One size fits all. Wigram 25-09-2025

 During a quick visit to the RNZAF Museum at Wigram yesterday I noted two groups of young folk proceeding boldly forth.

One size fits all.

ZK-HSX. The elusive Huey.

Graeme Stratton recently flicked me this photo below of the seldom mentioned Huey ZK-HSX2.

Jim Shewin is piloting the Bell UH-1H Iroquois ZK-HSX2 c/n 10320 - keeping a burn off “controlled” back in 2010.

This Iroquois has been working away in New Zealand since 1999 but appears to have had very little publicity.

So :-

This is a model UH-1H-BF with the Bell construction number of 10320.

As the c/n tells us it was built at Bells' Fort Worth, Texas facility - It received the U.S.Army serial number of 68-15390 and appears to have been 'posted' to Fort Hood, Texas about February of 1969.

As far as I can tell it was in South Vietnam in 1970-1971 with D Troop of the 3rd Squadron of the 4th Cavalry. 

They were known as the Centaurs and carried a small emblem on the lower rear corner of the sliding door. This was a Centaur - a horses body with a human upper body and head.

68-15390 carried the number 390 on its tail fin in white and was named 'Beloved' whilst being flown by James Tonelli (and probably others). 

It was also known to have used the radio callsign of  'Centaur 23'. 

Now I am not sure if this was the aircrafts or the pilots individual call sign.

It was operated mainly as a 'slick' - for the dropping and picking up of troops.

The above pic I believe show 68-15390.

The below pic shows 'Centaur 23'

Are they the one and the same ?

Renegade Woods was out Northwest of Saigon near Cu Chi.

An LRRP is the abbreviation for Long Range Recce Patrol , and LZ is for Landing Zone.

Brief extract from the April 2nd 1970 action report mentioning Centaur 23.

As the chaos on the ground unfolded, Warrant Officer James Tonelli brought his UH-1 into a low-level approach under heavy fire, dropping down 15 feet from the crater. After the Rangers raced to the chopper and piled in, Tonelli managed to get the overloaded helicopter airborne in spite of taking multiple hits from ground fire, 

Obviously both Tonelli and the '390' survived the American War and the helicopter underwent a civil conversion with Richards Heavylift Helo Inc and joined the US civil aircraft register as N375AV on 31-01-1996 for Aerovantage Ltd of Seattle, Washington.

They moved it on to Construction Helicopters Inc (CHI) of Porter Valley, California from 12-03-1997.

Its US registration was cancelled in January of 1999 as exported to NZ.

It became ZK-HSX2 on 02-03-1999 for Peter Bradley of Rotorua.

Two photos of it in its hangar at Murupara on 17-03-2000.

Below - as seen at Murupara on 30-04-2000.

Title then moved to Lakeland Helicopters (1989) Ltd of Rotorua from 19-12-2002.

Bates

Dave Bates capture this shot of ZK-HXS at Murupara with some colour added on 22-01-2004.

Above photo was taken at Wanaka in February 2008. Photographer unknown.

Presumably marked up for a movie !

Heli Resources (2012) Ltd at Rotorua became the listed operator from 18-04-2013.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Some More Photos from Very Early MAANZ Days

Recently I posted on the formation of MAANZ (the Microlight Aircraft Association of New Zealand) on 22/8/81.  I posted that there was a MAANZ gathering of microlights at Te Kowhai on 12/12/81.  The link to that post is:  https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2025/09/microlight-aircraft-of-new-zealand_11.html

It turns out that Murray Kirkus was there and he took a few photos (that was back in the day of black and white photos and you rationed your photos because you only had so many photos on a film that you had to get developed - how things have changed!  A bit like microlights).

In this photo we have a Quicksilver MX and a Mirage.  Murray has also advised that Tommy Namais is the guy in front of the Quicksilver with the beard and shorts and Ken Asplin is standing in front of the Mirage.  Tommy Namais was an American hang glider pilot who came to New Zealand with Marty Waller and together they formed Pacific Kites 1981 Ltd who were the agents for Quicksilver microlights.  You can see that there was a lot of interest in the microlights and also that there was no registration under the wing of the Quicksilver.

