More Cabris arrive at Pacific Aviation in Christchurch.

Yesterday Pacific Aircraft Ltd at Christchurch International Airport had three Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopters in their hangar.

Two more arrived this afternoon (24-01-2014)

These first two photos show all five (alas with strong backlight from the sun and the concrete).

Front left is c/n 1024 ZK-ICS (previously ZK-HCS4). To the right is c/n 1003, the Dutch PH-WTW, with ZK-HVZ5 pending (Registration decals "VZ" can be seen on the box to the right).

Left centre is c/n 1057, a new airframe that will become ZK-HCS5.

Left rear is the dark green c/n 1004 F-GXRV - pencilled in to become ZK-IZR.

Rear centre is c/n 1044 ZK-IZD.

A closer view of c/n 1004 F-GXRV with "heli-challenge"  markings - Soon to be ZK-IZR.

 

Above is the factory new c/n 1057 which is to become ZK-HCS5 and is to be retained by Pacific Aircraft as their demonstrator/trainer.

 Above - c/n 1003 is PH-WTW - soon to be ZK-HVZ5.

Two more examples are due in about July and two more towards the end of the year.

These will make the Cabri a significant player in the Helicopter training role within New Zealand.

Hiller ZK-HCS

Hiller UH-12E ZK-HCS c/n 2105 originally operated with Okanagan Helicopters Ltd in Canada as CF-OKC from about April of 1961. AFAIK it was cancelled from the Canadian register on 17-09-1966 and first flew in NZ on 03-10-1968. It was registered as ZK-HCS to Alexander Helicopters of Wanganui on 20-10-1968.
It migrated to Alpine Helicopters of Luggate in August of 1971. It was damaged at the Mahitahi River (north of Haast) on 12-11-1972 with its registration being cancelled on 06-12-1972.
It was rebuilt and came back on the register with Alpine Helicopters of Queenstown on 18-12-1975 and transferred over to Whirl-Wide Helicopters Ltd of Timaru on 13-04-1976.
Above is a pic of her taken by CMM at Timaru with Whirl-Wide Helicopters marking in about 1976 and below it was seen at Taieri on 18-03-1978 with some spray equipment fitted. (No tanks or spray bar extensions).

On 13-07-1978 it was listed briefly to Wishart Helicopters (1978) Ltd of Hamilton before being returned to Whirl-Wide at Timaru on 14-10-1978.

It was then converted from its UH-12E piston engine mode to a Soloy turbine conversion, making it a UH-12EJ3. It first flew as such from Timaru on 22-07-1980. This involved the fitting of an 400shp Allison 250-C20 engine.

Lower pic was taken at Rangiora by Lord Nelson in about late 1982. Here it is as a model UH-12EJ3, that is with the turbine Soloy engine conversion. Note the exhaust stains along the tail.

This helicopter was sold abroad , cancelled from the NZ register on 27-08-1984, and entered the Australian register as VH-ECQ with City and Country Helicopters of Caloundra, Queensland on 07-09-1984, followed by a stint with Helispray out of Sheffield, Tasmania.

Its Ozzie registration was cancelled on 21-01-1993 and it was returned to NZ for Mark Hollows of Te Anau with whom it became ZK-HHO2 on 05-02-1993. But as they say - That's another story.

Cabri sextet.

There were no less than six Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopters on site at Christchurch today.

Alphabetically we have:-

ZK-HCS5 (c/n 1057) that was first registered to Pacific Helicopters Ltd on 31-01-2014, with a change to Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd on 02-03-2015.

 ZK-HVG3 (c/n 1077) first appeared on 10-2-2014 with RML Sky Holdings Ltd of Christchurch.

More recently, 21-03-2015, it was transferred to Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd.

 One of the very latest to arrived is ZK-HXC3 (c/n 1086) which was registered on 22-04-2015 to PLC Properties Ltd - out of Ashburton. It was unloaded from its container at Christchurch on the 24th.

