Homebuilt Helicopters of New Zealand - A Different Exec

Observant readers of the blog will have noticed that in my previous post on Rotorway Exec 162Fs I stated that we have had nine of them registered here, but I only posted photos of eight airframes.

That is because our ninth Exec 162F is a different beast.  In fact although CAA show it as a 162F model, in fact it is a turbine powered Jet Exec ..The Jet Exec is powered by a Solar T 62-32 Titan turbine engine that is typically sourced from an auxiliary power unit in a larger aircraft or helicopter, and develops similar power to the RW 162 internal combustion engine.   The kit to convert the 162F airframe is manufactured by KISS Aviation of Perris, California.  The primary drive is through a KISS designed clutch and the tail rotor is driven by a shaft and right angled gearbox.  The weight of the Jet Exec is less than the 162F Exec and the turbine engine is smoother running and more reliable (but the fuel usage is up).

We have had just the one Jet Exec conversion of the Rotorway Exec 162F registered in New Zealand:

ZK-IGH2 (c/n 6632) was registered to Jet Exec NZ Ltd (Peter J Stewart) of Timaru on 26/8/11.  It is photo'd above at Timaru on 30/6/11, showing the detail of the turbine engine installation.

And it is photo'd here at Rangitata Island on 22/8/13, where you can see the revised lines of the upper engine cowling (compared to a 162F Exec).  On 6/2/22 ownership transferred to Dantex Ltd of Hamilton with whom it is still current.

Taildraggers from Hastings on 10-9-2022

The Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club organise a taildragger weekend every year and this year it is is being held this weekend the 10th and 11th of September.  Unfortunately the recent wet weather ruled out Saturday's events that were going to be held at Waipukurau, but the flyin went ahead at Bridge Pa aerodrome, sadly without many visitors.  Jordan Elvy and Simon Hills were there and Jordan has sent photos of a few of the local taildraggers:

Terry Smith's Milholland Legal Eagle XL ZK-LLX was flying in the landing competitions.

The locally base Sonex ZK-NEX2 (c/n 1698) of R P Drew was parked out.  This aircraft has not been posted on the blog previously.

And an oldie that is still flying, the Rand KR 2 ZK-JLW, looks like it has been re-engined as it has a new cowling.  It also has a new fin under the rear fuselage and has been fitted with larger tyres.  It has been registered to Gavin Grimmer since 16/6/22.

Homebuilt Helicopters of New Zealand - Rotorway Exec 162F Models

In 1990 Rotorway Aircraft underwent a reorganisation and a name change to Rotorway International, still based at Chandler, Arizona, and the updated Rotorway 162F helicopter was developed.  The was powered by an improved RW 162 engine which produced 162 HP when fitted with a FADEC electronic engine management system.  

The Exec 162F model appeared in New Zealand from the mid 2000s and we have had nine of them registered here to date as follows:

ZK-HUD3 (c/n 6838) was built by Wayne R Cook of Christchurch and was registered to him on 14/7/05.  It is photo'd above at the 2017 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton on 5/2/17.  It is still current.

ZK-HUR3 (c/n 3216) has a long and somewhat convoluted history.  It can be seen from the c/n that it is an early kit and it was built by Orville R Neissing of Vacaville, California and registered to him as N42830 on 24/2/92 as a Neissing Exec with a c/n of 001. It was cancelled from the US register on 4/11/96.  It then languished for many years and was partly dismantled for conversion to a turbine engine, which never eventuated.  It was purchased as "partly dismantled but flyable" in 2007 in the US by Bruce Burdekin of Christchurch who had it shipped to Christchurch.

Bruce registered his Exec 162F as ZK-HUR3 on 20/3/07.  However Bruce found that the helicopter was far from flyable and he set about a total rebuild which involved a new airframe and eventually it did make a short test flight but this proved the engine was not up to the task.  Then a new engine was fitted , but this caused problems with the CAA in respect of non-existant logbooks proof of age of calendar and hours limited items.  So Bruce went back to the US  for the Exec helicopter he had always wanted.  I understand the helicopter may still fly again sometime in the future, possibly in the microlight category, and it is still registered.

