Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Mirage Brochures and Early Photos

Continuing to backfill the microlight types that I previously didn't have brochures on.  The second type of microlight to be registered here was the Ultraflight Mirage of which there were a remarkable 33 registered in 1982!  Here are some brochures on the Mirage from Russell Brodie, plus a couple of photos of very early Mirages at Te Kowhai:

Double click in the image to enlarge it to read it better.  And here are the photos:

Brian Farrell from the Department of Civil Aviation and Ken Asplin.   Brian was a good friend to the early microlight movement.  I reckon this must have been early 1982 and the Mirage may have been ZK-KJA which was registered on 28/12/81.

Max Clear, presumably with his Mirage ZK-ERZ which was registered on 28/1/82.

And I would guess that the third Mirage in the photo (the one in the middle) might have been Trevor Barrett's ZK-ESQ which was also registered on 28/1/82.

Ozzie BBJ passing through

 Just starting up and taxiing out today at Christchurch International Airport for a run to Dunedin and back was the Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737-8 Max BBJ A61-001 c/n 67959.

I believe it was allocated three US registrations before its delivery to Australia - which occurred on 12-07-2024. The last of these being N786BJ.

Below - taxiing past the Novatel.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Pterodactyl Ascender Brochures

When I started this series on Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand back in July 2025, I did not have access to the early microlight brochures that Russell Brodie had collected over the years.  But now Russell has sent some more brochures and here are the ones for the Pterodactyl Ascender which was the first type of microlight to be registered here:  (As always you can click the images twice to enlarge them and read them more easily)

Thanks very much for the brochures Russell.

Two BK117's at Wellington on Saturday

 Two BK117's were captured at Wellington Airport on Saturday the 10th by Allister Jenks.

The Kawasaki BK117 B-2 ZK-IIX c/n 1099 is of late 1994 vintage and was listed in Japan as JA6379 until it arrived in New Zealand to became ZK-HCX3 in May of 2016 with Oceania Aviation at Ardmore. 

After some TLC it went off-shore to New Guinea to become P2-HND in May of 2017 before returning to Oceania in about July of 2017. 

It then spent about eighteen months with Gisborne Helicopters before moving to Search and Rescue Services Ltd in late June of 2020.

As you can see it is currently operated as the Grassroots Trust EMS machine covering the Manawatu and Whanganui region.

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The second BK117 is an Airbus MBB BK117 D-2 model, c/n 20271, initially test flown in Germany as D-HADM12 before delivery to Helicopters Otago Ltd as ZK-IDH in early July 2019.

It was re-registered to ZK-IXD on 16-10-2023 and joined Search and Rescue Services in late November 2023 as the Greenlea Resue helicopter covering the Central North Island area.

Cameron Aviation's AT 502B Air Tractor ZK-LUC/2

Warwick Hamilton was on the airstrip yesterday and captured Cameron Aviation's newly registered AT 502B Air Tractor ZK-LUC2 in action:

ZK-LUC2 (c/n 502B-3081) was registered on 6/10/26 to Lindsey Cameron of Rotorua, and is ex VH-MFB5.

The first ZK-LUC was a Glaser-Dirks DG 400 self launching glider that was registered in November 1982 and re-registered as ZK-GUC in November 1990.  It was cancelled in September 1995, going back the reverse direction to the Air Tractor, as exported to Australia where it became VH-GMD.

Cessna 182E Skylane ZK-WKK

Visiting Pauanui airfield today from Ardmore was Cessna 182E Skylane ZK-WKK which has been repainted in a smart new paint scheme.   Being a 1962 model this was imported from Australia back in 1999.

 

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Phantoms

The Phantom was the second design from Ultralight Flight of Windsor, Connecticut, following on from their very successful Mirage.  It was designed by John Dempsey and was introduced at Sun N Fun in 1982 where it received the prize for the most outstanding microlight aircraft.  It had full 3 axis control with elevator, rudder and full span ailerons which was different from most of the earlier design microlights.  It was also very strong and had an excellent roll rate for a microlight.  And it was the next microlight type to be registered in New Zealand

Click twice to enlarge the brochures below to read them more easily.

In the brochure above it mentions "In addition to awards, it has also won innumerable imitators" and then somewhat sarcastically goes on referring to the imitators "we hail your ability to recognise the most sophisticated design concept available in the ultralight industry today".  I mention this because the Phantom was the basis of the Bantam B 10.

We only had 2 Phantoms imported into New Zealand, by the agents, Skyflight Waikato Ltd of Hamilton (Ken Asplin and Trevor Barrett), who were also the agents for the Mirage.

A very early photo of ZK-EXR at Te Kowhai.

ZK-EXR (c/n PH00054 and MAANZ/080) Powered by a 38HP 1-cyl Kawasaki TA-440-A engine.

