March 1973
Last month the RNZAF selected a small group of aviation journalists to go flying in the new BAC 167 Strikemasters of No 14 Squadron at Ohakea. One of those invited was WINGS editor Ross Dunlop.
THE oldest Tiger Moth registered in New Zealand, ZK-AIA, was patrolling Auckland's east coast beaches during the Christmas holiday period.
On January 29 this year a Dunedin-based salvage partnership, the Ausasian Development Group, flew the wreckage of Cessna 180 floatplane ZK-CBL out from Lake Shirley in Fiordland to Te Anau. It was nearly eight years since the aircraft crashed into the lake with the death of the pilot and one of two passengers. The story of the salvage and the accompanying photographs were prepared especially for WINGS by the Ausasian Development Group, to whom our thanks are due.
Old aircraft meet their fates in the smelting furnace
IN THE Antigua boatsheds on the banks of Christchurch's Avon River Mr W. H. (Bill) Dini prepares canoes for the coming season. To many, Bill has over the years become synonymous with the Antigua boatsheds. Only a few can recall that he was the first man to be trained for service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as ground crew.
THE PHOTO of two of the 1934 Air Race Comets in the November issue of WINGS was a gem. Reading avidly of them, years ago, the writer can still remember the jolt he received when he read that the pitch of the blades of the airscrew was altered by means of an ordinary motor tyre pump!
Pictured in a disassembled state is the RNZAF's only Japanese aircraft, Mitsubishi A6M Zero 22 NZ6000