Tuesday 19 March 2024

Mt Cook by CMM

 Traveling enthusiast CMM called into Mount Cook Airfield yesterday (18-03-2024) for a Squirrel shoot.A bit of a line up at Mt Cook yesterday.
From the right we have ZK-IDE, ZK-IEB, ZK-HMD and ZK-IDE.

Aerospatiale AS 350 BA ZK-IFX c/n 2190 in its Southern Lake scheme.

Another AS 350 BA, ZK-IEQ is c/n 2164 with Inflite Ltd.

ZK-IEB is an AS 350 B2 model, c/n 4208 listed to Precision Helicopters of Hokitika.

ZK-IDE above is a B3 Squirrel c/n 4544 with Southern Lakes Helicopters - as is ZK-HMD4 c/n 2782 below,

Monday 18 March 2024

Mosquito NZ2308 / ZK-PWL first flight today 18-03-2024 at Ardmore.

Wayne Grant reported from Ardmore this afternoon.

Hi All,

The latest Mossie out of AVspec's (No 4) flew for the first time this afternoon with well known warbirds pilot Steve Hinton and the controls and Wal Denholm in the right hand seat. 

 AVspecs latest De Havilland DH98 Mosquito T.43 ZK-PWL2 - probably better known known as NZ2308 first flew today, 18-03-2024, at Ardmore.
Very few words are required.

Full noise.

Airborne on first flight.



Back home.

Touchdown.

Taxi back.

Wal Denholm and Steve Hinton.

National Flying Competitions Ashburton 14 to 17 March 2024. # 1

 Tony McFarlin was at Ashburton on Saturday to catch some of the participants in the National Flying Competitions.
Below we have a selection of his photos. 
Cessna 180A ZK-CDY c/n 32968 from Kiwi Avi8tor Ltd of Te Awamutu,
It has been mentioned previously Here and HERE

ZK-DKP2 is David Campbell's Cessna 180K c/n 18052966.

Another Cessna 180 was this J model ZK-RAD3 c/n 18052679 of Dale Radford, also from Tauranga.

       Locally based Neville Bailey R&B Bearhawk ZK-NSB c/n 1578B was out showing its 'colours'.

National Flying Competitions Ashburton 14 to 17 March 2024. # 2

We have three Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawks.

ZK-JRS is c/n 38-79A0896, originally listed in NZ as ZK-ESI until re-registered as ZK-JRS to the Walsh Aviation Support Society Inc of Richmond from 30-10-2023. Note the WASSI logo on the fin.
It is currently on line with the Mid Canterbury Aero Club of Ashburton.

Another WASSI Tomahawk ZK-MAJ c/n 38-79-A0517 has been listed to the Mid Canterbury Club since 16-04-2023.

ZK-TDL is c/n 38-79A1140 and ex ZK-LFZ and was re-registered to the Kapiti Districts Aero Club (Inc) in September 2011.

National Flying Competitions Ashburton 14 to 17 March 2024. # 3

 Two slightly different Cessna's are these Cessna 172 taildraggers.

ZK-MLY2 is an early Cessna 172 with a c/n of 28790 from 1956. It came to NZ in 2011.
It is listed with the Blenheim Cessna Syndicate

From 1955 came the Cessna 172 ZK-MGR c/n 28108 which came to NZ in 2-13 for Pelorus Air Ltd.
Also based on the field is the 172TD ZK-BSU c/n 29604 of 1956 vintage.

Something slightly different was this Robin DR500/200i ZK-VAX c/n 0001.
This came to NZ in 2005 to become ZK-LIS and was re-registered to ZK-VAX in November of 2005.
Currently listed to Andrzej Jakimiuk of Albany.

Two Cessna 152's were noted.
Above is ZK-TAK3 c/n 15280352 as listed with the Tauranga Aero Club (Inc). 
This was originally ZK-FPG until re-registered by the Club in July of 2019.
Below we have the A152 Aerobat ZK-KID3 c/n A1520869 from the Kapiti Districts Aero Club (Inc).
Originally listed as ZK-FCR in late 1982 followed by ZK-TAY in late 2001.
It became ZK-KID in December 2007.

National Flying Competitions Ashburton 14 to 17 March 2024. # 4

 Cessna 172's of note at Ashburton. Cessna 172P ZK-ETT c/n 17274937 of B & K Mark, also came from the Tauranga area.

Aidan Swale from Timaru had his Cessna 172N ZK-JAF2 c/n 17272632 on the tie downs.

Cessna 172N ZK-JCI c/n 17270512 came from the RNZAF Base Auckland Aviation Sports Club Inc.

The Auckland Aero Clubs Cessna 172S ZK-JRA2 c/n 172S9767 alongside the Cessna 172N ZK-TAB c/n 17273811 from the Tauranga Aero Club. This was previously ZK-EYC

Saturday 16 March 2024

ZK-ZGO at Christchurch on the 14th.

Cessna 560 Citation V Ultra ZK-ZGO c/n 560-0067 was built as N2722F  and listed to the Cessna Aircraft Company and quickly became N45BA  from 01-08-1990 with Ann S Bowers of Austin, Texas, moving to A S B Aviation Inc at Palo Alto, California from 09-1993.
Nozaki American Inc of New York, New York listed  it from 12-06-1997 for cancellation on 06-06-1997 to become JA119N with Nozaki & Co from the 12th. 
It was operated by Central Japan Airways until cancelled on 13-11-2020.
Moving to Australia it became VH-IVK2 on 17-11-2020 with Aircraft Group Holdings Pty  Ltd of Minyama, Queensland.
As such it was ferried into Auckland on 03-02-2021 with  its Australian registration being cancelled on 08-02-2021 to become ZK-ZGO with John Ambler of Albany on 25-02-2021.
John also listed the Citation V Ultra ZK-XGO on the same day, but this has since been onsold.
After an extensive interior refit at Nelson it was noted in Nelson today - later departing to Auckland.

Some more helicopters at Queenstown

A return visit to Queenstown Airport today found more of interest including the latest addition to The Helicopter Line fleet,  former Wanaka based AS350B2 ZK-HAA3.   This was originally imported from the USA in 2014 briefly becoming ZK-IDV before moving onto HAA.

Returned to service after extended maintenance at Hastings airfield is the Kahu NZ Sikorsky EH-60A ZK-HKU3,  which has now lost all its yellow dayglo stripes acquired when used on firefighting duties in Western Australia in 2022.

And over at Salus Aviation was the AS355F1 ZK-HML2 which has lost its Heliworks titling.   This was originally imported from the US in 1995.


 

Thursday 14 March 2024

Cessna 210N VH-ZIK at Nelson again

Lord Nelson snapped the 2015 model Cessna 210N VH-ZIK c/n 21063260 at  Nelson Today.
Initially N9974N becoming VH-ZIK on 23-01-2019  listed to Aviation Assets Pty Ltd and operated by Handel aviation Pty Ltd of Gymea, NSW.
It is an aerial survey aircraft.
It was previously at Nelson on 23-05-2023.

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Dreamliner N30913 rolling.

 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner N30913 on the roll today from Christchurch for San Francisco.
N30913 c/n 35879 was listed with the Boeing Company on 28-05-2014 and first flew on 22-11-2014.
It was certified to United Airlines Inc on 16-12-2014 and delivered to following day.
Interesting to note the last four numbers of its registration (0913) on the nosewheel door and alongside the rear passenger door.