Hi,
I have been wondering for a few weeks after hearing several pieces of news and rumours tacked on, what is the story with the Old Flying Machine Company? Their Corsair and P40 are back in New Zealand, and according to what I have heard….
– the TV news said the Corsair is staying here for good
– a rumour from a guy in the RNZAF Museum said it may be sold within NZ
– a guy working at the NZ Fighter Pilots Museum was that Ray Hanna was retiring to NZ and had brought the two planes with him (which I take it means for good)
and there was various other bits of scuttlebuck going round.
I guess it may have been already well covered here, but what exactly is going on? Is Ray Hanna definately retiring to his home in Wanaka? Are the P40 and Corsair staying in New Zealand? Is the Corsair being sold to a NZ owner? Is the OFMC going to continue in Britain? Is it perhaps going to operate in NZ? or both?
And is it true that the LA-9 is coming back here? (I hope so, i saw it’s first flight last year, frickin marvellous!)
I hope someone can dispel one or two of the rumours and set me straight please. I assume OFMC workers read this excellent forum? I hope repeating any of these rumours doesn’t upset anyone, I just am curious as to what is true and what isn’t.
Cheers
Dave
By: trumper - 11th March 2004 at 18:53
Originally posted by Merlin3945
You know it seems to me that you are all going on about stories and half truths.Wouldnt it be better and more productive if you just emailed, phoned or sent a letter to Ray Hanna or one of the OFMC team.
Nuff said.
Go on ,you sound so persuasive and authoritive,please let us know how you get on and any replies you get,Ta:D
By: Merlin3945 - 11th March 2004 at 18:46
You know it seems to me that you are all going on about stories and half truths.
Wouldnt it be better and more productive if you just emailed, phoned or sent a letter to Ray Hanna or one of the OFMC team.
Nuff said.
By: duxfordhawk - 10th March 2004 at 22:05
OFMC site shows the Spitfire displaying at Biggin Hill september Airshow.
By: trumper - 10th March 2004 at 19:25
If Ray retires to N/Zealand what will happen to the staff and airframes at Duxford?
How much of them does he own as an individual or are they as part of a syndicate with pilots,is MH434 still under some agreement to stay in the UK,i thought there were agreements between previous owners to retain her in the UK.
Maybe someone can fill in some facts please:)
By: duxfordhawk - 10th March 2004 at 15:44
Originally posted by Blue Leader
I read an interview with Ray in Wingspan in late 99/early 2000. In it Ray revieled that it was his intention to retire to NZ & take one of his fighters with him for his own amusement.
It would seem that there has been a problem with the CAA in the UK with both the P40 & LA9, and as they are regestered in NZ I guess that it was inevitable that they wouls ‘go home’
Shame about the Corsair though, that could have stayed here.My feeling is though that the OFMC will carry on and, hopefully go from strength to strength and maybe expand the UK fleet.
I wish Ray a very happy retirement, (he will be missed) and many years of continued succsess to the OFMC.
BL
I half expected Ray to retire last year but i got a feeling he will fly for another season and retire then,I guess he would love to fly MH434 again here in the UK,Lets just see what he says this year.
I Wish him the best in the world when he retires he is a amazing man and he started my love of Airshows,He will be missed but at least he has passed on his love of Aircraft to say many people in his years at shows.
I expect the OFMC will carry on as well and hope exciting times will be ahead for them.
By: Manonthefence - 10th March 2004 at 12:14
I heard that OFMC were talking of a hunter display team as a replacement to the fighters
You read it in the Internet so it must be true .:D
Nothing was ever formally announced and in any case Breitlings began their sponsorship of the L39 team (team Apache as was) last year. Logical that it should follow on really.
By: richb - 10th March 2004 at 12:03
Regarding the Brietling team – have I missed something? I heard that OFMC were talking of a hunter display team as a replacement to the fighters – but Brietling have just launched the L39(?) team – is this instead of the hunters?
There does not seem to be any connection between the new team and the OMFC
RichB
By: Blue Leader - 10th March 2004 at 11:46
I read an interview with Ray in Wingspan in late 99/early 2000. In it Ray revieled that it was his intention to retire to NZ & take one of his fighters with him for his own amusement.
It would seem that there has been a problem with the CAA in the UK with both the P40 & LA9, and as they are regestered in NZ I guess that it was inevitable that they wouls ‘go home’
Shame about the Corsair though, that could have stayed here.
My feeling is though that the OFMC will carry on and, hopefully go from strength to strength and maybe expand the UK fleet.
I wish Ray a very happy retirement, (he will be missed) and many years of continued succsess to the OFMC.
BL
By: Dez - 10th March 2004 at 08:56
Things change, OFMC have just finished a superb partnership with Brietling and are now moving on to do different things…
Thats how i see it anyway…:)
By: DaveM2 - 10th March 2004 at 08:12
Both the P-40 and Corsair are here to stay , the La9 should just about arrived here as well and is due to stay , but that doesn’t mean it will not be offered on the international market at a later date .. save you pocket change just in case ;-0
Dave
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March 10, 2004 at 7:01 am