 ZK-ICS2 (c/n 1024) was initially registered as ZK-HCS4 on 07-10-2011 with CHL Investments Ltd of Christchurch before transferring over to Pacific Helicopters Ltd on 20-03-2013.

It was damaged near Eyrewell on 05-12-2013 by which time it had some 687 hours up.

It was re-registered as ZK-ICS on 05-12-2013 and then listed to Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd on 02-03-2015. Following repairs it was flying again in March this year.

 Another new arrival is ZK-IIF (c/n 1088) which arrived in the same container as ZK-HXC3 on 24-04-2015. It is listed to Collective Support Holdings Ltd of Whakatane.

 If you look at the rear skid supports you will notice it has a different profile to the others (except ZK-IZM). This houses the gas line to the floatation gear which has yet to be fitted.

 ZK-IZM is c/n 1085 which was registered to Christian Burtscher of Auckland on 03-03-2015.

It is having instrument work done at the moment.

Western Grass at Christchurch International 01-06-2018

A late morning visitation to the Western side of Christchurch Airport today (01-06-2018) produced the following items of interest.

The first three are at the Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd's facility.

 The Aerospatiale AS 350 B2 Squirrel ZK-HND3 (c/n 2073) departs.

Catch the earlier posts on this airframe Here

 Above. Of late 1980 vintage and previously registered here as ZK-HWW and ZK-ISS2 we see the Aerospatiale AS 350BA Squirrel ZK-IOP (c/n 1299) high tailing it northward. 

It has been listed with Levo Ltd of Wanaka since only May the 3rd.

See some earlier info Here

 The Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HZO2 (c/n 1057) arrives back from the west.

This was ZK-HCS5 in a previous life.

More on HZO/HCS Here

 Parked near the Canterbury Aero Club hangar was the Cessna 172N ZK-NPF (c/n 17268293) of Helicare Services Ltd of Nelson.

With the NP* registration you would be correct in thinking that it is ex New Plymouth Aero Club.

In fact it started as ZK-EFT with the Club at New Plymouth in April of 1977 - had a bit of an incident in July of 1978 and following due care and attention came back as ZK-NPF on 11-03-1993. 

The Club sold it in August 2007 to Wellton Air Ltd of Auckland who moved it on to Helicare in July of 2011.

The latest addition to the Canterbury Aero Club are two

 new Piper PA-28-181 Archer TX's registered as ZK LJT and ZK-LJX on 03-05-2018.

Here we see ZK-LJX (c/n 2843919) which has initially been allocated the Piper test registration of N7115J in November last year.

ZK-HCS new livery

On a quick visit through Christchurch on 18-02-2014 I found the Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HCS4 in its new colour scheme for Pacific Helicopters Ltd.

It has now clocked up over thirty hours.

The Guimbal Cabri G2 has arrived.

The first two Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopters have arrived at Pacific Aircraft Services at Christchurch Airport. ZK-HCS4 (c/n 1024) is already assembled with ZK-IDC (c/n 1025) about to be.

One has already been sold with the other remaining as a demonstrator and trainer with Pacific Aircraft Services;
Above, ZK-HCS out in the sum whilst below, ZK-IDC awaits rotor blades.
Note the vertical exhaust from the Lycoming O-360.

For more - check out 

http://pacifichelicoptertraining.co.nz/about-us/

http://www.cabri.co.nz/

http://www.guimbal.com/index2.php?l=6#p=33

Pacific Aircraft Services are the NZ agent for Guimbal sales and service.

Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HZM

 Spotted today (11-03-2025) at Christchurch Helicopters Christchurch base was the Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HZM3 c/n 1100. 

It spent its initial three and a half years in Germany as D-HTAN from 12-06-2015.
Then followed five and a half years on the Estonian register as ES-HCS from late 2018.    

