the m.a.c. flyer - marlborough aero club · the airco dh.2 was a single-seat biplane 'pusher'...

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE MARLBOROUGH AERO CLUB INC.

P.O. Box 73, Blenheim, 7240

Tel: (03) 578 5073

Email: [email protected]

www.marlboroughaeroclub.co.nz

M.A.C. Marlborough Aero Club

THE M.A.C. FLYER

September 2018

Vol No. 49

Awatere Valley with Black Birch—ZK-OMR

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PATRON PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT

John Sinclair Alistair Matthews Scott Madsen

Ph: 03 578 7110 Ph: 027 428 7863 Ph: 027 453 9348

HON. TREASURER SECRETARY

Corrie Pickering Raylene Wadsworth

Ph: 027 570 4881 Ph: 03 578 5073

COMMITTEE

Mike Rutherford, Grant Jolley, Marty Nicoll,

Victoria Lewis, John Hutchison, Jonathon Large

CHIEF FLYING INSTRUCTOR CLUB CAPTAIN

Sharn Davies Ben Morris

Ph: 03 578 5073 Ph: 027 940 3235

Check out our new website –

www.jemaviation.co.nz

Annual Inspections, ARA / BRA’s, repairs, modifications

and rebuilds – we can handle it all!

Ph. (03) 578 3063

Mob. 021 504 048

Email [email protected]

Hangar 22b, Aviation Heritage Centre Airpark,

Omaka Aerodrome,

Blenheim, NZ

http://www.jemaviation.co.nz

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M.A.C Marlborough Aero Club

MAC Accommodation

Pilot / RNZAC Member

$120 / night

Email: [email protected]

UPCOMING EVENTS

Club Day—3rd Sunday of every month

The next one is Sunday 21st October 2018—11.30 am onwards

ALL members and partners welcome

$5 for a sausage or bring a plate of finger food to share

Club Day—last Sunday of every month

The next one is Sunday 28th October 2018

11.00 am onwards—$5 for lunch

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Current timetable for staff…

Sharn—Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Vince—Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Raylene—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

CONTACT: When booking or cancelling a flight please ring the

Flight Office in the first instance before texting or calling the pilots

on their cell phones. Remember they have days off too…

03 578 5073—save this in your contacts...

Friendly Reminder:

The Office is for Staff Only, Raylene, Sharn, Vince and duty

pilot.

ALL bookings are to go through the instructors or Raylene.

Please only enter when getting the keys for the aircraft and

filling in the intention log.

OFFICE NEWS

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

A few happenings for the month are as follows;

The reseal of the car park has been completed. Please avoid tight turns on

the new seal. Also when walking in to the office beware the tar that sticks to

your shoes so perhaps leave them outside if you can or ensure they are

clean. Your help is appreciated.

Our Tomahawk, DMF, has come up for an early engine overhaul . An engine

change was due to be done early next year but this is now under way and

we hope it will be back in the air in a couple of weeks. Apologies for any

disrupts to any one but Sharn has done a great job in slightly reorganizing

the flying. Our Tomahawks have an engine life of 2000+ hours or a calendar

life of 12 years. Not a cheap exercise but that is why we put away all the

necessary funds to cover.

Scott and Marty are looking at what needs doing to give OMR a face lift.

We want to keep our aircraft looking nice as well as functioning well.

Please do support the 'Wings Dinner" on the 13th October. It is an important

event to acknowledge the achievements of our members so extra

important if you are one of those people who have achieved something,

that you are there to receive your trophy of certificate. Do try, bring family

and friends. See details elsewhere.

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Presidents Report Continued….

Another event is the Flying NZ Regional competitions at West Melton

(Christchurch) at the end of October. I will be there and it is a great

experience for all members. A chance to fly the MAC flag and learn a bit

more about aviation. Ben is looking at ways to reduce expense's.

Members attending Regionals:

Alistair Matthews

Hayden O’Hara

Chris Lloyd

Pete Wells

Russell Young

Peter Henn

There are so many things that happen around the airfield and the Club and

there are a number of ways in which the news is spread. Take the time to

look around and listen out and participate in whatever you fancy. It is what

makes Omaka tick. If you are not sure about something , please ask.

Welcome to new members:

David Steward

Grant Willis

Yvonne Best

Hamish Scott

Nathan Black

I am sure you will enjoy being a member of MAC and all that we have to

offer. As a foot note, I taught Yvonne to fly when I first arrived at MAC in

1984. We had a great time and attended some good Airwoman's Rallies

among other events. John Best ,Yvonne's husband, a well know man about

town, was our Treasurer at that time as well as an aviator which he

continues, by flying his Taylor Titch on many a fine morning, but you have to

be early to catch him.