In this nice photo of a Mirage in flight taken by Murray on the day you can see that there is a control column and the spoiler is activated on the top of the port wing.

Murray also was at the 1982 AACA flyin at Taupo (where I also was, but we did not meet up).  His photo of the Quicksilver MX and three Mirages is from a different perspective from my photo.  Murray also remembered that none of the four microlights had registration letters under their wings.  Again, you can see that there was a lot of interest in the new types of flying machines.

I will go back to my original post and insert these photos.

New Lifeflight Rescue Helicopter for Wellington

On 19 September 2025 Life Flight's new Airbus H145 D3 helicopter flew into their base at Wellington Airport and Tim Gorman of ZK-Aviation was there to take a series of great photos of the event:

ZK-IXS3 (c/n 21397) is a brand new machine and was temporarily registered D-HBTS in Germany - it replaces Life Flight's BK-117 ZK-HLF which had been in service for more than 20 years!  It has been prepared for Life Flight by Airbus Helicopters at Ardmore.  On ZK-IXS's entry into service Life Flight CEO Mark Johnston said "This isn't just a new helicopter - the Westpac Rescue Chopper service in part of the fabric of our local community."

Thanks for the photo Tim, you can't beat Wellington on a good day!

A Big Weekend for One Designs in New Zealand

The fully aerobatic Rihn DR 107 One Design was designed by Dan Rihn in the US and first flew in 1993.  It was designed with the idea of a one design aerobatic contest that would be sanctioned by the FIA but this never eventuated due to several reasons including the lack of aircraft early on and the reluctance of people to commit to building the aircraft from plans.  Never the less it has proved a popular aircraft and there are more than 50 flying worldwide.  This number was added to at Whakatane on Saturday 20 September when Chris Schadler flew his DR 107 ZK-WAM3:

ZK-WAM3 (c/n 94-115) has been finished by Chris Schadler from a partly built project that Steve Gwilliam bought in from Australia and then sold to Chris.  The One Design is the fifth aircraft building project that Chris has been involved in - several SG Storms and a smart Vans RV 3, ZK-WCO, that he has flown in New Zealand aerobatic competitions since 2015.  The One Design is a step up in aerobatic mounts.

David Wilkinson flew down to Whakatane to see the first flight of Chris Schadler's One Design.  David flew in his own One Design ZK-EZG2 that he has recently re-covered the fuselage on and it is photo'd here at lunch at Matamata where you can see it now has white registration letters instead of the previous black.  David has just got his aircraft back into the air so it was a big  weekend for One Designs here.

Offshore visitors. VH-CYK and D-ADLR

Tony McFarlin - our regular supplier of fine photographs of visiting aircraft has provided thes two shots taken at Christchurch yesterday the 20th.

Above is the Boeing 737-85R (BCF) VH-CYK3 c/n 34797 as registered to Pioneer Australia Pty Ltd.

Pioneer was a NZ startup with a DC-3 before moving to Australia and began FIFO operations and moving into the freight market. ASL Aviation Holdings acquired Pioneer and rebranded it as ASL Airlines Australia.

It arrived in Christchurch after a busy day having flown from Brisbane to Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane again - then to Auckland and down to Christchurch.

This is a 2006 airframe has spent time as VT-JGQ, OE-IBV, VT-SYF, 2-VSYF and OE-LVE.

*******************************************

 

This German registered Gulfstream GV-SP (G550) D-ADLR c/n 5093 was previously N593GA before delivery to LFO-DLR Flugbetrieb in January of 2009.

DLR are the flight operations department of the German Aerospace Research Centre and operate a series of highly modified research aircraft.

Note the numerous sensors on the nose, upper fuselage and under the wings for use on its current HALO Project.

D-AGLR flew into Christchurch from Cairns on September the 6th and has already carried out about nine flight to about 65 degrees South. 

For more on this project SEE HERE

Lunch at Dargaville Today 20-9-2025

It is quite a while since I have visited Dargaville Aero Club to sample their very nice home cooked lunch which costs $15.  Yum!  However today I had cause to drive up there and there were several aircraft that were new there or at least new to me:

Les Berger flew in with Dawson Bowles in his newly acquired Maule Lunar Rocket ZK-MSM.  I think this would have been its first time at Dargaville

It has plenty of performance to spare, here leaping into a pretty short take off (the wind was on the nose and maybe 10 knots plus - you can tell from the angle of the windsock),

It looks purposeful climbing out.

