More recent helicopter sightings.

Two Bell JetRangers from Marlborough Helicopters were spotted recently.
Above is ZK-HJI4 (c/n 4083) approaching its trolley at Omaka on 09-03-2012.
Below is JetRanger ZK-HTA (c/n 3404) as noted at Nelson on 08-03-2012.

Above : Departing its trolley is the Garden City Helicopters, Nelson based, Aerospatiale AS 350BA ZK-HQT2 (c/n 1729). This Squirrel has been with Garden City since late May of 1995.

On a brief stop over at Nelson on 08-03-2012 was the Helipro Kawasaki BK117 A-3 ZK-HYZ3 (c/n 1010). It was first listed in NZ on 02-07-1997 as ZK-HRQ3 with Wing and Rotor before moving to Helipro on 24-02-2000. They re-registered it as HYZ on the same day.
Below is the Nelson based Kawasaki BK117 B-2 ZK-IMN (c/n 1018) of Garden City Helicopters Ltd.

This was previously registered in NZ as ZK-HNE2 between late May of 1997 and mid June of 1998 with Garden City Helicopters before being flown across to Australia to become VH-RLI. It flew back into Auckland on 22-09-2011 and became IMN on 11-10-2011.

Four from Nelson on 03-03-2012

Above is Jack Schulte's Cessna 182Q Skylane ZK-CME2 (c/n 182Q-66961) down from Whakatane. It is a 1979 model which spent its earlier years in Australia. It was purchased there by Jack in late 2000, joining the NZ civil register on 02-02-01, initially with Yvonne Scott at Scott Air Ltd at Whakatane. It reverted to Jack on 12-05-2002.

Piper PA-32-260E Cherokee Six ZK-DEF (c/n 32-7200007) has been around since late November of 1971 and only on about its eighth operator. It is currently listed to the Pratt Family Trust of Karamea.

Scheduled arrival of  Raytheon (Beech to me) 1900D ZK-EAB2 (c/n UE-425) of Eagle Airways. 

Another of Jack's machines is our one and only Aviat A-1C-180 Husky ZK-TWA2 (c/n 3032). A 2008 production aircraft which first came on our register as ZK-TVY on 19-10-2010 for Redrock Aviation of Whakatane. It was re-registered as ZK-TWA on 19-10-2010. It was on its way down to Wanaka.

More from Pauanui on 4/3/12

Around lunchtime there were several arrivals. It is only a short walk for a coffee and a pie!

Lloyd Morris was in from North Shore in his nice Glastar ZK-MPO. This is our only tri-gear Glastar.

Also arriving was our first Bell 427 ZK-HVN. It is owned by Helilink of Auckland.

And parked nearby was Cessna C 177B Cardinal ZK-JDJ, owned by GA Drinkrow of Auckland.

Raven II ZK-INP

First registered to Heliflite Pacific in January 2007, this Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-INP moved to Barrington Charters of Queenstown in April the same year.  During May 2009 the R44 was registered to a private address in Auckland before moving to its current operator, Frontier Helicopters of Whakatane, in November 2009.

Today was my first chance to catch up with this well equipped helicopter - it appears to be ready for anything with the pop out floats and cargo pod.

Lunchtime Circuits

The circuit at Ardmore is normally peppered with the Ardmore Flying School's fleet of Cessna 172's, and today was no different however they were joined by the resident DC3 ZK-DAK doing touch and goes while in the grass circuit DHC1 Chipmunk ZK-RFS.

ZK-WAR departed for Matamata

ZK-CWD has been at Ardmore on a number of days recently, registered to  Mercury Bay Aero Club. 

Omaka on the first of March.

On the first day of March 2012 I visited Omaka and had the good fortune to photograph the following.
Above is the Precision Helicopters Hughes 500D ZK-HRF2 (c/n 1190627D) on departure.

Boeing A75N1 Stearman ZK-KJO (c/n 75-2100) is now listed with the Marlborough Aero Club.
It first served with the US military from about 1942, joined the US civil register in the early 70's (I think) and came onto the NZ register on 05-05-2011. The "529" is the last three numbers of its previous US civil registration.

Graeme Orphan's Classic Aircraft Nieuport N 11 very aptly registered as ZK-NII (c/n CAS 01) was first flown at Omaka on 08-12-2011 by Jery Chisum. It features a 110hp Rotec Radial engine.d

Smaller than I expected was the reproduction Flug Werk FW190 A8/N  ZK-RFR (c/n 990001) from the Chariots of Fire Collection. This was first registered in Germany on 23-12-1996.

Pauanui Yaktivities 4/3/12

It was a lovely day at Pauanui today, following the passage of yesterday's "weather bomb" (which actually tracked South of the Coromandel).

Mid-morning saw Seawind ZK-SWK take off from the Tairua River estuary and head back South. Then there were a couple of Titan Mustangs overhead, to and from Whitianga.

And 2 of the locally based Yaks were out and about. Here ZK-KGB rests alongside some expensive real estate beside the airstrip. It is owned by GR Malcolm of Pauanui Beach.

While ZK-YAQ was up for a local flight including some aerobatics...

Before being parked strip-side on the other side of the airstrip. This aircraft now has a 3 bladed propellor and spinner which is new since I last saw it (which was several years ago). It is owned by Russian Aero Adventures of Pauanui Beach.

Kaikoura visitation

Kaikoura Helicopters operate on a daily basis from a site at the old Railway Station. Today 01-03-2012 the Bell 206B JetRanger 11 ZK-HBO2 (c/n 570) was on standby, waiting expectantly. Built back in about 1970 as a B206A it joined the NZ register on 28-05-1996 with James Patrick Scott and has been pretty much Kaikoura based ever since. It was re-listed to Kaikoura Helicopters on 10-05-2002.

Assisting was the Robinson R44 Raven 11 ZK-HLA2 (c/n 10551) which was a recent addition to the Kaikoura H/C fleet (23-11-2011). It came from Ireland and the UK before that.

Just a little South of town, beside the main drag, is the fixed wing airstrip. Based here is the Air Kaikoura/ Aero Club with their Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Archer ZK-DUQ (c/n 28-7405257). This has been with the Club since at least 1984 and has just recently come off a major titivation with a  new paint scheme and overhauled engine. It has had a couple of brief spell away from the Aero Club, with time at the Rotorua Aero Club and with Wings Over Whales at Kaikoura.

An out of towner was this Cessna 185C ZK-SMW (c/n 185C-0678) up from Birchwood Station near Omarama (normally hangared at Omarama). This one was ferried into NZ from Oz during September of 2004.

Blue Bus is :-

On the road - so to speak.

A couple from Hamilton

Two photographs taken at Hamilton recently by Paul Howard and kindly forwarded via Jean210.

Above is the Douglas C-47B-35-DK ZK-AZL (c/n 33316/16568) as seen at Hamilton on 29-02-2012.
It was withdrawn from use on 04-09-1974 and has been at Mystery Creek for some years now.
Check out:-
http://mysterycreek.co.nz/ossie-james-dc-3-aircraft-restoration-takes/

Above, taken today - 01-03-2012  is the PAL 750XL ZK-KBU (c/n 183. First registered on 28-02-2012) marked up as P2-SDC for Adventist Aviation Service.


COMMENT added 17-03-2012
I am lead to believe that this is actually ZK-KBO c/n 177 (and not KBU as inferred above.)