Question / Ponder time # 63

Your thoughts on this creation would be most welcome.
Type and registration required.

And as usual: If you are apprehended during the course of your ponderings I will deny any knowledge of your existence.

Prop effects !

This photo, supplied by Sir Minty, shows the Jurca Sirocco ZK-PTR with its Rover 215cu inch Rover V8 ticking over. Have a good look at the optical effect of the propeller as caught by the camera.
Any suggestions as to how this happens ?

Bede BD-4

As an aside, I wonder what happened to NZ's only BD4. Heralded as the aircraft that started the kit plane industry, and remarkably popular worldwide, only one of these aircraft has made it into the air here - ZK-RDH owned by Russell D Harris, Opua, Bay of Islands. The project was started by Trevor Snell in 1975 who built the fuselage, and then bought by Harris 1992. First flight was in December 1996 and the aircraft is seen here at Kerikeri in 1998.
CAA have it logged as cancelled 2June2004, anyone know why?

Some Other BD 5's in New Zealand

After a bit of sloppy research in my last post, I now post a correction that the BD5 was introduced in the early 1970's and Bede Aircraft Ltd was bankrupt by 1979. However during the remarkable sales frenzy around 5,100 kits were shipped to customers worldwide. Also the BD 5B featured a longer wing than the original BD 5. Thanks to those who have posted comments, which have shed some light on a couple of other BD 5 photos that I have.

The photo above was taken at the 1998 SAANZ flyin at Matamata and I guess it was ZK-DVE

I am not sure who took the other photo above, but I think it might have been at Ardmore in the early 1980's. Maybe this was ZK-DYM which later became ZK-ZIP. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Wikipedia reports that in 2009 there were 150 airworthy BD 5's worldwide.

More on BD 5's in New Zealand

Following Blue Bus's excruciating Question Time 61 (I identified a pusher propellor at the rear but could I match it to a BD 5?), I thought I would post the BD 5's that have flown in New Zealand. All of these have been BD 5B's which feature an extended fuselage.

The BD 5, designed by Jim Bede (who had previously designed the AA1 Trainer and the BD 4 of which one has flown in New Zealand), burst onto the homebuilding scene in early 1980's and thousands of kits were sold worldwide because it looked so sexy. However the sales sped far ahead of the development of the aircraft which suffered huge problems with the original Hirth engine and with the shaft drive to the propellor. New Zealand was also swept up with the hype and Pacific Aerospace became the New Zealand agents and imported quite a few kits, some of which were sold to keen homebuilders. However the whole project collapsed for the above technical reasons and today there are thousands of partly built BD 5's around the world! Eventually different engines were tried but the most successful was the BD 5J which used a small jet engine and so overcame the technical problems. I think one BD 5J came to New Zealand and was flown at the opening of Auckland International Airport.

I think that ZK-XBD (c/n 3904, built by C A McMillan of Mosgiel, first registered on 30/6/04) was the first to fly, at Taieri, but it came to grief early on when it hit a navigation board on the airfield - can anyone confirm the first flight date and that it was the first to fly? It was then sold to G S Nicholls of Tauranga on 30/6/07 and I saw it flying at the 2008 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga where this photo was taken. (GS NIcholls also owns Rutan Long EZ ZK-LET which is another aircraft with an interesting story).

The next BD 5 to fly was (I think) Dr Ian Griffin's ZK-ZBD (c/n 3898 first registered on 21/8/01), photographed here at New Plymouth in 2006. This has flown several times at New Plymouth and Ian says it flies very well. This aircraft has a Honda Civic motor. It is currently owned by the ISJ Griffin Family Trust.

And the final BD 5 to fly (I think) was D F C Rose's ZK-ZIP (c/n AACA 235 first registered on 19/7/82!), which test flew at Ardmore in 2006 I think, and achieved some publicity in the newspapers when the undercarriage collapsed on landing. However it has been repaired and this photo was taken at Ardmore in 2007. The point on the nose is a lead weight for Cof G balance. It is currently owned by the ESOR Trust of Manakau City.

