The New Zealand based two seat Spitfire belonging to Doug Brooker has crash landed today at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, just before their big airshow, according to Radio New Zealand National news. They reported the pilot was ok, but the aircraft landed with its wheels up. Bloody terrible news.
By: Dave Homewood - 16th January 2009 at 20:13
Fair enough, it’s just you made a rather sweeping statement about Spitfire accidents in NZ and I thought I would fill in the facts for those who don’t know them in case they thought they happened twice a year.
By: merlin70 - 16th January 2009 at 15:50
NZ has had four Spitfire accidents in 20 years of the type operating in this country, but all have thankfully been non-fatal which must be a better record than the UK has for the past 20 years?
Possibly. Although a comparison over a 20 year period is made more difficult given the stark difference in number of airworthy airframes, pilots and flying hours. As a risk manager I would find the stats very difficult to corrulate.
Anyhow lets not do the one place is better or safer than somewhere else. Importantly the crew are safe and in due course MH367 will be repaired and hopefully flyable again.
By: Dave Homewood - 16th January 2009 at 06:15
Sir Tim Wallis had three Spitfire accidents
29 Jan 1989 – TB863 – Waipukarau (repaired by SAFE Air)
18 Nov 1992- TB863 – at RNZAF Base Woodbourne (repaired by SAFE Air)
2 Jan 1996 – NH799 – Luggate, Wanaka (under repair at AvSpecs)
By: JonL - 16th January 2009 at 04:36
NZ has had four Spitfire accidents in 20 years of the type operating in this country, but all have thankfully been non-fatal which must be a better record than the UK has for the past 20 years?
Tims 2 and this one, what was the other one?
By: Dave Homewood - 15th January 2009 at 21:53
NZ based Spits seem to have a propensity for effecting alternative landing styles. Combine that with the TR9’s (look Mum no wheels) landing techique and you could almost say it was only s matter of time.
NZ has had four Spitfire accidents in 20 years of the type operating in this country, but all have thankfully been non-fatal which must be a better record than the UK has for the past 20 years?
By: Bruce - 15th January 2009 at 16:23
Link already posted (twice) above.
Bruce
By: merlin70 - 15th January 2009 at 16:13
NZ based Spits seem to have a propensity for effecting alternative landing styles. Combine that with the TR9’s (look Mum no wheels) landing techique and you could almost say it was only s matter of time.
The main thing is the crew was safe, albeit the bank account will be slightly shaken. Shame the Veteran won’t get his flight.
By: Dave Homewood - 15th January 2009 at 12:54
With all these belly landings cited for the two-seaters, do you think maybe there is an inherent design fault in their modified airframe? Or pure co-incidence?
Perhaps they need drop tanks with car-style air bags fitted to go off when a belly landing is imminent to cushion the blow. Just tongue in cheek of course, but would something like that be feasible for an aeroplane?
By: duxfordhawk - 15th January 2009 at 12:46
Sorry for all the guys involved, But as least nobody has been hurt and with a bit of TLC, time and a wedge of money hopefully she will return to the skies.
As mentioned elsewhere it does seem to be something the 2 seaters end up doing at some point in time, But all have bounced back so fingers crossed she can be fixed soon.
By: Peter - 15th January 2009 at 12:35
Hah thanks Bruce, you beat me to it. Time for another cup of coffee me thinks..
By: Bruce - 15th January 2009 at 12:24
Morning Peter,
See post #8…..
😉
Bruce
By: Peter - 15th January 2009 at 12:17
By: QldSpitty - 15th January 2009 at 11:47
Radiators don,t look too flat.Bad luck.Hope they can fix her up soon..
By: markstringer - 15th January 2009 at 10:57
Been a pretty poor 12 months for the tr.ix its fair to say.
Feel gutted for the guy but i’m sure that it will bounce back.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 15th January 2009 at 10:47
PV202 also ended up on its belly in September 96 after the undercarriage collapsed at Goodwood.
By: Mark12 - 15th January 2009 at 10:12
Oh well, it seems to be a ‘rite of passage’ for pretty much all 2 seat spits to spend some time on their bellies.
Lets see now….
G-AVAV Little Staughton 1968 B of B filming
G-AIDN Coventry 1977 (ish)
ML407 Southampton 1986
MJ 627 Southampton 1998
PV202 Holland 2008
PT 462 Allegedly 1988 (Micheldever)They all bounced back, happily.
…and even 163/TE398 on its delivery flight to Eire.
MJ627 was incidentally at Coventry on 25 April 1998.
PT462 on 1st October 1987.
Mark
By: Propstrike - 15th January 2009 at 09:58
Oh well, it seems to be a ‘rite of passage’ for pretty much all 2 seat spits to spend some time on their bellies.
Lets see now….
G-AVAV Little Staughton 1968 B of B filming
G-AIDN Coventry 1977 (ish)
ML407 Southampton 1986
MJ 627 Southampton 1998
PV202 Holland 2008
PT 462 Allegedly 1988 (Micheldever)
They all bounced back, happily.
By: Dave Homewood - 15th January 2009 at 09:33
Title suitably amended – hope its OK!
Nicked from Dave Homewoods forum
ie: this thread
http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=airshow&action=display&thread=8327
By: Dave Homewood - 15th January 2009 at 09:31
Thankfully the crash was not as bad as it could have been and Doug and his passenger were ok. But it is a huge blow to the NZ aviation scene and the airshow this weekend, as well as the planned and much publicised flight that was to take place tomorrow where 91 year old Battle of Britain pilot and former No. 485 (NZ) Squadron commander John Pattison was to be flown over Wellington in the Spitfire. Such a shame, but I’m grateful this incident didn’t occur during that flight, I think Mr Pattison has had enough Spitfire crashes for his lifetime.
The serial number of this aircraft for the spotters by the way is MH367, registration ZK-WDQ.
By: Bruce - 15th January 2009 at 09:30
Title suitably amended – hope its OK!
Nicked from Dave Homewoods forum, see the following link:
Bruce
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January 15, 2009 at 4:30 am