My week of it # 1.

 Back on Tuesday the 12th I stopped over at Pukaki (Twizel) to catch up with Chris Rudge of Aviation Adventures Ltd and to see his Grumman G164A AgCat ZK-RTA c/n 441.I caught it just before the showers arrived.

Chris returning ZK-RTA to its hangar before the inclement weather arrived.ZK-RTA parked in front of AgCat ZK-CAT2. (The Red Cat).

ZK-RTA got a previous mention here :-

https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2022/08/grumman-ag-cat-zk-mex-and-zk-rta.html

Also online with Aviation Adventures is the Cessna 172N Skyhawk ZK-JSF c/n 17270874.

Homebuilt and Sport Helicopters of New Zealand - American Sportscopters

American Sportscopter Inc was formed in 1990 with the aim of bringing a light weight and low cost single seat helicopter to the market.  In 1993 a quick build kit was introduced for the original Sportscopter 254 which featured a 55 HP engine.  This was followed by the Sportscopter 331 with 65 HP and then the 2 seat Sportscopter 496 with 95 and then 115 HP.

The specifications for the Sportcopter 496 are:  length 6.02 metres (19 feet 9 inches), rotor diameter 7.01 metres (23 feet) empty weight 225 Kg (496 pounds), MAUW 492 Kg (1,085 pounds) and the 115 HP Hirth F 30 engine gives a cruise speed of 105 km/hr (57 knots).

We have had only one Sportscopter 496 in New Zealand and I do not think we will not see any more:

ZK-HIY3 (c/n 003) was registered to Ultralight American Sportscopter Inc (NZ) Ltd of Auckland on 16/2/98.  I have not been able to find a photo of it but it must have looked somewhat like the machine in the above photo which was taken by David Eyre at an Avalon Airshow in Australia.  During 1999 it was modified as the prototype for the two seat 600 model with a 120 HP Hirth engine, and on 1/9/03 ownership changed to Bounty Corporation Ltd of of Bombay.  It was re-designated as a Sportscopter 600 on 24/2/04 but it was cancelled as withdrawn on 20/12/07.

An American Sportscopter 600 was registered ZK-HJP2 (c/n 2039) to Ultra Helicoptes Inc (NZ) Ltd of Auckland on 7/7/99.  It was cancelled from the register as exported on 9/10/00 but somehow it made its way to Dick Sybrandy of Manaia in Taranaki who has provided the above photo of it at his property.

Three more Sportscopter 600s were registered to Ultra Helicopters Inc (NZ) Ltd being ZK-HJI3 (c/n 2008) on 6/7/99, ZK-HJU2 (c/n 2040) on 7/7/99 and ZK-HJX3 (c/n 2041).  All three helicopters were cancelled as exported on 9/10/00 when Ultra Helicopters Inc (NZ) ltd was placed in receivership..  I haven't been able to find any photos of them and I suspect that they may never have flown here as they were only on the register for a short time.  Can anyone confirm?

The man behind Ultra Helicopters Inc (NZ) Ltd was Trevor Rogers who was an ex National MP had an "interesting" connection with helicopters including working on an unmanned combat helicopter called the Snark.  You can read an article that gives more background to this saga here:   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/lies-spies-and-flights-of-fancy/GR2NQXUYNE3L6YGK6YOZU7COBQ/

Cessna 172 ZK-BSU and ZK-CWK.

 Cessna 172 c/n 29604 was initially allocated the US registration of N6404B but this was not taken up and it was test flown prior to its shipping to New Zealand using the Cessna test registration of N11B in the latter part of 1956.

It was crated off to New Plymouth for Rural Aviation and was registered in New Zealand as ZK-BSU on 14-12-1956 and was issued with a NZ CofA on 22-02-1957. 

It was taken up by the Hawera Aero Club from 05-04-1957 but was involved in a forced landing near Takaka on 29-07-1961 and ended up back with Rural Aviation at New Plymouth and following repairs was registered to them on 01-02-1962.

Four days later it was listed with the Taupo Aero Club until it had a pilotless take off from Taupo on 26-07-1963.

Date site and photographer unknown.

Next operator was the Rotorua Aero Club from 05-05-1964. 
A year later on 08-05-1965 in a forced landing due to inclement weather near Turangi it struck trees and ended in the scrub.

