Supermarine Walrus to fly in New Zealand

Cheers John,

I have this nagging feeling I read in an Aussie magazine about a Walrus converted into something. May have been in Flightpath or (what’s the other glossy Aussie magazine we used to see here that included warbirds stuff?)

I have this vision of an old, old photo. I may be completely confusing it with the UK one and the Catalina caravan in Aussie, but there’s this idea in the back of my mind.

When are you coming here? And where to? I noticed you were off to England but didn’t see you’re coming here too.

Hi Dave

I think the caravan/s were mostly Mariner/Dornier/Cat I can’t say Iv’e seen reference to a Walrus here in Aus. Naturally you are aware that the Walrus being spoken of here was being used as a Caravan but that was in the UK.

Have you seen my post about coming over to NZ in the next few weeks for a couple of days – it would be good to catch up with you.

Regards
John P

Sounds good Shane, it’s be interesting to see one land on water. I guess they wouldn’t need too much ‘runway’, or is that ‘waterway’ to take off on a lake either.

Maybe you can bring it into Lake Karapiro (my local lake, which is very calm – famous for rowing – and would be great for a small flying boat) 🙂

One bonus is you won’t have to be putting it back onto a ship, like the Navy operated ones. The RNZAF Fitter I know who served on HMNZS Achilles servicing the Walrus, Mr Eric Ford, says he had the job of climbing onto the top wing with the engine still running to hook on the winch shackle. Blow that!

Did you know that HMNZS Leander left their Walrus (slightly bent, catapult launched with one tie down still on!!) up at New Caledonia? There may be some useful parts still up there if you know where to look. The hull could be someone’s garden shed now. The ship’s crew dumped it in a coal depot apparently according to Eric. This was about 1942.

Wasn’t there a Walrus made into a caravan in Aussie at one stage?

WALRUS

Gents

The intention at this early stage of the game is to operate the aircraft on land and water as it was intended. Mostly water ops would be limited to the many fresh water lakes we have in the area.

We intend to rebuild the old girl here in Christchurch and base it here as well when it is airworthy. A tour of UK and Aussie has been discussed as something we would like to do but it’s too early to speculate to much.

The initial build program I have would see the aircraft flying with 5 years.

Shane Glassey

A flying shagbat COOL.

All though they always looked like world war one vintage :p , I have read of some amazing things done in them 🙂 , Saving so many lives, I spent quiet a lot of time just looking and wondering what they were like to fly in, When I was down at Point Cook on the 17th Dec 03 and again on 28/29 Feb 04, Yes the old girl looks lovely :rolleyes: , But she would look great in the Air :p , Cheers for now, Tally Ho! Phil. 😎

Nope, that was the fuselage for the new build replica Mossie being done at Windsor, Ontario. I believe the Mossie T.III being referred to is still in Britain, pending restoration, but will eventually end up in the Western USA.

Cheers Eddie, having just re-read what I wrote above, i realise it can read as if I meant the NZ new build was the one going to the USA via Canada. That is not what I meant, sorry if this confused anyone. I meant that the NZ-Canada move was the only one I’ve heard of recently. And then, seperately, that the one in the UK must be the one on its way to the USA – as you state. Sorry again, I hope this reads more clearly.

I believe the Mossie T.III being referred to is still in Britain, pending restoration, but will eventually end up in the Western USA.

Interesting, does this mean a restoration to flying condition in the UK, then export (hopefully with flight testing and a couple of public appearances here first..). I may be jumping the gun a bit with this question but bear in mind it comes from a ‘never seen a mosquito fly before’ kind of viewpoint :rolleyes:

Hi all
I think it’s great to have a Walrus coming to a good home in NZ if it happens and I would love to see it happen

As an aside – and I am not trying to upset anybody – the first and only Walrus I have ever seen flying ( Names /title/ model aside ) was a certain Australian Example which I saw flying at Taree NSW and a couple of other locations and which was then swapped by the owner with the RAFM for a Spit ( that later went back Overseas anyway !!) and is now sitting as a stuffed exhibit in the Hendon Museleum along with a few other fine Aussie exhibits, so I find this latest state of events a little ironic.

I am not however whinging about any of this movement and I think it is all quite healthy.

Kindest regards
John Parker

Hi Shane,

Great to see oyu made it to the forum ok, welcome aboard. I know you will enjoy it here. And I know we will all enjoy hearing of any progress in the Wlarus project, and your others too. 🙂

Firebird, thanks for the link. Interesting collection. The only Mossie movement I have heard of in ages is the new build fuselage that went from Auckland to Canada. Not heard of any others, so it probably is the T111 they refer to on the site I guess.

