Rans S7S Courier ZK-JLS

An interesting visitor to Pauanui airfield this morning was the Rans S7 Courier ZK-JLS2.   This was originally registered back in May 2009 and more recently in August 2025 changed ownership to its current owner.

 

Savannahs

There were three ICP Savannah aircraft at the Northern Aviators Club Christmas BBQ at Springhill on Saturday - Bernie Lewis's ZK-LCF, Dave Cull's ZK-ZAV and the Whangarei Flying Club's ZK-JUN:

And interestingly, among the attendees at the BBQ were 2 guys who will have Savannahs flying soon - one new and one ex the Pacific Islands that is on amphibious floats.

We have now had 45 Savannahs of all marks registered in New Zealand to date.

Bill Mannix at Nelson today. 14-12-2025

 The Alan Caudwell built R&B Bearhawk ZK-KTY c/n 1271 about to head over towards Pakawau and Motueka. Note the fin fillet.

Down from the New Zealand International Commercial Pilots Academy at Whanganui was this Cessna A150 Aerobat ZK-ELC c/n A1520787.

This Beech C23 Sundowner 180 ZK-DVC c/n M-1566 has been with the Nelson Based DVC Flyers Syndicate since May of 2016. Still wearing its previous operators marks of Able Tasman Aviation Nelson Ltd - It is about to doddle over to Takaka and return.

The Previous 30 Years of Aircraft Evolution

If there wasn't much change in light private aircraft from the mid 1970s to the current day, by contrast there was quite a change from the mid 1940s to the mid 1970s:

Bruce Lynch's Messenger and Jim Schmidt's Tiger Moth display the Best of British at the Northern Aviators Club Christmas BBQ at Springhill yesterday.  (I must stop taking photos of the Messenger!)

Fifty Years of Aircraft Evolution

Not much has changed!  1974 Cessna 177 ZK-DNX and the latest 2025 Tecnam P2010 ZK-TCN at the Northern Aviators Club Christmas BBQ at Springhill today.
 

Autogyro Calidus ZK-RGJ

Visiting Pauanui airfield this morning was the Autogyro Calidus ZK-RGJ which hasnt featured on this blog before.   It was originally registered new in South Africa in January 2014 as ZU-RRG and in 2023 was exported to NZ being registered ZK-RGJ to an Auckland owner in August of that year.

 

Something Really Different at Wanaka - How About a Max Holste Broussard?

A recent arrival at Wanaka looks pretty spectacular and is set to display at next year's Warbirds Over Wanaka:

The Max Holste MH 1521 Broussard (meaning Bushman I think) photographed at Wanaka recently by Steve Bunting.  It arrived at Wanaka earlier this year from Denmark registered as OY-SLV.  It was built in 1961 for the French military and was civilianised as F-GGKP in June 1990.  It then went to Hungary as HA-SLV in October 1996 and then to Denmark as OY-SLV from May 2013.  It is destined to receive a very French New Zealand registration.

The type was first designed in the 1950s with the prototype flying in 1954.  It is a six seat utility aircraft and is often is referred to as the "French Beaver".  In fact it shares the same Pratt and Whitney R985 radial engine as the Beaver and has similar performance and capability.  

It has been assembled by Twenty24 Aviation at Wanaka and is awaiting registration and test flying.

Thanks very much for the photo Steve.

A brief call into Taieri.

The Airbus MBB-KB117 D-3 ZK-IDH2 c/n 21242 must have seen me coming armed with my camera and tried to avoid me. This into sun shot was taken in desperation.

This helicopter was built as D-KBKR5 by Airbus Industries before joining Helicopters Otago Ltd from 09-01-2024.

On the pad was the slightly younger Airbus MBB-BK117 D-3 (H145) ZK-IDU2 c/n 21300 which was registered to Helicopters Otago on 28-08-2024.

