This is a story of one man's dream, and that wonderful old lady of the skies...THE VALIANT BRISTOL FREIGHTER. JOHN BLACK ex commercial pilot, of HAMILTON , NEW ZEALAND, is a very good friend of JAMES LOBET and myself.........JOHN BLACK , above sitting by his pride and joy, the fully restored BRISTOL FREIGHTER with friends , was the a previous owner of the WAIHI BEACH AIRPORT, and JOHN'S dream was the rescue and restoration of BRISTOL FREIGHTER NO EX NZ 5906 ........... and the restoration of this lovely old plane was turning it into a restaurant. After a lot of sweat and hard work, this dream was finally realized and the BRISTOL FREIGHTER RESTAURANT at WAIHI BEACH NEW ZEALAND, became a very popular stopping place for holiday makers at WAIHI BEACH, and many WORLD WIDE TRAVELLERS as the BRISTOL FREIGHTER GUEST BOOK ascertained and many an ex RAF personal , and war vet had a tear in the eye at the sight of this most beautifully and lovingly restored old beauty. The service and cuisine was A1, the waitresses being dressed in the AIRFORCE UNIFORMS OF THE ERA....photos of the BRISTOL FREIGHTER in all the stages of her rescue and restoration, were displayed in the main body of the plane along with other relevant wartime photos...JOHN BLACK would play a tape for the BRISTOL FREIGHTER enthusiasts, of the deep throated roar of the BRISTOL in full power going over VIETNAM, on her bombing runs, a little different pace from her now sedate role on the ground..JOHN BLACK is a flier in every true sense of the word, AND HOST EXTRAORDINAIRE ....his whole world then and is his love of planes and flying, and many a good tale was spun by JOHN and his flying mates, over a jolly good meal and excellent coffee or sometimes something quite stronger! John kindly gave me heaps of photos of the restoration which I will endeavour to put online in time for you, have a new computer so have to get them off the old one..... |
This is a story of one man's dream, and that wonderful old lady of the skies...THE VALIANT BRISTOL FREIGHTER. JOHN BLACK ex commercial pilot, of HAMILTON , NEW ZEALAND, is a very good friend of JAMES LOBET and myself.........JOHN BLACK , above sitting by his pride and joy, the fully restored BRISTOL FREIGHTER with friends , was the a previous owner of the WAIHI BEACH AIRPORT, and JOHN'S dream was the rescue and restoration of BRISTOL FREIGHTER NO EX NZ 5906 ........... and the restoration of this lovely old plane was turning it into a restaurant. After a lot of sweat and hard work, this dream was finally realized and the BRISTOL FREIGHTER RESTAURANT at WAIHI BEACH NEW ZEALAND, became a very popular stopping place for holiday makers at WAIHI BEACH, and many WORLD WIDE TRAVELLERS as the BRISTOL FREIGHTER GUEST BOOK ascertained and many an ex RAF personal , and war vet had a tear in the eye at the sight of this most beautifully and lovingly restored old beauty. The service and cuisine was A1, the waitresses being dressed in the AIRFORCE UNIFORMS OF THE ERA....photos of the BRISTOL FREIGHTER in all the stages of her rescue and restoration, were displayed in the main body of the plane along with other relevant wartime photos...JOHN BLACK would play a tape for the BRISTOL FREIGHTER enthusiasts, of the deep throated roar of the BRISTOL in full power going over VIETNAM, on her bombing runs, a little different pace from her now sedate role on the ground..JOHN BLACK is a flier in every true sense of the word, AND HOST EXTRAORDINAIRE ....his whole world then and is his love of planes and flying, and many a good tale was spun by JOHN and his flying mates, over a jolly good meal and excellent coffee or sometimes something quite stronger! John kindly gave me heaps of photos of the restoration which I will endeavour to put online in time for you, have a new computer so have to get them off the old one..... |
ANOTHER SHOT OF THE RESTORED BRISTOL ( and yours truly) WHEN THE BRISTOL WAS A THRIVING RESTAURANT AT THE WAIHI BEACH AIRPORT, WAIHI BEACH , NEW ZEALAND. MANY PASSER BYS COULD NOT BELIEVE THEIR EYES WHEN THEY SAW THIS MAGNIFIENCT AIRPLANE AT THE AIRPORT, AND IN SUCH GOOD CONDITION AFTER JOHN BLACKS HARD AND DEDICATED WORK, SHE WAS ONE OF VERY FEW STILL INTACT, AND THIS GRAND OLD LADY HAD HER ENGINES ( GOOD CONDITION) PLUS LOGBOOK AS WELL, A PITY SHE WAS NEVER PURCHASED BY A MUSEUM OR SOMEONE WHO COULD HAVE GOT HER FLYING AGAIN, OR AT LEAST IN AN AVIATION ENVIRONMENT........she is now accomadotion round WAITOMO WAY.... |
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The BRISTOL FREIGHTER has had a new lease of life, being purchased by, BARRY WOODS................ and turned into novel and exciting accommodation, for tourists....at WOODLYN PARK.....WAITOMO NEW ZEALAND. Personally I would have loved to seen the BRISTOL in an aviation environment.........t |
THIS IS A NEW ZEALAND SITE. |
MANY MORE PHOTOS OF THIS LOVELY OLD PLANE .... |
This page was last updated on: November 9, 2007
