Grumman Avenger arrives at Classic Flyers

Last Thursday,Classic Flyers received a former WW2  ex RNZAF Grumman Avenger NZ2505 for a long term restoration project.

The Avenger NZ2505 has been on long term loan to GAPS and society members have been working on preventing further deterioration of the plane while their resources have been tied up by the construction of a permanent display hall. With the construction of the facility nearing completion it will now be possible to restore the plane to airworthy condition.However due to lack of volunteers at Gisbourne,the aircraft was transported to Tauranga to be brought back to life once again.

Seen here outside the Classic Flyers Hangar for all to see.

NZ2505 was the first RNZAF Avenger to arrive at the air force’s base in Gisborne in 1943, where it operated as part of the RNZAF 30 squadron’s training wing while crews prepared for operations in the Pacific.The plane was surplussed by the RNZAF and sold to Waitomo Aviation in 1959 and went to a playground at Opunake Beach in 1964. It departed in 1972 to the Silverstream Transport Museum before being purchased by the RNZAF Museum in Wigram in 1987, who "robbed" it as a source of parts for their restoration of NZ2504. The Museum shipped the plane to GAPS in October of 1999 and sat there for many years before arriving here at Tauranga.