Fokker E II Eindecker Replica Flying

Back on 1st September I posted about Russell and Ross Brodie's Airdrome Aeroplanes Fokker E II replica ZK-EII3 that was close to slipping the surly bonds of earth.  That post can be found HERE

It has now flown and is shown above over the South Canterbury countryside on a lovely day yesterday 22/9/18.  Thanks to Ross Brodie's Facebook page and Alex Mitchell for the photo.

ZK-AMA on 22-9-18

De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Mk I ZK-AMA msn 1477 at rest alongside its jetty on 22-9-18.Note the door from Beaver ZK-BBX which Auckland Seaplanes have purchased.

Ardmore Airacobra

Actually, the main reason I went down to Ardmore last Wednesday was to catch up with progress on Jerry Yagen's Bell P 39 Airacobra at Pioneer Aero

As you can see, progress is very good.  The Airacobra will be finished and flying this year.  It will be registered here for test flying. 

We might have the prospect of the Airacobra being wheeled out on one side of Ardmore as the Mosquito is wheeled out over on the other side!

NOTAR ZK-IEG

Noted yesterday at Heli Maintenance in Christchurch was the MD 500N NOTAR ZK-IEG2  (c/n LN016).

This NOTAR was originally N52110 with MD Helicopters of Mesa Arizona from 08-02-1992 before venturing up to Canada to become C-FMYW with Heli-Max Ltd at Trois Riveres Quebec four months later. It was re-listed to Heli-Transport Inc of same address on 13-02-2006 and was noted soon after listed for sale with around 6400 airframe hours.

It popped up in NZ as ZK-IJW with Reid Heslop Helicopters at Wakefield from 24-08-2011.

See more Here.

By 22-12-2016 it was listed to Heliventures NZ Ltd of Oamaru who re-registered it as ZK-IEG2 on 25-01-2017.

I noted it yesterday wearing small Amuri Helicopter Ltd markings and in this all white scheme.

Of interest on the rear of the fuselage was the 'Down To The Wire' label.

For more on this project see https://www.facebook.com/WiresKillPilots/

To complete the picture - so to speak - we have below a pic of it as ZK-IJW as seen at Glenorchy on 24-10-2015 by Magnaman.

And as ZK-IEG in its Heliventures NZ Ltd scheme at Heli Maintenance Christchurch on 16-11-2017.

Helicopters from North Shore

And continuing Helicopter Friday, here are a couple from North Shore that I have photo'd recently:

The Northland Emergency Services Trust's Sikorsky S 76A ZK-IKM lifts off on 19/9/18.  This has been posted on the blog before but not in the standard NEST scheme - have a look at its old scheme by typing in ZK-IKM into the search box at the top left of the home screen..

and the Ralph Schultz Helicopters Ltd's Hughes H369E ZK-INO lifts off on 14/9/18.

Ardmore

Continuing the theme of helicopters at Ardmore in the blogs below today offered Heliflite's MBB Bo105CBS-4 ZK-HYT in a new colour scheme

Ardmore on Wednesday 19-9-2018

With a day to kill in Auckland while the car gets a new cambelt, what else in there to do but to drive the courtesy car down to Ardmore.  It was pretty quiet and would have been a lot quieter if not for the helicopter movements.

It was nice to catch up with Agairnz and to catch Helicopter Queenstown's "new" Eurocopter AS 350 B3 Sqirrel ZK-INT2.  He has already posted his photo taken at the same time.

Advanced Flight Ltd's Giumbal Cabri G2 ZK-HAF3 was carrying out training.

Ardmore Flying School's new Diamond DA 42 ZK-EAP3 thrummed into the air with its distinctive twin diesel engine note.

and taxied back with 4 on board.

While an older twin design, Auckland Aero Club's Beech Duchess ZK-SMI arrived.

Squirrel ZK-HNC

Continuing the helicopter theme of the last couple of post I offer the Aerospatiale AS 350 B2 ZK-HNC3 (c/n 1322) which is the latest addition to the Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd's fleet.

This is what the NZ Aviation News Magazine said about it following its registration on 02-07-2018.

Aerospatiale additions include an AS 350 B2 for Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd as ZK-HNC. 

As D-HKHL this was operated by Helicopter Services Hanover GmbH in 1985-1986 before proceeding to Iceland to join their Coastguard as TF-GRO₃ until re-listing as TF-SYR₂ in 1999 and then returning to Germany as D-HFEM in 2000 to serve with Helitransair and then with Heli-Aviation GmbH from 2010. 

From 06-09-2015 it was listed with Heraklion Nikos Kazanatakis for operations in Greece and nearby territories. 

Interestingly the first ZK-HNC was almost also an ex Greek machine but this became ZK-HBU₂ instead, with the Hughes 269C ex ZK-HIF₂ taking its place as ZK-HNC₁. ZK-HNC₂ was a Schweizer 269Ci.

It is in the black and white colour scheme now being adopted for the Christchurch Helicopters fleet.

Big Bell at Ardmore 20-9-18

Bell 412EP P2-HNZ msn 36099 arrived at Ardmore mid afternoon on 20-9-18 from Mechanics Bay and after taking on fuel departed for New Plymouth. This helicopter is ex ZK-HDY and has been operating in Papua New Guinea with Helifix Operations PNG

Pauanui

Up from Tauranga today was the Viper SD4 ZK-SWV now wearing its smart Solo Wings colours.