Zac and Lana's latest restoration

[K5054NZ]

The following are excerpts from Classic Wings magazine. They will tell you the whole story better than I can.

FOR SALE: Gloster Ghost Mk.IV (1943), ex training aid, missing some cockpit instruments, straight airframe with little corrosion. Not much work to make it airworthy, some remedial work already done. Contact Paul Wakeling  
(Classic Marketplace, this ran in several issues from 49 onwards)

GHOSTLY NEWCOMER TO OMAKA
An example of the pioneering Gloster Ghost ground-attack jet is set to make its home at historic Omaka Aerodrome in New Zealand's South island after being purchased by prominent collectors Zac and Lana Yates. The couple bought the ex-instructional airframe through Classic Aircraft Sales, and the aircraft is due to arrive via container ship as this issue goes to print. A thorough restoration to airworthiness will follow, a time frame for which has not been set by the energetic young pair. The first jet-powered aircraft to see active military service, the Ghost came into RAF service in mid-1941 and was on the front line until its replacement by the Hawker Cyclone in 1946. Several Ghosts remain extant today in museums, and a single airworthy example exists on the UK civil register.
(News section, issue 41)

GLOSTER GHOST UPDATE

Steady progress is being made on the restoration to airworthiness of Zac and Lana Yates' Gloster Ghost at Omaka Aerodrome, New Zealand. As reported earlier this year in Classic Wings, the early jet was purchased from a UK collector and shipped downunder in time to appear on "Restoration Row" at the recent Classic Fighters airshow (see page 18) at the historic airfield. Due to an absence of logbooks with the aircraft when purchased its service history remains a mystery, but research is well underway to discover the aircraft's identity. Meanwhile, a search is underway to track down missing flight instruments, including the RPM gauge, bank indicator and altimeter, as well as a set of main undercarriage doors. If you can help with parts of any description please get in touch via the Classic Wings offices.
(News Section, issue 50)

Ghost Update #5
In her research into the identity of our Ghost, Lana has discovered airframe logbooks that match up with several serial numbers on our airframe. As it happens, our aircraft is none other than EB593, the Ghost Mk.IV flown by legendary Kiwi pilot Squadron Leader Henry Rawiri, author of the bestselling book Toa Of The Air: Memoirs Of A Ghost Rider. '93 was the aircraft behind Sq.Ldr. Rawiri in the famous picture of him taken after being awarded the DFC in 1944. We had been thinking about painting our Ghost as a North Africa-based machine, but in light of Lana's amazing discovery this has obviously changed! We'll keep you posted on any further developments.
Henry Rawiri DFC and wife Rena pictured at home in 1953
(short update in the Marlborough Warbirds Association's newsletter "CONTACT" in November 2005)

RETURN OF RAWIRI'S GHOST
Restoration work on the external airframe of Gloster Ghost EB593 is now complete, with only systems installation remaining. The historic attack jet, now known to be the former mount of Maori fighter pilot Squadron Leader Henry Rawiri (author of the best-selling autobiography Toa Of The Air, is on display at the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka Aerodrome, where the ongoing restoration is causing much interest among museum visitors. Research into the colour scheme to be worn by the aircraft is nearing completion, and '593 is checked into the paint shop as this issue goes to print. We hope to bring you a fuller update and pictures of the Ghost's new clothes next issue.
(News section, issue 55)

[K5054NZ]

GHOSTLY VISIONS

Paintwork on the Gloster Ghost EE563 is now almost complete, with only roundels and squadron markings yet to be applied. The Omaka, NZ-based restoration project owned by local couple Zac and Lana Yates has made major progress since arriving in New Zealand early last year, and is set to take to the air in January of next year. In anticipation of this the aircraft was disassembled and transported by road to nearby RNZAF Woodbourne, whose sealed runways will be home for the pioneer jet.
The aircraft, former mount of famed Maori pilot Henry Rawiri DFC, has had the registration ZK-HRG (Henry Rawiri's Ghost) reserved for it, pending the first post-restoration flight. But before then there are still a few components needed to complete the aircraft, and if you can help please get in touch via our offices or the Classic Marketplace on page 59.
(News, issue 59)