 Over at the Otago Aero Club was their Tecnam P92 Echo Mark II ZK-OAJ c/n 1761. it joined the Club on 25-10-2024.

In the hangar was the Clubs Vans RV-12-UL ZK-OPT c/n 121045.

This was built by Bachelor of Engineering and Technology students of Otago PolyTechnic - with the kit arriving on Campus on 20-07-2017. It first flew at Taieri on 16-08-2022.

Another Photoshoot Flight, with Moth Minor ZK-AKM on 7-12-2025

Before the NZ Warbirds Beaver arrived at Kaipara Flats airfield on 7/12/25, Michael Bach had already flown up in the DH 94 Moth Minor ZK-AKM and this was the Beaver's first photoshoot assignment.  I was invited along to be in the Beaver - what a smooth machine!

Moth Minor waiting in the sun

During Gavin Conroy's photoshoot I was able to get a photo of my own, looking back through the Beaver's rear window.

Taxying back in at NZKF after a successful photoshoot.  Maybe Gavin will share some of his photos in time - I reckon they will be spectacular!

The Photoshoot Beaver for Our Flight of 2 Messengers on 7-12-2025

The conditions were about as perfect as they could be for our photoshoot of the 2 Messengers yesterday and Gavin Conroy was taking his photos from the NZ Warbirds Beaver ZK-CKH that arrived at Kaipara Flats airfield with its port door removed:

The Warbirds Beaver and Messenger - photographer and subject.  Colourful aircraft and green grass!

Lift off from NZKF in Messenger ZK-AKE2.

The Beaver was flown by Pete McCombe and it ranged up alongside us to starboard.

Then followed an intensive period of close formation flying by Michael Bach and we were later joined by Graeme Wood in the other Messenger off to our port side.  It was neat to see Gavin directing Michael to fly up or down or in and out with his gloved hands (as well as occasional radio messages).  And as a courtesy I could only take photos of the Beaver when Gavin was between shooting as it is not a great look to have a photo with the subject photographing back.  You can see how great the conditions were.

The Two Messengers on the Ground at NZKF Today 7-12-2025

 

After today's photoshoot the two Messengers pulled up for another photo - ZK-AKE2 and ZK-CMM2..  That is the Moth Minor ZK-AKM in the background.

Some more from the New Zealand Airline Academy at Oamaru

 At Oamaru yesterday afternoon 06-12-2025 I managed to catch five of the recent additions to the New Zealand Airline Academy.

Tecnam P2008 JC ZK-NYA is c/n 1265.

Tecnam Mentor ZK-NYC is c/n 1121.

Tecnam P2008 JC ZK-NYX being c/n 1266.

ZK-NYY c/n 156 is a Tecnam P2008 LSA.

Tecnam P2008 ZK-NYZ is c/n 196.

A Couple of Miles Messengers Over Sandspit

I am still buzzing from a couple of flights this morning!  Gavin Conroy flew up to Kaipara Flats in the NZ Warbirds Beaver to get some air to air shots of our two Messengers, and Bruce Lynch graciously offered me a seat in his "Wilbur" for the photo flight.  The conditions were amazing!

Michael Bach flew ZK-AKE2 while Graeme Wood flew the Warbirds ZK-CMM2.  After the photoshoot Woodsy flew off to our starboard side which allowed for some great photo opportunities.

Thanks Bruce, Michael and Woodsy.

R44 II ZK-HYF 2

Visiting Pauanui airfield today from Hamilton was HeliCorp's R44 II ZK-HYF2 in a new grey & black colour scheme.   This was originally imported new back in 2004 and has been with HeliCorp since 2017.

Ashburton 05-12-2025

 I blew into Ashburton on Friday the 5th - alas not a pie run - and snapped the following aeronautical machines of some interest to me.

The late Peter Irvine's Cessna A188B Agwagon ZK-CSD c/n 1880204 was being worked on in the Ashburton Aviation Museum workshop to bring it up to display standard.

