Foley's strip, Taihape

Graeme Stratton also sent in three photographs taken by his father at the Bill Foley airstrip south of Taihape alongside the main road.

 

First pic is of Gordon Reader taxying, with wingtip assistants (or should that be assistance) in his De Havilland DH60M Special ZK-AEJ (c/n 1542).

This historic aircraft was exported in 2009 back to the UK to be restored to its original registration of G-AAXG to Simon Kidston (with a Swiss address) who was related to one of the earlier owners.

Check out:-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2009/05/racing-has-gone-out-of-rugby-racing.html

and

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2009/05/zk-aej.html

 

Below is a reasonably decent recent shot ZK-AEJ as G-AAXG thanks to Airport-Data.com

Below is the Piper PA-18-135A Super Cub ZK-BFQ (c/n 18-3713). This was an Airwork (NZ) Ltd import - being registered to them on 30-09-1954.

 (I have a pencilled note that it was re-engine to 150hp !). (Ignore this).

Robertson Air Service Ltd picked it up from 01-07-1959 and moved it on to Jack Ashworth a couple of months later, who in turn released it to the Rotorua Aero Club on 04-04-1960.

Next in line was R Insole and the Glen Murray Flying Club in 1961.

It was returned to Airwork (NZ) Ltd on 22-05-1962 who moved it on to the Taihape Aero Club in October of 1962 with whom it is seen below.

I then have the Cub listed to Distributing Co Ltd of Taihape and that it crashed at Karioi on 30-05-1965.

 

The two lower photos show the Champion 7GCBC Citabria ZK-COF (c/n 7GCBC-9) also on the Folley strip but I suspect on a different date.

The Middle Districts Aero Club registered ZK-COF on 20-06-1966 (which is after ZK-BFQ had been crashed). It was in use by the Taihape Flying Club for a while - no doubt a stand in for BFQ.

ZK-COF went on to be damaged at Ngamatea Station on 28-02-1970 with its registration being cancelled some nine months later. It was rebuilt for Mort Saunders Ltd of Mt Maunganui from 23-05-1973 but was crashed on 02-09-1976 at Pongakawa.