NZFF

As some of you may have read in the latest VPN issue, 'madman' from the VOZ forums has been busy creating a Victa Airtourer model for flightsim, which is very simular to the CT-4 airtrainer that the RNZAF Red Checkers operate. In fact, it is looking likley that there will be a Red Checkers paint scheme for the model when it is released.

Take a look at the development screenshots in this thread here: http://vistaoz.org/smf/index.php?topic=3025.0 (You will have to be a VOZ member to see them)

Looks promising - the Airtourer is quite a diferent beast from the Airtrainer though - the Airtrainer has a different powerplant (210hp CT-4A/B - 300 hp CT-4E- the Airtourer had 100 to 150 hp engines ), panel, control sticks, fuselage, canopy, flight characteristics etc. The Airtrainer was derived the from Aircruiser which was a 4 seat derivative of the Airtourer. I would love to see a NZ civilian colour scheme such as this one which would ideal for flying around Omaka.

I'll second Paul's notion of having a ZK-CYS repaint. Tell ya what, get it to me on release and I'll see if I can't give it a go!

That will be cool. It'd be great to have one/some/all of the RNZAF-operated Airtourers. I forget the serials etc, but they were operated in the red/grey scheme of the late Harvards and early CT-4s. At one point one was operated by the Wellington Aero Club in its service scheme.

Like this one Zac?

Heres another Airtourer operated by Eagle in Auckland - I think ZK-KAG has flown this?

Thats it! Excellent! Thanks, Paul!

What about a repaint of NZs most Famous Airtourer 115...........................
ZK-CXU, "Miss Jacy".......... the one Cliff Tait flew solo around the world in, built in the factory of Aero Engine Services Ltd, at Rukuhia (Hamilton Airport).

Lawrie.

Great wee machines. I started off learning to fly in a 100 HP airtourer, ZK-CMD. The engine was on condition and not a real performer at all. It took full length at Ardmore to get airborne and it it weren't for the curvature of the earth it probably never would have. I can recall doing stalls at 3000ft. This was practically its ceiling and would take at least 20 min to get there.
Opening the canopy airborne would destroy 30 % of the lift as the canopy was an integral part of the "lift solution". The other airtourer on Airline flying clubs line was ZK-DDP which was a 115 HP model and infinitely better. They were $13 /hr dual back then (yes read and weep). Still back then I was only working as an aircraft engineer apprentice earning the princely sum of $40 per week of which almost half went in board and "refreshments".
I then moved on to the 130 HP model that Waitemata aeroclub had, ZK-DLU. A great little machine that actually made arerobatics feasible. Then came the air trainer ZK-CGY (I think it was) and that had the constant speed prop and bigger donk which made all the difference. They have the glide characteristics of a brick and I am sure Pacific aerospace could have sucessfully marketed them to NASA as space shuttle re-entry trainers!
Even as a real youngster I can recall looking across the airfield from my Grand parents place (They were the caretakers/cleaners for the Teachers college on Ardmore and had a cottage with prime views over 03/20) and see the multi coloured fleet of 13 airtourers that Auckland aeroclub then operated. yep 13 of them!
A great little machine that I look back on with a great deal of affection. That spade handle control column, the funny collapsible fuel dipstick and hand operated brake system as well as the days of getting sunburnt through that expansive canopy on cross country flights.
I for one am looking forward to this release.
Cheers
steve

Yeeeh airtourers are awesome! Dad used to own one when he flew, a 100hp model, heres a pic

Hello gentlemen Trolly told me about this thread in the VOZ forum and i thought i would drop by and say hello and post a couple of pics for those that don't have a VOZ membership





The model is based on this aircraft:



Based at Lilydale NE of Melbourne

Thanks for the comments

Have fun Peoples

Paul

Hey that looks like a really good model mate i spotted one out at our transport museum the other day "motat" looks like a ct trainer to me but hey i was informed on the spot from a ozzy that idea it was one of your own creations
anyway keep us informed even though i have a voz ID i hardly go there to check ,my bad

Paul brilliant job on that airtourer , im sure the very early RNZAF paint won't be missed on that when released I better get my OZ membership , last visit was the Canberra scenery release .

Zac , I believe i may have the orginal rego/AF listing constuct no.s here somewhere .

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE(Ian Warren @ Oct 2 2007, 05:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Zac , I believe i may have the orginal rego/AF listing constuct no.s here somewhere .

I knew I could count on you Ian! Cool! I remember reading an article on four of them in NZ Wings a few months back....NZ Wings, not Pacific!

Zac , as time get close to release , give us a yell , dig all i have - better contact "Naki" to go though his material , cross-ref detail info

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE(Ian Warren @ Oct 2 2007, 07:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Zac , as time get close to release , give us a yell , dig all i have - better contact "Naki" to go though his material , cross-ref detail info

Yep I should have some info somewhere in the piles of magazines and books - I just read an article plus pics in Aviation News of the one in Omaka.

Hey Craig thanks for the pic - that is one that Lawrie mentions above - Cliff Tait's around the world Airtourer.

Naki wrote:

QUOTE(Naki @ Oct 2 2007, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Craig thanks for the pic - that is one that Lawrie mentions above - Cliff Tait's around the world Airtourer.

no prob naki, saw it at Motat

Those have to be the most ridiculous chocks I have ever seen for such a small plane!! hahahahahah

.............and the concrete block tie downs. It would take a force 10 gale to blow over one of these

A bit of a bump - this is looks to be almost completed - these pics from the Voz forum (hope its ok with the developer to post here)

Lookin' good!!