 

ZK-IOH (c/n 6119) was built by Lars J Fellman of Espoo in Finland and it was first registered to him there as OH-XOH.  Lars emigrated to New Zealand in 2007 and bought his helicopter with him, and it was registered ZK-IOH to him, at North Shore, on 26/10/07.  Lars based ZK-IOH at his property on the South Head of the Kaipara Harbour, and it is photo'd above not far from there, at Parakai, on 1/3/09.  After Lars sadly passed away, ZK-IOH was sold to Dean M Hill of Helensville, with whom it is still current.

  

ZK-IVR (c/n 6358) is another US import, but more successful, as it was the Reserve grand Champion in the Rotorcraft category at Oshkosh in 2000 and also won a Silver Lindy award.  It was built as N8270U by Gerald D and Linda D White of Richmond, Indiana and was registered to them on 7/12/99.  It was cancelled from the US register on 20/9/07 and sold to New Zealand, and it was registered ZK-IVR to Ryan J Fitzmaurice and Valma P McGowan of Greymouth, on 11/3/08.  It is photo'd above at a flyin at Charlie Draper's strip at Darfield on 17/4/18.  It is still current.

ZK-HUO2 (c/n 834) was built by Grant R Brown of Rakaia and it was registered to him on 14/8/09.  He later moved to Blenhiem and ZK-HUO was damaged in a forced landing following a loss of power at Seddon on 13/10/13.  It wa cancelled as destroyed on 23/5/15.  It is photo'd above at the 2011 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton, on 5/2/11.

ZK-HSW5 (c/n 6998) is also an import, but this time from Australia where it was built by Kevin Lunn of Airlie Beach in Queensland.  It was first registered to him as VH-LUN2 on 4/4/06 and then sold abroad as YJ-CO7 in November 2007.  It returned to Australia to become VH-YHC with Stephen Winteringham of Cooloola Cove, Queensland on 6/9/10.  The it was cancelled from the Australian register again on 9/10/12 for export to New Zealand.  It was registered here to (Ivan) David Deaker of Reidston near Oamaru on as ZK-YHC on 10/10/12.  But this was an error and it was re-registered in the New Zealand helicopter section of the register as ZK-HSW5 on 14/11/12.  The above photo was taken from Trade me.  It was re-registered as ZK-HGA3, still to David Deaker of Reidston on 13/7/21 and it is still current with him.

Now, returning to Bruce Burdekin's Exec helicopter story.  Bruce travelled to the US in 2013 in search of another Rotorway Exec and he purchased N16696 (c/n 6171).  N16696 had been built by John R Stephens of Ailey, Georgia and it was registered to him on 24/5/06.  Ownership changed to Hickory Creek Aviation Inc of Wilmington, Delaware on 3/4/11 and it was cancelled from the US register on 17/9/13 for export to New Zealand.

ZK-HYQ2 (c/n 6171) was registered to Bruce W Burdekin of Christchurh on 28/11/13.  Thankfully all went well this time and Bruce is enjoying flying it.  It is photo'd 2 above at the 2015 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton, on 7/2/15, and above in Bruce Burdekin's back yard on 15/7/22.  Thanks for the photo Bruce.

The most recent Rotorway Exec 162F to be registered is ZK-HHN4 (c/n 6973) which was built by D S Buchanan of Wellington and was registered to him on 24/10/17.  It is photo'd here at Masterton on 7/7/19.

To be continued...

A couple from Ardmore

Noted at Ardmore yesterday the Stoddard Hamilton Glastar ZK-PGP has had its registration changed from the fuselage onto the tail.   This was imported from the USA in 2015 for its current Auckland owner.

And now in a smart new paint scheme is the Auckland based 1977 model Piper PA34-200T Seneca ZK-SFC2.  This was originally imported from Australia in 1993.

 

Oh no! Not another pie run !

 Yes I dropped into Rangiora this afternoon.

In Pat Scotter's hangar was the Beech 58 Baron ZK-KJV c/n TH-1384 being prepared for its departure to Australia soon.

Of 1984 vintage and built as N6698Z it moved to Australia to become VH-KJV2 in March of 2004 for Tim Fairfax of Brisbane.

 After four other operators in Australia it was ferried into Kerikeri and then on to Ardmore on 20-04-2018.

It became ZK-KJV on 05-09-2018 and remained listed with its Australian operator Tex Onsite Pty Ltd until registered with Geoff Horsburgh of Napier from 08-02-2020.

 Enfield Holdings Ltd of Momona became the operator in Mid-October and then Schick Civil Construction Ltd of Hamilton from 16-10-2020.

