Early Photo of RANS S 6ES ZK-FZV

Russell Brodie has sent this early photo of two RANS aircaft at Rangitata Island soon after their assembly, around March 1993.

It shows S 6ES ZK-FZV in a different colour scheme to which I had seen it before, and this was its original colour scheme.  Of course, this reflects the pre-sewn coloured envelopes for the fuselage and flying surfaces that could be replaced with different coloured envelopes. (Later ZK-FZV wore red and white colours).

It also shows S 12 Ariale ZK-RED, and this segues nicely into my next post on RANS aircraft of New Zealand.....

ZK-OXF comes and Goes.

 Air New Zealand's 10th domestic configured sharklet fitted Airbus A320-232 ZK-OXF c/n 6182 carried out its first revenue flights today. It arrived in country on the 25th.

Above it is just lining up on runway 29 at Christchurch - and below - flexing its wings into the nor'wester  for the first time.

Landing photos will no doubt appear on http://www.mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/  soon.

I spied several aviation enthusiasts along the fence line waiting for her arrival.

Piper PA22-150 c/n 22-3592.

The Piper PA-22-150 TriPacer ZK-BLC is c/n 22-3592 and first appeared on our register on 30-01-1956 for the NZ agents Airwork (NZ) Ltd of Christchurch.

It was first used by the Wanganui Aero Cub until it moved back to Christchurch with the Canterbury Aero Club from 15-03-1962.

 Photo above shows ZK-BLC outside the old Aero Club half hangar on 10-04-1964.

The other half of the hangar was used by Mount Cook Airlines for servicing their HS748's and the odd Cessna 185.

Above is a nice undated colour shot by Ivan Prince and comes from the Ed Coates collection.

 It suffered an engine failure near Tapanui on 12-10-1965 and overturned in the ensuing forced landing. All other pics from Dave Paull.

It was rebuilt and re-appeared on the register on as ZK-CPJ on 04-02-1966 with B Frazer of Christchurch with the modified c/n of R22-3592 (R = rebuild).

A couple of weeks later (18-02-1966) ownership moved to William E Robb of Ashburton.

The next, and final, ownership changed took effect on 08-02-1983 when it transferred to A J Harmer of Mount Somers.

Below we have two pics of ZK-CPJ at West Melton on 23-03-1990. 

 

 Below ZK-CPJ at West Melton on 13-08-1996 with its turned down wingtips.

 It was withdraw and cancelled on 26-02-2014.

The two lower photographs were shot in the Ashburton Aviation Museum on 24-07-2014.

  Mind your cranium on that wing tip trailing edge !

Aircraft at North Shore That Have Seen Better Days

Every time I visit North Shore Airfield these two aircraft are there (obviously!).

Piper PA 23-150D Apache ZK-BUA is in fact still on the register, owned by the Apache Syndicate of North Shore.  It was first registered in New Zealand in November 1957 and was operated for many years by the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport.  It must have many stories to tell - anyone want to post them?

And Cessna 172K ZK-WGS will never feel the wind under its wings again. It was first registered in New Zealand in August 1998 and was cancelled in May 2009.

A trio from Ardmore 28 July 2014

Brilliant blue skies after a rare hard frost across the Auckland region made for the ideal opportunity to catch a gaggle of aircraft strutting their stuff in the clear air.

Cessna 206 ZK-FWC has yet to reach the online NZCAA register having arrived in the country as VH-PMH on 20 June.
It is seen here returning to the Flightline facility at Ardmore.
http://www.mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/ins-and-outs.html

Cessna 185C ZK-JHS came whistling in from the east still wearing its makeshift ZK- marks after a foray to Australia during late Spring 2008. 

Cessna A185F ZK-WHJ is registered to North Shore interests and it followed ZK-JHS into the circuit at Ardmore.