A Plethora of Pitts' at Whitianga Yesterday 30-3-2025

A really spectacular sight formed outside Richard Hood's hangar at Whitianga yesterday as three Pitts Specials visited from Ardmore:

From Left to Right:  Pitts S 1SS ZK-LOL, S 1C ZK-RMR, S 2E ZK-ELI and S 1S ZK-MPM.

David Wilkinson flew over in the MPM Syndicate's ZK-MPM.

As previously mentioned, Andrew Hope flew over in his S 2E ZK-ELI.

Rob McNair flew over in his S 1C ZK-RMR,

and Richard Hood's S 1SS ZK-LOL is based in his hangar on the airfield.

Finally, this is the view of them as we climbed out for our return flight to North Shore.

Helicopters in Hokitika

Departing Precision Helicopters main base near the Hokitika Gorge today was EC120B ZK-HJU6 which was acquired by the company in early 2024.   Originally imported in late 2016 from Australia this was initially ZK-IHV before progressing through ZK-HVA6 in 2017, and then both ZK-HOA4 and ZK-IQN3 in 2018 before settling on ZK-HJU6 in 2019 !

Based 1km away at the company's hangar site was Precision Helicopters' Bell 206B ZK-HEH5.  This was imported from the USA in 2022 and acquired by the company in late 2024.

And at Hokitika Airport was Anderson Helicopters AS350B2 ZK-HKA3 which has been with the company since importation from the Philippines in late 2002.

From the cobwebs.

 Graeme Stratton has been having a trip down memory lane and offers us a few shots from the past.

The Cessna 185D Skywagon ZK-CHS c/n 185-0793 as seen on the beach at Tuatapere on 30-01-1974.

Note the shooting irons leaning against the tail.

For previous mention of ZK-CHS SEE HERE.

Above we see Peter Matich trying to prove that he was the camp cook at Preservation Inlet in January 1974.

(he wasn't).

Here we see Peter giving the Cessna 172M ZK-DHU 'a lick'.

ZK-DHU has spent almost its whole career at Taupo - becoming ZK-ZZC in May of 2012.

A Flight from North Shore to Whitianga Today 30-3-2025

 I travelled down to North Shore aerodrome this morning to meet up with David Signal.  This was because we were planning to fly across to Whitianga for an Auckland Chapter of the Sport Aviation Association of NZ / Northern Aviators Club BBQ hosted by Gavin and Delys Magill at their hangar home, and to see Gavin's Airdrome Aeroplanes Sopwith Camel.  We were flying in David's red Foxbat ZK-SGI :

On climb out from North Shore we flew over the Weiti River where contractors are well advanced with building the bridge which is part of the Penlink motorway.  That is the Whangaparaoa Peninsula on the left and Stillwater in the middle with Long Bay in the distance.

Then we flew out into the Hauraki Gulf with Motutapu Island down there and Rangitoto in the distance.  These two islands are joined at the hip with a narrow isthmus.

Then on towards Coromandel into the sun reflecting off the water.

It is not far across the Coromandel to Whitianga and on the way you look down on some of the famous jagged peaks of the Coromandel Peninsula, but from a different perspective.

We arrived into Whitianga in light rain and there are some impressive hangar houses on view.

It was quite busy when we arrived, we were number 1 of 3 when landing.  Then a few aircraft arrived from Ardmore (which is pretty close in a straight line).  Here is Russell Jenkins in his lovely Stearman ZK-RJS.

Then Andrew Hope in his Pitts S 2E ZK-ELI.

Here is Gavin's Airdrome Aeroplanes Sopwith Camel which is quite well advanced.  It is a full size replica and he will power it with a Continental O-320 engine which produces 140 HP.

It was also the first time I had seen Pete Walton's Airdrome Aeroplanes Fokker Triplane replica ZK-CCO2 which is also full size.

It was a machine guns at 20 paces standoff outside Gavin's hangar!

I will post some more from the great day later, and thanks for the flight David.

Ardmore today from Errol Cavit.

 Eurocopter EC 130 B4 ZK-HBC7 c/n 4013 joined our register on 16-07-2024 for United Pacific Aero Ltd of Castor Bay.

First flown back in 2006 using the Eurocopter F-WQDD test registration before delivery to Sheikh Mohammed Al Mualla of United Arab Emirates as A6-FOX.

It was later re-registered as A6-FLT2 for Falcon Aviation Services.

Over outside DTI was the Pilatus PC-12/45 ZK-PLV c/n 400 ex Sounds Air Travel & Tourism Ltd.

Original HB-FQR3 with Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG from 23-04-2001 - destined for Australia where it became VH-VWO from 01-11-2001.

It became the fifth PC-12 for Sounds Air on 18-01-2017.

