Hanmer Hughes selection

 Four more photos from the fabulous Hughes fly in at Hanmer on 15-02-2025.

MDHI 369E ZK-HTZ4 c/n 0352E on hover taxi to its parking place.

This began its career in PNG as P2-PAI in 1989, then to Australia as VH-WHC2 from 09-01-1998 with a change of registration to VH-NPH on 24-06-1999.

It became ZK-HTZ4 on 05-10-2022 with International Heliproperties NZ Ltd, transferring to Poponui Ltd of Tauranga on 21-10-2022.

Current operator, Eastland Heliservices Ltd of Gisborne, listed it from 16-10-2023.

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Up from Southland was High Country Helicopters Ltd.'s Hughes 369D ZK-HZK2 c/n 79-0561D.

Its life also began in PNG, but in 1979, as P2-PHR with the same operator, Pacific Helicopters Pty Ltd of Goroka.

It moved to Australia to become VH-PLF from 14-04-1997.

Helicopter Finance registered it in NZ as ZK-HZK2 from 21-04-2006 and it joined High Country at Waikaia from 14-04-2008.

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MD 520 NOTAR ZK-IDL3 c/n LN051 is also a recent addition to the NZ register, being listed to a 'Private Owner' on 30-10-2024. It is operated by Nelson Helicopters.

This was first noted with McDonnell Douglas Helicopters of Mesa, Arizona in July of 1993 and went to India to become VT-TEX until returning to the US register on 22-02-2022 as N520NH.

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Cast your mind back to August of 1965 because this was when this Hughes 269B N9408F c/n 84-0132 came into the world.

After at least five operators in the States it came to NZ and became ZK-HTU from 29-03-1985 and initially operated out of Hanmer. Four more operators followed until it had an incident in the Tararua's on 27-02-1994.

Following repairs it returned to the register as ZK-HOR2 on 19-12-1995. After five more operators it joined current owner Alex Forsyth of Ashburton on 10-09-2023.