Happy Flying

Alistair

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Club policy has always been that livestock is not allowed on the field. This

include the most common of human friends, dogs. There are a number of

safety reasons why this is so but please remember that all animals are kept

clear of airside. This includes clear of the hanger and private hanger area. By

all means bring your dog to the airfield but they will need to remain in the car

or secured away from the operational areas.

Your assistance is appreciated.

Presidents Report Continued….

NEW SIGNS AROUND THE AIRFIELD

HANGAR FOR SALE

L shaped 85sq.m hangar, first on left past the barrier to Western hangars.

Water, power and electric winch.

Offers invited.

Contact Richard Batchelor for more information.

[email protected]

03 570 5550 , 021 834 992

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MARLBOROUGH MAGAZINE—Johnny Andrews

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CFI REPORT

Bianca completing and passing

her B-Cat Instructor Rating with

Hamish Simpson’s first Solo

News:

Just to inform you Vince will be leaving us in a months time to take up a new

venture. We have advertised the position for a new full time Instructor so

watch this space...

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FLYING HOURS

Meet the Club - Aaron Patchett

How long have you been a member of MAC? Just on 12 Month’s

Have you ever held a Pilots License and what sort? Yes, I currently have my

PPL

Job Engineer at Airbus

Favourite holiday destination? Hastings - Tiger Moth city of course!

Where is your hometown? Wellington

Favourite thing about MAC? The airfield and some of the amazing vintage

aircraft we have on it. Every aircraft is different and particularly the older

ones, have some amazing history behind them and a unique story to tell.

Favourite aircraft? The Pitts, but that changes regularly. Love flying the Tiger.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Flying and sitting with Ben at the

Aeroclub over a coffee solving the worlds problems.

A route you enjoy flying? Anywhere as long as it’s under the radar, in

something old and having a great time.

CLUB NEWS

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Club News continued….

Aaron Patchett

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YOUNG EAGLES

Hi everybody

The Young Eagles have had a busy last couple of months learning about different aspects

of aviation! On August 25th the YE visited Jem Aviation to gain a better understanding of

aircraft maintenance, painting and restoration. A big hit for the kids was the Harvard!

Everybody got to climb up on the wing and have a look inside... a bit different to a

Tomahawk! All of the YE very much enjoyed their visit with a huge thanks to Mary Nicholl

and Graham Murphy.

Last Saturday saw the YE September meeting where a flying day was help with the help of

very generous pilot members and their own aircraft. The plan was to get to Cape

Campbell however due to lambing season this saw things change Cloudy bay became

the destination of choice! 3 Cessna 185’s and the club Cessna 172 OMR all took of on their

YE adventure!

The 3 185’s made it into the Cloudy bay strip where there was an opportunity to get out

and have a good look around. The kids loved the 185’s and enjoyed a well detailed tech

talk on the aircraft while on the ground!

Meanwhile further to the south Ben with his 3 YE in OMR decided to make the make the

make of the superb flying conditions and start with a few orbits of the ship wreck at the

lagoons which the kids were super keen to see, followed by heading around the White

Bluffs to carry out an Instrument flying exercises and put the YE to the test. Ben got his 3 YE

to close their eyes and put their head down while he maneuvered the aircraft to confuse

the kids sensors. A rather sharp bank to the left and pulling back to increase the load

made the kids claim to be in a climbing left turn while little did they know Ben had been

very gently rolling to the right and slowly lowering the nose. The look on their face when

told to open their eyes was total confusion yet amazement at how the human body can

trick us! This was the highlight of the flight before heading back to Omaka to prove OMR’s

short landing capability followed by wrapping up the day with questions and answers.

Shortly after the 185’s arrived back with very happy looking Young Eagles all round!

A huge thanks to Mark, Scotty, Jack & Nigel for their time in helping out and giving their

time to share the joy of aviation with our future aviators!

Top effort by everyone!

Ben Morris

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Young Eagles continued….

Young Eagles at the Cloudy Bay strip

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OMAKA HERITAGE AVIATION NEWS—GMO

OMAKA'S AIRCO DH.2 - NOW HAS COMPANY!

Who would have thought that Omaka Airfield, N.Z. has just become home to

the largest collection of DH.2s on the planet? After the similar Bristol Fighter

population boom last year, should we even be surprised!?

One of the first aircraft you see when you enter the first quadrant of the

Omaka AHC's 'Knights of the Sky' exhibition, is an ungainly 'pusher' configured

biplane. Some members may recall this aircraft being flown quite a bit by

members Simon Paul and the late Stuart Tantrum. Both pilots really enjoyed

the qualities of the DH.2, Stuart saying that it was one of the nicest flying

aircraft in the WW-I collection.....once you figured out how to get in and out

of it!