Its final Sounds Air service was from Christchurch to Blenheim on 06-03-2025 and was ferried up to Ardmore on the 28th awaiting ferry to Juneau, Alaska.

Its departure awaits a visa approval for one of the pilots.

Westpac Rescue AW169 ZK-IZB At Auckland Hospital Heliport Yesterday 28-3-2025

I had cause to be down in Auckland yesterday in the Epsom area so I detoured down Grafton Road past Auckland Hospital on my way back to the motorway North.  This takes you past the Auckland Hospital heliport where a Westpac Rescue AW 169 was parked up so I stopped for a photo:

It was the quintessentially Auckland registered ZK-IZB which made for a spectacular sight in the sun.

From the shoe box. De Havilland DH60G Moth ZK-AAD

 Built by the de Havilland Aircraft Co Ltd at Stag Lane, London, this DH60G Gipsy Moth c/n 927 gained it UK CofA on 29-12-1928. It was issued the G-NZEC registration in the UK on 09-10-1928, just prior to New Zealand being allocated its individual nationality registration prefix of 'ZK' which took effect from 01-01-1929.  

G-NZEC was allocated the New Zealand registration of ZK-AAD with its CofA allocated on 15-03-1929, listed to Air Survey & Transport Co Ltd of Auckland and it arrived painted as ZK-AAD at Lyttelton the following month. 

It evidently flew as a demonstrator for a year - until its CofA expired and was then stored and partially cannibalised. Restored to airworthiness in 1931 and sold to A C McIntosh of Invercargill in September of 1932, who gave it the name "Bell-Bird".

Following damage at Queenstown on 17-12-1932 it was rebuilt by NZ Airways Ltd at Timaru and by 10-08-1937 was with M E Spiers of Greymouth. I believe the following day it had a forced landing.

Six months later, on 16-02-1938, it struck a fence on take-off from Whataroa and its registration was cancelled on 03-06-1938. 

Avid Heavy Hauler ZK-SMH

Visiting Pauanui airfield today to view the hundreds of participants in the Whangamata Beach Hop 2025 was the Hawera based Avid Heavy Hauler ZK-SMH.   Originally registered back in February 1999 it has had recent change in paint scheme and now carries a blue registration on the tail.

 

Wellington Photos from Friday the 21st.

 Below we have a selection of photographs taken by Allister Jenks at Wellington Airport last Friday the 21st of March.

Listed to Search And Rescue Services Ltd and branded as the Westpac Rescue for Waikato and King Country is the Kawasaki BK117 B2 ZK-IRU c/n 1101.

Of 1995 vintage and ex Japan as JA6743 it served time in Australia as VH-BKS6 from May of 2011.

It was imported into NZ in November 2012 for its current owner.

It seems to have spent some time in Wellington - perhaps standing in for Wellingtons ZK-HLF2.

The Nelson Aviation College Ltd of Motueka imported this factory new Piper PA-44-180 Seminole ZK-NAH3 (c/n 4496327) via Australia in March of 2013 following it being on display at the Avalon Airshow the previous month.

Some earlier info found HERE

The Tirohanga Holdings Ltd's Cessna 525B CJ3+ Citation Jet ZK-RJZ2 c/n 525B0524 was parked out in the sunshine before heading up to Auckland.

This has been in NZ since October of 2017.

 For an earlier mention seen here

The Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian ZK-THG c/n 4697215 from the Masterton based H G Group Ltd.  Mentioned previously HERE.

Note the heat distortion on the houses in the background.

The Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk ZK-TWR c/n 38-81A0134 got its registration from Tower Aviation Ltd of Whangarei when first registered in NZ on 01-10-1999.

 It was imported from Canada where it had flown for six and a half years as C-FBCP and prior to that it was N23355 in the USA from 1981.

About mid-2010 it joined the Whenuapai Aviation Sports Club (power Section) - renamed in 2012 as the RNZAF Base Auckland Aviation Sports Club Inc.

Gareth's Southern Odyssey (6 and final)

Carrying on down the road from Queenstown Gareth Arscott called into Mandeville and then further on to Gore on 24 November 2024:

Where he photo'd Bill Sutherland's Red Diesel powered Fletcher FU 24-954 ZK-EUC.  I am not sure if it is still a FU 24-954 model with the new engine.

The Red A03-003 engine is a modern common rail V 12 diesel which produces 500 HP, and the conversion has been carried out by Phoenix Aviation Maintenance (2021) Ltd for Bill Sutherland's company Diesel Air New Zealand Ltd who are the STC holder for the conversion.  The 500 HP diesel is projected to have a 20% fuel saving over the 400 HP Lycoming IO-720 and it can burn more efficient fuels such as kerosene.