Several other BD 5's were completed in New Zealand in the 1980's and 1990's but I do not think any of them flew. I have a couple of photos of some of these BD 5's that I might post if anyone is interested. I think it would be interesting to document the full (but brief!) story of BD 5's in New Zealand - what information do others have out there?

Reims Cessna F152 11 ZK-NPI.

This little French built Reims Cessna F152 11 , c/n F152-1863 , moved across the Channel to become G-BIUI on 02-04-1981 followed by a change to G-TEES on 05-09-1985. It came to NZ and was registered as ZK-JCP on 23-08-1992 with Flightline Aviation. It was operated by Roy Treadrea Aircraft Syndicate from March 1994 (Carrying "Roy Aviation" script on its tail). Then to Wingspan NZ from November 1994. It was returned to Flightline on 11-04-1997 and was re-registered as ZK-NPI2 and joined the New Plymouth Aero Club on 29-04-1997.

On 21-07-2009 it failed to reach its destination at New Plymouth; the wreckage being reached the following day in tiger country west of Te Kuiti.

More pics of the missing Cessna 180 ZK-BMP

To add to the previous blog from FLYERNZL are some more pics of ZK-BMP
Looking over the fence at Taieri on 31-01-1969.

Above. At Wellington on 05-07-1971. Not particularly clear is the stags head on the fin.

As seen at Luggate on 04-04-1972.

Above at Haast on 18-04-1973.

&

Below at Taieri again on 25-12-1974

'The Missing' Cessna

For those of you who saw the TV One program 'The Missing' tonight, the Cessma 180 under discussion was ZK-BMP
This aircraft started life as ZK-BEK (c/n 30603) in agricultural use with Air Contracts and Rural Aviation in the late 1950s until badly damaged in a crash at Eketahuna 12Mar59.
Rural Aviation rebuilt it at New Plymouth with the new c/n RA/1/59 (presumably incorporating a lot of other components) registered it as ZK-BMP and passed it on to Mt Cook Air Services Ltd., Timaru.
Later owners were in the aerial work and venison recovery industries and the last transfer was to T E Neave, Lillburn Valley, Southland, 23rd March 1978.
After the Cessna's disappearance as outlined in the program, the registration was finally cancelled 30/11/1978.

at Timaru 11Mar1966

Question time # 62

Type & registration required for this easy one please.
Plus off course the designers name (spelt correctly).

Two noted at Rangiora on Sunday the 26th

Not all that often seen by me is this Bushby Mustang 11 ZK-CAR c/n 1713 . This six & a half year project is Lycoming O-320 powered and first flew in February of 2005. Not sure were it is based these days, but folding wings and a trailer means that it may well live at the resident of its owner/builder John & Trish Crawford in Christchurch. "CAR" I believe comes from coke & rum.

A real stranger passing through was the Jabiru powered Micro Aviation Bantam B22J ZK-WBB c/n 00-0184.

WBB standing for Waihi Beach Bantam was registered to the WBB Syndicate of Katikati on 02-11-2000 with its first flight being the same day. Current listed owner is Trevor Brown of Hamilton.

ERCO Ercoupe 415C-1 ZK-AQX

A surprise this morning was seeing the Ercoupe ZK-AQX at Stan Smiths workshop, obviously well along in a comprehensive rebuild.



This Ercoupe has a long and interesting history.
Allotted the registration NC94669 for the manufacturers, Engineering Research Corporation, it was immediately transported to the Belgian ERCO agents Intercontine Aeronautics at Airport d'Anvers and registered to them on the 8th August 1947 as OO-EXC.
A New Zealander, Harry Newton, who had been flying in Europe, then bought the aircraft as transport for his homeward trip. He flew the Ercoupe, suitably equipped with overload fuel tanks from Antwerp to Auckland, arriving here on the 9th October 1947. For many years this held the record for the world's longest low-powered (75hp) flight.
Rumour has it that Mr Newton had acquired funds during his travels that could raise a few embarrassing questions if he remitted them back to New Zealand through regular banking channels. Buying the Ercoupe, flying it back to NZ and then selling the asset here was the easiest way to transfer the money.
The Ercoupe was registered as ZK-AQX to Harold B Newton, Urenui, Taranaki 4/11/1947 and then passed on to the Auckland Aero Club at Mangere who assumed ownership 8/3/1949.
Unfortunatly ZK-AQX crashed at Mangere 15Apr51. The wreck was sold to Geoffery Wells, an aircraft engineer, who rebuilt the Ercoupe and registered in his name 12/2/1955. Ownership then moved to W J Jamieson, Frankton Junction 24/9/1960, J Rennie Car Sales Ltd., Newmarket, Auckland 10/3 1961 and to M H Jensen, Auckland in 1968. At this time the engine was removed from the airframe and fitted to a D.11 ZK-CKG.
A further ownership transfer was made to P W Beck, Auckland on 11/2/1972 but presumably the aircraft was out of the air by that time. The registration was finally canceled 2/5/1991.
The only other Ercoupe to operate here is Erco 425-D Ercoupe ZK-EXC/2 which after a lengthy career in the USA as N94700 arrived in NZ in 1994 and is currently based at Mt Maunganui.

