Hovey Delta Hawk arrives NZRT 14-02-2009

Trucked into Rangiora on 14-02-2009 was this Aircraft Specialties Hovey Delta Hawk ZK-FPU (c/n MAANZ/178). Built and registered to Jevon Snowden of Waikanae on 12-11-1987. Larry Nelson features from 06-12-1997 and then Adrian van Beek of Hamilton from 17-06-06. Next move was to Kaikohe with Deborah Land from 04-03-07 and then to Steven Moor, also at Kaikohe from 11-12-07.

It is now in need of some TLC.

Dornier Departs

Following the suspension of scheduled services in August 2008, Air West Coast's Dornier 228 ZK-VIR has finally left the country on export to Divi Divi Air based in Curucao, Netherland Antilles. It departed Haupiri for Auckland and Rarotonga 16Feb, then to Papeete 17Feb (NZ local date).

See also (you made need to cut and paste the link)
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2007/10/air-west-coast-dornier-returns-to.html
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2008/08/vale-air-west-coast.html

Ewan Smith of Air Rarotonga kindly supplied these images of the aircraft departing Rarotonga this morning.

Last Post from SAANZ Flyin Ashburton

I think I will make this my last post from the SAANZ flyin at Ashburton last weekend. There were lots more sport aircraft there but maybe there can be too much of a good thing?

The subject for this post is the Andrews A1 ZK-BLU. This aircraft is interesting because it is the oldest post WW2 "amatuer built" aircraft in New Zealand. It is currently owned by the Andrews Partnership at Blenhiem, and it has been owned by various owners in the Blehiem area since 1983. It was originally built by Mr C G Andrews in Wellington as a Tiger Moth topdresser replacement, but the project didn't get past one aircraft. It first flew in 1957 but then was inactive at Rongotai for many years. It was rescued by Alan Rowe of Masterton who refurbished it and it was quite active in the AACA flying scene in the 1970's. I have kept up with it for many years.

I first photographed the Andrews A1 at Rongotai in the early 1960's when it was overall silver with red registration letters. As a student of Rongotai College I always saw it tucked in the back of the CAA hangar gathering dust. Then one day it appeared, taxied to the aero club, filled up with fuel, then went back to languishing in the CAA hangar. This is the photo I took of it that day, probably the first photo I took of a "sport aircraft".

Sindlinger Hurricane at Ashburton and Previously

Yet another interesting sport aircraft at Ashburton was the Sindlinger Hurricane ZK-VYX (c/n 1096), shown here with a period backdrop. This is a 5/8 scale replica powered by a 3 litre Mitsubishi engine of 160 horsepower. It was first registered to Bob Gibson of Dunedin on 14/10/04 and is still flown by him. It was one of the most active aircraft in the circuit on Saturday.

But I think the origins of this aircraft go back much further than 2004. I seem to remember that it was first at least partly constructed by Alex Turner in Dunedin back in the 1980's. I have this photo taken at Taieri some time in the 1990's of ZK-FVW (when it had the c/n AACA 635/2). (Apologies for the quality of the photo but I just took it with my digital camera on macro setting). This aircraft was registered 0n 7/90 and was withdrawn from use in Blenhiem in 9/95 where it was being rebuilt. I seem to recall it was painted black when it was at Omaka.

Does anyone know anything more of the history of these aircraft and whether ZK-FVW and ZK-VYX are the same aircraft?

Parasol Wings at Ashburton

Here is another selection from Ashburton.

These 3 aircraft are wind in your face parasols in complete contrast to the slippery wingletted types of my last post. The grand-daddy of the 3 of them is the Woody Pusher ZK-DUA which was built by Alan Belworthy at Masterton in the 1970's. It was first registered on 13/2/74 and was really exotic when most of the homebuilts were Turbulents, Taylors and Jodels. It is powered by a Continental A 75 engine and has flown over 800 hours to date.

Alan has since gone on to build other homebuilts including the Clutton Tabenor FRED ZK-FRD, the Sorrell Guppy ZK-FGK (also at Ashburton) and the Belworthy Figaro ZK-PUR.

