Question time #72 resolved

Well done troops ! [Naki, ZK-CKE2 & Wayne]

It is indeed ZK-ARH. C/n 102 and ex G-ABYN and EI-ABU.

Rebuilt started at Mandeville and completed at Taieri.

Photos taken at Taieri 09-09-2005.

ZK-CNS crashed today.

Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six ZK-CNS , c/n 32-686 , crashed today just after take off from Great Barrier Island; two persons injured.
See:-

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/wind-gust-may-have-brought-down-light-plane-3039522

ZK-CNS was a product of 1966 and flew with the US registration of N3766W before being registered to Airwork (NZ) Ltd of Christchurch on 08-11-1966.

It went to the Southern Districts Aero Club at Gore from 12-07-67 but crashed at Big Bay on 07-1967 and was cancelled on 19-08-1968.

After rebuild it returned to the register with F H Chittock and E F Potter of Gore on 04-05-1970.

Some five opererators later it went to Great Barrier Airlines on30-04-1986.

In more recent times it has had the green tail end with a large stitchbird image on it.

Question time # 72.

What aircraft type do we have here then ?
What registration does this one have ?

Charlie Drapers fly in 27-09-2009.

A general view down the aircraft line at Charlie Drapper''s strip just to the north of Darfield.

This was a very low key and relaxed but well run fly in plus a gathering of vintage and classic motor vehicles.

I noted 23 aircraft on site.

Above is the Richard Royds Auster Mk5 ZK-ARR , c/n 1364 . After RAF service this Auster went to Singapore followed by a lengthy period in Australia. It arrived in NZ in about August of 1997.

Another ex RAF aircraft is the De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-BCO , c/n 83420 imported into NZ in 1953. Currently owned by the BCO Syndicate and based at Swannanoa on the Des Lines strip.

Piper PA-18-150 ZK-BNX , c/n 18-5453 flown in by Pat Scotter and Ron Smith from Rangiora.

The host's aircraft is this Beagle Auster A109 Airdale ZK-CCW , c/n B528 , which was assembled in the Wellington Aero Clubs hangar by Ivan East & crew in late 1962. Charlie acquired this aircraft mid 2000 and has based it on his farm since then.

All part of the fun. Des Lines topping up before heading off in Tiger ZK-BCO.

The G & N Partnership Cessna 172M Skyhawk ZK-DHQ , c/n 61103 , from up the Rakaia Gorge. [G = Gerald & N = Noel].

Cessna A185F Skywagon ZK-DPF , c/n 02421 , which has been with the Fechney family since new in late 1974.

Jodel D.11 ZK-EDG , c/n AACA/17/2. Built by Jack Inder mid 1970's and currently listed to Tony Den Haan.

Cameron V65 Viva balloon ZK-FBO , c/n 1854 , set off about mid afternoon.

Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C ZK-FSP , c/n 28-2818 flown in by Pam Collings from Forest Field.

Robinson R44 Raven 11 ZK-HTZ2 , c/n 10083 of Darfield Helicopters (Peter Morrison) during one of its comings and goings.

Above Alastair Millar's Zenair CH701 Stol ZK-KJR , c/n 7-3854 , in its recent non white paint scheme.

Another Zenair CH701 Stol was Stew Bufton's ZK-LSB , c/n 6089.

Cessna R172K Hawk XP ZK-MAV , c/n 2153 , being pushed aloft by the 25m wing span Schleicher ASH-25 ZK-GTF , c/n 25104 , driven by Mike Oakley. Mike arrived from Hororata, did two low flypasts and landed at the narrow northern end of the strip - greatly impressing the cloud near the fenceline. After release from this tow he put on a short aerobatic display (limited by the cloud base) demonstrating the wing flex on these ASH25's..

A better view of the tow plane Cessna R172K Hawk XP ZK-MAV. Interesting history for this aircraft. Currently listed to the Stella Syndicate it has been a work of love by Mike Chilton.

Gordon Whale arrived in his Cessna 172P ZK-SGW , c/n 74407. A reasonably recent import, reaching the register on 30-07-08. A rare sighting for me.

