Rangitata Island Christmas fly in #1

I was very kindly invited by Russell Brodie of East Canterbury Aviation to the Rangitata Island Christmas Flyin on Sunday (18-12-2011). Although a line of inclement meteorological conditions around Burnham prevented most of the Northern contingent from arriving, a very good selection of aircraft arrived from around the local area.

A reasonably recent arrival to be based on the field with East Coast Aviation is the Cessna 172M ZK-DXL (c/n 172M-63546). This Skyhawk started work with Andy Padgett at Momona in April of 1975. It has lived its entire career down South, having served mainly with the Central Otago Aero Club, Aspiring Air Ltd and the Fiordland Experience Group/Air Fiordland since mid 1992. It still retains the large "Air Fiordland" across the top of its wings.

The one and only Rans S-17 Stinger, on our register, ZK-EEE2 (c/n 0405051) belonging to Greg Burt of Queenstown was an interesting variation on the Rans theme.

This Rotec Rally Sport began its flying registered as ZK-FIG with Marshal Freer at Rangiora in early 1984 but was withdrawn in August of 2002 whilst with Brian van der Linden. In 2004 this registration was re-issued to a Cessna 172, so when Russell re-registered it on 12-04-2005 he added a bar to the bottom of the "F" to make it ZK-ETG2. It is now one of the many items in the N.Z. Microlight Heritage Museum.

Surely - this is realflying .

Check out the Rangitata web site at:-

http://www.realflying.co.nz/