Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Goldwings

I reckon that the Goldwing was a really interesting microlight, as it was of different construction to the tube and sailcloth microlights that preceded it.  It was designed by Craig Catto and was inspired by Burt Rutan's Vari Eze.  Like the Vari Eze the Goldwing is a canard with swept wings and winglets and was of composite construction with the wing being of foam and aluminium covered by a glass fibre skin.  It was provided as a kit by Goldwing Ltd of Jackson,  California, and the construction time was stated to be around 200 hours.  The New Zealand agent was Ian Todd of Rotorua who was also a leading light in MAANZ.  (Click twice on the photos below to enlarge them to read the text better)

We have only had three Goldwings registered in New Zealand as below:

Missing a bit of tape from the E.

ZK-FDE (c/n MAANZ/126)

Registered 8 Sep 1982 to Ian R. Todd, Lake Okareka, Rotorua, then 29 Nov 1983 H. W. A. Barr, Whangarei, then 29 Jun 1988 D. M. Moynihan, Whangarei, then 7 Jul 1994 M. J. Douglas, Whangarei, then 27 Sep 1998 K. W. Sample, Hikurangi and Kawerau, then 6 Aug 2000 Donald F. R. McMillan, Kaikohe, then 27 Jan 2003 Neil M. France, Auckland, then 30 Sep 2005 Russell K. Brodie, Temuka.    Cancelled 2 Oct 2008 as withdrawn from use.  It is currently preserved at Rangitata Island.

ZK-FDV (c/n MAANZ/151)

Registered 11 Oct 1982 to Ray A. Stonehouse, Rotorua, then 13 Nov 1987 Ian F. Heappy & ? Watt, Ohakune @ 25 hrs FT, then 4 Jun 1993 Robert M. Payne, Te Awamutu, then 6 Sep 1997 A (Tony) R. Wood, Wellington.  Cancelled 10 Aug 2000 as destroyed.  The demise of this aircraft is a mystery as no accident was ever reported.

ZK-FKD (c/n MAANZ/292)

Registered 8 Nov 1984 to Ian Todd Marine & Sports Ltd, Rotorua (First Flight Waharoa 26 Jan 1985), then 24 Mar 1993 P. H. Cook, Patea, then 6 Jul 1993 M. J. Harre, Stratford. Cancelled 6 Nov 2000 as withdrawn from use (seen at Rotorua).