Belated duo at Hokitika

Matt Hayes was at Hokitika on Friday 22-08-2014 and sent in these two shots.

 Anderson Helicopters Ltd listed this Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HRY (c/n 10966) on  26-03-2014.
See earlier post at :- http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/another-run-to-philistine.html

Above we have the Maule MX-7 Star Rocket 180B ZK-TDS (c/n 22001C) back on its new big wheels after an oopsie last November on the Kumara Beach.

Below is what the NZ Aviation New Magazine said about it after it being first registered in NZ  on 11-08-2004.

Belford Maule has been in “aviation” since as early as 1929 when he was working with derigibles in the US Army. By 1931 he had built his mid-wing M-1 aircraft. By 1940 he was producing Hummer aircraft self starters, then he became better known for his aircraft tail wheels from 1941. From 1952 he began a design for what was to become the Maule Bee Dee M-4 in 1957. This matured over the years to what is now generally called the Maule M-4, -5, -6, -7 etc. Many of these also carried names like Rocket, Astro-Rocket, Strata-Rocket, Lunar Rocket, Super Rocket, Star Rocket, Orion and Comet.

This month sees the arrival of a model Maule MX-7-180B Star Rocket. As the designation implies it runs an 180hp Lycoming O-360-C1F engine and a Hartzell 76 inch CSU propeller. The first of this model was cranked out in 1984, however ZK-TDS is of 1995 heritage, having been built as N9236U for Robert Smith/Safe Flight 21 Product Team of Washington DC. On 14-02-1997 this aircraft entered the Australian register as VH-MXN for Brian Harward, initially of Lilli Pilli in NSW. It was ferried across the Tasman via Lord Howe, Norfolk Island and New Plymouth on 19-07-04, and on to Rangiora on the 20^th. Ownership is now vested with the Canterbury Taildraggers.

 

 

 

In August of 2010 it moved to Wildlife Surveillance Ltd of Christchurch and then to Canterbury Aviation Ltd on 23-09-2012. Murray Bowes of Hokitika took it on from 02-09-2013.