For several years I have been working on a book on the Bristol Freighter’s career in Canada, both RCAF and civilian.
Prior to coming to Canada, several of these aircraft have worked in New Zealand and elsewhere.
I am especially interested in some of the details, impressions, experiences, etc. from people about those that served with 41 Sqn RNZAF: anecdotes, tall tales and/or photographs.
Dirk Septer, Campbell River, BC
[email]dirk_septer@hotmail.com[/email]
By: G-APDK - 7th July 2012 at 12:04
For those interested in the Bristol Freighter I strongly recommend the recent Air-Britain publication The Bristol 170 by Derek A King
G-APDK
By: Den - 7th July 2012 at 06:56
By the way, here is the letter I referred to earlier. We flew this guy and his family out of Saigon a couple of weeks before it fell to the North Vietnamese. He wrote the letter and gave it to me in flight. It is proof that at least one person in the world thinks the B170 is “beautiful”.
Den
By: Den - 7th July 2012 at 06:44
The control column is upside down.
Yep, I spent a few hours sitting in that left hand seat. I wonder why the control column is upside down. Maybe for safety so kids won’t poke their eyes out.
Den
By: l.garey - 6th July 2012 at 16:34
flyernzl:
“Arise, my love, and come with me” is a poem by James Casey (1940). Before the nose of the Bristol 170, it adorned a B-24 (42-50768).
http://www.b24bestweb.com/arisemyloveandcomewithme1.htm
By: Resmoroh - 6th July 2012 at 16:04
My Boss (Wg Cdr, OC MMU), and his sidekick, went on Ex BERSADU PADU (Malaysia 15-30 Jun 70) at Dungun and Penerak. He came back saying that the recollections of the flight in the RNZAF Bristol Frightener up to some jungly loc “only improved as the memory dims”. His tales of the Oz/Kiwi Met/hospitality frightened me as I was only, at that time, the junior Scribblie back at MMU HQ at 38 Grp HQ Odiham. I later found that he did not lie!!!
HTH
Resmoroh
By: Preserved Wings - 6th July 2012 at 14:10
Bristol Freighter at Woodlyn Park – NZ5906 ZK-EPC
Woodlyn Park is a combination of unique accommodation, a farm park and a kiwi culture show. Accommodation available is in the Bristol, in an ex-NZR railcar and, since our visit, an underground hobbit cave and an ex-RNZN Fairmile.
Thanks Peter for a look inside .
The park now includes also a boat .No water around but you can sleep in a boat..)
On your pictures I miss the Ladies Toilet next to the Freighter.
Hopefully it is not in use for guests
Freighter NZ5906 by PreservedAC,
Regards
Johan
By: Wyvernfan - 5th July 2012 at 08:01
Nice shots of the accomodation Peter, and an incredible transformation. They also help put things into perspective a bit more as to why its called an ‘hotel’.
Be even better though with a bit more attention being lavished on the cockpit area.
Rob.
By: flyernzl - 5th July 2012 at 07:23
Bristol Freighter at Woodlyn Park – NZ5906 ZK-EPC
Woodlyn Park is a combination of unique accommodation, a farm park and a kiwi culture show. Accommodation available is in the Bristol, in an ex-NZR railcar and, since our visit, an underground hobbit cave and an ex-RNZN Fairmile.
Our family stayed at the park in mid-2004, and booked both of the units in the Bristol Freighter at that time.
The aircraft is set on a level pad between a hillside and a duck pond
Close up, you can see that the entrance to the unit at the front of the aircraft is located on the starboard side and the rear unit entrance is on the port side
Not quite sure what the wording on the nose refers to, perhaps someone with a literary education can enlighten us?
The aircraft is nicely fitted out for occupation. Looking towards the front of the aircraft, the separate bedroom is in the nose, with the kitchen behind that, on the left
while behind the kitchen/dining area are two bunks (immediately claimed by the twins, E and J). The bathroom is at the rear of this unit, located about the centre of the aircraft
In the rear unit, looking forward, that bathroom abuts the other one with a divan/folding bed on one side and the dining area on the other
The kitchen unit is pretty much the same with the separate bedroom located in the tail
.
The cockpit is accessible via a wooden ladder from the front unit, and has definitely seen better days with moss flourishing on the windows
However, this did not deter those who were after a twin rating at an early stage of life. Here E carries out the start engines procedure
then J takes over to prepare for take-off
A shower of spray and we’re away – all concentration on the task of getting the Bristol moving.
By: Wyvernfan - 4th July 2012 at 21:59
😮 thats a hotel :eek:? Strewth.. How much do guests get paid to stay there?
Still, at least its been preserved in a way, i guess.
Rob
By: Preserved Wings - 4th July 2012 at 20:11
Just uploadad 2 photo’s of Bristol freighter NZ5906 in use as Hotel near Waitomo (NZ)
Freighter NZ5906
Freighter NZ5906
Looks like it needs some TLC.
Johan
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th July 2012 at 18:49
Den…………..
Welcome to the forum. Have the feeling you may have some good information to contribute……Just guessing !!!!
Planemike
By: Den - 4th July 2012 at 10:14
Hello everyone. I’ve just registered. What a fascinating site. Full of memories for me. I flew all the RNZAF B170s including the last flight out of Saigon in NZ5903. I have a letter of thanks given to me in flight on that last flight which I’ll publish here when I get around to it.
It would be nice to see some familiar names on here.
Cheers Den Monti
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August 11, 2010 at 3:28 pm