It was registered to Christchurch Helicopters on 04-09-2024.
This is the 100th Guimbal Cabri G2 produced. 

There is a yellow vinyl label - hard to read - advertising this fact - on the side of the fuselage

By my count there have been 58 Cabri airframes registered in NZ.

A vaired bunch from NZCH International today (02-10-2014)

 In my quest to capture the Raytheon 1900D's I have added ZK-EAR (c/n UE-388) to the list - before they all disappear. Just taxying out.

 Over at Pacific Helicopters there were three Guimbal Cabri G2's on view.

Below we see ZK-ICS2 (c/n 1024) on the left with ZK-HCS5 (c/n 1057) in the rear and ZK-IZD (c/n 1044) on the right.

 

 Robinson R22 Beta ZK-HXG2 (c/n 3445) and Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HFP3 (c/n 11138) outside Pacific Helicopters hangar.

ATR72-212  ZK-MVD (c/n 1117) takes on another load whilst in the left background the C17A Globemaster III 09-9209 (c/n 50233) is holding awaiting weather info from Mactown - before cancelling it plan and taxying back to the Deep Freeze apron. 

 Metro III ZK-NSS (c/n AC692) as Lifeflight2 on start up.

The Enfield Holdings (Mainland Air's) Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain ZK-VIP (c/n 32-7405482) about to start.

Fletchers - two from the shoebox

Lord Nelson has been delving into the old shoe box and has provided these two Fletcher shots taken at Rangiora between very late 1981 and March of 1983.

Above we have the Fletcher FU24-950M ZK-CMM (c/n 117) as seen during the period when it was being flown by the late Tim Frederickson. This one has an interesting history. It was an Air Parts import and contracted to James Aviation for assembly (rather than to ANZ). It first flew as a Mk11 on 17-12-1965 for delivery to Central Aviation on 20-01-1966. It was damaged at Mossburn on 05-11-1969 after a partial engine failure.
My next note says that it was rebuilt with a 400 fuselage but retained the 300 wings. It was registered to Airwork (NZ) Ltd of Christchurch on 18-10-1978 and then re-designated as a FU24-950M on 17-05-1979.
It was re listed to Airwork Agricultural Aviation Ltd of Rangiora on 31-08-1981. By September of 1983 it was with North Canterbury Aerial Co-op Co Ltd and was duly named "Kotare", had the fleet number "2" and carried the (then) pilots name "Peter Irvine".
It went to Central Airspread (1991) Ltd of Alexandra from 06-08-1992 and then up to Super Air; its last flight with them being on 10-06-1998 when it was flown from Hamilton to Feilding. Its NZ registration was cancelled on 11-07-2000.
It then went over to Tableland Top Dressing Pty Ltd of Armidale, NSW and was registered as VH-CCJ from 19-09-2001 but was never removed from its box. It was sold to Jim Summerfield (Far North Air) with its Australian registration being cancelled on 15-04-2003. Again it remained in its box until being re-sold back to Tablelands Top Dressing on 2009 with the centre section being fitted to VH-TTD (which was previously ZK-DMS).


Above is the Fletcher FU24 Mk11 ZK-CRY (c/n 124): snapped at Rangiora whilst being flown by the late Peter Irvine.
This began life as the fourth NZ built Fletcher thanks to Air Parts (NZ) Ltd and went to fleet number 17 with Robertson Air Service Ltd from 23-12-1966.
In mid March of 1981 it was with NZ Aerospace Industries before moving down to North Canterbury Co-op of Greta Valley from 12-10-1981. A month later (19-11-1981) they re branded as North Canterbury Aerial Co-op Co Ltd of Scargill - in whose scheme it is seen here and carrying fleet  #1 and the name "Kuruwhengi".
It moved to Aerial Work (Mid Northern) Ltd of Pukekohe from September of 1983 and then to Maungaturoto from 07-11-1983. Its last flight was on 19-06-1996 and it was cancelled on 11-12-1998 and was stored dismantled.
It was later sold to Super Air who donated it to Bay of Plenty Air Classic Trust at Tauranga (Classic Flyers) where it is displayed in Super Air colours and marked up as ZK-BDS.

