A lonely twin

 

Sir Minty has provided the above photograph of the "Bay Flight Aviation" Tecnam P2006T ZK-TWN (c/n 052) taken at Tauranga on 27-01-2012.

*************

Below is a snip from the media.

Helipro purchases Bay Flight school

PostWednesday 25th Jan, 2012 | By Phillipa Yalden

Tauranga’s only flight school will re-open its doors in February under the new name Bay Flight 2012 after being purchased by Palmerston North based company Helipro.

Staff and members of the operations team are back on site at the flight school on Jean Batten Drive after the sale to Helipro was finalised last Friday.

The Helipro deal does not include the purchase of the Tecnam P2006T bought in 2011 for $700,000, but does include the purchase of Bay Flight’s 10 other aircraft.

(Title change for these ten aircraft occured on 26-01-2012. Aircraft involved are ZK-DAD, ZK-ELX, ZK-FCO, ZK-KID, ZK-MUM, ZK-NAN, ZK-PQP, ZK-SIS, ZK-SON and ZK-TWI.Added by Blue Bus).

The flight school was put into voluntary liquidation by owner, Palmerston North based pilot Steve Rowe, in December 2011.

He cited trading difficulties and a lack of flying hours due to bad weather as reasons for this move.

Director of RHB Accountants, the Tauranga based liquidator for the flight school, Tom Rodewald, says plans were finalised for the purchase at the end of last week and the flight school will officially re-open from February 1.

“Staff are on-site getting everything ready to go and they expect the students to be back in the air by first of February. It was signed and sealed at the end of last week.”

Helipro business manager John Read says Bay Flight 2012 is an opportunity to extend the company’s training platform.

“It has a very good name and part of what we do is aviation training, with rotor wing and fixed wing, and we saw this as an extension.

“We are very pleased to have bought it and to be continuing on to be able to provide students with the courses, so they can finish their qualifications.

“We have asked all the previous staff to forward their CVs and we are currently working through putting the team together now.”

Tauranga based pilot Phil Hooker, who founded Bay Flight International in 1996 and then sold it to Steve Rowe 18 months ago, is the new chief flight instructor of Bay Flight 2012.

John says a skeleton crew is working at the school at the moment, but formal operations will begin on February 1.

The Bay Flight training centre is due to reopen its doors next week.

“Doors are actually open now with a skeleton crew getting everything prepared, but the normal operations will be from February 1.

“It’s a fairly tight timeframe, but given that we are a large training organisation we have had all the necessary approvals and certifications so it’s a matter of getting it up and running.”

The sale agreement does not include the Tecnam P2006T purchased for $700,000 by Bay Flight Aviation in 2011, but does include the remaining 10 planes in the Bay Flight fleet.

John says they are expecting all of the students to continue training and will be looking to keep 15 staff in total at the Mount Maunganui base.

“They (the students) seemed very pleased when we met them and discussed the plan, we will be looking at providing a lot of backing support through our head office, as we do for our other bases.”

Helipro was established in 1983 by Wellington pilot Rick Lucas, who still owns the business.

“He started the business as one pilot and one helicopter.”

The business now operates a fleet of 40 helicopters from nine bases in New Zealand and one in Australia.

“Its been rotor wing flight training since 1983, but it got involved in fixed wing training in 1995 and we have been training in fixed wing in 2005 and has been training a large number of international students from that date.”

Bay Flight 2012 will operate under Helipro Aviation Training a NZQA accredited organisation that provides specialist aviation and flight training courses for helicopter and fixed wing aircraft.

John says flight training institutes have faced a number of challenges in the last year throughout New Zealand and Helipro are looking to move forward in the fixed wing training industry.

“We are working in a positive manner to make it a viable, ongoing business.”

Both John and owner Rick will be regular visitors to the region and are looking forward to the Classics in the Sky Tauranga City Airshow this weekend.

Vans RV 12 ZK-YRV at SAANZ Flyin Whitianga

With no criticism of Mike Condon's earlier post on ZK-YRV, I thought this aircraft needed a bit more detail as it is potentially an important new type of sport aircraft in our skies, and it is likely to be the first of many. (Another has already been registered: ZK-RVS in Hawkes Bay).

The RV 12 was developed by Van's as a Light Sport Aircraft in 2006, and it can be built as such in New Zealand, or it can be built as a microlight Class 2. ZK-YRV is registered as an Amateur Built Aircraft (whereas ZK-RVS is registered as a Microlight Class 2). The wingspan is 26 feet 8 inches (8.21 m), the length is 19 feet 11 inches (6.12 m), the wing area is 127 square feet (11.8 square metres) and with a Rotax 912S motor of 100 HP, its maximum speed is 138 MPH. Empty weight is 750 pounds (340 Kg) and MAUW is 1320 pounds (600 Kg). Interestingly these are almost identical statistics to the Jodel D 11 with a 100 HP Continental 0-200 motor.

