Rare 1950s Aerial Topdressing

Dive into the past with us as we explore a unique, never before seen piece of aviation and agricultural history. We're taking you back to the 1950s with original 8mm footage showcasing aerial topdressing in action, generously provided by Hughan McKay and originally filmed by the visionary Norm Black.
As an ag pilot myself, I appreciate the incredible skill and bravery it took to navigate the skies in those early years of agricultural aviation. From the pilot's seat, we'll unravel the story behind these clips and share insights into the techniques and machinery used over 70 years ago.
Please stay tuned for four additional releases where you can experience the raw, unedited footage - no commentary, no overlays, just pure history in motion. These will be posted at a later date and will truly transport you back in time.
If you have old footage or photos that shine a light on the history of topdressing or agricultural aviation, I would be thrilled to feature them on my channel. Videos are preferred, but all content is welcome. Together, we can preserve and share this fascinating facet of our past.
Additionally, if you have any background information or stories associated with the clips presented in this video, please get in touch. Your knowledge and experiences add immeasurable value to these historical glimpses.
Let's embark on this journey into the past together. Enjoy the flight!

[@aue82a]

good stuff. I restored an Air Contracts Tiger which crashed in 1957. ZK-AUE. Always on the hunt for any history from those days.

[@timrussell9869]

When I was a kid in the early 60s in Ruatoria, I remember a bunch of C 180s flying super off a paddock at the back of the catholic Church. One of them belonged to Cookson Air Spread, flown by Bill Cookson. They were all loaded by hand, with bags of super off the back of a truck. I bought that 180 in 1990 and used it for skydiving ops till 1999, ZK CAS. I also remember Don Cameron flying a CAC Ceres doing topdressing on the coast for many years. A big old noisy machine, thundering down from the hills towards the airstrip after dumping a load on the hills above the town.

[@bryanholden6855]

My father was one of those. Gone now of course. He flew the Tigers in and around Te Kuiti and later the Fletchers. I believe it was with Robertsons at the time. When they were demobbed from the Air Force they were given the option of going into ag flying or, if you wanted to take a chance, joining the fledgling airline known as TEAL. They would be retrained for the flying boats. Most didn't see a future flying Sunderlands so went into ag. What a missed opportunity!

[@markcrisp8279]

Awesome Jimbo.

[@maxsaunders9380]

This takes me back 70 years. I grew up on a farm in Waikite Valley (south of Rotorua ) and James Aviation Tigers did the topdressing there in the fifties.. One day in about 1956 or '57 the older Waikite Valley Primary school children including me were allowed to walk to a neighbouring farm to see a crashed Tiger Moth. The pilot had not been hurt but we were promised we would be if anybody removed so much as a splinter of wood from the site. Local farmers helped to load the super and it was pretty lumpy stuff. It was never a good idea to stand under the current flight path and watch puffs of dust from the lumps of super as they hit the ground, advancing rapidly towards you. Great sights and memories! Thanks for adding this to your channel.

[@JimboBurgess]

You grew up in a great time, as far as the industry is concerned! Thanks for sharing your story!

[@monostripezebras]

Amazing footage.. the broken gear landing was amazing.

[@adrianwilliams763]

Went for a fly today in Darren Luff’s (NZWU) Tiger ZK-BEF. Was a blast!! Cruises around at steady 85mph. Would have been a nightmare topdressing with these things back in the day I imagine. Total respect for the pilots lugging super around NZ back country.

[@JimboBurgess]

Nice one. Beautiful machines 👍

[@davechapman7735]

a great doco ,lots of history there and great for it to be preserved. cheers for showing us. best wishes CHCH!

[@lauriejones3198]

Thanks so much for this footage. My dad loaded Tigers for a little while before he married. He had complete faith in the ex-ww2 pilots, but hated flying thereafter. He would sometimes ferry in the hopper. I flew Tigers full-time on passenger/aero ops for several years and loved the Tiger. As an ag pilot myself, I absolutely take my hat off to everyone involved in ag flying from those early days. I remember a 110 kg passenger was a challenge in a Tiger. Many thanks. Cheers

[@JimboBurgess]

Thanks, I appreciate your kind words. Those pioneering folk certainly did it hard!

[@bryanbadger6841]

G'day mate. I believe those feriliser bags weighed 1cwt. Or one hundred weight. Or 112lbs. Or just over 50kg. According to Google. About the same as grain bags here in Nz. No Good going home to mum and complaining about how hard the work was. It was what it was. Thanks for sharing Jimbo. Take care and atb from somewhere in inland Canterbury.

[@JimboBurgess]

They look like big'ns. Must have been some real hard yakka. Cheers

[@nigelmarx3578]

Yep, that's what I came here to say.

