GA-7 Cougar ZK-PAP back on register.

Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar ZK-PAP , c/n GA7-0084 , returned to our register on 05-03-2010.

As N9526Z this Cougar arrived in NZ on 04-04-1979 to become ZK-SSS on 08-06-79 with NZ Aerospace Industries Ltd at Hamilton. It went on line with the Waikato Aero Club followed by a succession of owners until 23-12-1996 when it joined the Tauranga Aero Club and was re-registered as ZK-TAD. It remained at Tauranga until purchased by Paul and Paula Hally of Christchurch on 01-06-2006. They re-registered it as ZK-PAP on 13-07-2006 and it went on line with their Christchurch Flying School out of Wigram. A name change in July of 2008 saw it under the New Zealand Flying School banner.

Now as far as I know it was withdrawn from use at Timaru following the discovery of mainspar corrosion about 10-12-2008. Its registration was cancelled on 14-08-2008. A one off permit was issued for it to be ferried from Timaru to Christchurch - I think this was in August of 2009 - for delivery to the ANZ Engineers Training Centre.

On the 5th of March 2010 it was re-registered to Air New Zealand Ltd of Auckland.

The above pic shows ZK-PAP in the ANZ engineer Training hangar at Christchurch on 15-03-2010. Interestingly, it is parked under the Fokker F27 ZK-BXH which is also still currently registered although it was withdrawn from use on in about 1990. I believe this is for insurance purposes.

And welcome back to 737 ZK-PBL.

Returning to our register on March 23rd was the Boeing 737-8FE ZK-PBL , c/n 36605 , (line # 2710).

This 737 was originally delivered into Christchurch on 29-08-2008. Named as "Canterbury Belle" it entered service with Pacific Blue on 02-09-08 with a run to Brisbane.

Its NZ registration was cancelled on 02-04-2009 for listing as VH-VUQ to BOC Aviation (USA) of Reno, Nevada the following day; Operated off course by Virgin Blue Airlines. Its first service in Australia was from Brisbane to Sydney on 18-04-2009.

As VH-VUQ it flew into Christchurch on 18-03-2010 for transfer back to ZK-PBL status by ANZES.

Above is a pic of ZK-PBL at Christchurch on 27-09-2008.

Farewell to a Mustang

Last shot of ZK-MOT on NZ soil, taxying for departure at Auckland 25Mar.

Wellington's Acernus Citation 510 Mustang ZK-MOT, nee ZK-MUS, departed Wellington for Auckland (where it is pictured), Lord Howe Island, Brisbane and Maroochydore on its export to the USA. It is understood the operator will take delivery of ZK-MUS/2 in April.

Originally delivered as N1749L on 12Feb08, it became ZK-MUS in May of the same year and flew under its ZK rego for the first time on 01Jul. It was re-registered ZK-MOT 02Mar10 and first noted flying under that registration on 13Mar.

ZK-MUS/2, 510-0300, was registered to Acernus on 23Mar10.

Question Time # 90 Has Been Cracked!

Blue Bus has cracked Question Time #90 by stumbling across the answer as Oscar Stielau's Star Bee Gyros Gyrobee ZK-RDA.

The original photo that I cropped was looking up under the tailplane with the rotor blade behind. Unfortunately in cropping the image, the original image has been lost in the ether of my computer, so I will post another photo taken shortly after. This photo shows Oscar doing his "Look Mum - No Hands (or Feet!)" routine.

Cessna A150L Aerobat ZK-DHT.

Anonymous has requested a photo of the Cessna A150L Aerobat ZK-DHT c/n A150L-0361.

Here it is at Paraparaumu on 10-11-1973.

This little Aerobat arrived at Auckland aboard the MV Leverbank on 29-12-1972 for Rex Aviation, to whom it was registered on 19-02-73. It first flew here and gained its certificate of airworthiness on 02-03-73 and was listed to the Hawera Aero Club on 21-07-73.

It crashed on take off from a farm strip near Awakino on 15-05-1976, with its registration being cancelled on 16-06-76.

I have a colour slide of it filed away someplace but it could be some time before I find it.

Pitts Model 12 ZK-PTS Has Flown

John Eaton's Pitts Model 12 made its first flight from North Shore airfield today, flown by Richard Hood. This is another aircraft with an amazing finish and the photo (taken yesterday) doesn't really do justice to the deep iridescent purple and black colours.

The Pitts Model 12 is a hugely powerful aircraft that is powered by 400 HP Vedeneyev supercharged radial engine which gives a rate of climb of 3000 feet per minute! The maximum takeoff weight is only around 1020 Kg and the rate of roll is 240 degrees per second!

According to the Pitts Model 12 website, John's aircraft is the 51st Model 12 to fly worldwide. The whole lot (apart from 50 and 51) are photographed at http://www.pittsmodel12.com/

Classic Hits Air Safari 2010

Aircraft gathered in ernest at Ardmore 21Mar preceeding the start of the Classic Hits Air Safari 2010. Below is but a few of the aircraft noted on the airfield with upto 65 aircraft planned to participate in the event.

Nieuport resurfaces

The Circa Reproductions Nieuport 11 ZK-NIE was registered to John D Lowther, Normanby, Timaru on 20th March 1992, and the first flight of this 75% replica took place 0n the 5th June of the following year.
The aircraft was later sold to Neil R M Lopez of Auckland with the sale being recorded 11th Feburary 1997. The aircraft became inactive around then and the registration was revoked by CAA on the 2nd August 1999.
After some time in storage, the machine appeared at the auction rooms of Turners Auctions in Auckland in March 2007, and I took the following photographs at that location:







Due to a clash of auction date with activity at Whenuapai, I was unable to attend the actual auction, and the aircraft disappeared again after that event.
In the meantime, ZK-NIE has been reissued to the Musso Nieuport 24 bis reproduction built by Paul Musso and imported in 2002 which became ZK-NIE/2 with WWI Flying Company Ltd., Wellington in mid-2005 (this is the one with the cat logo on the fuselage).



The Circa Reproductions Nieuport 11 has now resurfaced, being currently listed for sale on TradeMe.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Aircraft/Aircraft/auction-278348332.htm
Apparently it was bought by the people who run A1 Rentals, Kerikeri, and has been in their showroom there. From the comment there, they apparently paid around mid-$20,000 for it at that time.

A nice little item, I admit I was tempted but a transponder-free single-seat microlight of low speed and short range would not fit easily into Auckland airspace!

Burnt Pine Oddities

Check out : http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2010/03/burnt-pine-oddities.html

Question Time #90

I was so excited to get the answer to Question Time #89. It is so long since I got a QT correct that I can't even remember what a choccy fish tastes like!

At Blue Bus's suggestion here is the next question: What is this? And double congratulations if you can advise the registration.