Helicopters at Motueka

Spotted on Wednesday (2023.05.10) at Motueka Aerodrome were three choppers receiving maintainence at Argus Aviation on the north side of the aerodrome.

MD 520 NOTAR - ZK-ISO (cn LN-006)

This bright red machine, was originaly built in September of 1991 as N526FB (LN006). It first saw service with the City of Phoenix Police Department of Phoenix, Arizona.

In May of 2006, N526FB was sold off to Germany, and became D-HABF of Hahn Helicopter Flight Services Gmbh, Germany. Whilst in Germany, it operated for just under 4 years and took on the bright red scheme.

During January 2010, the airframe was listed for sale.

Eventaully, purchased by New Zealand customer Faram Aviation Group Ltd of Hastings in August of 2013, the aircraft joined the New Zealand register as ZK-ISO. Coast to Coast Helicopters of Blenheim purchased the machine in October 2018, where it still resides.

ZK-ISO was previously featured on the blog here.

MD 520 NOTAR - ZK-IEG (cn LN-016)

Built in April 1992, this machine first saw service with Heli-Max of Ontario, Canada as C-FMYW (LN-016). On February 13th 2006, C-FMYW was purchased by Heli-Transport of Trois Rivieres, Canada. LN-016 first saw New Zealand skies in 2011 after being purchased by Reid Heslop Helicopters Ltd of Wakefield, as ZK-IJW (Previously mentioned here). ZK-IJW had multiple different operators in the South Island over the next 5 years before being purchased by Heliventures NZ Ltd of Oamaru in December 2016. Heliventures NZ re-registered the machine as ZK-IEG in January 2017 before being sold off to Hanmer Springs Helicopters (Amuri Helicopters Ltd), of Hanmer Springs on the 14th of September 2018 where it remains. The Amuri Helicopters logo can be noted on the tail boom.

ZK-IEG was previously mentioned on the blog here.

Aerospatiale AS350FX ZK-HJM (cn 1671)

A second Hanmer Springs Helicopters (Amuri Helicopters Ltd) machine was next to ZK-IEG (pictured above), ZK-HJM, an Aerospatiale AS350FX (c/n 1671). 

ZK-HJM flew from Twizel to Motueka on the 27th of April 2023 with a flight time of just over 2 hours. It remained in Motueka for two weeks before travelling to the West Coast the day after being photographed above.

ZK-HJM has been featured on this blog here.

 

NOTAR ZK-IEG

Noted yesterday at Heli Maintenance in Christchurch was the MD 500N NOTAR ZK-IEG2  (c/n LN016).

This NOTAR was originally N52110 with MD Helicopters of Mesa Arizona from 08-02-1992 before venturing up to Canada to become C-FMYW with Heli-Max Ltd at Trois Riveres Quebec four months later. It was re-listed to Heli-Transport Inc of same address on 13-02-2006 and was noted soon after listed for sale with around 6400 airframe hours.

It popped up in NZ as ZK-IJW with Reid Heslop Helicopters at Wakefield from 24-08-2011.

See more Here.

By 22-12-2016 it was listed to Heliventures NZ Ltd of Oamaru who re-registered it as ZK-IEG2 on 25-01-2017.

I noted it yesterday wearing small Amuri Helicopter Ltd markings and in this all white scheme.

Of interest on the rear of the fuselage was the 'Down To The Wire' label.

For more on this project see https://www.facebook.com/WiresKillPilots/

To complete the picture - so to speak - we have below a pic of it as ZK-IJW as seen at Glenorchy on 24-10-2015 by Magnaman.

And as ZK-IEG in its Heliventures NZ Ltd scheme at Heli Maintenance Christchurch on 16-11-2017.

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.

Pie Run. Rangiora Friday the 13th.

Friday the 13th.

Rangiora

 Cessna 185C Skywagon ZK-CGC (c/n 185-0680) was allocated N2680Z on the Cessna production line.

It came to NZ for Rex Aviation(NZ) Ltd of New Plymouth and was registered on 06-02-1964 and was delivered to Rural Aviation (1963) Ltd 21-05-1964.

By 30-01-2018 it was with Jon Rutherford at Leslie Hills.

 Ian Sinclair's Cessna 172G ZK-COL (c/n 17254468) was parked at outside the Canterbury Aero Club.

 Southern Heli Lift Ltd's Hughes 269D ZK-HSD (c/n 109-0595D) was outside their hangar.

This originally started as ZK-HRH back in January 1980 becoming ZK-HSD on 15-09-1981. By mid-2007 it was with Bill Hales at Hanmer and joined Southern Helii Lift late November last year.

Originally registered as ZK-IEG on 29-03-2006 this Robinson R22 Raven II with c/n 11112 became ZK-HVX3 on 18-01-2011. It was listed to Andrew Macdonald of Christchurch on 18-11-2019.

Gleanings from 14 April

Outside Eurocopter's Ardmore hanger today was recently imported for T & P Williams Ltd of Hastings Eurocopter AS350B3 ZK-IBW.

Re-registered from ZK-IEG to ZK-HVX is this Robinson R44 registered to a Whitford owner.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KBE was all 'tied down' at Ardmore and has recently had demo colours applied to its fuselage so perhaps about to head overseas.

Vincent Aviation's second Saab 340B ZK-VAB flew from Wellington to Auckland this afternoon and embarks for Brisbane either direct or via Norfolk Island 15 April subject to wind conditions.  It will supplement the Vincent fleet out of Darwin.  The aircraft sports a new livery, one wonders it this scheme will roll out across the fleet including the three ex Air National J32's now registered to Vincent Aviation.  On that note, the Vincent Dash 8 ZK-VAC flew a charter to Auckland 14 April and was noted inside the Air National hanger...............

Back on the 13th at Christchurch

 Departing the Heli Maintenance Ltd's facility at Christchurch International on the 13th was the privately listed MD 500N NOTAR ZK-IEG (c/n LN016).

An earlier post on this airframe can be found HERE

 Meanwhile on the other side of the airfield at GCH Aviation Ltd the official launch of the HEMS H145's was being organised. See more Here.

Up from Taieri was - Above - was the Airbus AS 350 B3 ZK-IOJ2 (c/n 8644).

And - Below - the MBB MBB-BK117 D2 ZK-IWL2 (c/n 7186).

 Parked out was the Britten-Norman BN2A-26 Islander ZK-MCD (c/n 719) as listed with Pacific Island Air Ltd of Fiji.

It is currently listed for sale with the Dennis Thompson International.

With thanks to GCH Ltd for access.