A quick look at Hastings

 Nick Furmage has been busy with his camera again and has sent in these shots as taken at Hastings yesterday (22-11-2012)

Below we have a vacant parking spot - as long used by the Beech  Queen Air ZK-CIA.

Beech 65-B80 ZK-CIA2 (c/n LD-470) has made a move - after many years parked in the above spot. So is it about to head offshore ?

Another long shot is of the Cessna 172D ZK-CEY (c/n 49872) which has been with Gary Peddle since 27-04-1993.

Jodel D 11's of New Zealand (1)

The venerable Jodel D 11 was designed by Eduard Joly and Jean Delemontez (Societe Avions Jodel) in response to a French Government request for a low wing aircraft for use by French flying clubs (things have sure changed since!).  It was based on their earlier and very successful single seat D 9 with the fuselage being lengthened and widened from the D 9, and the wings being from the D 10 project (which was not built, but the wings were later used in the Robin DR 100).  The prototype first flew on 4/4/1950.

D 11's were license built by several European aircraft companies such as Wassmer, Aero Diffusion and Societe Aeronautique Normande (SAN) and various models with different motors were developed and named D 111 up to the  D 128.  Around 1500 D 11's were built by these manufacturers.  Plans were offered for homebuilders by Falconar of Canada, and in Australia by Frank Rogers, who named his model the D 11 Club.

The D 11 is 6.2 metres (20 feet 4 inches) in length, and its wingspan is 8.2 metres (26 feet 11 inches).  Empty weight is around 340 Kg (750 pounds) and MAUW is 616 Kg (1,358 pounds).  With an O-200 motor cruise is around 120 mph and the stall is around 30 mph.

By my reckoning we have had 35 D 11's built and flown in New Zealand (plus several other imported examples, and 2 Falconer aircraft).  The D 11 formed the backbone of the homebuilt aircraft fleet in New Zealand for around 40 years.

Our first D 11 was ZK-CKG (c/n F 3138) which was built from Falconar plans by Bruce Gillies, Jock McKenzie and Keven George of Kaikohe.  It was first registered on 1/7/66 and first flew in February 1968.  It is photo'd here at the 1972 AACA flyin at Masterton.

And here it is in colour at the 1981 AACA flyin at Mt Hutt.

It was sold to the George Courtney Syndicate of Kaikohe on 16/8/01, with whom it is still current.  I haven't seen it for many years, but a query to Jean 210 of this blog turned up this photo of ZK-CKG taken at Kaikohe recently by Bill Lambeth of the Dargaville Aero Club.  Thanks to Bill for the photo.

Our second D 11 was ZK-CVP (c/n AACA/57) which was built by Rex Thomson of Bunnythorpe (near Feilding aerodrome), and was first registered on 2/11/67.  It is also photo'd at the 1972 AACA flyin at Masterton.  It was sold to R Smith and DA Barrott of Paihia on 18/10/78.

And here it is in colour, also at the 1981 AACA flyin at Mt Hutt.

It was sold to PM Duncan and JR and D Brown of Temuka on 23/4/85, with whom it is still current.  It is photo'd here on 7/1/95 at Oamaru by Blue Bus.

And our third ZK-C registered D 11 was ZK-CZM (c/n AACA/83), which was built by Jan Mortensen of Dargaville and was first registered on 3/5/72.  (It was easier to keep track of the chronology of aircraft back then, when aircraft were registered in alphabetical order).  It is photo'd here at the 1973 AACA flyin at Omaka.

It was sold to the Central Hawkes Bay Aero Club on 14/9/78, and it id photo'd above in their ownership at the 1981 AACA flyin at Mt Hutt.

It was sold to S Fouhy of Eketahuna on 26/9/83 and it suffered damage in a couple of incidents, at Pahiatua on 1/2/84 and at Waimauku on 13/12/86.  It is photo'd here in his ownership at the 1988 AACA flyin at North Shore.  Finally it was sold to LRW Brown of Outram, with whom it is still current.

A couple of locals at NZCH and NZRT.

A seldom seen Titan T51 Mustang U/L ZK-DGM2 (c/n M05XXXSOHK0068) was spied through the open hangar door today at Rangiora. Built by Kerry Miller; it first flew on 23-11-2007. A quick look in the office shows we are climbing at about 200 feet per minute and in a gentle right hand turn, without much speed or height.

 Below is one dust covered, scantily clad damsel.

Below is Jon Ludgater's Bell OH-58A Kiowa ZK-IXL2 (c/n 44062) at Pacific Aircraft Services today. Once Jon gains his helicopter ticket, and a few small tech items are sorted, it will be Rangiora based.

Registered yesterday (20-11-2012) as ZK-HLI6  (c/n 5512) to CHL Investments was this Eurocopter AS 355 F2 Twin Squirrel recently imported from the Czech Republic. It still retains its OK-AIA registration and Delta Systems Air (DSA) markings.

Other Helicopters at Ardmore 20 Nov

In addition to the AS350 ZK-IJO, there were a few other helicopters noted at Ardmore 20 November.

Helicopter Services AS350B2 ZK-HNL

John Campbell of Te Araroa Robinson R22 ZK-IJC

Outgro Aviation's Robinson R66 ZK-IOA

Locally based Heliflite Training Robinson R22 ZK-IRG

What a Stunner!

Registered to Faram Aviation Group of Gisborne on 10 October 2012 is this stunning Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel

ZK-IJO.  It was photographed 20 November 2012 at Ardmore having changed ownership on the 8th of the month to Eurocopter International.