Visible in the left background is the Soloy Hiller UH12 ZK-HCS of Whirlwide Helicopters - being flown by Bryan Petrie.

ZK-ICS

 Noted at Hastings today by Des Smith was the Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-ICS2 c/n 1024 of Aroha Helicopters Ltd of Hastings.This Cabri was one of the first two to arrive in NZ being listed to CHL Investments Ltd of Christchurch on 07-10-2011 as ZK-HCS4 (along with ZK-IDC).
It was damaged near Eyrewell on 05-12-2013 and rebuilt and reregistered as ZK-ICS2 and was flying again by March of 2015.
It joined its current operator from 01-09-2020.

Helicopter shots - Christchurch

Three shots from Pacific Helicopters pad at Christchurch.

Above is the Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd's Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HCS5 (c/n 1057) on short final yesterday.

Fresh out of the container yesterday (24-05-2015) were two more new Cabri's c/n 1086 and 1088.

These were registered as ZK-HXC3 and ZK-IIF on the 22nd.

The Aspiring Helicopters Robinson R22B ZK-HHQ2 (c/n 3838) was on site on 23-05-2015

******

And one from Heli Maintenance from yesterday.

Shows Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-IRW (c/n 11696) from Mount Hutt Helicopters 2013 Ltd.

This one has previously spent time as ZK-ISL and ZK-ISP.

The Guimbal Cabri's get masked for colour.

The two new Guimbal Cabri G2's ZK-HCS4 and ZK-IDC get masked up today at Pacific Aircraft Services in Christchurch ready for a splash of colour to be added.

Interesting spotting around NZCH and NZRT.

 Something different at Rangiora on March 1st was the Bob Johnston CFM Shadow Series B-D ZK-FSG (c/n 1074) as first registered to J Granger of Whitford on 02-12-1986. Bob picked it up from J and C Dale of Papakura in August last year.

 Above is the MBB BK117 B2 ZK-HGU5 (c/n 7229) as listed with Airwork (NZ) Ltd but wearing Garden City Helicopters Ltd titles above the cabin door.

 Clearing the Heli Maintenance pad is Bill Hales Hughes 369D ZK-HSD (c/n 1090595D) from Hanmer Springs. wearing "Alpine Springs Helicopters" titles.

Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-ICS2 is back flying again following the arrival of parts.

This was originally ZK-HCS4 but was damaged in an incident at Eyrewell back in December of 2013.

The three helicopter pics were taken yesterday (04-03-2015).

At Christchurch Helicopters 16-11-2017

 At lunch time on Thursday 16-11-2017 at Christchurch Helicopters I managed to capture these four helicopters.

 The Robinson R22 Beta ZK-HCT6 (c/n 4270) went new to Wanaka Helicopters Ltd from the NZ distributors Skysales Aviation (NZ) Ltd in April of 2006.

 

 The Hughes 369E ZK-HSC3 (c/n 0409E) initially went to Japan as JA6069 in February 1991 and joined the NZ register on 11-03-2003 with Alan Speight of Pukekohe.

See earlier post Here

Ownership passed to Otago Airspread Ltd of Mosgiel on 01-07-2016 and very recently - 26-10-2017 - to Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd.

 Above we see the Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HZO (c/n 1057) which is a re-registration of ZK-HCS5. 

A stranger lurking over near the back fence was the McDonnell Douglas 500N NOTAR ZK-IEG2 (c/n LN016). 

This began its NZ career as ZK-IJW from 24-08-2011.

Previous posts on ZK-IJW can be seen Here

 It joined Heliventures NZ Ltd of Oamaru on 22-12-2016 and was re-registered to ZK-IEG2 on 25-01-2017.