RNZAF Museum - The Reserve Collection Hangar

[PeteP]

Some familiar aircraft here in unfamiliar garb.









No need to tell anyone on this forum what flight deck this is!


Some for Garry?






Desperately in need of some TLC, I feel.


Pete

[Rick Piper]

Hi Pete

what a lovely museum.

& it's an Andover C1.

not sure if it's just a cockpit section or a full aircraft ?.

Great shots and i the other thread

Regards
Rick

[Scorpius]

Hi Pete,

Good to see the Andover, wonder if my fingerprints from 1975 are still on it?

[PeteP]

it's an Andover C1.

not sure if it's just a cockpit section or a full aircraft ?.

Now I wonder how you knew that, Rick. ;-) It's a complete aircraft. Unfortunately, because it was so jammed-in amongst other stuff, I couldn't get a decent shot of it. You can just see it behind the Devon in the 3rd photo.
Pete

[PeteP]

wonder if my fingerprints from 1975 are still on it?

???
Pete

[Scorpius]

Hi Pete,

For my sins my first posting after training at RAF Cosford was to Aircraft Servicing Flight at Thorney Island on Andovers, so I would have worked on all of the RAF Andovers including the ones of 32 Sqn at Northolt.

Worst job we ever had to do was to remove the port radio crate to replace the bungey cords that assist opening the crew door. The rasdio crate can be seen on the cockpit photo on the left with the fuses on it.

Subsequently the Andovers of 46Sqn went to the RNZAF, hence my comment. Do you know the registration of the aircraft in the photo?

[PeteP]

Do you know the registration of the aircraft in the photo?

As luck would have it, I do - NZ7621, formerly XS600.
Pete

[Scorpius]

Hi Pete,

XS600 was one of 2 Andovers of 242OCU the conversion unit, that also taught the Hercules. I do remember that her and her sister aircraft, XS602 were a bit shaby when compared with 46 Sqn kites.

Had my first trip on XS600, almost got killed when the student pilot stalled it on the approach at Thorney. I have very clear memories of the captain saying 'I have control' after the stall warner went off and pushing the throttles to max power, I was in the jump seat.

The runway disappeared and all I could see was grass and one of those small, brick built huts on the airfield that we were going to hit. Needles to say we missed it!

[Scorpius]

Thinking about it, the RAF kept all the low hours aircraft (XS 596,597,637,644) which were in good condition and unfortunately the Kiwis got the others.

XS637 was unique in that it was the only Andover in brown camo with a high gloss finish. It was alloted to CinC Norway as his personal aircraft with VIP interior.

It had a habit of turning up on a Friday afternoon from Norway, with a list of snags which went down really well with the groundcrew!

We never completely fixed the weather radar and its nodding scanner.

[PeteP]

almost got killed when the student pilot stalled it on the approach at Thorney.

After an experience like that I'd have thought you might have left more than your fingerprints on the aircraft! ;-)

I do remember that her and her sister aircraft, XS602 were a bit shaby when compared with 46 Sqn kites.

Nothing's changed there, then. She's still in a rather shabby state. I don't know what configuration the cabin was in at the OCU but presently it has benches and parachute nets - presumeably just as it was when it was withdrawn from service with 42 Sqn (RNZAF).
PP