Fletcher FU24 ZK-BIO

I have been asked by Warwick H if I had a photograph of the Robertson Air Service Fletcher Fu24 that carried the fleet number "6" during the 1960 -1970's.

I did an earlier posting on this aircraft at :-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/blast-from-past.html

 

Below is a slightly updated version.

The aircraft in question is Fletcher FU24 ZK-BIO c/n 42 which was first registered to Cable Price Corporation Ltd on 12-12-1955. It first flew on 10-03-1956 and gained its Cof A on 11-07-1956.

It was listed to Robertson Air Services Ltd of Hamilton on 24-09-1956 and given the fleet number "6".

I believe it was the first FU24 to be fitted with the 260hp engine and first flew with this on 28-05-1957.

Pic above was taken at Te Kuiti on 05-03-1969.

In its earlier days it was piloted by Len Holden.

 Pic above was shot at Hamilton in May 1975 by CMM.

Note the larger "last three" letters of the registration.

 Above. Taken on an unknow date at Hamilton by CMM.

Above - still at Hamilton. Dated 03-09-1979. Carrying the name of the pilot "Peter Sylvia".
Below is another undated shot from Hamilton from CMM.

You will note that in the two lower photos the fleet number "6" is in a squarer font.

It was upgraded to FU24-950M status first flying as such on 22-11-1980.
Unfortunately it crashed, killing the pilot Peter Sylvia, at Arohena near Te Awamutu on 29-06-1982 and was cancelled from the register on 22-09-1982.

Rans ZK-CER at Rangitata Island

The Rans S6s Coyote 11 ZK-CER (c/n 11021465) called into Rangitata Island on 16-11-2012 and was captured on iPhone by Russell Brodie.
A Chris Reid of Blenheim Build - first registered on 26-03-2007.

I remember when. My first - BRA

I would have been 1962 when Joe La Hood, a family friend of Lebanese descent, and a Sergeant in the NZ Army, took me for my first aircraft ride.

The aircraft was Auster J5F Aiglet Trainer ZK-BRA (c/n 3110)  of the Otago Aero Club.

This was the first of several rides and the start of my path into the downward spiral of aviation.

 These first four photographs show ZK-BRA on that day - as taken with my Jiffy Kodak camera.

As you can see, it still had a real engine, and a full panel - or at least it impressed me greatly at the time.
The J5F was aerobatic, with its clipped wings and heavier wing stuts. On Sunday afternoons, the then Otago Aero Club CFI - Hugh Skilling - would take the Auster up for a brief aerobatic display - the falling leaf was my favourite.
This Auster gained its UK C of A on 31-07-1953 and served as G-ANAU with Parker's Stores Ltd of Edinburgh. It was extensively damaged after being stolen from its hangar in 01-09-1953. It was sold to W S Shackleton of London in June of 1956 for export to NZ.
It was registered to the Otago Aero Club as ZK-BRA on 02-10-1956 and gained its NZ CofA on the 5th.
The Southern Districts Aero Club at Gore took control from 15-11-1962
It struck a fence and overturned on take off at Balclutha on 03-01-1965.
It was damaged at Poputuroa on 08-03-1966 with ownership changing to F H Chittock of Gore on 04-08-1966.
Next known incident was at Dunedin on 12-05-1967. Its registration being cancelled on 11-08-1972.

Above - Seen under rebuild in the Southern Aviation hangar at Gore on 06-05-1979. Now with a Lycoming O-320 engine, and looks like the horizontal tailplane is about ready to paint after being re-bagged.
After rebuild by Southern Aviation of Gore it was re-registered to Paul R Jones of Invercargill on 19-11-1979 as an Auster J5F/L (L= Lycoming).

Above and below. We see her at Gore on 04-01-1980 now branded as the "Bendon Flyer".
Bendon, for those unknowing, was a well known brand of female support (BRA).

 Above - As seen at Timaru on 10-05-1983, outside the Whirl-Wide Helicopter hangar.

Then at Oamaru on 10-12-1986, above.
Ownership officially moved to K R O'Brien of Oamaru on 18-01-1987.

 Above and below. And Christchurch on 16-09-1987, outside the Southair hangar

 By 03-10-1989 it was with D K J Edmonds of Brighton (Dunedin).

Back at Taieri on 11-12-1991 outside the Aero Club hangar (old NAC hangar). Note the suspended microlight (There also was a Slingsby Dart hanging from the rafters).

 And again at Taieri - but on 14-04-1993.

It was then stored for about ten years before being sold to David Devine from up Gisborne way on 05-12-2003.
Below my last sighting of ZK-BRA was at Ashburton on 04-02-2007.

On 19-07-2012 the engine failed to respond on a late go round and it stalled into trees at Te Karaka.
Its registration was cancelled on 11-10-2012.
I believe the mortal remains have gone south for a possible rebuild.

Helipro On Queens Wharf, Wellington 10/11/2012

While waiting for my transport to Masterton last Saturday, a quick check of Helipro's base was in order.

Robinson R 44 ZK-HES was out in the sunshine basking in a "You Can't Beat Wellington on a Good Day"day.  I had a feeling that the weather was going to be pretty good in the Wairarapa.

A brief meteorological interlude

At last - a good old front - just like we used to get before the War - advancing over Christchurch at about 1800 hours this evening. A bout of thunder and lightning yet to arrive.

I can hear Beethoven's 6th pounding away in my mind as the little roll cloud scurries behind the trees.