Air Tractor ZK-SXG at Feilding 19-8-2023

Tim Gorman was at Feilding aerodrome yesterday and captured the latest Super Air Air Tractor returning to the field:

Air Tractor 502A ZK-SXG (c/n 502A-3259) was registered to Super Air Ltd on 9/5/23, having previously been registered N502TP in the US.  By my reckoning Super Air now have 12 Air Tractors in their fleet - one AT402, four AT502As, four AT502Bs and three AT602s.

Thanks for the photo Tim.

First of Type: ICP Ventura ZK-DUW/2 at Rangiora

 The first ICP Ventura to fly in New Zealand got airborne from Rangiora this afternoon with Stu Bufton doing the deed.

The Ventura is available as a two-seater in the 598 kg microlight II class or as a four seater 800kg GA aircraft.

Doug Andersons ZK-DUW2 c/n 22-10-62-0030K was constructed as a two seater but with the larger Rotax 915iS engine driving a three bladed constant speed propeller.

The most obvious differences to the ICP Savanah are the larger, squarer door to allow access to the rear seats (or luggage area in the case of the two seat Ventura) and the small rear windows. It has a single wing strut versus the "V" strutted Savannah, and the large engine also makes for a longer nose.

Above is the Rotax 915iS.

Below after the first flight.

Above the first short final. 

Alas my camera skill failed to allow for the all-white aircraft.

Classic Aviation CA 18 Adventurer ZK-CGS/5 at Tauranga

I have posted about the Classic Aviation CA 18 Adventurer previously at https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2020/05/homegrown-two-seat-homebuilt-aircraft.html  That was when the first example ZK-CMR was registered back in July 2015.  Recently Malcolm Saville of Avserv Ltd in Mt Maunganui has registered a second example:

ZK-CGS5 (c/n CA18-0010) was registered on 5/4/23 and it has been out test flying, as captured by Warwick Hamilton.  I understand that it is fitted with a fuel injected Continental O-200 engine which produces 110 HP.  Thanks for the photo Warwick.

It dates me that I can remember the first ZK-CGS being assembled and delivered, being a DHC-2 Beaver for Air Contracts.
 

ZK-HUO again.

 A chance shot of Christchurch Helicopters Airbus AS 350 B3e ZK-HUO3 c/n 7721 arriving back at its hangar just before the rain began about lunch time today.

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To help complete the story.

This Airbus AS 350 B3e arrived in NZ to become ZK-IDT on 22-01-2014 with Helicopters Queenstown Ltd 

Below we have a photo of it at Queenstown as ZK-IDT on 16-11-2015 wearing Southern Lakes titles and the operating Company details in smaller script below.

The Company had a name change to Helicopters Queenstown 2020 Ltd on 24-02-2022.

It was re-registered as ZK-HDQ3 on 04-07-2023.

This allowed its "IDT" registration to be relocated to the Companies recently acquired Eurocopter MBB- BK117 C-2, 

(previously ZK-IGN).

As ZK-HDQ3 it was noted at the Christchurch Helicopters facility on 27-07-2023 - as in the photo below.

The following day it was re-registered yet again. 

This time to ZK-HUO3 as in the two photos at the top of this post.

Taylor J 2 Cub ZK-AGD Returns to Wanganui

The venerable Taylor J2 Cub ZK-AGD has returned to Wanganui with new owners Jonathan and Elizabeth Mauchline..  ZK-AGD had spent all its previous active life at Wanganui, being owned by the Aero Club for most of it before falling into disrepair and it was damaged further in a hangar collapse.

Its restoration was carried out by Kip Netherclift of Napier with some input by Murray Kirkus and it was hangared at Bridge Pa, being flown occasionally by Jerry Chisum.  We have posted on the history of ZK-AGD HERE

Ron Day purchased her in June 2020 and relocated her to Waipukurau. After enjoying several local flights over the next three years, Ron decided ZK-AGD should return to Wanganui, where its history was, and where it would be appreciated and more actively flown. Jonathan and Elizabeth were enthusiastic about the idea and became passionate about the aircraft after inspection and a test flight.

Perfect conditions presented themselves on Sunday 30th July so Ron flew her to Dannevirke where Jonathan took over and flew her "back home" after a stop at Feilding.

At Dannevirke on 30 July 2023.

And flying along the coast home to Wanganui, as seen from Darren Luff's Tiger Moth ZK-BEF by photographer Rory Woodhouse.

Thanks very much for the photos Ron.

Sikorsky S 76A ZK-ISJ at MoTaT.