And one that was new to me was Richard Prentice's Pipistrel Sinus ZK-LAU, across from Kerikeri.

DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-ASV

An interesting visitor to Pauanui airfield today was the very yellow DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-ASV.  Restored several years ago at Mandeville it is resident at Drury and displays its former RNZAF identity, NZ786.

 

Forecast - Showers with hail and thunder.

 Ashburton on Thursday.

Pending inclemency.

The larger mobile aircraft have been parked outside during the day whilst the security system has been installed in the 'Super Hangar'.

We had the very very strong Northwesterly winds on Wednesday. 

And as above, on Thursday, we had the prognosticated Showers with Hail and Thunder.

Fortunately this Cumulonimbus skirted the airfield depositing only a brief period of very large raindrops with is scattering of graupel.

A Look Back at Sindlinger Hurricane ZK-VYX

Back in 2009 I posted several blog posts on the unique Sindlinger Hurricane ZK-VYX which was a 5/8 scale replica of the Hawker Hurricane:

Here is a photo I took of ZK-VYX at Ashburton at the 2009 SAANZ flyin.  It had been rebuilt by Bob Gibson of Dunedin from Dave Comrie's original ZK-FVW.  I never knew why it was re-registered as ZK-VYX but a recent news article shed some light on why.

The news article was on the passing of the last of "the few" RAF fighter pilots from the Battle of Britain, John (Paddy) Hemingway on March 17 2025 aged 105.  John Hemingway was just 21 when he was shot down and crash landed near Maastricht in Holland on May 11th 1940 while flying Hurricane VY-X (L1979) - one of several Hurricanes coded as VY-X.  He made his way back to his 85 Squadron base on foot and by hitching a ride.  Then he flew in the Battle of Britain and was shot down 4 more times during the war including parachuting into the North Sea and being rescued, crash landing in the Pitsea Marshes (East of London), parachuting out of a Douglas Havoc night fighter (quite rare to survive due to its high tail design), and being shot down in a Spitfire behind enemy lines in Northern Italy then being rescued by Italian peasants and hidden in fields and being led back to safety dressed as a peasant by a young Italian girl - a remarkable story of survival.  He was awarded the DFC and was promoted to Wing Commander just after the war and went on to finish his RAF career as Station Commander at East Leconfield in West Yorkshire in 1966 before retiring back to Ireland.

Does anyone know where ZK-VYX is now?

ZK-ETP in the Outback Air Race 2025

Arriving back at its Pauanui home base this afternoon was Doug & Zoe Batten's Cessna T210N ZK-ETP.   This had participated in the 2025 Red Planet Outback Air Race with the 40 participants raising funds for the Australian Flying Doctor Service.   ETP carries its Race # 16 and was entered as the "Kiwi Flyer" team coming 12th in the overall results.

The race commenced on 24 August at Yulara in the Northern Territory and finished some 3800km later on 7 September at Carnarvon in Western Australia.      ETP flew back into Auckland yesterday after a flight from the Gold Coast via Lord Howe Is and Norfolk Is.

The other NZ participant in the race was NZ Aero's PAC 750XL ZK-EPO.

 

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Pioneering North Cape to Bluff Flight in February 1982

Shortly after the first microlights were registered by CAA, three early microlight pilots planned a pioneering flight from North Cape to Bluff by microlight.  The three were Ken Asplin and Trevor Barrett from Hamilton and Marty Waller from Auckland.  Ken and Trevor were Kiwis while Marty Waller was an American who came to New Zealand with the Quicksilver agency, and with his business partner Tommy Namais they formed Pacific Sails Ltd.

Ken Asplin and Trevor Barrett both flew Ultraflight Mirages and all three were among the first microlights to be registered in New Zealand.  Ken’s machine was ZK-KJA (MAANZ/011), Trevor’s machine was ZK-ESQ (MAANZ/013) and Marty Waller flew his Quicksilver MX ZK-MRW (MAANZ/010).

