Moves for Mosquito, Mustang, P-40 in NZ

[Work In Progress]

Good news from NZ: a number of important and substantially complete airframes here which are about to move from passive storage to a more active conservation / restoration phase of their long lives. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/121990112/treasure-trove-of-hidden-historic-planes-including-rare-wwii-mosquito-to-see-the-light

https://www.omaka.org.nz/news.html

[hairystick]

The John Smith collection is perhaps a smaller, southern hemisphere version, of Walt Soplata's efforts to preserve history, instead of letting them get melted down.

 

A lot of historically valuable exhibits there.

[stevehnz]

I've been thrilled to see this collection coming out as it were. I was fortunate enough to visit it with a friend of Johns who was happy to allow me to fossick at will while the friend & he nattered away, included was access to the Mosquito, sitting in the navigators seat & trying to access the still intact radio gear behind the pilots seat brought me closer to my uncle who'd perished in the self same position in 1943, poignant & powerful stuff. The fact that so many more will be able to appreciate these priceless relics & know that they've been displayed to best advantage is hugely satisfying. A big thank you to Johns family & the team that is bringing this about.

Steve.