Restriction On Flying Of R.N.Z.A.F. Vampires

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28561, 15 April 1958, Page 12

Restriction On Flying Of R.N.Z.A.F. Vampires

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, April 14. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is believed to have restricted the flying of Vampires In recent weeks, three Vampires from Ohakea have gone into spins, and twice the occupants had to bail out. After the third such incident last week, a ban is believed to have been placed on the use of these jets in some manoeuvres that are normally carried out in training and in aerobatics. It is also believed that the restrictions have been imposed only until the findings are made known of an Air Force court of inquiry at present being held into one of the accidents. But it has been officially stated that the restrictions do not apply to the Vampire aerobatic team, which wili perform at Milson aerodrome on Saturday, when the official opening ceremony of the airport will be held. An Air Force spokesman in Wellington tonight refused to comment on the reported ban. He said* the whole matter was suo judice while a court was inquiring into the accident near Hunterville on April 3. No information about the aircraft could be released which might influence the court until its findings had been made known, he added. The Vampire jet aerobatic team

performed last Saturday al Oamaru at the North Otago Aero Club’s pageant. It was said that the Royal New Zealand Air Force was unwilling for the machines to appear there, the reason given by the Air Force spokesman being that as a general rule the aerobatic team made only one aero club appearance a year—at the annual pageant of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club. This year, the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) decided to waive this rule, said the spokesman. The reason given by the Minister was that residents of the South Island were disappointed because they had seen so little of the visiting aircraft which came to New Zealand for the Air Force Day celebrations at Ohakea on March 29. The spokesman added that the Vampires would perform as scheduled at the opening oi Milson on Saturday. On December 17 last both pilot and instructor had to bail out of a spinning Vampire over the Rangitikei river. On April 3. another Vampire crashed in the Upper Turakina valley after the pilot had had to bail out when the machine went into a spin. It is believed that this pilot got the plane out of its initial spin, but it immediately went into another spin. Last week another Vampire went into a spin, but the pilot regained control and landed safely.