How Low Can You Go??

The aircraft from memory was NZ4113:M. There was a crystal-clear shot in one of the RNZAF flight-safety publications that showed the aircraft just after it had done the “touch & go” clearly showing the bilge water escaping. Wish I had half-hitched that magazine now….

The photo would have been taken from the Wexford Rd hill on the north-eastern end of the airport, where I was for the duration of that weekend.

And – Oh those F-101 Voodoos….For an 8 year old seeing them in action!

I sent the Sunderland photo to some new found friends when I went to NZ last July/August. I think some of their stories are worth repeating here. These personal accounts relate to the Sunderland and/or the Vulcan incident at Wellington. If the photo is not too large in size, I will attach one of the Vulcan, taken on its last touch and go, before its incident:-

Report from Bill Howell:-

“I was on duty at Wellington Airport that day as “Marshall One” driving a public service Zephyr equipped with a VHF Transceiver for enabling contact with the tower.

Prior to the Vulcanising effort I had accompanied the parade of beauties who formed the finalists for the “Miss Wellington Airport” Beauty contest and we had proceeded along the western edge of the runway, north bound and reached about where the PRA hut was situated when we stopped and waited for the Sunderland to display.

The final contact with the runway was near our position and we were treated to a shower of dirty bilge water as it climbed away, and departed for Hobsonville.

When the Vulcan was due to display I had “Marshall 2” position himself in a service Landrover on the taxiway and proceed northwards to meet the Vulcan as it vacated the runway, to check his braking system for fires etc.

Meanwhile I sat on the running board of Barrie Reid’s Bedford van “Follow Me” with Jimmy Duke, safety pilot in the rescue Devon.

All went according to plan on the planned 1st & 2nd approaches

1st was simply an approach and overshoot to position for a planned ‘touch and go’ or a ‘roller landing and go around’ and then came the 3 approach from which was planned a full stop landing.

Remember that it was gusting well over 40 knots that day so it was ‘willing’ in the circuit, and he seemed to us to be cutting things a bit fine.

The impact was slightly port wing down and so the port u/c hit about a half wheel diameter below the top of the lip of the embankment, while the starboard hit at the very top of the lip.

The machine staggered, lurched, and dipped the port wing until the port nav lights hit the undershoot green painted concrete and left the wing tip light fitting behind. The scar in the green concrete and the embankment gouge remained until the runway extension southwards some years later.

Meanwhile we had left our comfortable front side seating and sprung into action. Barrie Reid was wanted urgently and left,

Jimmy Duke launched to drop life saving gear to the Vulcan crew who were expected to be dropped at the harbour entrance, but couldn’t escape because the gear could not retract because of impact damage.

I was summonsed to the office at the end of the passenger finger-way and picked up a couple of RAF Tech Officers and we departed to the impact site and waited until the Vampire display team took off.

Scattered around were numerous pieces of Mk1 Vulcan(port nav light plus a collection of Maxaret anti-skid parts from the port undercarriage braking system!) which we stuffed into a brown paper bag found in the car boot.

Then went to the tower and collected Air Cdre(?) Stan Quill and senior RAF detachment Commander and tried to deliver them to the RAF Comet which was launching to try and catch the Vulcan which by this time was headed for Ohakea after abandoning its plan to drop the rear crew out by the nose crew door escape system which was blocked by the nose leg straight behind.

Comet crew couldn’t wait and said they had already commenced pressurising so too bad.

Great day at an exciting airshow!!”

Report by Peter Boyd, who as you can see, is lucky to still be around to tell his story:-

“You have obviously been corresponding with him regarding me being right underneath the Vulcan when it hit the end of the runway at the opening of Rongotai Airport.

Here is what happened:-

I decided to wander round to the end of the runway to watch it make its second approach (obviously pre 9/11 and security completely non-existant!!) and I was standing on the sloping bank at the end of the runway about a metre below runway level and the top half of my body above the runway level, as it came in on the second approach. I took the photo (attached) on this approach and, as you can see, I was right in line with the port undercarriage assembly.

Realising this, I moved 2-3 metres to my left so that I would be directly in line with the fuselage as it made its third approach preparatory to landing. This move is undoubtedly why I am still around today as – after being showered with gravel and looking around once the aircraft had passed over me – I saw that there was a hole on the top of the bank right where I had been standing for the previous approach, about a metre in diameter and half a metre deep! It sure would have given me a headache if I’d stayed there!

I took a photo of the hole from where I was standing but it is a slide and I can’t lay my hands on it right now. I will have a hunt for it and send you a copy if and when I find it.

It was quite an experience – I still remember it well and still shudder when I think what would have happened had I not moved across!”

If Peter manages to find me the other photo, given his pemission I will post it here too.

Paul

In “Tora Tora Tora” one of the “Zeros” is practically scraping the deck with one wing low during the strafing of the fibreglass P40 replicas. An incredible piece of flying.

Blimey, must take more than duct tape to stick it to his tailfin like that! 😀 :diablo:

ADrian

By pure fluke I bumped into this wicked picture!

It was such a hot day, his river had dried up when he returned.

PS. That Spitfire movie looked vaguely familiar… hmmm… 😉

well two consecutive photos,…

Low Strike?

Thought I would chuck this one into the pot- fully rocket-laden Saudi Strikemaster beating up Warton in 1968!

Have a look at this on the 2(AC)Squadron Association website.It’s a short video clip called ‘Spitfire-The Movie’

http://www.twosqnassoc.co.uk/pages/photos/postwar/movie/movie.htm

What did “Snort” race at Reno? I know he does a lot of airshow flying but I don’t recall seeing him associated with unlimited racing. From the pics I have seen he apparently really enjoys flying very low!

Dale ‘Snort’ Snodgrass, seemingly the highest-time F14 pilot in the world.
He has also been a contender in the unlimited racing events at Reno.

Hopefully! 😀

‘shopped?

Captures from video,

BF109’s buzzing their base after a sortie

Cheers Dave

That’s a classic… If you do a search you may find some heated discussions about this movie on this forum 😉

😀

Outstanding, Sky, did you see that one too…

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=210366678514284100&q=spitfire

thanks again,

Olivier

Neat low pass of an F-14 during an airshow… about 40 seconds into the movie:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6547793592971674062&q=nellis

Even Hoover got too low once in a while though. I remember seeing him nick the prop on the Mustang doing one-wheel touch and gos way back in the early ’80s.

Bob Hoover had the alleged reputation of increasing sales of the Shrike Commander ten fold………………….. but no one would buy the demonstrator. A fabulous airshow pilot who allowed me to occupy the right hand seat in the Shrike on one occasion back in the early 1970’s. What an experience never to be forgotten.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

But, tee shirts for sale-