[G.A.P.S.]

News Item   G.A.P.S. internet homepage

It is apparent to any aircraft enthusiast with access to the "Internet" that this medium is a great boon to Museums and Restoration Groups judging from the number who maintain a home page. It should be just as beneficial to smaller groups like G.A.P.S. who are relatively new on the scene and have not yet built up a network of contacts. For our restoration effort to be maximised we need other like minded people to be aware of our presence so that we are all able to offer each other mutual support. A "home page" for GAPS offers an effective way of letting our presence be known. The ability to swiftly communicate with experienced people anywhere in the world, to confirm methods and procedures and to track down sources of parts and information, will serve to expedite some of the many problems which face such groups as ours when the main work of restoration gets under way. Also there are undoubtedly lots of "couch potatoes" out there who would like to know about us and our aims and who could probably be persuaded to become members and / or purchase our promotional items, now that the means is available.

At present the site is being shared by G.A.P.S, CADstuff and Thompson-Aero and is being hosted by Bryce Parker Consultants. The GAPS component of the "site" currently consists of 13 separate pages. It may well be that a few people may care to individually sponsor a page. Such contributions would go a long way towards covering the operating cost of the G.A.P.S. component and would be clearly acknowledged on the sponsored web page.

News Item   Progress on hangar

Saturday 8th August saw the laying of another two concrete floor bays with those responsible being on site until 7:00 p.m. finishing off their work in virtual darkness. Only one more bay to go!
On Sunday 9th several members were on hand to dismantle most of the old fence now that the council has realigned the airport boundary fence ("RAFF" the dog contributing his own inimitable brand of assistance). This makes a big difference to the hangar frontage, giving it a much more open and accessible looking appearance. The following weekend should see the removal of the remaining stretch of fence. Later on more earthmoving may be done to grade the slope between the road and the new gate onto the airfield.

The offer from Gisborne Developments Inc. to provide the labour to erect and decorate the internal rooms has yet to be taken up as our engineer advised us that part of the structural framework would have to be in steel to allow for the weight of storage racks on the first floor level. The plans have subsequently been changed so that the first floor will be an office and smoko room with no provision for storage of other than lightweight parts above floor level; drawings can now be made and work will proceed a.s.a.p.

Another item to be sorted out before the official opening of the hangar is the need for a bold sign saying "Aviation Museum" on the front of the building. One proposal is to obtain some slabs of 100mm polystyrene foam and hotwire cut each letter of the sign from this material. These would then be painted and individually attached to the hangar wall.
Does anybody know of a source for this material? It is sometimes used as packing inside containers.

At the end of August all the concrete has now been now laid and swept, and the surface has been sealed to minimise staining by oil and dirt. The next big job be started will be the fitting of cable trays up against the walls so that the wiring can begin.

We are pleased to welcome those visitors who continue turning up for a look round on Sunday mornings, even when it is raining.

This page was prepared by cadstuff@xtra.co.nz

RETURN