I think we have bought a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk!

[John Hill]

Our small town aviation museum has had enough pledges from donors to cover the cost of de-comissioning and relocation of an ex-RNZAF Skyhawk.  It should fit in with the Meteor, Vampires and Harrier.



Google "Ashburton Aviation Museum",  we do not have a web page, yet.

Note, two Vampires and the Harrier in the picture, our Meteor is a more recent arrival.

[rleete]

4 planes?  You're bigger than the NZ AF!

[John Hill]

4 planes?  You're bigger than the NZ AF!

A few more than four, there are quite a few tucked away in hangars including the Meteor (which was the first jet fighter of WWII) and an F27 outdoors waiting for some TLC.

[DaveH]

[/quote]

............. including the Meteor (which was the first jet fighter of WWII)
[/quote]

I thought it was the Messerschmitt Me 262. 

 

DaveH

[andyf]

... a Meteor (which was the first jet fighter of WWII) ...

I think Messerschmitt might argue that theirs was the first jet fighter, at least so far as being operational was concerned.

Great collection you have there; is it all privately funded? Are any of them airworthy (now that would cost money!)?

The Vampire takes me back to the early to mid 50s, when Dad used to take me to Ringway Airport, which was still being used by the RAF, to watch the Vampires taking off and landing. No more military at Ringway - calls itself Manchester International Airport now.

Andy

[Bluechip]

............. including the Meteor (which was the first jet fighter of WWII)
[/quote]

I thought it was the Messerschmitt Me 262. 

 

DaveH
[/quote]


You might be interested in the first jet engined aircraft to fly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_178

Prior to WW2, but only just.


What if  ???? ....
Dave BC

[John Hill]

............. including the Meteor (which was the first jet fighter of WWII)
[/quote]

I thought it was the Messerschmitt Me 262. 

 

DaveH
[/quote]

You are right Dave, I must have been having a brain fade.     The Meteor was of course the first jet fighter on The Allies side in WWII.

[DaveH]

John,

Not another brain fader, I get 'em too


 

DaveH

[John Hill]

Great collection you have there; is it all privately funded? Are any of them airworthy (now that would cost money!)?

Funding for day to day operation comes from entrance fees major acquisitions are funded by donations, patronage etc, there are a number of airworthy 'craft in the collection but none of the jets.

[AR1911]

............. including the Meteor (which was the first jet fighter of WWII)

I thought it was the Messerschmitt Me 262. 

 

DaveH
[/quote]

You are right Dave, I must have been having a brain fade.     The Meteor was of course the first jet fighter on The Allies side in WWII.
[/quote]

Well, the victors DO get to write the history books!

[Rob.Wilson]

Cool John 


Why do the Vampires  look different at the sharp end ,,,,,,?

Rob 

I get to drive passed a Vulcan Bomber  at least once a week   

[andyf]

Rob,

The tailplanes differ, too. Looking at silhouettes, the middle one looks a bit like a Venom, but it's hard to tell. Maybe one is a 2-seater Vampire and the other a solo. The 2-seater had a longer nose.

Andy

[John Hill]

Rob,

The tailplanes differ, too. Looking at silhouettes, the middle one looks a bit like a Venom, but it's hard to tell. Maybe one is a 2-seater Vampire and the other a solo. The 2-seater had a longer nose.

Andy

Yes, one is a 2-seater.  I am not sure why they changed the tail shapes, perhaps that got tired of the shape on the single seater which had been a De Haviland characteristic since WWI.