Thread: Old huts

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

no it is a Bell 47 very underpowered but they were a helicopter

Yeah, we (NZDF) ran them for decades. Purchased first ones in 1965 from memory and used them right through till 2012, when all the other operators had rightly consigned them to Museums. Used them quite a bit in Waiouru to do reconnaissance, but even on a calm day they were always operating at the limit of their envelope.

Flying hut materials into the Tararuas mid 1970's, we caught a ride into the hut on dark clutching onto the side litters. Eyes wide open and fricken cold!!!

Cattle Creek....... Ruahine's

Bell 47.Pre dated the Hillers

Just been reading up on the French retirement of the Alouette III.
I'm sure I saw one of these here in the 80s. Maybe Helicopters NZ?
Anyone run into the Alouette?

Obviously there are some helicopter enthusiasts on here that got enjoyment out of the helicopter photos, so I have put some more up here for people to view.



Another photo of the same helicopter involved in the food drop. In the photo you can see the writings of Helicopter NZ Ltd, for aviation enthusiasts just do a Google search.



To those that are interested this was the bivy I got to that had a whole pile of food in it. In those days it was surprising this Ngamako bivy seemed to be seldom visited.

Originally Posted by video hunter

Obviously there are some helicopter enthusiasts on here that got enjoyment out of the helicopter photos, so I have put some more up here for people to view.

Attachment 228120

Another photo of the same helicopter involved in the food drop. In the photo you can see the writings of Helicopter NZ Ltd, for aviation enthusiasts just do a Google search.

Attachment 228121

To those that are interested this was the bivy I got to that had a whole pile of food in it. In those days it was surprising this Ngamako bivy seemed to be seldom visited.

Is Ngamoko biv now Toka biv?

Ngamoko hut is down beside the Pohangina river, 6 k downstream from the old Leon Kinvig hut site. Toka biv is up on the edge of the leatherwood above and north of there.

I see that a new Leon Kinvig hut is going in soon. That's good news. It always held good numbers on animals, was just a bit of a haul getting in there.

Yeah been there, just thought that pic was a little biv in the tussock / leatherwood like Toka

I love this one.
Written in charcoal on the inside of the Burn Creek hut door.

Anyone know D. Trafford????

Des Trafford.Still alive n kickin.He's not a stretch as it goes.Average build 5'9".Knocked knees and deaf as a post.But then all of them are

Originally Posted by bluebaiter222

Des Trafford.Still alive n kickin.He's not a stretch as it goes.Average build 5'9".Knocked knees and deaf as a post.But then all of them are

That is a very cool piece of NZ history right there.

Originally Posted by bluebaiter222

Des Trafford.Still alive n kickin.He's not a stretch as it goes.Average build 5'9".Knocked knees and deaf as a post.But then all of them are

So this isn't @SmokeyJason but the description is identical.

Yes, mate was telling me about a crew he knew that were operating in the North Atlantic doing rare species protection or some such. UK Govt dept said "you guys are doing a great job, its time to replace your helo. What new helo do you want?" They said " This Bolkoff, sent back to the factory and zero hour rebuilt." Says quite a bit from a crew that spent an awful lot of time flying over the North Atlantic sea in all weathers a long long way from any assistance.

One of those galv bins in the food drop would have been full of plain ( & probably weevilly) flour with several lbs of butter buried deep within.Would keep without going ransid right thru the heat of summer while sweating in the tin dog box.Plunge your hand into the flour and the temp would be surprisingly cool 6°