ENT

Cessna U206G Stationair 11 ZK-ENT (c/n U206G-03667) was photographed at Kaikoura on Saturday 18th February by Jeromy Rutherford prior to an aerial photographic survey of the Waiau River bed from the Hope River confluence to down past the Waiau township on SH1. A NIWA ground party of about eight will be doing the river bed profiles and river flows next week. This 206 was imported through North Western Aviation Ltd for the Nelson Aero Club and registered to them on 06-09-1978. It had arrived at Auckland from the US on 12-08-1978. In March of 1989 it was listed to K E J and B K Broady of Auckland and then to M V Burkhart Ltd of Masterton from 12-10-1990.
Soundsair Ltd feature from 03-05-1997 - who became Sounds Air Travel and Tourism Ltd of Picton from 19-12-2003. It is currently listed to Cliff Marchant, still working with Soundsair.

Avenger goes "feet wet"

As many will be aware, TBM Avenger ZK-TBM/1, which was a resident in NZ during the 1990's with the Alpine Fighter Collection before export to Australia in 1999, is on its way back to NZ to be stable mates with Spitfire ZK-SPI at Ohakea with Brendon Deere. 

Today, 23 February, VH-TBM has stretched out across the Tasman Sea with an early morning departure from Toowoomba heading to Lord Howe Island with Norfolk Island set in her sights for a night stop.  Tomorrow she intends trundling to Kerikeri and from there to her new home at Ohakea.  

As ZK-TBM/1, the Avenger departed Auckland on 05 May 1999 for Kaitaia, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Toowoomba.

Follow her progress here:
http://public.daestra.com/public/nz2518.aspx 
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=285458724836658&set=o.119982544710555&type=1&ref=nf 

Wanaka 11 April 1993, MRC photo

Auckland 05 May 1999, Wayne G photo

Changing tail numbers on ZK-IHL

I managed to capture the Garden City Helicopters Eurocopter AS 350B3 ZK-IHL (c/n 7219) again today.
It now carries its correct S/N on its tail.
I originally noted it on 04-01-2012 wearing the erroneous S/N of 8127.

Above is ZK-IHL with its S/N displayed as S/N 8127 as seen on 04-01-2012.
Below as noted today (and yesterday) with its official c/n listed as S/N 7219.

ZK-IAV

Aerospatiale AS 355F1 Twin Star Ecureuil ZK-IAV (c/n 5041) was captured in action at Bob's Peak on the Skyline Gondola at Queenstown on 20-02-2012 by Paul Howard via Jean 210.

This airframe was unloaded from its container at the Heli Maintenance hangar at Christchurch back in early July 2006 marked as N117BF. This AS 355E Twin Star was first noted as N5786Z late in 1981 before being quickly re registered as N117BF. It was flown briefly (57 hours) in and around the Miami area by its owner before he was imprisoned with the helicopter being put into long term storage and later inhibited. The owner, rumoured to be a senior drug cartel boss, died after 24 years in prison. Ownership changed to Philip R Agnes Inc of Wilmington, Delaware on 27-09-2004 and was cancelled on 20-02-2007 for its transfer to the NZ.
From Christchurch the helicopter was freighted to Timaru for its NZ certification. 
During this process it was fully refurbished and re-sprayed as well as being upgraded to a full AS 355F1 specification. So it now enjoys dual hydraulics and electrics, retaining its original C20F engines with TTSN of 57.0 hrs; then to nil hours safter a full overhaul and up to date on all ad’s and service bulletins. The same applies to Main transmission, tail rotor gearbox and airframe. Also a left hand sliding door has been added as well as EMS provisions (for stretcher etc). 
It was registered as ZK-IAV to AV8 Helicopters on 22-03-2007, and operated from their Wellington airport base until it was damaged on 12-04-2008.
It was returned to good health by Oceania Aviation Ltd at Ardmore and registered to them on 02-11-2008 and joined The Helicopter Line at Queenstown on 13-08-2010.

Above we have a view of it taken at Wellington Airport on 30-11-2007 in the AV8 Helicopter scheme.

Busy Weekend at Slipper Island

Thanks to Taildragger, the following list and photos are provided following a weekend gathering at Slipper Island off the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, a short distance from Pauanui.

