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HURRICANE PROUDLY FLYS OVER THAMES

Hurricane Memorial Completed A bit close to the wire, but we’ve done it! The Hurricane replica decorated as Sir Keith Park's aircraft has been hoisted into place at the Thames airfield which bears his name. Thanks to Geoff and Warren and all those individuals and businesses that helped. The unveiling of the monument is at 8.30 AM on Sunday 13th September 2020 at the Thames Airfield. See you there !! See the website for details....

SEPTEMBER PROGRESS REPORT

Hurricane Support Trusses Erected! The three trusses to support the Hurricane are now up!! Next concrete foundation work, painting of the trusses and placing the Hurricane on its destined pedestal. The photo above shows the third truss being lifted into position late this morning. Sighs of relief all round! I can assure you that this is right to the wire . . . . !! This has not been without some (severe!) challenges, but we will get there thanks to the extraordinary efforts of a dedicated team....

AUGUST PROGRESS REPORT

At last – we have made a start on site this week !! The stump of the old English Plane Tree has been removed and the foundation piles have been installed ready to accept the supporting, laminated timber trusses, which is likely to happen week  beginning 17th August. After that will be some concrete work to tie the three main timber piles together in advance of the Hurricane being added. The two pipe stands alongside the fence will connect through cables to the tail of the Hurricane to pr...

AUGUST PROGRESS REPORT 2

Hurricane Replica Arrives in Thames! The Hurricane has arrived in Thames and was de-vanned at Toyota Plant on Monday 17th August. The fuselage was a very tight fit in the container but expertise by Rodney Smythe (TV Hiabs) and Allan Benson and his Toyota Team successfully came to the fore. The Hurricane will remain in the Toyota yard for a short while to enable Kopu Engineering to finalise the mounting brackets linking the Hurricane with the trusses. Meantime, the trusses are in Geoff's shed h...

SUPPORT TRUSSES FOR HURRICANE DELIVERED

The Glulam trusses provided by A&G Price have been delivered and are in storage until the construction and assembly of the memorial in August. This is expected to begin soon to be ready for the arrival of the Hurricane replica, confirmed to be arriving at Tauranga on August 9th. Approvals for the construction of the memorial are being processed by TCDC after determining which type of approvals were required. Thanks again to our supporters for enabling this to happen. It is coming together!...

JULY THANKS TO PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

A grateful thanks to the following companies, organisations and individuals who have made it possible for our memorial to be built in time for the commemoration, or have helped with the arrival, transport or erection of the replica Hurricane. Altogether their generosity totals $38,835.00 in cash or like donations of services, materials or time. Please support them with your custom for generously supporting us. And thanks to you, if you have donated personally....

JUNE PROGRESS REPORT AND FUNDING REQUEST

Our Memorial project is on track – but we need more ... !! About $1,000 per day for the next 2 months. We need your support now - please ... !!!Update Key points: Replica Hurricane is now fully paid for and at the Port of Felixstowe, UK for shipment 16th June Shipping and Insurance are now funded through to New Zealand Arrival Port of Tauranga 18th August – but we need funds to pay GST and port clearance charges: also for engineering and erection costs A&G Price has generously offered to f...

SITE AT THAMES AIRFIELD PREPARED FOR MEMORIAL

Thames Coromandel District Council (TCDC) has prepared the site for the memorial at Thames Airfield. Just needs stump grinding then it is ready to prepare the foundations for the memorial....

GB REPLICAS COMPLETE HURRICANE REPLICA

GB Replicas has completed the replica Hurricane. GB Replicas has indicated that with the order deposit and last week’s payment of a Further 40%, ownership is now vested with Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield Inc., subject of course to payment of the balance. With a small contingency allowance we require about $NZ65k just to get the Hurricane to New Zealand....

PRODUCTION OF REPLICA HURRICANE UNDERWAY

A replica Hurricane fighter in Sir Keith’s Battle of Britain WW2 battle colours is on order in the UK with GB Replicas, and the attached photos show progress to date. The majority of key components have been made and the unit will go to the paint shop at the end of March. Details of the battle colour scheme, identification (OK-1) and serial number (P3854) currently under discussion. Design for the foundations and supporting structure of the memorial is nearing completion, this is being overs...