Dropping in from Leslie Hills in North Canterbury was the Cessna 185C ZK-CGC c/n 185-0680 of Jon Rutherford. 

It did a couple of circuits, some air exercises in the northwest training area and then zotted back home.

Back at Christchurch International at the Heli Centre was the Bell 206B JetRanger III ZK-IMB3  c/n 2660 which was relisted with Westland Rotor Ltd of Whataroa from 01-06-2022 after two years with P & E Ltd of Darfield.

Cessna 185B ZK-CFI at Kaipara Flats Today 9-9-2022

 It was a lovely day in the North today and it bought a spectacular visitor the Kaipara Flats airfield:

Cessna 185B ZK-CFI was listed to W J N Steel of Turangi on 8/7/20, and is based on a farm strip at Kuratau.  It left in the early afternoon and looked and sounded the part.  I remember it as a topdresser for Rural Aviation based at Palmerston North back in the sixties.

And that is a nicely mown airstrip!

Spencer Aircar available.

 Below is the original post on the Spencer Aircar ZK-NMF which was posted by Sir Minty back  on 05-08-2013.

We have just received notification that this aircraft is now for sale/disposal.

See yesterdays comment at the bottom of this post for more details.

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Monday, 5 August 2013

Spencer Amphibian Aircar(s) of New Zealand

The Spencer Amphibian Aircar was designed by Percival H "Spence" Spencer.  It traces its roots back to the original Spencer Amphibian Aircar that he test flew in August 1941.  This project was put into storage during WW 2, and after the war Spencer sold the design rights to the Republic Aircraft Corporation, who marketed the aircraft as the Republic Seabee.  The Seabee had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, and more than 1,000 were built.

In 1968, at the age of 72 Spencer and retired US Air Force Colonel "Andy" Anderson formed a new company to market Spence's new design of a 4 seat homebuilt amphibian, also called the Spencer Amphibian Aircar (Model S 12).  This new amphibian looked very like the Republic Seabee but had a tricycle undercarriage.  It was built from wood, and fibreglass.  The prototype first flew at Chino, CA in May 1970, and the first amateur built example flew in September 1974.  Over 50 homebuilt Aircars had flown by the early 2000s.

The Model S 12D used a Lycoming O-320 or O-540 engine, and the Model S 12E used a Continental Tiara engine of 285 HP.  The Tiara series of engines were developed by Continental in the 1960's, but were not commercially successful as they were not much of an improvement over the earlier standard horizontally opposed engines.  They featured a high engine speed with a 1 to 0.5 gearing to reduce propeller speeds for noise reduction.

Length was 7.92 metres (26 feet), the wingspan was 11.38 metres (37 feet 4 inches) and the height was an impressive 3.6 metres (11 feet 9 inches).  These dimensions surely made it New Zealand's biggest homebuilt aircraft.  Empty weight was 930 Kg (2,050 pounds) and MAUW was 1,406Kg (3,100 pounds).  With 285 HP it had very good performance including a rate of climb of 1,600 feet per minute.

Our first and only Spencer Amphibian Aircar was ZK-NMF (c/n AACA/319) which was a Model S 12E and was built by Neil Falconer of Gore over a 15 year period from 1972.  It was first registered on 18/8/87, and I recall that Neil Falconer required dispensation from the Department of Civil Aviation for such a large aircraft.  Sadly, Neil Falconer only flew ZK-NMF for 17 hours before he died.  After that the aircraft was flown occasionally by Neil's son Keith.

This photo of ZK-NMF was taken on 23/2/91 at Mandeville by Greybeard, and it shows the size of the aircraft.  It was withdrawn from use in 1991 and stored.

ZK-NMF was purchased by the NMF Syndicate of Kumeu on 2/7/97, and was flown around New Zealand by John Tollemanche who was a member of the syndicate.  It was sold to SAC Holdings of Auckland on 10/4/01, under whose ownership it is photo'd above at Ardmore on 4/11/06.  Finally its registration was revoked on 7/4/11.

By all accounts it was a magnificent aircraft.  However, I do not think we will see any more Spencer Amphibian Aircars built in New Zealand.

*******************************************

Yesterdays comment

I received this email 7 Sept 2022, from Grant Craigie who owns the Aircar. 

He is looking to sell it: ..................

" ... before covid and with the lockdowns I have not been back since , but will be back in NZ in NOVEMBER if anyone is interested to look at it.