At Ardmore 28Jan1967

The R J Ward TLAR ZK-TLR cancelled.

Rodger Ward built this microlight and called it the TLAR [That Looks About Right] and suitably registered it as ZK-TLR on 04-06-1997. It first flew on 22-05-1997 pushed along by a Rotax 377. It was cancelled as withdrawn on 22-07-2009.
Pic above at Rangiora on 10-03-2002.

Pic above and below also at Rangiora, back on 11-12-1999.

You will also see Roger's name attached to the Skybaby ZK-FVO; Trike ZK-FWK and the Titan Tornado ZK-LOT.

Cancelled. Zenith CH601-XL ZK-ZXL.

Imported and registered to Aerosport Aviation Ltd on 15-09-2005 was this Zenith Zenith CH601-XL ZK-ZXL c/n 6-9726. It was on display at Wanaka over Easter of 2006 and is shown above in the very late afternoon sun on 13-04-2006. It was sold to and listed with the Pegasus Flying Ltd of Wairoa on 20-10-2006.
In the dark hours and inclement weather of 25-05-2008 it crashed with the loss of two lives.
It was cancelled from the register on 22-07-2009.

Recent cancellations. Polikarpov I-16 ZK-JIO

And then there were none ! Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 "Rata" ZK-JIO c/n 2421234 was registered to the Alpine Fighter Collection at Wanaka on 09-10-1997. Probably better known to most as "Red 34" it was the last remaining of the six such aircraft in this collection. It was cancelled as exported on 23-07-2009.
Top pic shows it at Wanaka on 14-10-2000.
Below as seen at Wanaka on 16-08-2006 with a couple of interesting aircraft behind.
It was damaged at Wanaka on 01-03-2006 when a brake failure caused a ground loop with the left gear folding causing u/c, wing and prop damage.

These two lower shots taken at Wanaka on 11-10-2007

Anybody recognise the Hughes 369 in the background please ??

The elimination of Question time #61.

Bede BD-5B ZK-XBD c/n 3904 as seen at Momona (Dunedin) on 09-09-2005

Anonymous has finally cracked it. Well Done.

I imagine it was the withdrawal of the part about "what the active runway was" that finally gave the game away !

Question time # 61. even more photo clues.

EVEN MORE CLUES. Above two pics added 23-07-2009.

ADDITIONAL CLUE.
The pic above was added on 21-07-09
Maybe the wording across the top of the fuselage says it all.

What are we looking at here then ?

What Aircraft Type ?

Whats the registration ?

QT60 Sorted!

Well done Sir Minty, it certainly is First Strike Bobcat ZK-JMO/1 photographed at the final Pikes Point flyin on 29 October 2005. Interestingly, I see it had an accident in January 2004 when the prop detached from the aircraft damaging the cowl and the forced landing on soft ground caused further damage. Anyone know why it was revoked/cancelled from the register in 2007?

Sky Arrows in New Zealand

Following the sad news of the loss of the Meteor S.p.A Sky Arrow 450T ZK-SKA as posted by Blue Bus, I thought I would dig out my old photos of the other Sky Arrows in New Zealand. The 3 Sky Arrows in New Zealand were all imported by agent Felice de Napoli of Wellington. The Sky Arrow series of aircraft was manufactured by Iniziative Industriale Italiane S.p.A and was developed from an Italian Government sponsored contest for a remotely piloted vehicle in 1989.