 A follow on from an earlier post on 02-08-2023 (see HERE ) we have three recent photos from Peter Kelly showing ZK-ISJ being prepared for display.

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Below another photo from Jean210 showing ZK-ISJ at work in the Kerikeri Inlet on 04-04-2012.

Saturday Morning at Kaipara Flats - the Eagles Have Landed!

As the weather has improved so there has been more activity around Kaipara Flats airfield on Saturday mornings where the Aero Club puts on a Cuppa and Coffee every Saturday from 10 am.  This morning we had quite a few visitors:

The Eagle 150B ZK-XAB called in from North Shore where it has been owned by the Eagle 150 Syndicate since 22/3/23.

Then later Rusty Russell flew in in his MT 03 Eagle gyro ZK-RCB as the first of quite a few aircraft that had been to Claris on Great Barrier Island for breakfast.  Flying machines come in many different shapes!

Normally it is Penny in the back but not today.

Then the Eagle departed.  It is quite a fast aircraft.

XRAY TANGO FOUR

 Mentioned in an earlier post HERE were two Australian registered Guimbal Cabri G2's at Christchurch Helicopters.
Both were on their flight line today. 

VH-XT4 is c/n 1095 was snapped getting airborne (post pie time).

And VH-VHZ c/n 1115 was lurking with intent.

NELSON MARLBOROUGH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AVIATION ENGINEERING. # 1

 The Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) offer several aviation engineering courses at their facility on Woodbourne Airfield near Blenheim.
For more details check out their courses see HERE

To carry out these training courses they have an interesting collection of aircraft for students to gain experience on.

Below we look at four of these aircraft.

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Cessna 150 ZK-BVY.

The Cessna 150A ZK-BVY c/n 17865 was the third Cessna 150 on our register from 31-05-1960 when it was listed to Rural Aviation Ltd at New Plymouth.

It had been initially allocated N6465T on the Cessna production Line before the Rural Aviation order for three such aircraft was processed. 

Also registered to Rural on the same day was ZK-BVZ (c/n 17889, N6489T) and ZK-BWX (c/n 17936, N6536T).

ZK-BVY was listed to the Wanganui Aero Club from 22-06-1960 before joining Aircraft Hire Ltd of Masterton from 26-09-1963. Over the next four or so years it was online with the Auckland Flying School, then the Christchurch Flying School in 1965 (losing a wheel at Christchurch on 09-11-1965). It returned to the Auckland Flying School in 1966 followed by a spell with the Paraparaumu Flying School.

Photo below shows ZK-BVY at Ardmore on 02-12-1967 from John Page via MoTaT.

Westland Air Ltd / Alpine Flying Service of Greymouth took it on from 07-01-1969 until being listed privately with Alan Orchard of Greymouth on 29-10-1971. (I believe Alan owned the Tiger Moth ZK-ANN from the late 1940's). BVY was damaged at Mussel Point on 16-02-1972ZK-BVY recovering at Taieri on 03-03-1972. It was sold on to Jim Bergman of Auckland from 01-07-1975. 

Alan had also operated the Beech 23-24 ZK-DAD from October 1971through until replacing it with the Piper Cherokee 180 ZK-DFA in February 1975.

Above is a photo of ZK-BVY in a revised paint scheme taken in March of 1976 by CMM.

Anyway ZK-BVY moved on to R A Cotton of Te Mata in February 1979 followed by Chris Mellsop Motors Ltd of Frankton in late January of 1981, and then to J W Black of Auckland in August 1983. Dennis Thompson International had it on their lineup between late January 1984 and its sale to B Schlaepfer/Ardmore Flying School in Mid-November.

Next it was noted with Reville Air Ltd at Ardmore in Mid-1986 and was damaged in a pilotless take off on 10-05-1990 following a flat battery hand start.

Now three photos of BVY taken at Ardmore. Above on 10-07-2007.

Below on 18-03-2008.

And below on 27-02-2009.

From November 2010 it was in the care of the Breetvelt Syndicate of Auckland until relisting to Tim Wedekind of Taupo on 25-04-2012. 

Its final operator was listed as Tim Air Syndicate of Auckland from 24-10-2012.

It was withdrawn and cancelled on 20-10-2016 and now has another life with NMIT at Woodbourne.Above as seen recently at NMIT at Woodbourne recently - thanks to Zac Yates.

