New Zealand 1993

[avenger2504]

Buying beer Errol? Slumming it are we ha ha.
Baz

The beer I drink isn't slumming it! Also, my partner drinks hardly any wine, and I don't always want to drink half a bottle of wine in an evening.

Apart from at Classic Fighters Airshows...........

[RMAllnutt]

I have been told Richard that the plan is to paint the Avenger into the colours of one crewed by New Zealanders in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, and it will be displayed alongside the Swordfish replica in the Fleet Air Arm Museum of New Zealand section of the MOTAT complex. I think their association is putting funds towards the restoration.

In one way being an important aircraft in its own right in the deveopment of topdressing it's a pity it won't be in its postwar RNZAF markings. But I am much more supportive of it going into FAA colours. NZ had over 1200 aircrew members in the FAA and they made up over a quarter of all the aircrew in the British Pacific Fleet, and of course were in many other fleets in the RN too, so it's very important they are properly remembered.

We have one other Avenger on public display in No. 31 Squadron RNZAF colours, at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram, Christchurch. There is another under slow restoration at Gisborne which will go into No. 30 Squadron RNZAF colours. So it is nice to think this one will be a bit different.

Thanks Dave... that's really good news. I must admit that I loved her in the colors she last wore in service, but FAA markings are very suitable, and there aren't too many Avengers out there representing that aspect of their service. She is a very rare bird too, being a Grumman-built example.

Cheers,
Richard