Ghost Update #12
Rawiri's Ghost is almost there! Over the weekend of December 23/24 we put some serious time into applying the last markings on EE563, including Henry's signature Canterbury-checked nose intake lip and the similar-coloured auxiliary fins on the tail. We're expecting engine runs to take place soon after Christmas (Monday and Tuesday will be our longest break away from the project!), and we're hoping for a first flight on about January 19. Til then, we'll leave you with one final "quiet" pic!

[K5054NZ]

THE GHOST FLIES AGAIN!
Just under two years of solid restoration work came to fruition at RNZAF Woodbourne as Gloster Ghost ZK-HRG took to the air on January 19. Flown by co-owner and restorer Zac Yates, the former ground-attack aircraft's first flight was witnessed by her wartime pilot, Sqn.Ldr. Henry Rawiri DFC and Bar. Sqn.Ldr. Rawiri's autobiography Toa Of The Air, concerning not only his wartime exploits with 453 and 360 Squadrons RAF but also dealing with the prejudice which faced him throughout his flying career, became an instant bestseller upon its publication in 1962, and is to be made into a blockbuster film by Peter Jackson (following production on The Dam Busters).
Zac and wife Lana imported the aircraft from the UK in February of 2004, and immediately set to work returning it to an airworthy condition. EE563, complete with its original Power Jets engine, is now the second Ghost to be operated as a warbird (the other being FG239/G-GOST at Duxford with TFC) and the first to be seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
The aircraft, a Mk.III, is set to make its airshow debut at the Classic Fighters Marlborough airshow at nearby Omaka Aerodrome over the weekend of April 6-8. See you there!

(News section, issue 60)

[K5054NZ]

Following the highly successful Classic Fighters Marlborough 2007 airshow, world-renowned photographer Phil Makanna (in Mustang cameraship ZK-TAF) took the following shots against the Marlborough countryside. Phil has told me that the aircraft is set to be in the Ghosts - A Time Remembered 2008 calendar! An honour? I think so!






So, there you have it - the complete restoration story of Ghost Mk.III EE563/ZK-HRG. Lana's been looking very hard for wartime images of EE563 and Sqn.Ldr Rawiri, and we're hoping a visit to the national archives in Wellington will aid in this greatly. I look forward to reading all your comments!

[Rafael]

Masterfully built and painted. Ingeniously fotographed.

My hat is off to you, Lana and Zac!!!!

Rafa

[Shasper]

DAAAAAAM!


Shas B)

[Sisko]

Very nice Zac!!!!!!!  

[Brian da Basher]

Yowsa Zac that turned out awesome!!!! I am really really impressed with your paintwork, especially the red and black around the intake. If my eyes don't decieve me, I sense a masterful job of lettering on the codes too. Your backstory is icing on the cake!

You should send this one over to MM or ARC. I also like your cool "in-flight" shots, too!

Brian da Basher

[John Howling Mouse]

That's one sweet build.      
Love the motion-blurred pics, too!

[cthulhu77]

Convincing shots !  Keep up, more, more, more !!!

[NARSES2]

Now thats a really good bit of work Zac but those "flying" shots make me wonder what it would look like wth swept wings ? Looks like a baby Sabre or Thunder Thingy to me in the one without the giant hand  

Chris

[The Rat]

Nice bit of work there Zac! Too bad the enemy forces had developed giant hands that snatched aircraft right out of the sky.  

[Chap]

Zac, wonderful model! Such an indepth and believable backstory is what makes people second guess that it is a whif. Fantastic!!!

~Steve  

[ysi_maniac]

Too bad the enemy forces had developed giant hands that snatched aircraft right out of the sky.

Very good    

BTW: Nice photos      

[lancer]

Oh that is very sweet, absolutely gorgeous. The air to air shots are very good.