75 Years of Aerowork (sort of) Celebration at Wanganui

As I have previously posted, Ravensdown Aerowork held a large private gathering at Wanganui on 7 December to celebrate 75 years of the Aerowork brand.  It involved a flying display comprising the original Wanganui Aero Work Tiger Moth ZK-AUZ followed by the 400 HP Fletcher 950 ZK-EGK with the Cresco ZK-LTJ bringing up the rear.  Despite being busy with commentary duties, Ray Deerness managed to take a few photos in the lead up to the celebration:

A procession of the oldest to the newest Aerowork topdressing aircraft - Tiger Moth ZK-AUZ, Fletcher FU24-950 ZK-EGK and PAC Cresco ZK-LTJ.  This photo was taken the day before during practice for the flypast.

Then on the day there was this impressive lineup of Ravensdown Aero Work aircraft.  The Crescos on this side of the lineup were ZK-LTY in the front with ZK-LTW, LTV and LTG.

And the other side comprised of ZK-LTN in the front with ZK-LTL, LTJ and LTH.

While in the middle was the dual control Fletcher ZK-EGK.

Of the rest of the fleet, ZK-LTB was in the South Island still fighting the Castle Hill fire, and ZK-LTS and ZK-LTZ are currently dismantled.

As for the 75 years, Wally Harding carried out his first topdressing at Blinkbonnie on 27 April 1950 and from there requests for spreading superphosphate flowed in.  Later in 1950 he ordered two Tiger Moths from the UK, quickly followed by four more.  Wanganui Aero Work Ltd was registered on 13 November 1950 and that month Wally Harding employed Doug Holloway and Wally Green to fly Tiger Moths ZK-AUY and ZK-AUZ, with the latter being the first to be signed out on 4 December 1950.  

So the 75th was not quite historically accurate but it still a great achievement.