Having just been refueled was Brian Hall's very tidy looking and sweet sounding Piper PA-28-235B ZK-DFB c/n 28-10917. It now totes a three bladed propeller.

Michael Fowlers Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II ZK-MKW c/n 34-7970041 was parked facing the breeze.

It has had a brief previous mention Here

Neutron Nosecone Down the Mahurangi!

Back in May I posted about Rocket Lab in Warkworth building a nose cone for their new 43 metre tall Neutron rocket, and you can see that post HERE  There have since been further developments:

A couple of nights ago the now completed Neutron nose cone was transported from Rocket Lab's factory through the streets of Warkworth to Robertson's boatyard on the Mahurangi River, where it was craned onto a barge.  It was subsequently barged down the river as when I went to look yesterday it was gone.  I assume it will be shipped from Auckland to Rocket Lab's Neutron production facility at Wallops Island in Virginia.  From Warkworth to the stars!

Cessna 421 ZK-STV at Tauranga on 1-12-2025

As I was photographing the Diamond Twin Star at North Shore on Monday. Mark Pattenden was photographing another twin at Tauranga:

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle ZK-STV has been around since December 2004, and it now has a new colour scheme.  It is owned by 421 Eagle Ltd of Papamoa.

Pilatus PC-12/45 ZK-PLV update.

The Sounds Air Travel & Tourist Ltds Pilatus PC-12/45 ZK-PLV c/n 400 ferried out of New Zealand in early April this year and was handed over to Gateway Air Centre Inc of Merced, California from 14-04-2025 for delivery to Kalinin Partners LLC as N726KP. It arrived i Juneau, Alaska on 16-04-2025.

 See HERE for an earlier post on its departure.

The photo above from Lord Nelson shows N726KP just out of the paint shop and carrying SeaPort Airlines titles (a division of the Kalinin Group).

Weather report from Woodbourne + Gulfstream N347G

 Lord Nelson was at Blenheim (Woodbourne) today and captured the Gulfstream GVII-G600 N347G c/n 73047 basking in the rain.

This was registered to the manufacturer, Gulfstream Aerospace of Savannah, Georgia, as N947GA in late 2020. It whistled over to the UK to become G-ULFX from 27-05-2021 with Rock Aviation Ltd of St Helier, Jersey. It then returned to the USA to become N347G from 03-12-2024 and appears to be listed to NMS Aviation LLC of New York and operated by Clay Lacy Aviation.

A Diamond Twin Star at North Shore on 1-12-2025

I understand that the North Shore Aero Club is about to add a Diamond Twin Star to their fleet to replace their venerable Beech 76 twin ZK-CGW2.

I also think that this is the Twin Star in question - VH-DSR3 which I photo'd at North Shore on 1 December.

Cessna Caravan ZK-JMP out of Wellington 29-11-2025.

Alister Jenks caught the departure from Wellington today of the Cessna 208B Supervan 900 

ZK-JMP4 c/n 208B1169.

It was built as N479DV with a P&W PT6A-114 engine by Cessna Aircraft Company at Wichita, Kansas and certified on 17-11-2005.

In January of 2006 it was taken up by DBD Properties LLC of Grand Rapids, Michigan until going to Eastlake Aviation of Oxford, Connecticut from 05-05-2007. It was then re-registered as N95EL on 05-11-2007 - still with Eastlake. Somewhere about here it was converted to Supervan 900 with a Garrett TPE331 turboprop engine.

It then went into the hands of Southern Wings Aircraft Sales of Oklahoma City on 08-10-2014 for its move to New Zealand.

It ferried Hollister to Hilo to Pago, then into Auckland and Taupo on 26-11-2014.

Its US registration was cancelled on 01-12-2014 for it to become ZK-JMP4 with Tandem Skydiving (2002) Ltd at Taupo from 03-12-2014.

 SEE HERE to check out the Third Level New Zealand blog site for more details on why ZK-JMP is working this area.

