Just passing through Rangiora on Sunday.

 Just departing after a quick refuel - and continuing on northward this afternoon were the -

The Aerospatiale AS 350 BA Squirrel ZK-HDB8 c/n 1105 was originally registered as VH-AFO3 from 27-02-1980 and served time with Brambles Oil and Gas Service Pty Ltd/Hockway Aviation Helicopters of Hobart, Tasmania before joining Vowell Air Services Pty Ltd/Helicopter Resources Pty Ltd out of Tyabb, Victoria. It did several seasons in the Australian Antarctic territory until its cancellation from the Australian register on 18-03-2020 to become ZK-HBD8 on 30-04-2020 to a private owner.

The Aerospatiale AS 350 BA ZK-HGO2 c/n 2182 came in from Japan in mid 1992 and joined its current private owner in January 2012.

Both these Squirrels were originally AS 350 B's.

Also from the same private operator was the Garlick-Bell UH-1L ZK-HUE2 c/n 6045.

Ex US Marines from 1965.

Rangiora this afternoon

A couple of seldom seens (by me) noted at Rangiora today.

The American Aircraft Corporation 8GCBC Scout ZK-TRF c/n 398-98 was a late 1998 production aircraft and caried the US registration of N357AC.

It was noted at Drake Aviation at Fernside in December of 2011

This Scout was registered to Te Rako Forestry Ltd of Waiau of North Canterbury on 27-04-2012.

Its title was transferred to Drake Aviation Ltd from 25-06-2012 and I believe it still is.

Incidently, the N357AC registration was previously worn by the Air New Zealand Lockheed L188 Electra ZK-CLX following its sale back to the USA in mid 1968.

A surprise departure, captured just in the nick of time, was the Wittman Tailwind W.8UL ZK-XMC c/n 989 of the HRH Syndicate of Blenheim.

 

At Nelson this morning.

 Bill Mannix did his morning walk at Nelson Airport this morning and snapped these two visitors.

The seldom reported Beech Beechcraft B300 Super King Air 350I ZK-APL2  c/n LF-415 of Apollo Air Ltd of Christchurch was parked up near the Helicopter Nelson Ltd's hangar.

    Parked over in the visiting light aircraft park was the Cessna R182 Skylane RG11 ZK-EKL (c/n R182 00054). 

Constructed in late 1977 and ferried to NZ for Dalhoff & King Aviation Ltd of Ardmore for delivery to Alpine Helicopters of Queenstown from 09-06-1978. It has had a swag of owners since, until joining the Kapiti Districts Aero Club at Paraparaumu on 10-12-2004 and transferred to Richard Bull of Paraparaumu in April of 2014.

Sling 4 TSi ZK-DBV/2 at Kaipara Flats Today 3-5-2025

Arjen Visser was out today in his new Sling 4 TSi ZK-DBV2 (c/n 265SK) for some high speed taxy runs while he awaits the final inspection and sign off from CAA.  It is an impressive machine:

Arjen taxying the Sling down his ramp onto the airfield from his hangar house.

After some spirited runs he parked near the Aero Club where he drew quite a few interested onlookers (as there had been a BBQ lunch after the Aero Club AGM).  That is Arjen in the blue checked jacket.

The swirly orange and black trim colours are reversed on each wing.

Congratulations on a great job Arjen!

Titan Tornado ZK-JKD

The Titan Tornado II ZK-JKD (c/n D98800COHK0295) was first registered to Ian Todd of Rotorua on 03-06-1998, and it had a Rotax 912 engine. 
You can just see the Ian Todd engine cowling covering the engine and the aerodynamic addition to the nose wheel spat in this photo. 

It was photographed, above, at the 2000 SAANZ fly in at Matamata.  

On 02-11-2002 ownership changed to Tony Todd of Rotorua then on 17-06-2002 to Tipua Enterprises Ltd of Ohope (R and L St John), and on 20-12-2002 to John Shore also of Ohope.

