Anything Aviation

[coolmercury]

Yes, the planes were still blue, with the Honduras flag painted where the USA star had been before.

[Rural53]

[Rural53]

Air Chathams schedules Convair 580 retirement

Air Chathams has announced that it will retire its final Convair 580 on 17 September 2021. The propliner involved is ZK-CIB (327A) which has been part of the fleet since June 1996.

Originally, the airline had planned to retire the Convair at the end of July but new lockdowns due to the Corona-pandemic warranted an extension and use the aircraft for domestic cargo flights. Air Chathams retired its other final two Convairs, ZK-KFL (372) and ZK-CIE (399) in October 2020 and April 2021. Retirement was unavoidable as maintenance costs would become too high due to a lack of spare-parts.

Air Chatham's fleet now consists of one ATR72 and three Saab 340s, three Swearingen Metroliners, one Cessna 206 and a DC-3.

Photo by Air Chathams.

Source  https://www.scramble.nl/civil-news/air-chathams-schedules-convair-580-retirement?fbclid=IwAR0BtHc0Lrd9wtSJoPLm5_wLEDJkXqJDHiNtNBRUdZY7MYmDKxlTNqlenVM

[Rural53]

This photo popped up on FB the other day. The Piper Cub ZK-BQV used to be owned by a syndicate in Gisborne and is the first taildragger I had a ride in. I nearly had to change my pants when Kevin side slipped it coming into land.

The Tigermoth ZK-BAL is the first, and only, taildragger I flew. It is also the aircraft I have done a lot of aerobatics in as a passenger. It is interesting being upside down with nothing between you and the ground but a harness. It is still owned by a syndicate in Gisborne.

[pep]

What a plane:-\

[goodfellow]

It's a marvel of an aircraft for sure, and the technology is amazing. What really impresses me though is that Jack Northrop figured out flying wing designs in the 1930's without the help of computers to design, and ultimately fly a prototype. He used paper, pencil and a slide rule; an amazing man.