Harvard 7660 came in for a while. Officially known as ZK-XSA [ex South Africa]. This North American Harvard 3* has the c/n of 78-6647 and was imported by Graham Orphan & John Kelly in 1996. It moved to the Harvard 7660 Syndicate on 16-02-2000.

A late arrival was the Yak 55M ZK-YKV , c/n 920402.

A great laid back day which Charlie will almost certainly repeat.

West Melton today [27-09-2009].

This Sundays drive took me to the West Melton airfield. This field belongs to the Canterbury Aero Club but has several private aircraft based there.
Above is the Denney Kitfox IV ZK-KIV , c/n 1642 , of Russel Ainsworth.

Peter W Harland's initials make up the registration for his Tecnam P2002 Sierra ZK-PWH , c/n 142 . It resides in the same hangar as the Kitfox.

My main reason for calling in was to see the Australian Aircraft Hornet STOL ZK-JCM , c/n 023. Again the registration is the initials of its owner Jock C Montgomery. It was flying off its final hour of testing today.

Test pilot being Evan Belworthy. Evan flew across the river from his ranch in his Clutton Fred ZK-FRD, seen in the background above.

The Hornet has gained some bigger wheels since it appeared in an earlier blog.

Hurricane Mk 11A ZK-TPK Auction - Last Chance!

Today someone kindly gave me this catalogue for the auction of military and aviation collectables to be conducted by Bonhams and Goodman in Melbourne at 6pm today (Sunday 27 September 2009).

As this is 9pm New Zealand time you all still have time to get a last minute bid in! Yeah Right! For your reference it is Lot Number 29.

(Actually it is too late for you all as I note that bids should be submitted no later than the day prior to the sale - I don't quite know how this aligns with the auction process?).

Question time #71 resolved

DRAT !

You night owls are too good. I will have to rat around and find something harder.

It is indeed the Ferrymead Museums nose section of Lockheed L188 Electra ZK-TEA , c/n was 2005.

It arrived in Auckland on 19-11-1959 to become listed with TEAL on the 23rd as ZK-TEA. The registration ZK-BMP was initially pencilled in for this aircraft.

Being the first of five it was named "Aotearoa".

It transferred to Air New Zealand on 01-04-1966 and was cancelled from our register on 01-06-1972 to become N31231 followed by LN-FOI with Fred Olsen Air Transport. It was withdrawn and stored at Coventry in about 2000.

The nose section was acquired by Ferrymead and arrived on 22-07-06.

Well done Matt.

I will be going fishing this afternoon. So if you care to flick me your snail mail address to bluebus@windowslive.com I will mail you one.
If per chance you are at Charlie Drapers strip today - the Blue Bus will be in attendance.

Question time # 71

Another nosey question.
What ?
Where ?
Why ?
& anything else you care to mention !

More About Sindlinger Hurricane ZK-VYX

In February 2009 I posted an article on the blog about the Sindlinger Hurricane ZK-VYX and its previous identity ZK-FVW. In that post I asked if anyone had any further information on this interesting aircraft.

Now Blue Bus has forwarded a web link to an article that has been written by Bob Gibson who returned the aircraft to flying condition and currently flies it (photographed above at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton). This article gives a clear history of the aircraft and its Mitsubishi V6 motor. The link is http://www.linkecu.com/newsfromlink/hurricane

More from NZCH west side 26-09-09.

It is not every day that we see an out of towner microlight at Christchurch. But here we have Jabiru SP ZK-WBA , c/n 449 , from the RNZAF Base Woodbourne Aviation Sports Club on the tie downs.
The aircraft in the background is the Taylorcraft 20 Ranchwagon ZK-BQM.

More rotary wing sightings. Above is the Aerospatiale AS350BA Squirrel ZK-HKW4 , c/n 1360 , of Way To Go Heliservices on the Pacific Aircraft Services grass patch. This Squirrel operated as ZK-HDV2 between 1990 and 1993 before being exported to Australia. It returned to NZ as ZK-HKW on 28-06-02.

The Rick Lucas Helicopters Robinson R44 Raven 11 ZK-HGU3 , c/n 11259. This helicopter was delivered new to Endurance Fishing Co Ltd of Nelson in a blue colour scheme and only joined Helipro on 30-07-2009.