The epic journey began on 7 February 1982 at North Cape and the trio completed the journey in 60 hours flying time, finishing up in Bluff on 27 February.  Here is an article that appeared in The Press newspaper at that time:

 Three microlight aircraft pilots – Trevor Barrett, Martin Waller and Kenneth Asplin – completed the last leg of a flight from North Cape to Bluff on Thursday.  People have walked, cycled, and ridden horses the length of New Zealand but few would have felt these pilots’ exhilaration

 You pull the stick back and feel yourself lift into the sky and the smooth air said Mr Barrett.  Then it’s the wind rushing past your cheek and throbbing in your eardrums – what he called “back to basics flying”.

 There are no gauges or cockpits on the microlights and navigational aids were not necessary because right down the country it was a matter of following the roads or the coastline.

 The trio completed the journey in 60 hours flying time.  They began their flight from Cape Reinga on February 7 and the last leg from Gore was like a carnival of flying machines in the sky.  The microlight plane trio had been joined by Murray Hagen in his Pterodactyl and the pilot of a motorized hang-glider or “trike” as it is known in the trade.  The five all taxied across the paddock together and rose effortlessly into the air.

 The three pilots had a good time in the air.  They took pictures, waved to one another, and evolved a system of sign language.  When it was time for “smoko” they hailed one another and chose a paddock to land in.

 The view is beautiful and you have a fabulous feeling of peace said Mr Barrett.

 The Press, 27 February 1982.

Bob Kerr, an aviation historian and photographer took photos of two of the three North Cape to Bluff  Mirage microlights during a stopover at Timaru on 23 February 1982:

Ken Asplin’s Mirage ZK-KJA (c/n MAANZ/011) with 10 Draught Beer sponsorship which was also applied under the wings.  I understand from another source that none of the three microlights carried registrations under their wings, and the white colour of the Mirage and the sponsorship logos raises the possibility that this was a bespoke set of sailcloth covers.

And here is Trevor Barrett’s Mirage ZK-ESQ (c/n MAANZ/013).

And a photo of Marty Waller's Quicksilver MX (c/n MAANZ/010) , taken later at Pikes Pont.

The MAANZ constructors number system started at MAANZ/010 which like the AACA system may have allowed for earlier microlight aircraft constructors that came before 1981 (even Richard Pearse?!).

That Cessna 172 ZK-WGS. Coming back from the Dead !

Now located on the Postmans Road side of the North Shore Airfield is the very tired looking Cessna 172K ZK-WGS c/n 17257420. 

It would appear that the engine is the focus of some attention. 

Will it fly again ?

For previous blog posts on this aircraft SEE HERE

At Nelson this morning from Bill Mannix.

 Bill Mannix snapped these four at Nelson Airport this morning - 16-09-2005.

The Cessna 180J Skywagon ZK-DXA c/n 18052516  has had only two operators since importation by Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd in mid 1975.

Astro Air Ltd of Napier listed it from late October of 1975 and sold it to Gunson Enterprises Ltd from late May of 1976. It has been with them ever since.

R & B Bearhawk ZK-RJE c/n 1534B was listed to Avitec Ltd of Nelson on 18-09-2020 and first Flew from Nelson on 26-11-2020.

            The Cessna 680 Sovereign ZK-RXD c/n 680-0250 of Skyline Aviation Ltd of Napier is still in the Generation Global hangar having a full internal refurbishment.

This was originally listed to the Cessna Aircraft Company as N5231S in about mid 2008 before taking up the N680JG marks, still with Cessna later that year

In October 2009 it became VH-VPL2 with Twentieth Super Pace Nominees Pty Ltd.

It is probably best known in Australia for its 'Lifeflight' role.

In December 2017 it was at Melbourne for maintenance and repaint before ferrying from Essendon to Napier on 19-05-2018.

On the 22nd of May 2018 it became ZK-RXD with Skyline Aviation Ltd of Napier.

The Cessna 560 Citation V ZK-ZGO c/n 560-0067 arrived in NZ in February of 2021 and was registered to the Ambler's of Albany before being relisted to NZ Jets Ltd on 29-08-2024.