Also tap the registration into FR24 to see its recent busy schedule. 

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Early Unregistered Microlights - Ken Hoult's Kasperwing

Another very early type of microlight to fly here was the Kasperwing.  This was a single seat weight shift microlight that used a sliding seat for pitch control while bank and yaw were controlled by wing tip rudders.  It was designed in the mid 1970s in the US by Witold Kasper and Steve Grossruck and first flew in 1976, which pre-dated the US ultralight rules.  It has a wingspan of 35 feet (10.7 metres) and an empty weight of 160 pounds (73 Kg).  Its wing is wire braced from a central kingpost and the airfoil designed by Witold Kasper can produce a fully stalled configuration that descends like a parachute.  It is powered by a Zenoah engine of 20 HP.

Ken Hoult of Morrinsville imported a Kasperwing in 1981 and Pete James test flew it on Ken's farm:

The above photo shows Ken Hoult spraying on his farm in his Kasperwing and he went on to become the New Zealand agent for the type.  The photo (from the book "The Topdressers" by Janic Geelen), was taken by Paul Legg who also was an agent for the Kasperwing and flew one.  The caption states that many farmers were interested in microlights for spraying but the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport decreed that microlights were only to be flown for pleasure.  (However that did not stop several enterprising microlight sprayers but that is another story).

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South Otago Aero Club 90th Anniversary Celebrations 22-11-2025

The South Otago Aero Club at Balclutha celebrated their 90th anniversary with a flyin at Balclutha airfield on Saturday 22 November and 40 aircraft attended, plus one helicopter (which won the spot landing competition!).  Various photos have been posted on social media and Thomas Jackson took the photos below, of aircraft that were a bit different:

Rans S 6ES ZK-ARD2 is locally owned and I have been after a photo of it in all yellow.

Rans S 7 Courier ZK-TIK2 came from Te Anau and now has a Roberts Bush Gear undercarriage.

Flight Design CT ZK-TPZ came from Otautau and has now acquired CTLS trim.

Thanks for the use of the photos Thomas.

A Couple of Accoutrements at NZAA the Other Day

 

Judging from the number plate the Airport Emergency Service has a new firefighting vehicle.

And Air New Zealand has a big new plastic covered hangar.  It is Hangar 4 and is the largest unsupported timber arch aircraft hangar in the Southern Hemisphere.  It can take a Boeing B 787 or two smaller Airbuses, but it also takes away what used to be a good aircraft photography spot.

A couple of black Helicopters

Visiting Pauanui airfield this afternoon were a couple of Auckland based black helicopters being the privately owned EC130T2 ZK-HAT4.   This is an Aston Martin AH130 version originally imported new as ZK-HAP4 in January 2024, changing to HAT in November of that year.

And the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV ZK-HNY5 which also privately owned.  This was originally imported from the USA in late 2020.

A Flight Back from Dargaville to Kaipara Flats Yesterday

After lunch at Dargaville yesterday the weather cleared to sunny as we flew a lazy route back to Kaipara Flats in Brien's Fly Synthesis Texan ZK-TXN2:

We flew down the West Coast's continuous beach until we got to Kaipara Heads.  This is a notorious piece of water that has wrecked many ships over the years.  You can see how churned up the water is down there, and I mentally thanked to reliable Rotax engine up front.  That is South Head in the distance.

We cut in at the Heads and flew on across the Kaipara Harbour passing the disused North Head lighthouse below.

An enlargement of the lighthouse.

Then we overflew NZKF and on down the Mahurangi River, which you can see all the way from Warkworth down to Scotts Landing in the photo.

Around past Snells Beach we overflew Sandspit, with the channels showing due to the low tide.

Then we flew back and landed at NZKF where there was lots of activity: (from left) Eagle 150, Chipmunk, Tiger Moth, Messenger, Robin R2160 and Cherokee.

Thanks for the great flight Brien.