Registered 28 Oct 1982 to Skyflight Waikato Ltd, Hamilton.  I understand that Max Clear assembled both of the Phantoms but he did more than assemble them - note the similarity to the Bantam B 10! Then 4 Feb 1983 C. N. Martin, Paengaroa, Te Puke.  NZ Permit to fly issued on 4 Feb 1983.  Was operated by the Tauranga Aero Club on loan from the owner.  On final approach the microlight suddenly dived steeply into the ground at Tauranga (1 killed) 19 Feb 1984 @ 69 hrs.  Rebuilt and registered 22 Apr 1991 to Alan R. Graham, Tauranga.  Cancelled 12 Nov 1999 as withdrawn from use.  Note that in the lower photo above after the rebuild ZK-EXR now has a strut braced wing rather than the kingpost and cables.

Re-registered ZK-CXR 6 Mar 2017 to Alan R. Graham, Tauranga and later of Opotiki.  Cancelled 14 Dec 2022 as withdrawn from use. 

ZK-EXS (c/n MAANZ/081)  Note the similarity to the Bantam B 10

Registered 28 Oct 1982 to Skyflight Waikato Ltd, Hamilton.  There is possibly an owner Christopher D. Waterworth but this is not certain.  Then 18 Sept 1985 W. R. & J. E. Cloutman, Waiuku, then  11 Jul 1988 Russel K. Brodie, Rangitata Island, then 27 Sep 1991 John R. Nicolson, Timaru, then 29 Jul 1992 John R. Farmer, Oamaru, then 10 Sep 1996 Graeme C. Main, Christchurch, then 17 Sept 1997 Angus K McAllister, Tuatapere, then 6 Jan 2003 Gary I. Tong, Otautau, then 15 Jul 2004 Selwyn L. Cranstoun, Te Anau, then 25 Jun 2006 Philip A. Hishon, Te Anau.   Cancelled 28 Jun 2017 as withdrawn from use.  It is stored with Russell Brodie at Rangitata Island as part of his early microlight collection. 

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Teratorns

The Teratorn was developed from around 1976 by Motorised Gliders of Iowa as a motor glider, and was then later developed by Teratorn Aircraft Inc of Clear Lake, Iowa  The actual Teratorn was a member of a family of extinct very large soaring birds that lived in North and South America in pre-historic times.  Click twice to read the brochures below bigger and better.

We have had five Teratorns registered in New Zealand, being one Tierra model and four TA models.  The Tierra could be adapted into a two seater while the TA was a single seater.

ZK-EXP (c/n MAANZ/156)  Teratorn Tierra.  Registered 27 Oct 1982 to A. P. M. McAlister, Queenstown Maybe he was the agent? - does anyone know?).  Cancelled 23 Jan 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FJA (c/n MAANZ/265)  Teratorn TA.  Registered 16 Jul 1984 to the Mountain Microlight Club, Queenstown, then 27 Jul 1984 L. M. Sowerby, Queenstown. then 11 Mar 1987 R. A. Jones, Arrowtown.  Cancelled 21 Apr 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FOQ (c/n 17A)  Teratorn TA.  Registered 28 Jul 1987 to B. J. Barker, Glencoe, then 12 Mar 1995 Michael J. Morris, Wanaka, then 24 Mar 1996 R. H. M. Smith, Dunedin, then 25 Aug 1998 Ben More Exports Ltd, Springfield (Roger F. James).  Withdrawn from Use Invercargill and Cancelled Dec 2000.

ZK-FTD (c/n MAANZ/426)  Teratorn TA.  Registered 4 May 1989 to T. L. Rule, Hedgehope, Invercargill, then 25 Jul 1996 Malcolm K. Macleod, Winton, then 24 Dec 1998 S.G.Butcher, RD4, Masterton, then 13 Dec 2002 Adam D Butcher "Harwood". Masterton, then 30 Nov 2003 John S Gates, Wellington.  Cancelled 27 Feb 2009 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-TTS (c/n MAANZ/219) Teratorn TA 

Registered 25 Nov 1983 to Stratford Aero Club, Stratford, (the Stratford Aero Club was the North Island agent for the Teratorn), then 22 Jun 1990 Raoul E Lealand, Kinloch, then 1 Jun 1993 Dieniol (Dan) T Davies, Waitoa.  Cancelled 22 Jul 1998 as registration revoked. 

De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-AIE

The De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-AIE c/n 83492 has had lengthy and interesting history.
This is my take on the subject.

Built by Morris Motors at Cowley in the UK with the construction number 83492 and issued the Royal Air Force serial of T5762 it taken on charge on 28-06-1940, but only briefly as it was shipped out to New Zealand aboard the S S Rangitikei on 05-07-1940.