The aircraft first flew with the diesel engine on 26/5/22 and was to undergo a Flight Test Schedule to complete its Experimental certification, but I am not sure how this has progressed.

Thanks for your series of photos Gareth.  I have enjoyed posting them.

KIS TR 4 Cruiser ZK-TUF at Tauranga

Warwick Hamilton photo'd the KIS Cruiser ZK-TUF at Tauranga yesterday.  This has been a tough aircraft to catch up with since its move up North.

ZK-TUF was registered to D M Hill of Paihia on 9/3/23, having been previously owned by its builder Maurice Tuff at Christchurch since 2000.  It has now acquired some nice trim stripes.

Thanks for the photo Warwick.  Too bad about the photo bombing Cessna F406!

That KFC advert on television

 No doubt you will have seen the KFC ZING AIR advert on television recently.

Ian Bevins shot some of the film crew preparing the scene for its filming at Ardmore on January the 5th.The aircraft above is obviously the Cessna 680 Sovereign ZK-ZEK c/n 680-0012 of Air Ops Jet Ltd.

Check out their promotion HERE

Photo above via KFC.

Lifeflight's Latest Beech 200 ZK-LFT/3 at Wellington on 21-3-2025

Yesterday was a busy aviation day around the country and from Wellington Tim Gorman has sent in photos of Life Flight's latest Beech B 200C King Air out in the sun:

ZK-LFT3 (c/n BL-155) was registered to Air Freight NZ Ltd of Palmerston North on 6/8/24 and has been undergoing work at Palmerston North until recently.  It is ex VH-VAE and is the fifth King Air in the Life Flight fleet.

Thanks for the photo Tim.

A mixed bag at Christchurch.

A selection of what was at Christchurch International today - 21-03-2025. 

Two different views - two different photographers- of the Eurocopter AS 350 B2 Squirrel ZK-HIF4.c/n 7504. Imported from Norway in 2022 and now listed to a private owner.

Another stranger in town was the Cirrus Design SR22 ZK-FER2 c/n 3744 of TJL Rentals Ltd of Hamiton.

This arrived in from Kerikeri and Whangarei yesterday - and departed this afternoon for Te Kowhai.

A 2011 model which was originally VH-FER2 - arriving in NZ via Norfolk Island on 31-01-2020.

The Gulfstream GV-SP (G550) N888KZ captured on departure by Tony McFarlin.

See Here for more details of it last Sunday.

Aeronautical Stuff from Warkworth Today 21-3-2025

What a fabulous day for flying today!  Not a cloud in the sky and light winds.  I just had to head out to the airfield and on the way around 10 am I was surprised to see an aircraft on a trailer heading into town!  So a quick U turn:

It was Arjen Visser's new Sling 4 TSi ZK-DBV2 which was in to have its trim and registration painted on.

Then I headed out to the airfield where I pre flighted Honey Bebe and took off around 10.25 am.  I flew my usual track past Warkworth and over Sandspit marina before heading down Snells Beach.  )Click once or twice to enlarge the photos if you want).

Shades of silver.  Man it was nice up there!

Then I flew out to Takatu Point which is North of the outer coast of Kawau Island into the sun glinting off the sea with Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands out there.

And this is Takatu Point with the long stretches of Tawharanui and Omaha beaches in the distance.

Magical!

Squirrel ZK-HUO also returns from The Ice.

Photographed at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon by Matthew Beaven, just prior to lifting off the deck of the Korean icebreaker Araon, was Christchurch Helicopters Airbus AS 350 B3e ZK-HUO3 c/n 7721.

For the earlier history on this Squirrel See HERE

A Couple of Cessnas at Wanganui

On the way back home from the AOPA meeting at Hawera, Jordan Elvy stopped briefly at Wanganui and he captured these two Cessnas of interest:

Cessna 172R ZK-WUI (c/n 17280533) has been with the New Zealand International Commercial Pilots Academy at Wanganui since 21/12/23 and hasn't appeared as such on the blog previously.  It has a previous history in New Zealand as ZK-NAO and ZK-JKB which you can see HERE

And the Cessna 152 ZK-JFY is also now with the NZICPA and has acquired some trim, having been in their ownership since 1/3/24.  Again, this aircraft has quite a long previous history in New Zealand which you can see HERE.

Lyttelton Chinese AW169 B-70C0.

 Noted today, 19-03-2025, aboard the Chinese Ice Breaker MV Xue Long 2 (Snow Dragon2) at Lyttelton today was the AgustaWestland AW169 B-70C0 c/n 69-090 as operated by the Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE).

First flown on the well used Italian Augusta test registration of I-EASX before becoming B-70C0 in July of 2019.