For more details on this airframe See HERE

Flying to the AOPA Flyin at Haast, July 2025

The recent coverage of aircraft at Neils Beach by Aaron Murphy was, I think, part of the recent AOPA flyin to Haast.  This flyin was held in lovely weather and featured flyouts to quite a few remote airstrips in South Westland.  One of the participating aircraft was the Taieri based Bearhawk ZK-FHR2 of Murray Paterson.  

Jonathan Powles flew in the Bearhawk over the flyin and he has posted an excellent video on You Tube documenting the flight over to Haast and back, as well as landing on the many remote airstrips.  The video starts with a flight from Pukaki up the Tasman Glacier and over to the West Coast.  I have taken some screenshots and included the link to the video below.

Heading up Lake Pukaki in glorious weather,

And up the Tasman Glacier,

At the top of the glacier,

And over the divide with a view of the Tasman Sea (the 4 bladed prop is a photographic illusion).

Here is the link to the video (it is 46 minutes long):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bu1fGX9Mx0

New arrival at Rangiora 08-09-2025 ZK-WTR.

 The ICPMXP-740 Savannah ZK-WTR c/n 04-06-51-299 ferried into Rangiora on the 9th from Whangarei, Raglan, Foxton and Omaka.

Built in Australia and listed as 19-4221 in November of 2005 it was cancelled on 13-12-2006 having been exported to New Zealand to become ZK-WTR.

It was registered to the Bill and Brenda Ward Family Trust of Invercargill on 06-07-2006.

They sold it on to James Matthews of Ruakaka from November 2018.

The Savannah is now with Douglas Heaton and replaces his Best of Skyranger Swift ZK-JAY3.

Neils Beach fly in 23-07-2025

 Aaron Murphy has kindly sent in some photographs from Neils Beach, South Westland - taken during a fly in on 23-07-2025.

The stunning Neils Beach village and airstrip - part of the larger Jacksons Bay - with the Arawhata River in the foreground.

The Cessna 180 ZK-BKG with the c/n 30376 makes it one of our oldest C180 airframes in NZ.            It has been with the Windwhistle Syndicate since late 2015.

The Cessna 180D ZK-BZP2 c/n 18051050 which is about eight years younger than ZK-BKG. 

It arrived in New Zealand from Australia in March 2008 and became ZK-BZP with the Tokoeka Bush Co from 21-05-2009.

Murray Patterson's R & B Bearhawk ZK-FHR2 c/n 127-2491250-1249 arrives with room to spare.

Two views of Paul Godfrey's well travelled Skystar Kitfox IV ZK-JFA c/n C94080051/MAANZ/527.

      Built by Alex Taylor and registered on 22-03-1995. It was purchased by Paul Godfrey in late 2015.

Rans S4 Coyote ZK-JPZ.

 Our one and only Rans S4 Coyote is ZK-JPZ with the c/n of 802312 which was first flown on 21-03-2004 and registered to Warren Bezzant of Timaru on 07-04-2004.

This has the higher power option of the 50hp Rotax 503 engine.

Warren, who also had an interest in the Rans S-12 Airaile ZK-KII, sold ZK-JPZ to Dan Davies of Fairlie in December of 2006.

Photo above shows ZK-JPZ in its Timaru hangar on 27-11-2010.

It was transferred to Alan Reid, also of Fairlie from June 2013. Alan also operated the Druine Turbulent ZK-CVX at this time.

Two photos of ZK-JPZ at Rangitata Island. Above on 06-09-2014. And below on 08-11-2014.

In June of 2015 Alan acquired the Rans S-10 Sakota ZK-ECA2 and sold the S-4 to Peter Gubb of Timaru.

Peter on sold it in December of 2017 (replacing it later with the Gardan GY-20 Minicab ZK-EEO) to Peter Finnegan of Twizel. After Peter purchased the Techno Merlin 100 ZK-MEF in November of 2021 the S-4 was noted parked in the Timaru Aviation Museum hangar until a sale to Richard Sutherland of Waikari, North Canterbury in August of 2022. 

ZK-JPZ has now been housed in the CRAC hangar at Rangiora for some time.

ZK-JPZ in the CRAC hangar at Rangiora on 07-09-2025.

From this tailwheel model S4 stemmed the Rans s-5 nosewheel version and the very popular two seater Rans s-6 Coyote II of which we have something like sixty examples in NZ.