In New Zealand it was reassembled at the De Havilland Aircraft facility at Wellington and bought on charge with the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 04-10-1940 as NZ662 with Unit 18 at Rongotai, Wellington. 
During is World War Two service it served with No 4 Elementary Flying Training School at Whenuapai, then with No 2 EFTS at New Plymouth and No 2 EFTS at Ashburton, then to 42 Squadron. Like many training aircraft it had a couple of incidents - one at Whenuapai in April of 1941, and at New Plymouth in March of 1942 having a taxi incident with NZ1418. In late January 1946 it was declared as surplus and was handed to the New Plymouth Aero Club (a Government Gift Aircraft) with 2801 airframe hours.

It was handed over to the Club on 25-01-1946 to become ZK-AIE

In about early September of 1951 the Club sold it to Aircraft Services (NZ) Ltd of Auckland and it was converted to an aerial top-dressing aircraft. It was given the fleet number 5 and was to be named as 'The Doh Doh' - possibly because that is what it flew like - but more likely, because of the frequency of its accidents - the amount of flying it didn't do !

Above. ZK-AIE as Fleet number 5.

Below showing The Doh Doh on its fuselage

The very nature of its work lead to several incidents. It was damaged at Kaiwaka on 08-01-1952, at Onewhero on 26-02-1952, at Waipu on 15-05-1952 and a more serious crash on 16-01-1953 and another on 16-11-1953. 

It was rebuilt using parts from ex Australian Tiger Moths A17-330 and A17-74 and no doubt from other donor airframes. It emerged as a two-seater and was sold to Doug Freeth of Auckland in August 1956. Doug also had at about this time the Taylorcraft L-2A ZK-ATY and the Commonwealth CA6 Wackett ZK-AUC. In 1958 it was briefly with the Auckland Aero Club followed by R D Simpson from September that year. S John Askew of Eltham listed it from April 1960, then A D Bell of Waimana from April 1961. Wally E Christofferson then had it from 25-08-1965 only to cancel its NZ registration on 10-09-1965 and have it pop up in Fiji as VQ-FAG with the Nausori Flying Club. It did not fly in Fiji until 31-03-1967 after having been reconditioned and re-engined with a motor from the DHA-3 Drover VQ-FAR, Its final flight was on 05-05-1970 after which it was withdrawn and stored. The registration of DQ-FAG was allocated to it on 01-10-1971 but this was not taken up and ultimately cancelled on 12-04-1972.

In 1973 it was purchased by George R Kingsbury of Dorie and shipped back to NZ and stored on his property until 1985 along with another tired airframe.

The RNAF Museum at Wigram negotiated a deal and rebuilt the aircraft back to its old Air Force scheme and serial of NZ662, with it flying again on 08-01-1977 from Wigram. In March 1987 it went on loan to the RNZAF Historic Flight at Ohakea to be operated alongside their airworthy Harvard NZ1015.

Above as noted at Wanaka 04-04-2010 at Wanaka by Steve Homewood.

As seen at Ohakea by Aaron Murphy on 31-03-2012.

Plans began in 2013 to place NZ662 on the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as part of 'civilising' the RNZAF Historic Flight. This involved considerable work on the aircraft - thanks mostly to Stan Smith and Hawker Pacific Ltd. Placed back on the civil register again as ZK-AIE on 05-07-2016 it flew again in late 2016 and seems to have ceased flying in late 2018. 

The Harvard NZ1025 NZ1015 became ZK-RNZ about the same time but was damaged in a forced landing on 13-08-2018.

Its career within the RNZAF Historic Flight and ultimately the Biggin Hill Trust is outside my sphere of knowledge.

Both these aircraft were cancelled from the civil register on 18-07-2024. The Harvard going on static museum display.

The Tiger Moth ZK-AIE was trucked down to the RNZAF Museum at Wigram in early May of 2025 and is now on display as NZ662.

Check out this NZ662 facebook link

Above we see ZK-AIE/NZ662 on display at Wigram on 06-10-2026 - thanks to Tony McFarlin.

So what has happened to Tiger Moth NZ1481 (marked as NZ825) - previously on display at Wigram ?

ZK-SSA Resurrected

                                         Photograph by Bradley Pearpoint from his Facebook page

            Photo Courtesy of william Leipnik from New zealand Civil Aircraft Facebook page 

 

ZK-SSA (DH82a c/n 111) was bought by Bradley Pearpoint of Feilding in October last year in a rather sorry state. After a major rebuild it had it's first post restoration flight on October 06th 2026. Bradley says hopefully he should be able to take it to the Tiger Moth Gathering in Taumarunui in a couple of weeks. Previous post for this aircraft can be found here