Colin Hay. R.I.P.

COLIN FRANCIS HAY

'The Reverend"

 In both Civilian and  Royal New Zealand Navy service.

Died peacefully on October 11th 2019.

Colin lived in Waimate but operated from his hangar at Oamaru Airport.

In fact he flew with the North Otago Aero Club from its early days - about which he had many stories to tell.

A great supporter of younger persons into aviation - especially microlighting.

He seemed to be always 'on the case' with CAA.

Colin's hangar is full of all sorts of aeronautical memorabilia and aircraft.

I first met Colin when he operated the Rans S-6ES ZK-RXL. 

He followed this with Three Bowers Fly Babies ZK-OFB and ZK-CFB plus one still under construction. 

He then had the Gardan GY-20 Minicab ZK-EEO and then purchased the Loele Mustang P5151 project and then the Nieuport ZK-NIE.

Colin was a reasonably large gentleman and had trouble fitting into some of his aircraft (again several stories - about getting stuck) until he purchased the Ibis Magic ZK-DUH just under a year ago.

It has been my privilege.

Bazflyers Returning Home!

The globe trotting Bazflyers (Barry and Sandra Payne) left New Zealand on a round the world odyssey on 28 April when they lifted off from their home base at Taupo headed for Kerikeri and on across the Tasman.

Now they are on their last few homeward legs and weather permitting they will touch down back home at Taupo at midday on Saturday 19 October.  What an amazing Earthrounder flight they have had!  TV3 will be on the ground to welcome them and there should be an item on the 6 pm TV3 News on Saturday.

Here is Barry Payne at Vladivostok with the Bazflyers' Russian go-to man Andrei, and the trusty Comanche ZK-BAZ2 in the background.

It would be great if any blog followers could make it to Taupo to welcome them home.

Nelson on Monday

On a rather dull day at Nelson yesterday (Monday the 14th) I managed to capture the Fisher Dakota Hawk ZK-LAF (c/n 054) of Richard Rayne which was first registered in December of 2016.

That is the wing of the Tim Bygate Tiger Hawk ZK-THK in the foreground.

Departing was the Cessna 172S ZK-WUD (c/n 172S8516) of NZICPA of Whanganui.

This was previously ZK-FTM2  which has been mentioned several time previously  HERE.

It changed to WUD on 3 April 2019.

Medivac BK 117 B-2 ZK-HGW at Whangarei 9-10-2019

Also parked out at Whangarei last Wednesday was Inflight's Kawasaki BK 117 B-2 ZK-HGW4.

I do not quite understand where this Rescue helicopter fits into the scheme of things, as the Northland Emergency Services Trust has several Sikorsky S 76s and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust now has its two AW 169s in operation.

Vans RV 6 ZK-VNZ Flies at Ardmore 13-10-2019

Ian Chapman has been working on his RV 6 for 25 years but good things take time!  It reached a momentous milestone on Saturday 13 October when David Wilkinson successfully carried out its first flight at Ardmore - David is getting very experienced at test flying RV aircraft.  And Gavin Magill was there to capture the proceedings - thanks for the photo Gavin.

Ian in his nice looking RV 6 ZK-VNZ after its first flight.  

Congratulations Ian for the successful completion of your RV 6.

ZK-SMH update

I have just received the following update on the status of the Avid Heavy Hauler UL ZK-SMH c/n 745

I see that ZK-SMH  is still showing being owned by Bill Irwin on your awesome site.

My partner and I purchased it in July 2018 from Bill up in Cromwell  where It had been sitting for approx 12 years in a darkened shed. 

The hour clock at the time of purchase showed a mere 19.4 Hours.

Once back at Taieri and over the next 12 Months, SMH's original 582 Silver top and gearbox were replaced with a brand new Blue top 582, new gearbox and starter and other work done to get her back in the air. 

She first flew again on the 18th August 2019.

Regards

ZK-SMH  Syndicate.

Earlier reference to ZK-SMH can be seen HERE

Seen at Motueka today

I spotted these two good oldies at Motueka this afternoon during a cuppa tea stop over.

 Craig Anderson's Piper PA-22-150/180 taildragger ZK-BSH c/n 22-7321 taxiing in at the far end of the field.

The Bolkow Bo208C Junior ZK-CJK c/n 618 as listed with Alistair Matthews of Blenheim.

Both have featured previously. ZK-BSH  Here.

and ZK-CJK HERE.

Whangarei on 9-10-2019

At Whangarei for lunch on our cross country exercise, there were a few interesting sport aircraft around, including the following:

Steven Stokes' new Pipstrel Virus SW ZK-DWZ2 (c/n 771SW100) was outside the Northland Aviation hangar.  It was registered here on 30/8/19 and is ex 27AHH (from France I am lead to believe).

The Whangarei Flying Club now has the ex Alan Nelson Tecnam P 92 Echo ZK-KFP on line alongside their later P 92 Eaglet ZK-WCF.  (Alan now has the very nice Bristell NG 5 ZK-NGB).

In another hangar was Baz Norgrove's Titan Mustang ZK-DGM2 which has recently migrated North from Rangiora and is now Whangarei based.

And our cross country machine was the Dargaville Aero Club's Fly Synthesis Storch ZK-DAQ2.

Omaka's remodeled 'Dangerous Skies' opened.

Recently revealed during the opening of the newly remodelled 'Dangerous Skies' hall at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (OHAC) is Noel Kruse's immaculate Ryan STM ZK-ABC accompanied by Lyndall Edwards' equally pristine SS Jaguar. 

The unusual pairing, both from the drawing boards of 1934, have made their first public appearance together with the opening of the new hall at the AHC, along with the trio of WW-II Luftwaffe combatants, Spitfire Mk.XIVe, Yak-3, Hurricane and the remarkable Hudson Jungle diorama. A 'must-see' if in Blenheim. 

Cutting the ribbon on the new exhibition took place on the evening of September 12th.

Helinorth at Dargaville 9-10-2019

As we were getting our aircraft ready for our cross country excercise yesterday there was a flurry of activity down the way at Helinorth.  It was around midday so maybe they were in for lunch?

 First back was their Robinson R 66 sprayer ZK-HUA3 which was fuelled up,

Then their Eurocopter AS 350B2 ZK-HOP3 sprayer arrived from the opposite direction

And they did a short repositioning dance.

Although both wear Helinorth titles they are owned by Helisika Agricultural Ltd of Manakau.