  Its registration was revoked on 15-04-2005 but it was re-registered on 11-07-2005 when ownership transferred to the AEG Trust of Hamilton.  

On 09-08-2006 ownership transferred to Network Product Distribution Ltd of Auckland, with a name change to Mohican Holdings in November 2010.

Sometime - I believe in 2011 it was damaged in a forced landing in a field of maize.

Bill Hewitt of Morrinsville listed it from 18-04-2015 and repair work was commenced by Bill and Mike Crene.

For various reasons the restoration was not completed, and it was sold on to John Osmers of Patons Rock, near Takaka and listed to him from 07-09-2023.

John completed the restoration by purchasing a new fuselage with the c/n on S08XXXCOHK527 and replacing the original Rotax 912 with another 912.

This was fired up on the day of my visit to Takaka on April the 12th.

All has been approved by CAA, including the adjustable propeller.

All three photos were taken at Takaka just prior to its engine start.

Backcountry Helicopters

Two of the Wanaka Helicopters AS350s are operated out of Makarora as Backcountry Helicopters and these were both at Wanaka Airport today.      The AS350B3 ZK-HCP6 was added to the fleet in October 2024 being previously ZK-HGR2 imported from Malaysia in 2019.

The other is AS350B2 ZK-IPG which now carries the Backcountry script,   This was imported from the US in 2014 and acquired by Wanaka Helicopters in 2023.

 

More Southern Helicopters

There was little helicopter activity at Queenstown this morning due to the weather but noted on The Helicopter Line flightline was the AS350B2 ZK-HPS3 which was acquired by the company in October 2023 and has now been repainted in their fleet colours.   This was originally imported new in 2009 being briefly ZK-HQI4 before settling on ZK-HAH4.

 Added to the Wanaka Helicopters training fleet in early 2025 was Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HIR5 which was imported new back in mid 2022.

And registered to Southern Farms NZ Ltd, Invercargill is AS350B2 ZK-HNB2 which was originally imported back in 2015 from the US for The Helicopter Line.

A couple of new Squirrels

Noted at Queenstown Airport this morning was the latest AS350 added to the Heliworx fleet being a brand new example 350B3 ZK-IHW3.   This was imported back in August 2024 and assembled at Queenstown.

And the latest addition to the Alpine Helicopters' fleet AS350B3 ZK-IJW2.    This was originally imported from Chile back in late 2013 as ZK-ITM being reregistered IJW in September 2024.  Note the registration is displayed just as "JW" unlike others in the ZK-I..  series which have the full registration painted on.

 

Helicopters at Mt Cook

A visit to a busy Mt Cook Airport today found a number of changes in the based helicopters starting with the latest BK117 added to the Southern Lakes Helicopters fleet,  Kawasaki BK117C-1 ZK-IYY2.  This was imported from the US by International Heliproperties in March 2024 as ZK-HJT4 but quickly changed to IYY2 two months later.   It replaced the earlier Southern Lakes 117C-1 IYY1 which had an accident in Fiordland in September 2023.

Added to the Inflite fleet in September 2024 was AS350B2 ZK-IEB which was originally imported from the US in early 2022.   It now carries the company's titling.

And repainted in the Southern Lakes Helicopters company fleet colours is AS350B3 ZK-IDE which was originally imported new in 2008 as ZK-IDF3,  becoming IDE in 2010.

A Couple of Helicopters from the Feilding Open Day

The open day at Feilding Aerodrome last Saturday 26 April seemed to be quite successful with around 20 visiting aircraft from the Central region (including the Electra 10A already covered) - no aircraft from further North as the weather was cruddy there.  There was also an RNZAF presence with a Texan II and an Agusta 109 helicopter.

In addition there were a couple of interesting light 2 seat helicopters on show that are locally based:

Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-ILH (c/n 1371) is a brand new import for Energy Developments Ltd of Palmerston North.

And the homebuilt Rotorway A600 Talon ZK-IJJ has recently been purchased by Brad Pearpoint of Feilding.