Its registration was cancelled and was sold 'as is' to Arthur N Reville on 23-08-1965 who rebuilt it and re-registered it as ZK-CWK on 30-01-1968 with it going online with the Auckland Flying School until acquired by General Finance Acceptance Co Ltd of Wellington from 31-03-1969.

It was leased to the South Otago Aero Club at Balclutha.

Balclutha on 23-04-1969.

- and then to A B Robertson, who traded as West Coast Air Charter.

T Burns of Rotorua had it listed briefly from 07-09-1972 then Nairn Aviation Ltd of Nelson from 03-10-1972, followed by Buller Aviation Ltd of Westport from 13-03-1973.

It was damaged at Mokihinui, north of Westport, on 14-09-1974 during take-off in long grass and collided with a bank. Peter Lacy at Nelson listed it from 16-12-1974.

The next name that appears on my list is R K Stokes of Wanganui from 24-10-1978 followed by D R Moore and Peter J Budden at New Plymouth from 03-04-1979 -

New Plymouth on 02-09-1979

- with an address change to Auckland in March 1983.

New Plymouth on 28-08-1984

It passed quickly through the hands of Leon W Denize of Te Kuiti between 12-07-1985 and its sale to R Mee of Rakaia from 26-09-1985.

It appears to have had some sort of an incident in 1989.

At West Melton in 1989 with lower fuselage damage.

It then became one of the many Cessna's that passed through the hands of Leslie Sutherland of Levin from 23-04-1990 until sold to the Property Shop Ltd (Rob G Garlick) of Wellington from 06-09-1990. During the period 14-12-1990 to 22-07-1992 it was listed with G H and M I Garlick of Feilding before returning to Rob. (In March 1994 Rob acquired the Maule M5-180C ZK-ESP).

Omaka on 21-05-1995.

On 19-10-2000 ZK-CWK was cancelled and it reverted back to its original registration of ZK-BSU

It failed to get airborne during a tail wind take off at Ruahine Corner on 28-01-2005 and the right hand undercarriage leg was torn out - plus other damage.

It returned to the air as a Tail dragger

Paraparaumu 10-02-2006. A tight fit in one of the glider hangars. Note curved down wingtips. Rob has owned at least six gliders that I know about.

Omarama on 02-01-2009 with upper leading edge turbulators fitted.

Above and below - at Omarama on 02-01-2010 with a Lycoming O-360 engine with new cowls and exhausts, plus side louvers and a small blister, plus a fixed pitch propeller and larger spinner.

Title passed back to the Property Shop Ltd on 25-11-2011.

A long shot at Nelson 21-07-2012.

It was registered to the Marlborough Aero Club at Omaka on 14-07-2015 and delivered to them on the 20th but badly damaged in a strip accident shortly thereafter.

Damaged rear fuselage noted at Ashburton on 10-09-2017.

Less than a year later it was transferred to Alpine Aviation Ltd at Ashburton from 16-06-2016 and -

Rebuild under way at Norfolk Road 2019.

 - underwent a major rebuild at Flight Fix at Norfolk Road near Inglewood during 2018/2020 gaining a replacement rear fuselage and re-engined with a 210hp Continental IO-360 engine and a constant speed propeller from a Cessna 172 Hawk XP. 

The old damaged rear fuselage is still resident outside at Ashburton today.

Ashburton 29-02-2020.

It was delivered back to Alpine Aviation at Ashburton on 12-09-2020. 

Noted at Ashburton a day later on 13-09-2020.

On 19-04-2021 at Ashburton.

It had extended wing tips fitted during 2021. (note the change in the wing trailing edge at the tip in the last photo below).

At Avionics Canterbury Wide at Rangiora on 31-10-2022.

And at Ashburton on 16-11-2022.

From the Waikato up to Auckland

A visit to the Heli A1 base north of Otorohanga found their AS350BA ZK-IZZ in residence featuring the company's new logo.    This was originally imported in 2002 from Japan as ZK-HLX3,  quickly becoming ZK-HZZ4 for Skywork Helicopters,  and then onto ZK-IZZ in 2003.