Even though they looked antiquated when new, the DH.2 was a strong performer and more than able to match the 'modern' Fokker Eindecker monoplane.

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Heritage Aviation update continued...

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

The Airco DH.2 was a single-seat biplane 'pusher' aircraft which operated as a

'fighting scout' during the First World War. It was the second pusher design

by Geoffrey de Havilland for Airco, based on his earlier, larger, DH.1 two-

seater. The DH.2 was the first effectively armed British single-seat fighter and

enabled Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilots to counter the 'Fokker Scourge' that

had given the Germans the advantage in the air in late 1915. Until the British

developed a synchronisation gear to match the German system, pushers such

as the DH.2; F.E.2 and F.E.8 carried the burden of fighting and escort duties.

Early air combat over the Western Front indicated the need for a single-seat

fighter with forward-firing armament. As no means of firing forward through

the propeller of a tractor aeroplane was available to the British, Geoffrey de

Havilland designed the DH.2 as a smaller, single-seat development of the

earlier two-seat DH.1 pusher design. The DH.2 first flew in July 1915.

The DH.2 was armed with a single .303 in. Lewis gun which was originally able

to be positioned on one of three flexible mountings in the cockpit, with the

pilot transferring the gun between mountings in flight at the same time as

flying the aircraft. Once pilots learned that the best method of achieving a kill

was to aim the aircraft rather than the gun, the machine gun was fixed in the

forward-facing centre mount.

Copied from an old Classic Wings feature, when this pic was taken, the AHC which is now the home of this aeroplane, was yet to be built!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biplanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pusher_configurationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_aircrafthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_de_Havillandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airco_DH.1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Flying_Corpshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_Scourgehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronization_gearhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Aircraft_Factory_F.E.2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Front_(World_War_I)

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Omaka Heritage Aviation News continued...

The majority of DH.2s were fitted with the 100 hp Gnôme Monosoupape rotary

engine, like those being manufactured here at Omaka by Tony and the

CAMS team, but later models received the 110 hp Le Rhône 9J.

A total of 453 DH.2s were produced by Airco.

The DH.2 ultimately equipped seven fighter squadrons on the Western

Front and quickly proved more than a match for the Fokker Eindecker (as

seen attacking the DH.2 in the AHC scene).

The DH.2 remained in first line service in France, however, until No. 24 and No.

32 Squadron RFC completed re-equipment with Airco DH.5s in June 1917. By

this time the type was totally obsolete as a fighter, although it was used as an

advanced trainer into 1918. DH.2s were progressively retired and by war's end

no complete airframes were retained.

Stuart Tantrum described flying the DH.2 as being, "Like riding a witch's broom"!

AND THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS.....

Since no original DH.2s survived into modern times, the pioneering WW-I

replica builder Walt Redfern of Seattle, Washington built a replica DH.2

powered by a Kinner 125-150 hp engine in 1971. He subsequently produced a

small run of plans for homebuilders but these were very limited in content. It is

believed that a total of just three Redfern DH.2 replicas have been

completed worldwide.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gn%C3%B4me_Monosoupapehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_enginehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_enginehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_enginehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Rh%C3%B4ne_9Jhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Front_(World_War_I)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Front_(World_War_I)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_Eindeckerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._32_(The_Royal)_Squadron_RAFhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._32_(The_Royal)_Squadron_RAFhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airco_DH.5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattlehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinner

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With the prototype of Redfern's original replica on display at the Omaka

Aviation Heritage Centre here in Blenheim, it is perhaps of no surprise that

Walt Redfern's sons Floyd and Dan, with Floyd's wife Cheri, made the

pilgrimage to Classic Fighters 2017 to view the old family pusher, along with

a number of Triplanes and Nieuports that had been built from their Dad's

plans. AHC guide and veteran MAC member Bruce Laurenson kindly gave

the family the royal tour of those special machines in the museum.

Interestingly, the Redferns came here from New Mexico to spend a week in

Marlborough, with no intention of visiting any other part of New Zealand,

and we're seeing more of this refreshing trend among airshow visitors.

Floyd, Cheri and Dan Redfern during their visit to Omaka last Easter from New Mexico.

BUT WAIT, THAT'S NOT ALL!