The second example in New Zealand was ZK-EBR, a Sky Arrow 480T (with a Rotax 912 motor)which was registered on 1/4/97 to John Bolton-Riley of Feilding. It is photographed above at the 1998 SAANZ fly-in at Matamata. This aircraft has a claim to fame as the first microlight to fly across the Tasman Sea to Australia, and return, during July and August 1997. It has also flown to the Chatham Islands and return.

The third example in New Zealand was ZK-CJW, also a 480T model which was registered on 12/2/98 to Colin Wade of Hamilton. I think this was the second ZK-CJW registered to Colin Wade, who has since moved onto and sold Alpi Pioneer 300 ZK-CJW (3) and who has most recently purchased Cirrus Design SR 20 ZK-CJW (4). The above photo was taken at the SAANZ fly-in at Matamata in 2000.

ZK-CJW was purchased by the Manawatu Microlight Club at Feilding on 20/5/04, who registered it as ZK-SKO on 24/5/04. The above photo was taken at the Black Sands fly-in in November 2005.

Question Time #60

Someone on this blog will know the answer to this one!

Question Time #59 Resolved

Toooo easy, well done Hairy. Yes indeedy, it is Hughes 369E ZK-IRD's cargo pod. Great looking machine in my opinion!

Transavia PL-12 Airtruk for QW

In response to a request from QW.
Behold a photo of a Transavia PL-12 Airtruck.
ZK-CWW was one of about 37 such beasts to feature on our register.
Pic taken at Dannevirke on 08-05-1971.
Have a look at the following link for much more on these beasts in NZ.
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=civil&action=display&thread=6108
There is a complete example of one at the Ashburton Aviation Museum.

Question time # 59

What is it ?
What is it attached to ?

Photo posted on behalf of Mike Condon.

Ferrymead visitation Saturday 11-07-2009.

On Saturday afternoon eight of us were privileged to get a two & a half hour tour behind the aviation scene of the workshop and storage area at the Ferrymead Aeronautical Society (inc) at Ferrymead, Christchurch.

There is a lot of stuff of military interest here, details of which which can be found on the appropriate blogs.
As this site is " Civil" I will just cover some of the "ZK" stuff that caught my attention.

After entering through under the nose section of Bristol 170 ZK-AYG (pic further below) into a display hangar the LC-47 17221 (military) is on the right. To the left is the Vickers 807 Viscount "City of Christchurch" ZK-BRF , c/n 283 , ex NZNAC. Withdrawn from use on 15-07-1974 it was handed over to Ferrymead on 09-04-1975.
Note: the fence in the foreground is mid 1970's airside security:



Parked out the back is the Westland Wessex Mk60 , c/n WA740 . this arrived in Christchurch in the military marks that it had used in the film "Full Metal Jacket".
It never received an official NZ registration and was sold to Brian Hall and painted pink, marked as "ZK-IDL" and used as an advertising tool parked in the car park of the Imperial Discount Liquor store. Here it slowly deteriorated until it was eventually damaged by a truck. It was moved to Ferrymead in January 2007.

In the workshop/storage area is this Transavia PL-12 Airtruk being mostly ZK-DMX , c/n 353 , which had been withdrawn from use by Barr Brothers in June of 1983. It, plus a collection of other parts, now resides at Ferrymead.

In the corner of the Viscount hangar is the nose section of Bristol B170 Freighter ZK-CRK , c/n 13159. This aircraft last flew on 03-01-1986 with this portion going to John Fell of Blenheim before moving to Ferrymead in 1995.

The Bristol 170 cockpit section of ZK-AYG , c/n 12826 , "Captain Cook" acting as the entrance to the display hangar. This cockpit section was also in the John Fell collection before moving to Christchurch in 1995.

Tucked neatly between the tail fins of the Hudson (NZ2084) and the Airtruk is the fuselage of Piper PA-28-235 Pawnee ZK-BZK , c/n 25-2337 . This was withdrawn from use by Central Aviation in 1974, its registration cancelled on 27-07-1979 and to Ferrymead in 1980.