Rangiora open day.

A lovely fine Autumnal day for the Rangiora open day.

Biggest attraction (in more sense than one) for the average Joe Blogz was the DC-3 ZK-AMY offering rides.

Kerry Millar's "Linda Lovelace" ZK-DGM was found lurking in the corner of a hangar.

The Roger MAnn Ragabond (Ragwing) ZK-MGS came down from Harwarden.

Colin Marshall had the demonstator Evektor Aerotechnik Sportster Plus ZK-MAC on show.

Harry Devonish came over from Wigram with his H269C ZK-HYQ to move the freshly cut grass around.

A couple of Fisher R80 Tiger Moths, ZK-LIF and ZK-NOX did their thing.And a long way from home (Marton) was the Murray Farr Jodel D.18 ZK-JPK

Coasting!

This week I spent a couple of days on the West Coast visiting family and this included a large amount of time spent in Greymouth Hospital where by Dad is currently residing following a stroke 6 weeks ago. Its great for him that the view from his ward's lounge is over the Grey Airport so he's able to monitor whats going on, and of course a bonus for when I visit that its only a stones throw away and photos can even be taken from the hospital itself!

Herewith are some of the machines snapped during the week:

ZKHGH carrying out winch training @ Greymouth

Endurance Fishing of Nelson's R44 ZKHGU @ Greymouth

Beck Helicopters Bell 204 ZKHHF making a very brief visit to Greymouth, pity about the sun!

Coastwide Helicopters R44 ZKHQV @ Greymouth

Sutton Moss, operating as Scenicland Helicopters, R44 ZKHUC @ Greymouth

And ZKHUC departing from Hokitika

Coastwide Helicopters workhorse, Hughes 500D ZKHUW. That and the R44 seem to be kept VERY busy with the Pike River Coal project and a NOTAR is expected soon.

Timaru based R22 ZKHZY made a fleeting visit to Greymouth

Raetihi based Hughes 500D ZKIKL spent time flying from Hokitika

The Christian Community's Cessna 150 ZKCTE was kept busy at Greymouth and Hokitika

Wilderness Wings Cessna 185 ZKDPE resting at Hokitika after a southern scenic flight

Canterbury Aero Club Piper PA28 ZKEIP carrying out a touch and go @ Greymouth

Gisborne based Cougar ZKJER departing Greymouth

A 2nd Gisborne based machine @ Greymouth was Beech A36 ZKUTE

Tecnam Bravo ZKJTB arrived @ Hokitika 10Apr from its Rangiora home

New imports

Three recent imports noted.

Piper PA-28-140. c/n 28-23089, N9632W was noted at Tauranga and is now ZK-FLO/3 for Vanessa Ahem.

Cessna 152. c/n 15280188 , N152MM (ex N24273) was noted at Whangarei and is now ZK-NPD/2 and

Cessna 152. c/n 15279756 , N757HQ also at Whangarei is now ZK-NPG/2. Both listed to Geck Co NZ Aviation Ltd.

Tundra Tires (Tyres)

When I first spotted the Avid Magnum ZK-CLC/2 at Rangiora on 02-11-07 it did have a comic book look about it.

Even more jolly was the site of PA22/20 ZK-BSH at Wellington on 08-02-07.


And as for the "Claytons Auster" ZK-AXC. Well ; It has'n't even got a real engine.

Westland Bush Plane

Wondered what the Westland Bush Plane was? Well, wonder no more! Caught on my travels is Russell Cook's latest creation out of Kaihinu, north of Hokitika. It may look like a Cub, but Russell assures me that the only original bit of a Cub is one wing. Although it is hard to tell, the dimensions are all bigger than the standard PA-18, and the whole lot is built from scratch. Fabulous workmanship as well. The tundra tyres are for landing in the West Coast river beds.

While on the subject of tundra tyres, keeping ZK-WBP company was this Avid Flyer STOL. If you were looking for the perfect comicbook aeroplane, this wouldn't be far off the mark! (Hokitika 17 Feb 08)

Christchurch strays

Spied in the Heli-Maintenance hangar on 04-04-08 was the R44 Raven 11, c/n 10184 listed to David Howey of Pleasant Point. Obviously still in its Heliview scheme.

(Sorry about the angle of the pic, but you sometimes have to take what you can get - or miss out).

At Garden City on the 5th was the Hughes 369HS, ZK-HLM, c/n 63-0488S from Aviation West of Double Hill Station (Upper Rakaia River).

Rangiora latest pics

Noted today at Rangiora was the demonstrator Evektor Aerotechnik Sportster Plus, ZK-MAC/2, c/n 20071103, for Colin Marshall of Aeroflight Aviation.

Airborne Windsports Edge X 582, ZK-RAD/2, c/n AB/EX-271, of Ray Corbett was about. Said to be ex T2-2381 from the Tuvalu register, but the guy I spoke to said it came from Australia !

The Yak-55M has finally come on the register as ZK-YKV, c/n 920401.

Another weightshifter in the form of Airborne Windsports Edge X 582 ZK-SJR, c/n 582-697, ex USA N489DN has hatched.

Skysales latest batch

A quick visit to Skysales at Christchurch yesterday found the new Robinson R44 ZK-IXL, and R22's ZK-HDB/6 and ZK-HCT/6 all awaiting their first flights. HBD was noted flying later in the day at Rangiora with Simon Spencer Bower doing the driving.

Question time #4

Easy one this time :-

Why does this aircraft carry this small graphic image on its fuselage side ?

I make no apologies for the quality of this pic.

More XL750's

Following on from the recent run on PAL XL750's I offer the following two.

ZK-JDQ at Hamilton on 20-03-2008 (bound for Germany).

And ZK-FNZ at Feilding on 25-03-2008 with a couple of other bits added to its airframe..