WONZ 259 – Larry Olsen: Strikemaster 50th

Guest: Squadron Leader Larry Olsen AFC Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 12th of May 2022 Released:  15th of May 2022 Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes 17 seconds Today as this episode is released it is exactly 50 years to the day since the first flight of the first Royal New Zealand Air Force BAC167 Strikemaster Mk. 88, NZ6361. It took off from Warton Aerodrome, at Preston in Lancashire, UK, on its test flight on the 15th of May 1972. It had been built to order by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) following an order placed in 1970 by the New Zealand government for ten new Strikemaster. An order for a further six would follow a couple of years later. Given the anniversary and the recent episodes involving the Strikemaster, I thought it would be good to look back at how this jet type ended up being chosen as the new jet trainer for the RNZAF. In this episode we hear from the pilot in charge of undertaking the evaluation process and who made the recommendation for it to be selected for purchase, Squadron Leader Larry Olsen. As well as Larry’s memories of the Strikemaster evaluation, where its only competitor in the process was the Australian-built, Italian-designed Aermacchi MB326, he also talks about his interesting career in both the RNZAF and the airline industry. In the course of his Air Force career various postings saw Larry flying the English Electric Canberra, the de Havilland Vampire, the BAC Strikemaster, the North American Harvard, and the de Havilland Devon among other types. He also did an exchange posting to the RAAF where he instructed on the Aermacchi MB326. Larry also flew in and led both the No. 75 Squadron Vampire jet team and the Red Checkers Harvard display team. He talks about these and various incidents along the way. On leaving the Air Force, Larry worked for numerous commercial aviation companies, including flying for Royal Brunei, and Qantas. He gives an overview of his civil career which lasted till he was 70. Squadron Leader Larry Olsen AFC (retired). Photo Dave Homewood. Portrait of Squadron Leader Larry Alexander Olsen AFC. RNZAF Base Ohakea. 05/05/1976. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo OhG4148-76. Strikemasters on the production line at British Aircraft Corporation, England. XW434 (back) and G27-197 – later NZ6361 (front). Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo MUS140127. Air to air view of two No. 14 Squadron Strikemasters, NZ6361 and NZ6365 (obscured), in formation during Exercise Falcons Roost 15 at Hokitika airport. 23/04/1982. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo OhAC130s-15. Air to air view of two No. 14 Squadron Strikemasters in formation. NZ6375 (front) and NZ6371 (back). 06/11/1989. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo OhG2613-89. A photo in Larry’s scrapbook from when he led the Red Checkers display team. Left to right are Doug Lloyd, John Hosie, Larry Olsen, Graeme Goldsmith and John Lanham. Damage to the three Harvards inflicted during the mid-air collision. A photo on Larry’s office wall of the RNZAF Vampire jet team he was part of during the opening of Hamilton Airport on the26th of March 1966. He had learned to fly at the same airport in the late 1950’s. The page from Larry’s flying logbook in July 1970 where he evaluated the Strikemaster in Singapore and then an Aermacchi a few days later. Above and below: Royal Australian Air Force Aermacchi MB326 A7-094, in which Larry made a wheels up landing. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud