!" ...No Charl
And ...re " there is a failsafe and totally expendable safety cushion provided beneath", well ...that's just cruel .... I may need counseling

But, meanwhile back on earth ...Charl, where is the Solent? last time I was there, she was where the Sunderland is now.
And where has the 747 Simulator gone? It was behind the Solent ....

Marty the Solent is outside where the Sunderland was.
The latter is now painted up nicely and they are working on the interior.
No sign of the 747 simulator...

I believe they were detaching the wing of the Devon as it is been moved out as it was on temporary loan to Motat. Not sure where it is going

It was quite funny - the lads appeared from nowhere, shone little torches into the gizzards around the wingroot, fiddled with a nut, and left!
Didn't occur they might be figuring how to get the thing off... amazing really, that you trust yourself to fly on an attachment or three.

On which topic, I'm always amazed by the likes of the Avenger next door.
What a complex wingfold business that is!
And it all comes together to carry the pilot and warload in high-g flight.

Last couple of de Havilland, beautifully preserved, these.

fab shots, really must get there myself, quite the chunk of kiwi aviation history there huh, Im sure they could squeeze in a DC3 somewhere