 I will be getting rid of it one way or another as I can no longer afford to keep it in a hangar.

Hoping someone will rescue the hours that was put into building her, I can as hoped do her justice, let me know.

Kind Regards, Grant"          gcraigie4@gmail.com

Auster J 1N Alpha at North Shore Today 7-8-2022

A trip down to North Shore today for avgas today, and it was great to see the locally based Auster J 1N Alpha out flying circuits in the sun.  It was the first time I have seen it out flying:

ZK-ATS (c/n 2157) was registered to the Auster ATS Syndicate of Whangaparaoa on 21/9/17.  It is listed on the CAA register as a J 1N which makes it an Alpha I think, but others may wish to add more wisdom.  It was originally built in the UK as G-AIBV and appeared on the New Zealand register in September 1949 (which makes it having been 73 years in New Zealand!)

Take off roll on 03...

And over the fence for a landing.  It was nice to hear a Gipsy Major in the circuit.

Homebuilt Helicopters of New Zealand - Another Rotorway Type, the Scorpion Too

At this point I will take a diversion from our Rotorway Execs to post about our sole Rotorway Scorpion Too helicopter, which was registered early on but slightly later than the first Exec 90s.

The Scorpion Too was an earlier design of B J Schramm and featured a welded steel body and tailboom with a basic 2 seater cockpit.  It was powered by an earlier Rotorway engine, the RW 133 which was developed from the VW engine.  It developed 133 HP, which was pretty marginal for a 2 seat helicopter.

The specifications for the Scorpion Too are:  length 20 feet 3 inches (6.18 metres) and the rotor diameter was 24 feet (7.32 metres).  The empty weight was around 750 pounds (340 kg) and the MAUW was 1,200 pounds (544 Kg).  The cruise speed was around 78 knots and the rate of climb was 800 feet per minute at sea level).

The Scorpion Too formed the basis for the Rotorway Exec helicopter.

We have only has one Scorpion Too helicopter registered in New Zealand:  ZK-HSM (c/n AACA/620) which was registered to Daryl Travis and Grant Jeffreys of Kaiapoi on 22/6/83

Try as we might, we have not been able to find a photo of ZK-HSM so this is a representative photo. Can anyone out there supply a photo of it?  Or does anyone remember ever seeing it?

But we do know that it was assembled by Alan Minchner of Airmec Aviation at West Melton, and we also know that it made its first flight on 29/8/83.  It was registered for quite some time before being cancelled as revoked on 18/6/98.
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Homebuilt Helicopters of New Zealand - Rotorway Execs Early Models

The Rotorway Exec helicopter was a development of earlier helicopters that were designed by B J Schramm from the early 1960s.  The Rotorway Exec 90 was designed in the 1970s and first flew in 1980.  It has a welded chrome moly frame around the two seat cabin and engine and a monocoque aluminium  tailboom with a streamlined fibreglass body covering the frame.  It was powered by an engine developed by Rotorway from a 4 cylinder Porsche engine but with water cooled heads.  The engine was mounted vertically to drive the rotor shaft via a duplex chain and belts, and the tail rotors were belt driven.  In the Exec 90 the engine was a RW 145 of 145 cubic inch capacity and it produced 145 HP at 4,500 rpm.

The Rotorway company has undergone various changes of ownership over the years, being purchased in the 1980s by Englishman and Rotorway helicopter owner John Netherwood who moved the company to Chandler, Arizona, and then in 1998 the company became employee owned, and most recently, in 2021, the company ceased business and was taken over by Rotor X Aircraft manufacturing who hired many of the former employees and have named Rotorway's last helicopter, the A 600 Talon as the Phoenix A 600.

The specifications for the Rotorway Exec (for the later 162F model) are:  length 22 feet (6.71 metres), rotor diameter 25 feet (7.62 metres).  The empty weight is around 975 pounds (442 kg) and the MAUW is 1,500 pounds (680 kg).  The cruising speed is around 80 knots and the rate of climb is around 1,000 feet per minute at sea level.

We have had nine Rotorway Exec 90 helicopters registered in New Zealand as follows:

Our first Rotorway Exec (and the first homebuilt helicopter registered in New Zealand), was ZK-HFR (c/n 3087) which was registered to Funnell Aviation Services Ltd (John Funnell) of Taupo on 21/12/82.  I photo'd it above at Taupo in 1987 still looking like it has not flown.