In at Heli Maintenance for a spot of servicing was the MD 369E ZK-HCC5 . c/n 0220E , of Mountain Helicopters of Fox Glacier.

Helicopters on NZCH western grass.

Captured in todays [25-09-2009] rain was this Robinson R44 Raven 11 ZK-HUC3 , c/n 10655 , registered to Suttons Moss Ltd of Dobson. It had just snuck in from the west coast.
Whats with the Precision Helicopter branding ?

Helipro's Aerospatiale AS355F1 Twin Squirrel ZK-HXO2 , c/n 5284 , on their pad on the 21st.

Another shot of the Bell 206B JetRanger 11 ZK-HTX with the registration much clearer this time. It was parked at Pacific Aircraft Services on 21-09-09.

Question time # 70 resolved

Yes Mike. It is [or hopes to be] ZK-TSA (Ted Smith Aerostar).
& it is indeed at Wigram.

More pics later; perhaps Sunday morning - Flat chat on other matters at this point in time.

Question time # 70

Off course we all know what this is ! ------ Don't we ?

But where was it photographed ?

What's happening ?

Can you give me a NZ civil registration to write on the back of this photograph please ?

Question time # 69 resolved.

Told you it was easy.

Milford Sound.

From the top of those horridible stairs.

Well done Mike.

Question time # 69

Easy one to start the week.
Where on earth are we ?

NZRT 19-09-09.

Saturday at Rangiora I caught this JetRanger backing away from the fuel pumps. I was surprised to note that the registration was IX. My immediated thought was that it was some distance from home as I recall that it was based in the Murupara area. But with a closer look at home I noted the Rural Helicopters (Canty) script on the door which had me checking my files to find that it is actually ZK-HTX , c/n 1615.

I found the Phil Kennedy Corby Starlet ZK-RPM in this position yesterday (Saturday 19th) having work done on the foamed wing fillets and the Spitfire type air intakes below the wing. Right of centre, in the foreground, is the Norton rotary motorbike engine that will be installed.

Dyn Aero Day

Passing through Rangiora today - above is Dyn Aero MCR01 Club ZK-WIK , c/n 342 , of Leading Edge Aviation - north bound back toward Parakai having spent the night at Ashburton..

Below is Dyn Aero MCR01 Club ZK-SML , c/n 393 , listed to Geoff Smale of North Shore City. It has been ferried down to , and will be based at, Ashburton for Geoff to gain further training on this rather impressive microlight class 2.

Not a bad set up for a microlight.
The tail tells us some of its vital statistics.

This aircraft was fitted out at Leading Edge Aviation at Parakai and first flew on 07-08-09. It is powered by a Rotax 912 and has a three bladed hydraulic constant speed propeller. It has double slotted flaps, an auto pilot and an EFIS glass panel (above).

Rangiora area 15-09-2009

A few of the aircraft that I photographed in my patch today.
Above is Brett Emeny on short final for 07 in his Cessna 320E Skynight ZK-EGN2.

Being slowly assembled in Pat Scotters hangar is this Cessna 152 N24988 , c/n 80497. According to the FAA file this aircraft was exported to Peru - which is in fact true. Hayden Halsted did indeed ship this aircraft from the US to Peru but he was transferred to NZ before he had a chance to assemble it there. It never received a peruvian registration but it was registered as ZK-KDP on 24-06-2009.

Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk ZK-EVC , c/n 81A0019 , started its career with the Southern Districts Aero Club at Gore. More recently [since early 2007] it had been Taieri based. From about March this year it has been in the Rangiora area, being listed to Grant Loader on 14-07-09.

One of a sizeable bunch of Cessna 152's operated by Mainland Air from Momona (Dunedin) is ZK-ETD , c/n 84195. It dropped in for fuel on its way back home after a mission to Motueka.

My favorite old Cessna 180 is ZK-BKG , c/n 30376 . This 1953 vintage aircraft came to NZ in 1955 for the Wellington Aero Club. It is currently listed to Richard Royds of Aoraki Mount Cook Ski Planes fame.

Surprise for the day was this De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk ZK-CPY2 , c/n C1-0389 which I tracked down at its home strip near Rangiora. It had just flown to/from Kaikoura. Interesting colour scheme. Underneath it is all blue with stars under both wings and tailplane.