The RV 12 can only be built from kits, and the kit is the most comprehensive ever I think. The kit comes with the wing spar solid rivetted and everything else ready to pop rivet, so it can be assembled by one person. The panels are punched out by computerised machines and are extremely exact, with even the rivet holes being to exact size so they only need to be smoothed before rivetting. The kit also includes all control runs, hoses etc, cowlings and the canopy, and even the complete instrument panel and instruments that the builder has ordered, with everything pre-assembled. The kit includes the motor which is standard. Even the stickers are included with dimension as to where to put them!

In a first for Van's the wings are removeable.

Alan Coubray has made a very nice job of ZK-YRV. He spent a lot of time explaining details of the aircraft in his hangar at Whitianga, and he graciously pulled the aircraft out for my photos. Alan took less than a year to build ZK-YRV and has previously built Safari helicopter ZK-IQP and Sonex ZK-JQP. Alan said that YRV stands for Yellow RV.

This photo shows the cabin and instrument panel, with Alan in the background continuing his explanations to interested homebuilders.

Another Flying Silver Fern

Arriving at Ardmore 02 February was this Robinson R44 ZK-IVS, looking sharp with the silver fern!
http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/silver-ferns.html
http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2010/09/helos-at-ardmore.html

MRC photo

Cessnas from Whitianga on the 28th.

Sir Minty has provided the following five photos taken at Whitianga on 28-01-2012

Cessna 172C ZK-CCF (c/n 172C-49536) has been listed with Errin Hallen of Whangamata since late December of 2007. Imported by the Cessna agents Rural Aviation and registered on 20-08-1962 for delivery to the Auckland Aero Club. By 1996, and some ten owners later it was with Quantum Learning at Kerikeri and then to the Bay of Islands Aero Club (Inc) in May of 2005.

Another Cessna 172 Skyhawk is this 1973 "M" model ZK-DKK (c/n 172M-61742). Also a new import, it went to the Hawera Aero Club. It currently wears Sunair Aviation titles.

Cessna 180K Skywagon ZK-EOH (c/n 180K-53026) was imported for Geyserland Floatplane Holdings Ltd of Rotorua in 1979. It is currently listed to the Walton Family Trust of Papakura.

Believe it or  not - but this Cessna R172K Hawk XP could be classed as a "Warbird". Built in 1978 it went to the Chilean Army followed by a spell on the Chilean civil register before returning to the US register in 2006. As ZK-TXP (c/n R172K-2901) it was registered with G A Leasing of Auckland on 16-08-2007. Currently is is listed to Air Lease Ltd of Auckland.

This Cessna 182E (c/n 182E-53823) went to Australia in 1988 from the US. It arrived in NZ in June of 1993 and eventually become ZK-WKK with W Sutherland of Gore on 13-09-1999. It is now with Brian Wigley of Auckland.

Landing Competition at SAANZ Flyin Whitianga

Due to the closure of Tauranga Airport for practice flying for the Tauranga Airshow, SAANZ aircraft had to relocate to Whitianga for their flying competitions. I thought I would call in to see what was happening. I was just in time for the landing competition and I photo'd the following efforts:

Technam P2002 Sierra ZK-SJS coming up short. It is owned by Stephen J Robinson of Thames and is ex ZK-SRG.

Too high! Re-engined Auster J5Q Aiglet ZK-BLW sails by for another attempt. It is owned by BV and SJ Freemantle of Waharoa.

Just past the line. Wittman Tailwind ZK-RET got close. It is owned by Noel Izard of Te Awamutu and is also re-engined, having first flown with a Rover V8 conversion.

Close but too short. Pulsar ZK-PXB is owned by Brian Anderson of Havelock North.

And the winner was Cliff McChesney flying the Waihi Aviation Group's Pulsar ZK-KFC. He was very close on all his attempts.

Piper Archer 11. ZK-KCC

Jean210 has sent in this nice shot (above) of the Piper PA28-181 Archer 11 ZK-KCC (c/n 28-7990423) from Quantum Education Group at Whangarei. It is a frequent visitor to Dargaville. The rather unique colour scheme was applied through sponsorship by K Double C, FM (originally there were also yellow stickers).

This airframe was cranked out by Piper Aircraft Corporation and registered as N28676 in July of 1999.  It was spied at Ardmore on 19-08-1980 having been imported by Dennis Thompson International Ltd and was registered to them as ZK-NDA on 22-08-1980 for delivery to the Northland Districts Aero Club at Whangarei from11-02-1981.

Below we see it as ZK-NDA at New Plymouth on 07-02-1985, still in its Piper delivery scheme.