It is photo'd here, also at Taupo, on 29/8/89.  It suffered damage when a clutch failure resulted in a heavy landing on 25/3/83.  Ownership transferred to S J Docherty of Kawarau on 22/6/90, then to C R Adlam of New Plymouth on 15/11/91, then to S C Rowe of Rongotea on 18/3/96 and finally to A M Maydon of Waitati on 13/8/96.  It was cancelled from the register as withdrawn on 5/9/06.

The next Rotorway Exec to be registered was ZK-HTG (c/n AACA/546/AACA/3081) which was registered to the Grant T Twist Marketing Partnership of Dannevirke on 2/8/84.  It is photo'd above at Taupo on 6/8/94.  On 15/7/86 ownership transferred to D L Grange of Auckland.  It was cancelled as withdrawn on 23/10/98.

I think the first Rotorway Exec to fly in New Zealand was ZK-HUB (c/n AACA/545) which was built by Keith Wein, initially in Wellington, and it was registered to him at Taupo on 17/12/84.  I photo'd it above at Taupo in 1987.  It was damaged near Taupo on 9/2/88.  It was sold to N S Buchanan of Plimmerton on 4/8/96 then on 22/5/10 to C W (Cliff) Johnston of Hastings.  He rebuilt it and modified the rotor drive from chain to toothed belt, but it was cancelled as withdrawn on 25/7/11.

Next came a couple of Rotorway Execs that were built in Auckland.  The first was ZK-HVB (c/n 33834) that was registered to Tellus Vacuum Cleaners Ltd of Auckland on 12/6/85.  It was sold to the J K and R M Barrow syndicate of Hamilton on 25/7/89 and it is still current with Keith Barrow at Gordonton.  Try as I might I have not been able to get a photo of it although Keith told me that it is painted red and white with a yellow stripe.  The best I can do for a photo at this time is this image from Google Maps!  Can anyone supply a photo?

And the second Auckland machine was ZK-HVP (c/n NZRA/181) that was built by H H Schilling and was first registered to him on 7/11/85.  I photo'd it above at Ardmore in 1986.  Ownership changed to S R Taylor of Auckland on 24/2/88 and he completed the helicopter and flew it from his home at Greenhithe. Next it went to Alpha Helicopters of Auckland on 3/3/89.  And amazingly it then went on 30/10/93 to the same J K and M R Barrow of Hamilton who also own ZK-HVB.  It is also still current but dismantled for overhaul.  On 5/10/10 its c/n was changed to 3196.

The first Rotorway Exec to be registered to a South Island owner was ZK-HPW2 (c/n AACA/616) that was built by N J Clark of Christchurch and was registered to him on 13/3/87.  I have not been able to find a photo of it as ZK-HPW2, but on 30/7/92 ownership transferred to Heli Hind Helicopters (Shaun Ryan) of Kowhitirangi and he re-registered the helicopter as ZK-HHK2.  It went to the M & R Partnership of Alexandra on 26/10/00 and it is photo'd above at Alexandra on 16/12/03.  Finally it went to P F Clark of Ashburton on 2/12/06.  Its registration was cancelled on 4/8/08.

Hank Courtenay of Lower Hutt built Rotorway Exec ZK-HXY and it was registered to him on 

7/10/87.  It is photo'd at Paraparaumu under his ownership.  It was sold on 14/6/91 to the T H Ruddenau Farming Co of Glencairn Station near Dipton in Southland, and then on 10/1/94 to Garrymore Farms Ltd of Rangiora.  It was cancelled from the register on 23/5/95 and may have been sold to Australia..

ZK-HMK2 (c/n 6019) was registered to Sanders Rotary Ltd of Tauranga on 10/8/95 and was their demonstrator.  It is photo'd above at the 1998 SAANZ flyin at Matamata.  On 20/11/99 ownership transferred to A W Meyer of Taupo.  It was next heard of when advertised for sale on Trade Me in May 2018 when it had a partly installed Solar T-62T-32-2 150 shaft HP gas turbine engine.  However it was cancelled from the register as revoked on 28/6/21.

And our final Rotorway Exec 90 to be registered here was ZK-HWZ2 (c/n 6382) was built by T C Pike of Auckland and it was registered to him on 16/11/99.  It was damaged on 24/6/00 near Waimauku but it is still registered to T C Pike of Waimauku.  I photo'd it stored in Tim's large workshop at Waimauuku on 26/3/22.