Beaver ZK-CTJ and a Reference to Beaver ZK-CYD

In my previous post on Beaver ZK-CPE I stated that it was the last Beaver from the heyday of aerial topdressing in New Zealand.  But Hawker Siddeley had another Beaver as a demonstrator aircraft at the end of 1965.  Unfortunately for expensive topdressing aircraft like the Beaver, the price of wool crashed in 1966 and many topdressing aircraft were mothballed or retired as farmers looked to make savings.

ZK-CTJ (c/n 1596) was registered to Hawker Siddeley Ltd at Wellington on 28/10/65.  It was for a time fitted with a hopper as in this photo at Wellington in November 1966 but I do not know if it ever carried out any topdressing work.  Does anyone know? It was eventually leased to Mt Cook Air Services Ltd who operated it in a passenger configuration and for some time on retractable skis as in the photo below.

On 16/11/68 ownership was transferred to Hawker Siddeley International (NZ) Ltd and it was cancelled on 11/6/69 after it had become 5Y-AIW for the Desert Locust Control Organisation at Nairobi in Kenya.  It was seen painted as such in Wellington in March 1969 and together with ZK-CYD (c/n 1615) which became 5Y-AIW for the Desert Locust Control Organisation, they flew from Wellington to Auckland on 28/5/69 and then on across the Tasman Sea departing Auckland on 29/5/69.  Did they then fly on all the way to Kenya - Delticman has advised that yes indeed they did both fly all the way to Kenya.

5Y-AIW ex ZK-CTJ at Bankstown, Sydney in July 1969.

ZK-CYD (c/n 1615) was registered to Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd of Wellington in November of 1966.  I understand that it was to be for Fieldair but the wool price crash meant that this did not proceed.  I don't think it ever was a topdressing Beaver.  It was cancelled on 11/6/69 after it had become 5Y-AIW for the Desert Locust Control Organisation of Nairobi in Kenya, being presented to Kenya by the Canadian Government..

5Y-AIV ex ZK-CYD at Bankstown, Sydney in July 1969.

This Beaver has gone on to become N1966B in the US being first registered there on 24/11/92 and where it is still current.