 Below, as seen at Christchurch on 18-08-1986 in a new scheme.

On 01-05-2001 it was re-registered and re-listed as ZK-KCC, still with the Northland Districts Aero Club.

Ownership changed to Quantum Learning NZ Ltd of Whangarei on 01-04-2008 and then to Quantum Education Group on 06-04-2011.

Rocket at Gore!

Spotted last month at its Gore home was this little beauty, Team Rocket F1 Rocket ZK-FIZ (173).  As at last week the aircraft had only completed about 3 hours of flying.  With a 300hp donkey up front, I bet she is a rocket!

A brief on this example is available at KiwiFlyer http://www.kiwiflyer.co.nz/KiwiFlyer-Issue-16-ZK-Review-FebMar11.pdf

Peter C photo

FLetcher FU24 ZK-BIT

Fletcher Fu24 ZK-BIT was c/n 46, initially listed to Cable-Price Corporation Ltd on 29-02-1956 with its first flight being on 17-10-1956 and c of a issued on 24-10-1956. Ownership changed to Wanganui Aero Work Ltd on 06-05-1957. It carried the name "Ongarue". It was damaged at Waikanae on 13-05-1959; was converted to Mk11 status and flew on 01-10-1964. About this time it wore the pilots name " Lyndsay Williamson".

Top photograph was taken on 07-02-1964

The two shots above appear to be at Taihape. Date unknown and photographer listed as HCPH.

Final view above is from CMM, with the slide dated 11-75.

It was withdrawn from use on 18-11-1975 with 11,564 airframe hours and ended its days on the pickets at Wanganui, being too far "gone" for an upgrade/rebuild to 400hp. Its registration was cancelled on 22-05-1989.

Interesting and Colourful Hangar-Full at Tauranga

I was delighted to be able to get into Marty Cantlon's and Mike Dean's immaculate hangar at Tauranga and to be given permission to photo the aircraft inside. I have often looked through the front windows of their striking hangar to see tantalising glimpses of the aircraft hangared inside.

The first aircraft was Titan T 51 Mustang ZK-MPC which was built by M P Cantlon and was first registered on 3/12/10.

Next was Titan T 51 Mustang ZK-MJD built by M J Dean that was first registered on 23/11/10. The 2 Mustang's were built together and were first seen at the 2010 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga, but now they are both complete and have successfully flown. Further details can be found on this blog at www.nzcivair.blogspot.com/2010/02/titan-mustangs-at-saanz-tauranga-fly-in.html

Then a pair of Stearman's recently imported by Marty and Mike. ZK-USN is a A75N1 model first registered in New Zealand on 14/9/11 and owned by Marty Cantlon. It is ex N115JP.

ZK-USA is a B75N1 model first registered in New Zealand on 15/9/11, owned by Mike Dean. It is ex N65041.

And finally yet another Stearman ZK-XAF. This is a E 75 model that was first registered in New Zealand on 13/6/96. It is ex VH-HLV. This one is operated by Bay of Plenty Classic Aircraft Company Ltd and is used for passenger flights from the Classic Flyers museum.

A Handbag special

A request from Handbag asks for a photograph of his aircraft ZK-CBG.

Fletcher Fu24 Mk 11 ZK-CBG (c/n 87) started as a 240hp model with James Aviation Ltd of Hamilton, being registered on 20-09-1961 and first flew on 04-04-1962. It was re-listed to Advanced Aviation Ltd at Kaitaia on 27-09-1962; spent time with Sherwood Aviation and then back to Advanced and was uprated to a 260hp motor by 31-03-1965. It was back with the parent Company, James Aviation on 01-02-1968 and managed to have 300hp on 23-05-1968. It struck its loader at Purua on 29-03-1969 and was also damaged at Kaitaia on 21-01-1970. It was upgraded to Fu24-950M status on 13-07-1972 and was trundled down to Farmers Aerial Top Dressing Ltd of Invercargill from 20-07-1972. On 28-02-1975 it was listed back with James Aviation at Hamilton. Two more incidents occurred: a damaged nose at Ruapuke on 18-09-1976 and it struck a fence on take off at Purua on 04-05-1978.

It went to Langslow Aviation Ltd at Waipukarau on 31-08-1984 and then to R L Elliott (Trading as Eastland Contracts) of Waipukarau on 09-08-1990. Its last flight I believe was in August of 1996 and I believe it then went to Plank Aviation of Palmerston North but because it lacked "paper work" its registration was revoked on 09-09-1998. The next rumour was that it was destined for Wanganui Aero Work to be placed on a plinth but instead became a parts source for other WAW FU24's.

This pic of ZK-CBG was taken at Dannevirke in 1978 or 1979 and was kindly supplied by Allan Wooller.

The top pic was shot at Taieri on 04-03-1974.