QUESTIONS
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1
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Removable Nose Window: Can
anyone elaborate on the purpose of the removable nose window on AGO and
AGX? Presumably it was used for oblique photography? Undated photos of AGO
imply that the aeroplane may not have had this facility originally but was
later retrofitted. AGX appears to have retained the facility for its entire
service. |
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2
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Magnetometer Boom: Answered
see Hudson Magnetometer Boom |
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3
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AGP Camera Position: Photos would imply that AGP retained
its rear camera position for its entire service, the only Adastra Hudson
to retain this feature. Can anyone confirm? If so, was there a particular
reason? |
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4
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The “Hat”: Answered see Aerodist |
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5
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Pitot Heads: It would appear that all Hudsons with forward camera
positions had their pitot heads relocated topside. Presumably this was to
remove the pitot from the camera’s field of view? Later the pitots were
duplicated. My earliest photo of a Hudson with dual pitots is 1963. When
was the first dual pitot installation and what was the reason? |
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6
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Pitot Heads VH-AGP: Total confusion here! When Adastra
received the aeroplane from John Fairfax (as VH-SMO) it had two pitots below
the nose. Later it was photographed with 1 up and 1 down which Rick Geary
attributes to a DCA study of pitot position error as a result of the investigation
into the crash of AGE at Tennant Creek on 24SEP66. By 1970 it was photographed
with 2 up and 1 down. After the aeroplane was withdrawn from service at
Tamworth it was photographed with no pitots up or down! (This is not so
significant, given that the aeroplane had been WFS. See also AGJ below).
Can anyone throw any light on this? |
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7
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Pitot Heads VH-AGJ: AGJ was photographed at Mascot
after having been WFS and it had its topside pitots reduced from 2 to 1.
This aeroplane is currently on display at the RAF Museum at Hendon in the
U.K., basically still in its survey configuration but with just 1 pitot
topside. Can anyone throw any light on this? |
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8
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Undercarriage Leg Fairings: Early aircraft carried these fairings
but they were evidently soon removed. Presumably for ease of maintenance?
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9
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Tail Colours: The early Hudsons had their tail groups painted
grey. This was subsequently changed to white. Any particular reason for
this? Certainly it would not have assisted keeping them clean!
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10
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Green Camouflage?: It has been suggested that Adastra
chose that shade of green to hide fuel leaks on the wing. True or false?
Did that shade of green have a particular name?
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11
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Favourite Hudson: Did Adastra staff have their favourites
and why?
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12
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VH-SMO/AGP: This aeroplane never carried “Adastra Aerial Surveys”
titles until it was painted in the orange scheme. Is there any particular
reason for this? Its sister-ship SMM apparently carried Adastra titles
from the outset.
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