The next Parasol is Pietenpol Aircamper ZK-PRB which was built by Evan and Penny Belworthy at Cust in Canterbury. It was first registered on 26/6/97. It was originally powered by a converted Ford Model A engine, then a converted Ford Cortina engine, and now is powered by a converted Toyota Hilux engine. Evan has also carried on the family tradition by building the Belworthy MOA ZK-MQA.

And the final parasol is the Andrew John Fairhall Fairhall Special ZK-JBF which is a customised Pietenpol Aircamper. It was registered on 16/6/06 to Andrew Fairhall at Blenhiem. It is also powered by a converted Toyota Hilux engine.

Comings and Goings

This non descript, low profile Piper Tomahawk noted for the first time at Ardmore today. Its lack of markings made it difficult to figure out an identity, and no serial plate visible either. Thankfully the keys were in it and had the label JBX on it so I guess that's what it is! If it is, the aircraft is registered to the Manawatu Districts Aero Club since September last year.

Cessna U206 ZK-EJG has been on the lot with Dennis Thompson International for ages and today it was being dismantled and placed in a container, destination unknown.


Another Cessna, this time a 210A ZK-KMF, sporting newish titles and a glass door for its meat bombing role.


Miles Messenger ZK-CMM, usually hangered at Dairy Flat/North Shore, was languishing in the tropical heat.

First Starlets Now Winglets at Ashburton

The Ashburton SAANZ Flyin was an outstanding gathering of sport aircraft from all over New Zealand. I counted over 120 sport aircraft of 69 different types!

Some of the new generation of high performance microlights now have winglets, as evidenced by these 3 types. The above is Roko Aero NG 4 ML ZK-SAY which was registered to the agents, Aerosport Aviation Ltd of Cambridge on 16/5/08. It is manufactured by Roko Aero at Zlin in the Czech Republic.

The next microlight with winglets is B&F Technik Vertri FK 14 B ZK-RFD (what an incredibly long name!). This was registered to Polaris Air Ltd of Mt Maunganui on 3/2/09. It is manufactured by B&F Technik GmbH at Speyer in Germany.

Thanks to Blue Bus for this photo.

And finally, the Aerospool Dynamic WT9 ZK-DYN which is owned by the agents Drake Aviation at Rangiora. This has been around since 21/1/04 and has now has winglets retrofitted.

There are 3 other of these aircraft in New Zealand: ZK-DYZ (fixed gear, also at Ashburton), ZK-EWW and ZK-MLC. They are manufactured by Aerospool SPOL S.R.O at Prievidza in the Slovak Republic.

New Europa with New Engine at Ashburton

One of the crop of interesting new aircraft at the SAANZ flyin at Ashburton was this Europa ZK-ZEB, which was built by Peter Austin of Whitianga. It was first registered on 11/2/08 and had just flown off its restrictions in time to fly to Ashburton.

Some of the major interest in this aircraft was in its engine, and the cowlings were off nearly all day Saturday while the builder explained the engine installation to a steady stream of interested homebuilders. The engine is a Wilksch Airmotive watercooled 3 cylinder diesel which is both turbocharged and supercharged, and runs on Jet A1 fuel. It has flown successfully in several aircraft overseas.

Thanks to Blue Bus for the photo of ZK-ZEB with its cowlings on. The lower photo shows more detail of the engine installation.

Days End @ Ashburton Saturday.

Six Rebels surrounded and tucked up for the night at Ashburton after a fabulous day.

And closing of the "iron curtain" on the round engines.

A Metal Corby Starlet at Ashburton

I was interested to see a new Corby Starlet ZK-SJM at Ashburton, but I was amazed to see that it was made of metal! This is a Corby Starlet CM2 and I believe it is the only one in the world. It was built by Gary Montagu in Dunedin and registered on 29/11/07. It is a little bigger that the original Sarlet, of which we have 7 on our register and the undercarriage is RV style. The canopy and cowling are also a little different from our other Starlets which nearly all use fibreglass mouldings that were originally made to an excellent standard by John Buchanan for his original Starlet ZK-DEO (and this canopy has also been adapted to fit on other homebuilts such as the Jodel D9).

On seeing ZK-SJM, I realised that this was the second Corby Starlet built by Gary Montagu, and his first one was also on the feild! - ZK-JAM a Corby Sralet CJ 1 was first registered on 12/2/87.