An interesting initiative was begun a decade or so back in Oregon USA, to

build a batch of no fewer than FIVE full-size DH.2 replicas. In more recent

times, some of the team members had moved onto other activities so whilst

two of the pioneer builders are continuing with the original plan, three of

these advanced projects became available for sale and after a

considerable period of negotiations, a deal was finally struck with this writer

and those three DH.2s have now become Omaka owned specimens!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaka_Aviation_Heritage_Centrehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaka_Aviation_Heritage_Centre

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One of the new Omaka DH.2s under trial assembly at its former Oregon, USA, base.

Who would have ever thought that at some stage there would be FOUR of

these bizarre looking machines resident at Omaka - and the largest

complement of this type to be found anywhere in the world.

The first wing-set is already covered, (above), as are the tail surfaces (below).

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The goal is to rebuild all three of them in a side by side production manner in

the Classic Wings hangar, enjoying the economies of scale that go with that

plan. There are no plans to sell any examples at this stage, and as we have a

couple of machines ahead of them in the queue, they have been corralled

for storage for the next six months or so after which we hope to get stuck into

them. What a fantastic sight it will be to see three of these machines side by

side in the air together - now that's something you don't see everyday!

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GHOST OF OMAKA’S PAST...

With over nine decades of flying activity at Omaka, there has been a broad

range of interesting machines visiting the field. From the first visitors in 1928

including Bristol F.2B Fighters, de Havilland D.H.50 and of course the Fokker

F.VII-3m 'The Southern Cross', through to the amazing new and old exotica

we're seeing today, variety has indeed been the 'spice of life' at Omaka.

(Don Furness photo, via the John Wright Collection)

This attractive machine is the Ryan STM (Sport-Trainer-Military) which was for

many years, the sole NZ based Ryan. It was one of the famous batch of Ryans

that was originally ordered from the factory in San Diego for the Netherlands East

Indies Air Force when Indonesia was still under Dutch administration. The Ryans

were sent to Java, many of them operated on floats. As WW-II broke out in the

Pacific, many of the NEIAF aircraft from Vought Kingfishers to large Dornier flying

boats were evacuated to Australia where they were put into service with the

RAAF. Included amongst these refugees were no fewer than 34 of these lovely

Ryan monoplanes (actually reports suggest 37 plus spares, but only 34 ever

became active with the RAAF). After the war the Ryans that survived service

became popular as aerobatic sport-planes. This one served with the NEIAF as S-

53 and with the RAAF as A50-13 before becoming VH-AGS on the Australian civil

register. In 1955 it was sold to NZ where it became ZK-BEM wearing the same

colours it had carried in Australia. It remained active for 12 years during which it

visited Omaka several times as seen here. It subsequently went into storage and

was eventually donated to MOTAT. Some years later, the NZ Warbirds

community and the folks at MOTAT came to an agreement that would see the

aircraft returned to flying condition and as such, it continues to fly actively from

Ardmore, once again wearing its NEIAF colours, although now powered by a

LOM engine in place of the original Menasco.

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AND OMAKA'S PRESENT DAY 'GHOSTS'!

As recently as yesterday, Thursday 27th, Noel's Ryan went on temporary display

in the Omaka AHC's 'Dangerous Skies' hall in company with another recent,

temporary guest, the 1935 Packard Super 8 Coupe', which was the very last car

owned by famed US aviatrix, Amelia Earhart! This remarkable motor vehicle

was custom built for Miss Earhart and became her regular vehicle right up until

she parked it in the hangar for the last time, to await her return from her around

the world flight, from which of course we all know, she never did return. We are

extremely fortunate to have this magnificently vehicle here at Omaka, and it

will hopefully remain until next Easter's airshow when we'll pay tribute to

'Women in Aviation'. The Ryan and the Packard provide great company for

each other as both were on the drawing boards of their respective

manufacturers in the 1934/35 period. (N.B. some more lighting is being

arranged for the Packard).

On a final note of trivia it's interesting to consider that this Ryan was based in

Australia for around half a century where it carried the registration, VH-AHC!

Ghost’s of Omaka’s Past...

In more recent years, additional interest in the Ryan Sport-Trainer series has seen

three further Ryan initiatives in New Zealand. A radial engined PT-22 (ST-3KR) was

imported in the 1990s by Les Marshall and is also based at Ardmore now owned

by the NZ Warbirds Association, an earlier Ryan STA (purely civilian model) in

project form right here at Omaka with John Saunders, and as members will all be

aware, easily the prettiest Ryan in New Zealand is another of the Dutch-East

Indies refugees, Noel Kruse's stunning Ryan STM ZK-ABC has been flying actively

from its Omaka base for the last few years, so it seems that T. Claude Ryan's

lovely designs are only growing in popularity with age and their connection with

this airfield remains strong.

the m.a.c. flyer - marlborough aero club · the airco dh.2 was a single-seat biplane 'pusher'...

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