New plane arrived for our museum..

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John Hill
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New plane arrived for our museum..

#1 Post by John Hill » Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:03 am

Fletcher s/n 12 arrived today after a long drive...
Image
Been in data comm since we formed the bits individually with a Morse key.

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Re: New plane arrived for our museum..

#2 Post by Boac » Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:42 am

Had not heard of the Fletcher before, John - I see it is NZ made.

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Re: New plane arrived for our museum..

#3 Post by Rossian » Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:56 pm

I take it that is/was a cropduster?

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Re: New plane arrived for our museum..

#4 Post by k3k3 » Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:21 pm


John Hill
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Re: New plane arrived for our museum..

#5 Post by John Hill » Wed Mar 22, 2023 7:36 pm

Rossian wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:56 pm
I take it that is/was a cropduster?

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Yes, although in NZ we call "top dressing" (usually)...... here is a video of one at work.



You may notice a few typical features, the window in the fuselage is where the load driver sits when they go home at night, the bar up the windscreen hopefully protects if a wire strike should occur, there are mirrors on the port undercarriage for checking fertilizer flow etc. Flying is not exactly a matter of following the magenta line but he does have a 'light bar' mounted in front of him which gives guidance when lining up to sow each track. There are various versions of light bars, all GPS (I think) and the early ones required a local beacon or two but I think that is no longer necessary.

A later improved turbine version, (named CRESCO), has a payload of two tons (at least) while these older ones about 1200Kgs

This particular air strip appears to be maybe better than many.
Been in data comm since we formed the bits individually with a Morse key.

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Re: New plane arrived for our museum..

#6 Post by Karearea » Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:14 pm

^ brought the hill country pastures into productivity.

Great film.

(the sound of the cicadas nearly drowns out that of the aircraft!)
And with the morn, those angel faces smile...

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Re: New plane arrived for our museum..

#7 Post by prospector » Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:54 pm

I did some 6,000 hrs in the FU24 (Fletcher) Started with a 225 hp engine, then went up as new engines came on line to 260, then 300, 310 and finally an 400hp. Turbines were just coming on the scene when I shifted to Airline flying. No such thing as GPS light bars for positioning, all had to be from memory. Some of the briefings for the sowing job would be drawn on the back of a tobacco packet for over 500 acre block. Was very relaxing moving into Airline flying.

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Re: New plane arrived for our museum..

#8 Post by John Hill » Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:27 pm

I think our Fletcher came with a 400hp engine so I guess it wore out a few engines in its 68 years of operation!
Formerly ZK-BHJ.

It is unfortunate that we cannot put this aircraft on display due to shortage of exhibition (i.e. hangar) space, we need a few (actually quite a few) sacks of gold to build a new hangar, 40x48 metres is what we have in mind. Meanwhile WLP will be in a cosy container. There is also an Agwagon, ex Flying Doctor twin, several gliders and a probably something I forgot safely in storage.

It is likely that there is an F111 cockpit on the way to us and not to forget the fully functioning Link Trainer replica under construction at the local Menzshed.
Been in data comm since we formed the bits individually with a Morse key.

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