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CESSNA 182Q ZK-FLG

The Cessna 182Q Skylane ZK-FLG c/n 65734 was built in 1977 and registered as N9872D from 06-07-1977 with H Trietsh of Bakersfield, California and was handled by Opex Aviation Inc of Santa Paula, California in January 1986 for its ferry flight to New Zealand.

It arrived into Auckland via Pago Pago on 12-02-1986 for NZ certification with Motor Holdings (Aviation) Ltd of Ardmore to become ZK-FLG on 24-02-1986.

As seen at Omarama on 01-04-1994.It only had one operator in NZ from 26-06-1986 until it was withdrawn and cancelled on 19-04-2018.
This was Johnnie and Pauline Campbell based on Horonui Station (Horonui Air) about five miles southwest of Bridge Pa.
It was generously gifted to NMIT at Woodbourne.

ZK-FLG as at NMIT this week.

Note the clipped wings.

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ZK-HFF2

The Robinson R22 Beta ZK-HFF2 c/n 1092 initially flew in Canada as C-FFRU3 with Chinook Helicopters Ltd of Abbotsford, British Columbia from 21-08-1989.
It was damaged in an incident near Abbotsford on 23-03-1990 and was canceled from the Canadian register on 26-06-1990.
It was imported into New Zealand in its damaged state for re-build and was listed to McApline Helicopter Services Ltd at Dairy Flat as ZK-HFF2 on 18-06-1992.

Below we see ZK-HFF at Ardmore on 02-12-1993.

It went on to serve with North Shore Helicopter (Holdings) Ltd at North Shore (renamed from Dairy Flat) from 22-12-1993 and then to Karamea Helicopters Ltd from 28-10-1996.

Noted above outside Drake Aviation at Christchurch on 13-11-1998.

Other operators include Antrim Resources Ltd of Westport from 01-05-2000, C J Thompson Ltd of Drury from 30-03-2001, Helihire Ltd of Waimauku from 12-06-2002, and via a name change to Helinorth Ltd of Whangarei from 29-04-2003.
It came to grief in Whangarei Harbour on 09-02-2007.

Its registration was cancelled as destroyed on 28-11-2007.Above a photo of the mortal remains of ZK-HFF at Dargaville on 19-03-2014 by Jean210.

It is now with NMIT at Woodbourne.

 

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ZK-HVL2

The Robinson R44 Astro ZK-HVL2 c/n 0391 initially went to Japan with the intent to become JA778N but on 03-12-1997 became JA777N instead to Nakayama Unyu.

Photo below of JA777N as at 12-02-2000.

It was imported and registered as ZK-HVL2 on 02-04-2003 with Rotor Flite N Z Ltd of Auckland.

Heavy Jet Ltd of Auckland listed it from 29-11-2003 and placed it with Salt Air Ltd of Paihia from 27-12-2003, before moving it on to North Shore Helicopters Ltd of Albany from 29-06-2004.
It was back with Heavy Jet by 13-09-2004.
From 01-09-2006 A & J Helicopter Services Ltd of Pahiatua feature until they returned it to Heavy Jet from 23-04-2007.
Next on the list we see Central Helicopters Ltd at Opotiki take in over from 13-08-2007 -

 ZK-HVL was noted, below, at Taupo on 03-03-2008.

- and was handed back to Heavy Jet on 30-06-2008.

Alabaster Helicopters Ltd of Taihape feature from 30-03-2009 until it went back to Heavy Jet Ltd of Howick from 26-06-2014.

It was canceled on 29-09-2020 and is now housed with NMIT at Woodbourne, as below.

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JA9590

Aerospatiale AS 355 F1 Twin Squirrel c/n 5279 JA9590 first appeared on the Japanese civil aircraft register on 03-03-1983 listed with Aero Asahi, remaining with them via Toyota Finance and NTT Finance until its cancelation on 03-03-2021.

JA9590 at Tokyo on 18-05-1991 thanks to Haruru.

Note the nose protrusion and the vertical tail fin aerials.

At Osaka on 05-12-2020 from JetPhotos.

It was noted in the Oceanic facility at Ardmore on 03-04-2021 by Mark Mabey.

And recently at NMIT Woodbourne from Zac Yates.

Many thanks to Zac Yates and to NMIT for photograph permission.

North American P 51D Mustang ZK-BHT/2 Registered Today

Many of us have no doubt been following Brendon Deere's amazing restoration of the ex John Smith P 51D Mustang NZ2423:

Well today was a red letter day as the Mustang has been registered ZK-BHT2 (c/n 45-11513) to the Biggin Hill Trust of Marton.  I understand that it  the Mustang will make its public debut at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow over Easter 2024.