[@penelopepinedakleinjan815]

i have 20 min of 8 mm flim of the Auster Ag flying 1965 till 1970 on our farm whitemans valley Upper hut. need to preserve these films please

[@JimboBurgess]

Awesome! Are you able to send me an email: [e-mail] cheers 😎

[@grantmiller6570]

I think people these days forget about these pioneers of [many] industries that started it all, doing the hard yards, sometimes with their lives I'm sure, particularly in the aero industry like this which have been pretty dangerous back in the day, and in my view that is a pity, they don't get the credit they deserve in many cases.

[@JimboBurgess]

I agree. Thanks for your message 👍

[@drumsandstix128]

Great to see that, thanks for sharing it!

[@ryanharris3420]

Wow! Great video, really insightful

[@Rahhhhhnman]

Brilliant

[@user-lp1lo3iu6p]

I loaded for an Auster on the family farm in Central Otago around 1955. The Auster had the same engine as the Tiger Moth. The super phosphate bags each held 187lb and three were a load. As we had to unstitch each bag as we went it was quite hard work Ross

[@JimboBurgess]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing 😎

[@magneticman2003]

Awesome footage mate, thanks for sharing;-)

[@yzfplt]

That’s really cool to see 🤙

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Great footage, thank you for posting. You are right about the none steering, just a iron tail skid, no brakes either!!! I have flown the Tiger Moth here in the U.K. and the Gypsy Major would not have an abundance of power in that role. Nice to see the Fordson E27N on the loader tractor, and the old Bedford Trucks

[@JimboBurgess]

Thanks for the info. These chaps did a valiant job hauling the fert up those big hills! Cheers

[@andrewd4890]

Great footage, I guess it was film rather than video tape, in the 50s. And any degradation of the film through specs of dust is a one way process. Thanks for posting it.

[@JimboBurgess]

Yes it was 8mm film, each reel was about 4mins long 🤠

[@yecart1014]

I have clyde dam and big bay

[@joemccutcheon-hv7bo]

That’s cool

[@itchy108]

My great grandfather was most likely there, he was a veteran of both world wars and the president of the Wairarapa aero club around that time. I've seen photos of him with the Bristol freighter on Hood aerodrome.

[@JimboBurgess]

Wow that's very cool! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@PiefacePete46]

Cracker video thanks Jimbo... it brought younger days to mind... In 1937 my uncle, Errol Colvin, died when he crashed the Otago Aero Club's Gypsy Moth on the Taieri plain. In 1940 my uncle Eric named his son Errol in his brother's memory. In 1966 Errol (junior) died when the Cessna 180 topdresser he was flying crashed on takeoff from a farm airstrip at Tokanui (Southland NZ). The aircraft snagged an old fencewire. I believe Errol had completed his training, and was working as a loader-driver, pending signoff of minor corrective eye surgery. He was permitted to fly ferry ops as second pilot. The PiC was injured, but survived. (Sorry, I don't have more detail on him.) Hope this is not too morbid to be an interesting anecdote.

[@JimboBurgess]

That was the sad reality of those days. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@PiefacePete46]

@@JimboBurgess : Sure was... I did not know any of the three I mentioned; the irony of the situation was repeated from time to time within the family.

[@yecart1014]

Franz josef features alot on my usb

[@yecart1014]

Leo lemuel white???

[@adrianwilliams763]

Knew Fred Myers post his flying days. He worked for Air Services in NZMS before they were bought out by Super Air.

[@JimboBurgess]

Bet he had some stories to tell!

[@adrianwilliams763]

@@JimboBurgess plenty. Like the day there was little work and they challenged each other to dead stick the Tiger into the hanger and end up with the nose pointing out the door. Fred could do it without damaging anything. Legend.

[@JimboBurgess]

Haha if only cameras were cheaper and readily available back then!

[@yecart1014]

My grandfather was bill hewett from south island i have a usb stick packed with flying in 50s.

[@JimboBurgess]

Awesome, that'll be some real history there! Do you have the negatives still? Would you mind sending me an email [e-mail]

[@yecart1014]

I think my usb is leo lemuel whites but im told my grandads kgb franz josef please tell me im wrong ​@JimboBurgess

[@yecart1014]

Why would james duff hewett fly same route my gri thought bill hewett but charles hewett non related in myintell. James duff related to bill/ william upston hewett. So strange my great Nana a white but not related to whites aviation so my dad says. Fiordland wapiti study another cup of t

[@mariebennett5739]

1 cwt bags equals 112 lbs

[@JimboBurgess]

Cheers 😎

[@yecart1014]

Tiger moth lighter than cesna