Cessna 180/185: BGO, BSP, BUG, CAK, CAV, CBF, DOC, DRG, DWE, EEJ, EOH, EYH, FDO, JHS, KMK, KRM and WGT
Cessna Bird Dog: DOG

Ardmore Bells

First time noted outside the Oceania hanger was the Agusta-Bell AB206 (JetRanger) ZK-HMU.  This Italian example was one of thirteen constructed for the Austrian Air Force from 1969, its previous markings of 3C-JA still displayed on the side.   They were withdrawn from service in 2009 and this machine was first noted at Ardmore in October 2011.   It became ZK-HMU/4 with Helicopter Flight Training of Ardmore on 20 January.

MRC photo

And following on from a couple of previous posts, two nicer shots of the stunning Bell 427 ZK-IRP carrying out a hover taxi adjacent to Airwork where it was reassembled.   Oddly, the 427 is registered to Hawker Pacific who are on the opposite side of the airfield!  It is destined to join the North Shore Helicopters stable at North Shore/Dairy Flat.

MRC photos

Stearman E 75 ZK-JID at Ardmore 18/2/12

Returning from the Super Tourers race at Hampton Downs, I called into Ardmore (as you do), and I was surprised to see Stearman ZK-JID outside its hangar. This was the first Stearman to be registered in New Zealand I think, but it has been inactive for the last 10 years or so. Yesterday it was outside for engine runs and Len Cowper told me it will be flying soon. I only just caught it outside as it was being pushed back into the hangar.

ZK-JID is an E 75 model which means that it has a Lycoming R-680-17 9 cylinder radial engine, and Len told me that the 9 cylinder motor is smoother that other radials in other Stearmans. It is ex USAAF 42-16901 which means that it was ordered in 1942. It served in the Phillipines during the war and was gifted to the Phillipine Air Force in 1946. It then went onto the Phillipine civil register as PI-C543 and later as RP-C543.

On 9/3/71 it was registered as N 4036 to Frank Jamison of Manila and it underwent a two and a half year rebuild. It was then purchased by Len Cowper who was a Cathay pacific pilot at the time as I recall. Len bought the aircraft to New Zealand where it first flew as in December 1982. It was withdrawn from use and stored in 1984 then went with Len Cowper to Hawaii from 1994 to 1996. It was then owned by Teresa Hans of Livermore, California from 12/96 to 10/98.

It was registered as ZK-JID to Pacific Southwest Ltd of Auckland (Len Cowper) on 27/11/98, and after a brief stint with White Island Airways from 25/11/99 to 1/11/00, it returned to Pacific Southwest Ltd ownership. I believe it has been stored for around the last 10 years and so it is great to see it returning to active duty.

Thanks to Bus Bus for the very detailed and interesting history of this aircraft.

Rangiora today 19-02-2012

Two photographs sent in by Allan Bowman from today's Rangiora activities show the "uncivil" RNZAF Bell UH1-H NZ3811 (c/n 11939) at the pumps and about to depart for Mount Cook.

On its tie downs was the Ultravia Pelican "Club" GS ZK-MAL2 (c/n 524) of Wallace Pendray.

This was a project for Malcolm Simpson of Takanini and first registered to him on 01-12-1994.

More from Napier Art Deco - Sunday 19-02-2012

A high flying - fast mover with feet dry. Captured overhead Napier today by Nick Furmage. Unfortunately Nick failed to get the Tail number of this NZCH bound C-17. [You just cannot get good hired help these days !]

Yesterday Nick captured the -8 on approach. Today it is the -7 on final for the nearby model aircraft strip.

Art deco weekend at Napier # 3

Cessna A152 Aerobat/Sparrowhawk ZK-JDB (c/n A1520855) is from the year of 1979. It reached NZ in 1986 and is currently listed with Challenge Aviation Ltd of New Plymouth.
Below we see it passing through - so to speak.

Harvard 2A* ZK-JJA [as NZ1053] (c/n 88-13910) making its approach.

Normal ops continued with the arrival of -8 ZK-NEG (c/n 621) arriving.

Ah !   Get a sniff of that !

It was not all warbirds and historic stuff.

The Diamond DA40 ZK-MTD (c/n 40.944) from the Massey University School of Aviation was in the area.