Up at a busy West Aero at Mercer airfield the Okepuha Station Cessna 180B ZK-RWC2 was tied down.  This now features a revised tail logo and was originally imported from the USA in 1984 as ZK-LMW,  becoming RWC in 2013 when it was acquired by R W Coop of Mahia.

And at Ardmore the Mt Cook Skiplanes' Pilatus PC6B2-H4 Turbo Porter ZK-MCN has completed its overhaul started back in mid 2021.   This was imported new in 1983.

 

Beech King Air ZK-APL/2 at Paraparaumu 15-11-2022

The relatively new Beech King Air ZK-APL2 was at Paraparaumu for its first visit yesterday and Tim Gorman was there to photograph it:

ZK-APL2 was registered to Apollo Air Ltd of Christchurch on 10/5/22.  CAA show it as a Beechcraft B300 but it is marked 350 on its winglets so maybe it is a Super King Air?

It has also acquired a revised colour scheme since it arrived in New Zealand.

Thanks for the photos Tim.

Another Early Bantam at MOTAT

Following on from my post on Ron Day's Bantam B 10, here is another early Bantam, but this time a single seat B 20 ZK-FMF that Frank Price donated to MOTAT and they have recently put it on display:

ZK-FMF (c/n 0030/MAANZ339) was registered on 27/11/85 to John Smith and Max Clear of Te Kowhai and was the last of the 15 Bantam B 20s that were built.  It is displayed at MOTAT in illustrious company.  You can see details of the Bantam B 20s and a photo of ZK-FMF HERE

As well as flying his Bantam B 20 Frank Price also built and registered the Airdrome Aeroplanes Morane-Saulnier Type L replica ZK-MSP and the unregistered Flying Flea that was recently at Te Kowhai.

Patient pick up at Lake Pukaki Outlet

 We were parked up at the Lake Pukaki Outlet on Saturday having lunch when the local Emergency Services arrived to attend to a patient who had fallen on the foreshore rocks.

It wasn't long before the EMS helicopter arrived from Taieri to uplift the patient.

Well done team.

The MBB MBB-BK117 B-2 ZK-IWL2 is c/n 7186 and has been with Helicopters Otago since May of 2017.

Omarama on the 11th and 12 th.

At Omarama I found nothing new to add to this Blog.

However -
The Slingsby Type 30B Kirby Prefect ZK-GAB is still hanging from the Clubhouse ceiling.
Previously covered here :-https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/search?q=zk-gab

                             The Omarama Gliding Club had two of their three gliders out.

Above is the Schempp-Hirth Discus-2b ZK-GZS c/n 22 which they have had since February of 2015;

                                                                              and below -

                               Their Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus ZK-GUO c/n 319 on take off roll.

        The Aerospool Dynamic WT9 ZK-XYX c/n DY-706 of Southern Soaring Ltd was also active.

Slow trip up the Waitaki Valley.

 Back on the 7th of the month Roger Small from Leighbank Farm called into Oamaru to refuel his Vans RV14 ZK-LBK c/n 140075.

LBK was previously mentioned here  -  https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/search?q=ZK-LBK

On the old airstrip on the edge of Kurow on the 11th was the Ultravia Pelican PL ZK-JHP c/n 529 which has been with Travis Golder of Omarama since July of 2020.

ZK-JHP was previously mentioned here - https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/search?q=zk-jhp

At Omarama on the 11th the Cub Crafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub SS N114RA c/n CC11-00244 was active. It has been listed with Keith Essex of Anchorage, Alaska since mid-2020.

A Very Early Bantam - B 10 ZK-JLD at NZYP on 23-10-2022

Ron Day has sent photos from Waipukurau of his newly acquired Bantam B 10 ZK-JLD (c/n 0003) which is ex the late Michael Wilkins collection:

It can be seen from the constructors number that it is the third Bantam to be built and it is the first model of the Bantam, being the single seat B 10.    You can also see that it seems to have a later version of the fin and rudder fitted (the original B 10s had a fin and rudder that extended below the tail boom) and it also has the rear fuselage covering that came on later Bantams.  The registration ZK-JLD was for J & L Dick of Hamilton.

Ron says that it needs new flying wires and V belts as well as a good clean.  It joins Ron's growing collection of interesting aircraft at Waipukurau.

Thanks for the photos Ron.