![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fantasyofflight.com\/collection\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Proud-New-Albatros-Owner-copy-21.jpg\" "\\"Proud")
<\/a>Proud new owner of an Albatros D-Va!<\/p><\/div>\n
I arrived about a week before two of my mechanics did and got a chance to first get checked out in their original prototype. \u00a0Since Gene had to do the initial test flights for the NZ CAA, I flew the prototype while Gene put some time on mine. \u00a0A great kid named Bevan Dewes was onsite with a new camera and took some great shots of us flying. \u00a0What an absolute blast!<\/p>\n
<\/a>On Patrol with Gene test-flying mine and me in the prototype!<\/p><\/div>\n
The main thing we did during our flights was tighten up the rigging on the prototype, which was way too loose for my tastes, and then proceeded to do the same to mine.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Bad Boys are in town!<\/p><\/div>\n
They did a magnificent job on the construction, which included reproducing the original instruments, radiator, seat belts, etc. \u00a0The original in-line six-cylinder Mercedes engine is a joy to hear and fly behind and with it’s low rpm, sounds like a John Deere tractor! \u00a0One of the more interesting things about operating it is that you have to twist a screw about every ten minutes on a grease canister mounted in the cockpit to keep coolant from leaking into the engine. \u00a0It has a rather interesting starting procedure where the mechanic has to climb up on the tire to grab a handle on the engine to lift the cam for starting, which then has to be lowered after<\/em> the prop is turning! \u00a0True to the original, there are no brakes and a tailskid. \u00a0The radiator gauge and cooling shutter handle are outside<\/em> the cockpit in the slipstream and only add to the whole experiencing of flying this wonderful piece of history!<\/p>\n \n Cockpit showing the external radiator gauge on strut and shutter control with wooden handle<\/p><\/div>\n Once the time was flown off by Gene, I got to start flying it. \u00a0Soon after, my guys showed up and we all got a chance to play with some of Peter’s other airplanes. \u00a0While Gene gave rides to my guys, I jumped in a number of other airplanes and joined in the fun.<\/p>\n Me flying an original Be-2c<\/p><\/div>\n Gene giving a ride to one of my guys in an original Bristol Fighter while I follow in a SE-5a<\/p><\/div>\n Not to be one not to partake in the rides, Gene let me play gunner in an Fe-2b they had built using an original Beardmore engine. \u00a0Oh my God . . . what a blast! \u00a0Literally! \u00a0I couldn’t help but not pose for some shots as we did some fly-bys!<\/p>\n Recognize the Gunner?<\/p><\/div>\n The Albatros passed it’s test-flights with flying colors and I was now comfortable in the airplane. \u00a0 We began the disassembly process to take it over to the south island by ferry for the Omaka Airshow. \u00a0After arriving, everyone pitched in to re-assemble it as preparations for the show began. \u00a0We took the time to visit the onsite museum, which Peter and graciously supplied with many of his airplanes for display.<\/p>\n Albatros on the Omaka show line with seven Fokker Triplanes!<\/p><\/div>\n My part of the two-day show was to dogfight with Gene in a rotary powered Sopwith Camel as seven Fokker Triplanes made fly-bys in different formations. \u00a0There were other WWI planes flying as well and it had to have been the biggest group of WWI airplanes flying at one time since WWI! \u00a0I later got to go up for a photo mission with a helicopter and photographer Gavin Conroy got some unbelievable shots over the countryside.<\/p>\n Phenomenal shot taken over the Omaka countryside!<\/p><\/div>\n Although Peter was deep in to filming The Hobbit<\/em>, he<\/em> took the time to give everyone a break so\u00a0he come over and\u00a0attend the show. \u00a0I got the chance to visit his VIP Chalet on the flightline where I got to hang out with Peter and some of the actors. \u00a0While in Wellington, I got to visit the Hobbit set twice, which was a fascinating experience. \u00a0It’s amazing to see how many people it takes to pull off a major motion picture production like that. \u00a0The second time, my guys were with me and we got to watch Gandalf (Ian McKellan) do his stuff.<\/p>\n With Peter and Gene at the Omaka Airshow!<\/p><\/div>\n After the show was over, I got to visit with Richard Taylor at the Weta Workshops. \u00a0Richard and Weta are the genius behind all the computer graphics that support Peter’s endeavors as well as other films. \u00a0They’ve won many Oscars and awards for their work that includes: Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Avatar, and Chronicles of Narnia to name a few! \u00a0Richard is working with me on several small projects for Fantasy of Flight and is a great guy.<\/p>\n With Richard at Weta Workshop<\/p><\/div>\n As if this wasn’t all cool enough, we also got to check up on the second airplane Gene and Peter’s guys are building for me . . . a WWI British Sopwith Snipe with an original Bentley rotary engine! \u00a0The Snipe was the airplane intended to replace the famous Sopwith Camel at the end of the War and was powered by the most powerful rotary ever built. \u00a0The Bentley engine has the distinction of being the first engine produced using cast aluminum cylinders with steel liners. \u00a0Gene’s guys overhauled both my Mercedes for the Albatros and my Bentley for the Snipe.<\/p>\n When I first arrived, the Snipe was just being covered.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>