Rearwin – heads up for Melvyn!!

Bruce has now kindly posted the Rearwin photo and obit on the RNZAF forum, as linked above

Actually the topic of a Rearwin in the Bay of Plenty, NZ came up very recently on my RNZAF forum here – looks like it must be ZK-ALF
http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=civil&action=display&thread=1128130411

If it is the same plane, the owner is no longer with us it seems. I have emailed Bruce and asked if he can do the scan he promised.

Very nice, thanks Eric. Must be more like the 1970’s, according to the potted history of ths genuine RNZAF example which is about to take to the air again (or may already be flying) – this from http://www.adf-serials.com/nz-serials/

Previously ZK-AGQ owned by New Plymouth Aero Club who purchased the aircraft in 1938 for 1250 pounds. Impressed into RNZAF with Unit 18 Rongotai for a cost of 600 pounds on 12 October 1942 as NZ599. Sold to New Plymouth Aero Club from Woodbourne on 11 October 1946 and entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-ALF. To L. Nixon, Henderson, in October 1951. To G.Astley, Milford, Auckland in August 1971. To J. Galpin, Pongakawa 30 May 1977. Ferried from Tauranga to Pongakawa on 15 March 1978 for restoration. By mid 2005 the restoration was almost complete and the aircraft should fly again shortly.

Eric tried to post this but couldn’t and so has asked me.

Hope all is well. That is a great NZ thread – I can’t log in to save my life so maybe you could post this pic for me. This is Ken from when he went to visit the owner of ZK-ALF. Was a long time ago – Maybe early 80’s (?)

By the way, Eric Rearwin liked the thread.

M

Yes Melve

………………But does it now stop once you hit the ground with it or is that why you have to keep moving …….because it still won’t stop?

Regards
John p

Ah, but brakes on a taildragger are not to stop you they are to stop you starting.

and steering, definitely steering.

12 knot crosswind landing on Sunday. went well.

M

Hi Dave – pleased you got a handful of WAAF – are there pictures / was this pre war and are they in color too?

Regards in excited anticipation!!!
john P

Oh, I meant to add that I do not have the previous issue that the leter references, but maybe someone else here might, and could look it out as it implies there was another photo.

Any 1980’s NZ Wings collectors out there? I didn’t start my collection till 1991, and any prior to that I got from Dad who collected them only sporadically through the 1970’s and 80’s when something took his fancy (plus a handful I got from the RNZAF Base Hobsonville library that a lovely young WAAF librarian let me keep!)

Yes Melve

………………But does it now stop once you hit the ground with it or is that why you have to keep moving …….because it still won’t stop?

Regards
John p

That is interesting Dave, I have just sent the link to Eric Rearwin as I know he will be interested.

I now have about 60 hours on the Cloudster and it is going well.

When you come over. . . . .

More Kiwi Rearwin stuff

Hi Melvyn,

I found this letter and photo in the November 1983 issue of New Zealand Wings, and thought they maybe of interest

Didn’t make Abingdon as the nephew’s stag night went on longer than planned. A great night though and a lot of fun. Paintballing in the afternoon just outside Exeter and then out in Torquay. I had a lot of fun and nephew kept it all down and looked quite good this morning.

No young ladies were harmed in the making of that stag night.

upshot was, didn’t even get to Popham until 4:15. Shoved some fuel in the Dearwings and legged it over to te Isle of Wight just in time to get a coffee before they closed. That is a really nice little airfield and they have an airshow on July 30 and 31. The Rearwin will be there.

I will be at Popham tomorrow (strange that, being based there and all that) and I may fly depending on the weather an if I can be arsed.

Melv

and maybe Abingdon on Sunday
Melv

Oh YES please Melv – bring it in to Abingdon on Sunday 😀

Melv,

I’m off to New England Air Musuem on Sat. will try to get some new photos of their plane for you.

Cheers
RER

Dont we know a bloke from Kansas City?? Has a taste for Scotch of memory serves 😀

hey Melvyn
I didnt realize the Rearwin was an American design.
Mike

Oooh yes,

Kansas City, just up the road from Cessna, around the corner from Porterfield and just about everyone else!

M

Hi Melvyn,

I overheard a conversation about the first flight between Stu Goldspink and some of the Shuttleworth guys – it sounds like you have done a fantastic job.

Why not bring it down to Old Warden on Sunday morning, watch the display and chug on home afterwards? Wx is looking good I’m told.

You never know, you might just get that promised ride in the Maggie.

All the best

HP

I would have done Shuttleowrth this weekend if I was not so busy elsewhere. I shall be in there before the end of the season. Today was Thruxton this morning and then over to Dunsfold this afternoon to photograph the approaches for the briefing notes. It was fun.

Stuart did a great job on the testing. He was only slightly rude about the aeroplane. He said it was “A great big stodgy old pudding” or in plain Enlgish “it is not a Pitts” and he also said the visibility was pooh but then he is shorter than me and I can see over the nose better!

I now have almost ten hours in it and I like it. It cruises well and flies fine. It is a bit touchy on the ground as the rudder is small and blanked by the fuselage but the rudder is very effective in the air and the brakes work on the ground. I landed it on the runway at Dunsfold tonight and it was not at all twitchy (the runway is just about big enough for me).

The engine also makes a great noise. Stuart loved the engine and seriously asked if I had made a mistake and fitted the 165hp one. We had to check out the ASI as we didn’t believe them to begin with!

This weekend for me is nephew’s stag weekend (paintballing tomorrow and keeping my brother sober company) and then Popham and maybe Abingdon on Sunday and Popham on Monday.

I still have time to get the spats fitted properly and whip the cowlings off to give it a once-over before going to France.

It’ll be at Dunsfold for the fly-in too.

Melv

hey Melvyn
I didnt realize the Rearwin was an American design.
Mike

HP.
delete some private messages, please.

OW Runway

BTW,

Having just returned this morning from sunnier climes I dont yet know the state of the runway as far as visitors are concerned.

All will be explained to you if you give them a call.

HP