Dove 8 kickstarter Project

Hi All,
As we head in to the final hour of the kickstarter campaign I would like to thank those whom have pledged their hard earned.
The Kickstarter whilst not raising the funds hoped has exposed the group to a wider audience and has hopefully sparked others to get out in to the aviation preservation collective.
Thank you.

Deserves a bump

Hi All,
10 days to go, a big thanks to those who have pledged,
We still have a long way to go to be successful so please pledge, share, do what ever you can to spread the word.
http://kck.st/1O2fKuf

Here is another tale of “MG” from Andrew Lawson.

For our little adventure into head on photography of following aircraft we of course removed the upper escape hatch before take off, I had my sailing dinghy trapeze harness on, with the hook wirelocked shut and a line tied to it, led to a seat mounting with a friend tailing on the end.

I was given a fast jet crash helmet and smoke-proof goggles, but sadly no intercom so we started at I think 120 kts, then the pilot ( ex Gnat Test Pilot Mike Oliver ) asked my chum if I was happy, I’d say yes and we went up another 10 knots, up to 150.

I had been giving the usual hand directions to the PA-44 Seminole behind – as we were in slight cloud the photo’s were useless so I won’t bother you with them – and by 150 kts it was near impossible to raise my hand without it being whipped aft, but the idea certainly worked and I was keen to try it with a Harrier or Hawk; our ‘ rival ‘ photographic outfit at BAe Kingston were dismayed as they always tried to monopolise air to air work and this would give the elusive head on shots, but sadly MG was sold at that point.
The Dove escape hatch experiment must have struck a chord as when I took voluntary redundancy years later ( the accountants had arrived in charge of BAe, and as I’d grown up at Dunsfold since a young boy going around the golf course with my Father I said it was like seeing an old friend with a bad illness ) – Kingston photo in an extremely rare moment of kindness organised a spoof painting by a chap in Technical Publications as my leaving card.
All the best,

Andy

http://kck.st/1O2fKuf

Hi All,
13 days to go,
http://kck.st/1O2fKuf
You might be wondering why we have a photo of a BAe Hawk in this post but it is for a good reason. This photo was taken from ZK-DHW when it was with British Aerospace registered as
G-ASMG. G-ASMG’s primary role was as a Communications Transport but it was also used as a air to air photography platform
Andrew Lawson has been kind enough to share some of his photos taken from G ASMG, I will let him take up the story.
“Hi,
In my time as a technical photographer at Dunsfold – 1979 -93 – BAe had a ‘ Communications Fleet ‘ of Doves for ferrying staff between the sites like Dunsfold, Hatfield, Brough & Warton.
We also had a PA-44 Seminole, G-BGCO.
Before G-ASMG, Dunsfold had a Dragon Rapide – which went into the little museum at Dunsfold for a while, along with aircraft like a Hawker Hart – sadly before my time.
The Dove was eventually replaced by a Jetsream – the appropriately registered G-BWWW, leased from the Distillers Group.
A major retrograde step in my opinion, as the Jetstream had nasty thick curved perspex windows and vibrated like mad, pretty useless for aerial photography unlike the Dove with the removable loo window and upper escape hatch.
MG was often flown by Mike Oliver, a Battle Of Britain City Of London Sqn Spitfire pilot, involved with the relief of Malta flying off the carrier ( HMS Courageous I think ) later Test Pilot on the Gnat & Midge – also racing driver, just to keep busy ! Great guy.
MG was also flown sometimes by Chris Darwin, ex-RN Phantom pilot, notable for his sense of humour – not averse to dogfights in the Dove & Seminole when given the chance to bounce RAF trainees in Hawks.
All the best,
Andy”
http://kck.st/1O2fKuf

Hi All,
16 days to go and we are a long way off, please share and pledge.
If 1000 people pledge $25AU we will be successful,
with current exchange rates 25 Australian Dollars would equal…
18.25 USD
11.75 GBP
16.59 Euro

http://kck.st/1O2fKuf

Hi Wings43,

A permanent base has yet to be decided, there are 3 likely places we will investigate, Warrnambool, Bacchus Marsh & Ballarat. A hangar large enough that does not cost an arm and a leg is the main requirement, It would be great to form a partnership with a museum that would see the Dove indoors on display whilst not flying.

Where will the aircraft be based on completion?

Thank you for the pledge Ed.
Thanks Wings43.

http://kck.st/1O2fKuf

Good luck with the project

I always enjoy the passion and effort you put into this, keep it up, pledge made, Ed.
George Bernard Shaw : “All progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

Hi Flying Pencil,
Thanks for the encouragement.
Photo was taken at Essendon Airport circa 1995. was departing for a charter when air pressure started to drop whilst lining up, the pilot taxied back to the hangar but was out of air and essendons apron has a fair gradient so he was unable to bring it to a stop, the Dove struck a small pedestrian fence, all seemed well but in what appeared slow motion, the nose leg folded.

God speed and keep up the great work!

Hi All,

Please share the link to our kickstarter, http://kck.st/1O2fKuf
here is a photo of the Dove when it was in Australia, I am in the red cap holding the wheel chocks
[ATTACH=CONFIG]239079[/ATTACH]

What is details of the photo? Taking a bow? (I assume a small incident)

Hi All,
Here is the history of ZK-DHW, from Geoff Goodalls Aviation History site http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh104/dh104dove.html
http://kck.st/1O2fKuf
[ATTACH=CONFIG]239209[/ATTACH]

Hi Fouga
I am attempting to get people to click on the link but I will add more detail now,

The DH.104 Dove Preservation Group which is based in Victoria, Australia has set up this fundraiser to attempt to purchase Dove 8 ZK-DHW ex G-ASMG, VH-JGZ, VH-DHQ.

DHW has remained hangared at North Shore since 2011 after wing spar corrosion was found during the 12,000 hour check.

In July 2013 the current owners had repair work assessed by an engineer. Restoration was not comenced and it was decided to offer DHW for sale.

The DH.104 Dove Preservation Group Inc’s intention is to purchase and ship DHW to Australia for preservation and prevent it being reduced to spares.

Our long term aim is to undertake restoration with the goal of returning DHW to flight.

please note in regards to the corrosion the Dove Preservation Group has the engineers report and list of planned works from the Devon 21 syndicate whom are the current owners.
quote from another thread

21st March 2015, 10:32 #7 Stan Smith
Rank 5 Registered User
Join Date
May 2011
Location
North Shore Airfield, Auckland, NZ
Posts
379
The spar corrosion is localised in the port tank bay and is relatively light and more than likely recoverable. The syndicate has ground to a halt due deaths and creeping old age and the repairs are beyond the present members. The Dove was last used in the UK as an executive transport with British Aerospace before export to Australia and then on to NZ. Up to the time of withdrawal for the current maintenance inspection the aircraft has been flying regularly.

You might get a bit more feedback if you post some more info on the project. Who/Where/how/When/… And don’t try to bump the thread every day.

Hi All,
I am online so any questions please fire away.

Hi All,

Please pledge so we can see this again.
http://kck.st/1O2fKuf

Hi All,

Please share the link to our kickstarter, http://kck.st/1O2fKuf
here is a photo of the Dove when it was in Australia, I am in the red cap holding the wheel chocks
[ATTACH=CONFIG]239079[/ATTACH]

Hi All,

We have had our first pledge of $260AUD! Only 100 more like that and the future of ex G-ASMG will be secure.

Please share with all your friends.

http://kck.st/1O2fKuf