Cessna 172F ZK-CHO

 The prototype Cessna 172 was a tricycle undercarriage version of the Cessna 170C incorporating a rectangular vertical tail and powered with the Continental O-300 engine. It first flew on 12-05-1955.

The first Cessna 172 on the NZ register was ZK-BQG from 01-05-1956, which is still current in a tail wheel configuration with Ray Patchett at Omaka.

However it is the 34th imported example we look at today.

Cessna 172F ZK-CHO was c/n 51967 and had initially been registered to the Cessna Aircraft Company as N7967U. Following initial test flying this US registration was cancelled on 18-09-1964 and it was shipped to NZ aboard the MV Lossiebank. It first flew here on 23-11-1964 and registered to Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd of New Plymouth on 21-12-1964.

It was listed over to the Northern Wairoa Aero Club at Dargaville on 11-03-1965.

Above photo shows ZK-CHO on 21-11-1966 in its factory paint scheme.

The Club sold it through Dennis Thompson (Aviation) Ltd with it going to General Finance Acceptance Ltd from 29-05-1969. It was hired to the Waikato Flying School of Hamilton until it was damaged at Waihi on Queens Birthday - 05-06-1971.

A year later, June of 1972, it was with G Tapp of Ngāruawāhia until being passed on briefly to Keith Kenyon of Huntly from 03-07-1972, and then to Reid Development & H P Holt Ltd of Christchurch from 02-08-1972.

In September of 1973 CMM captured this image.

Then we have a forced landing near Burnham on 08-09-1974.

Next in line was E L Whitmore of Kumara on 10-03-1976 until an incident at Taihape on 26-09-1976.

New paint scheme after repairs at Ardmore on 08-10-1977.

Dennis Thompson International feature again from 07-11-1977 until it was taken on by Interworld Plastics NZ Ltd of Papakura on 12-07-1978.

At Ardmore on 01-07-1981.

 For $17,900 it was acquired by E H Pemberton & R G Maxwell of Papakura from 04-03-1982  -  with L Hodgson joining them in late 1983. In August of 1985 Stan Hayes of Hukerunui took possession followed by D & C Fletcher of Wellsford from 30-08-2005.

It then moved south to Queenstown for Paul Beardsell in early December of 2007.

I spied it above at Queenstown 09-10-2008 - with the tail markings as below.

It then went on lease to the Wakatipu Aero Club (Inc) from 18-11-2009.

Now we see it above at Wanaka on 04-04-2010 minus the tail markings.

 It was damaged at Queenstown on 15-01-2011 when the Cessna 172 ZK-FKS was blown from its pickets to land on top of ZK-CHO. Its registration was cancelled on 08-09-2011.

I then noted it at Momona on 26-03-2013 Above.

And below at Rangiora on 15-01-2014 in the capable hands of Arnold Galagher. 

I noted it again on 13-11-2014, this time at Wanaka. Above.

And below - also at Wanaka - on 10-02-2017. Below.

I have not seen this airframe since !