Cheers
Dave

Nope, that was the fuselage for the new build replica Mossie being done at Windsor, Ontario. I believe the Mossie T.III being referred to is still in Britain, pending restoration, but will eventually end up in the Western USA.

Hi Shane,

Great to see oyu made it to the forum ok, welcome aboard. I know you will enjoy it here. And I know we will all enjoy hearing of any progress in the Wlarus project, and your others too. 🙂

Firebird, thanks for the link. Interesting collection. The only Mossie movement I have heard of in ages is the new build fuselage that went from Auckland to Canada. Not heard of any others, so it probably is the T111 they refer to on the site I guess.

Cheers
Dave

Firebird, where is that FHC website please? Thanks.

Dave,
The Mossie is only listed on future restorations list now, but a while back there was a sentance in the burb that said something along the lines of ‘recently aquired’, which was only a matter of months after the T.3 departed Duxford. So unless someone else has sold a Mossie project recently there is a pretty good case for assuming it’s the same aircraft.

FHC website

Good evening (I think 🙂 ) Shane, welcome to the forum. Good luck with the project, it is fantastic to see real progress developing, keep us all posted! Will the Walrus be operated as a land plane only or do you plan to get it wet now and then? Brilliant to hear about the project and yet another reason for me to visit NZ!

G’day

I represent the group that is presently trying to secure the Walrus for restoration to airworthiness in NZ. It was suggested to me that I comment on this site which I am more than happy to do.

I would be more than happy to answer your comments/questions were possible.

Regards

Shane Glassey

I hope you achieve it and may she finally get air under her wings again 🙂

Walrus

G’day

I represent the group that is presently trying to secure the Walrus for restoration to airworthiness in NZ. It was suggested to me that I comment on this site which I am more than happy to do.

I would be more than happy to answer your comments/questions were possible.

Regards

Shane Glassey

Whichever Walrus this happens to be, it’ll be a fantastic sight to see in the air, wherever she ends up! 🙂

In no way does that prevent me from mourning the Walrus’ loss from this country though.

Well she is still here now – I was standing next to her on Tuesday. Good to see the old girl after eight years but in all honesty she should be gracing the skies by now. If the Kiwis can put together an acceptable deal for her and demonstrate the ability to finish the job they will get my vote. I will be interested to see what the other former restoration team members have to say.

Thanks Crazymainer,

I did not know about this sale till now. Yes it seems another relic is to go offshore. A puity, but if the plane returns to the air, it’ll be all good (so long as some idiot doesn’t make it into one of those hideous Reno racers!!!!!)

Jeepman, sorry I wasn’t trying to have a go at you mate. I do understnd the sense of loss that can be felt in a case like this, but remember that some day the Walrus may well return to the air (and the water) which has to be a fantastic prospect wherever the airframe is.

Firebird, where is that FHC website please? Thanks.

As for the Mosquito, I believe that Jeepman is referring to the ex-IWM T3, latterly with TFC, which has been reported as changing ownership recently, although no public statement has been made on this.

Mike, there has sort of been a public statement made about the T.111, in respect of the FHC website mentions the recent addition of a Mossie to the collection, so putting 2+2=? should give 4…….dangerous I know but the world isn’t exactly awash with available Mossie’s……:rolleyes: :p

H iAll,

Since we are talking about RNZAF stuff Dav are you aware that over on the wix board their is a thread about a Corsair that has been in storage for 20 Years plus that is an ex-RNZAF bird that is now for sale.

Its here in the States I don’t know much about it bur Rob Mears the Corsair posted something.

As for airframes moving from one place to another I know that alot of us here in the States wer not to happy with the USAF when they ship off the old Lackland AFB B-24M and replaced it with a fiberglass copy.

Cheers

PS here is the link Davehttp://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=725

Walrus

First time I’ve fallen foul of the automatic censorship (or should that be censureship) on this board……..

I suppose some comment along the line of “if you like it, why don’t you buy it” was entirely predictable and inevitable.

As it happens I have neither the necessary funding or experience (and much more significantly track record) to pull together such a consortium, much as I would like to. Instead, for practical and financial reasons, I choose to own, restore and operate historic military vehicles of the four wheeled, rather than two, or four, winged variety.

In no way does that prevent me from mourning the Walrus’ loss from this country though.