Please note that title does not include the word “remastered” despite the year. I will admit I was actually looking for photos I could remaster when I stumbled across a bunch I took at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MoTaT) in Auckland, while I was up there for the Whenuapai Open Day.
I was somewhat surprised to discover none had made it onto Flickr. Perhaps my software of the day wasn’t much cop at bringing up the quite dark photos, but certainly once I opened them in DxO PhotoLab 4 the automatic Smart Lighting made them pretty decent and all were nice and sharp. So here they are!
I’ve included just three here. There are a total of 14 on Flickr.
I chose this shot not because of the De Havilland Vampire that is the primary subject but because it gives a sense of just how many aircraft are packed into the Sir Keith Park Collection hangar. I can pick out at least nine!
Tucked away in one corner is the nose of Handley Page Hastings C.3, NZ5801. Of a total 151 production examples built, all but four were operated by the UK armed forces. This nose section, along with engines, props, and undercarriage, is all that remains of the four RNZAF examples. (Side note: There are only 4 remaining complete airframes and I’ve also photographed one of those.)
Last up is one of several shots of Short Solent, ZK-AMO, formerly operated by Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), the forerunner of Air New Zealand. This is one of the most interesting exhibits in the museum, partly because it is one of only two preserved aircraft in the world, but mostly because it has been expertly restored including a lot of the interior, which has been ‘dressed’ as if in service. Not to mention, this chap seeking to fetch the mooring rope for docking.
You can check out the rest of the photos (including an interior shot of ZK-AMO) over on Flickr.
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