I Remember when !

 The sixteenth Cessna 185 to join the NZ Civil register became ZK-CCX on 19-10-1962.

This airframe was c/n 185-0115 and first flew in the States as N9915X on 12-05-1961 and was registered to Airfllite Inc on 23-05-1961.

It appears to have been registered initially to Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd at Omaka (I have found no mention of Rural Aviation of New Plymouth - who were the NZ agents). It then appears to have been listed as hired to Tom Furse of Sounds Scenic Flights Ltd.

Southern Scenic Air Services Ltd of Queenstown appear on the paperwork from 01-05-1965.

Above is an early photo from an unknown source showing ZK-CCX in Southern Scenic Air Services titles somewhere in Fiordland.

It soon become part of Tourist Air Travel Ltd (1966?), 

Two shots of ZK-CCX at Lake Wanaka in January of 1968.

At Invercargill on an unknown date.

And at Queenstown on 11-04-1969.

followed by Mount Cook Airlines Ltd from 01-01-1968 with whom it became fleet number 24.

The Mount Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd change was listed for ZK-CCX on 18-07-1973 

Above, as noted at Mount Cook on 12-02-1975.

                   Noted above at Lake Te Anau in May of 1975 with the "Mt Cook Lilly" on its fin.

Above as seen at Mount Cook on 31-12-1977 with fleet number 24 on the fin fillet.

And then to the Mount Cook Group from 07-02-1978.

It was sold to R (Bob) D Mackay of Rotorua from 05-10-1982 and was used in the parachute dropping role until a take-off accident at Parakai on 29-01-1990 saw all eight person aboard injured.

As seen on 30-04-1983.

Its registration was cancelled on 01-06-1990.

Topdressing DC 3s (5) - ZK-AWP

The next topdressing DC 3 (by registration order) was ZK-AWP which had the usual wartime and NAC service but then survived to carry on flying after its topdressing career and it is still flying today.

ZK-AWP at Woodbourne above on 9/11/73 and below at Milson in March 1984.

Douglas C-47B-30-DK (c.n 16387/33135)

Built by The Douglas Aircraft Co, Oklahoma City, OK with 2x 1200HP 14-cyl R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engines as  44-76803 

20 Apr 1945 USAAF but diverted under “lend-lease” 

Exported to New Zealand.  Arrived Hamilton 21 April 1945 

NZ3543 13 May 1945 RNZAF 1 ASU Hamilton. 

RNZAF 41 Sqn, Whenuapai.  Struck off charge 3 July 1952. 

ZK-AWP 3 Jul 1952 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington “Pawahitere". Converted to passenger configuration at Palmerston North First Flight 27 Mar 1953  

Converted to Skyliner configuration 9 May 1963 as “Skyliner Kaitaia”  Cancelled 2 Feb 1970.

Exported to Samoa as 5W-FAI 2 Feb 1970 for Polynesian Airlines Ltd, Apia, Western Samoa. 

Exported back to New Zealand 1972 and stored at Christchurch.

Restored as ZK-AWP 8 Jul 1973 for NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington (used as spares machine). 

3 Aug 1973 to Southern Air Super Ltd, Palmerston North (del 25 Jul 1973) converted to topdresser 

14 Jul 1975 Fieldair Ltd, Gisborne.

13 Nov 1976 Loader bucket fell on to fuselage during loading at Gisborne.

18 Nov 1980 Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd, Palmerston North 

30 Mar 1984 Fieldair Holdings Ltd, Palmerston North 

Last topdressing flight 27 May 1985 (6722 hours Flight Time topdressing) 

Converted to freighter at Palmerston North 30 Oct 1986 for Classic Air Services Ltd, Palmerston North 27 Aug 1993 Alpine Deer Group, Wanaka (converted to passenger configuration) leased to Classic Air Ltd, Wellington from 11 Mar 1994. 

20 Aug 1995 Mackley Aviation, Auckland . 

28 Aug 1998 NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd (Historic Flight), Dairy Flat overhauled 1999 

5 Jul 2000 Leased to Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch 

8 Nov 2001 Flight 2000 Ltd, Ardmore renamed Future Flight Ltd., Ardmore . 

22 May 2002 Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch . Named "Lucille".  Attempted a take-off in knee-deep snow when the starboard undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft skidded along and off the runway at Glentanner 19 Jun 2002. Later flown to Palmerston North for repairs flown Christchurch to Melbourne 28 May 2003(US Travel Tours Australia).

18 Jul 2003 flown Auckland to Fua’amotu in TongaVava'u

2 Jun 2004 A3-AWP Air Chathams Ltd.trading as Peau Vava'u Air Tonga March 2006.

25 Nov 2013 Re-registered ZK-AWP again for Air Chathams.  Repainted as "Skyliner Kaitaia"

Exported to Australia Flown Kaitaia to Norfolk Island 8 Feb 2025. Cancelled from NZ register.

11 Feb 2025 Gooney Bird Adventures Pty Ltd, Masterton. 

27 May 2026 to VH-X73 Gooney Bird Adventures Pty Ltd, Darwin.

June 2026 Gooney Bird Leasing Pty Ltd, Darwin.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Skycraft Scouts (3) - Rangitata Island Scouts

Well, after the excitement of the last couple of weeks it is time to get back to my Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand series with the next instalment about Skycraft Scouts.  A couple of weeks ago I spent some time with Russell Brodie at Rangitata Island and he knows a lot about Skycraft Scouts, and had some photos of Scouts on his airstrip that I managed to photograph.  He was an agent for the Scout for a while and sold several of them into the local Mid and South Canterbury areas.

Here is the original brochure for the Skycraft Scout Mk III as given to me by Russell:  (click to enlarge  - actually I found it easier to use Control + to enlarge it to read).

In the above brochure it mentions "The Scout is supplied crated and takes about one hour to assemble for the first time, this requires no special skills or tools."

And here is how a Scout crate arrived, with a young Russell Brodie and his father Struan on the porch of their Rangitata Island homestead.  This may have been ZK-EYK that was registered to Struan G Brodie on 25 May 1982.

And here is ZK-EYK being flown by Russell at Rangitata Island.  You can make out its registration in small letters on the tail.  Later it was in blue sailcloth covers, the ease of change of which makes these early microlights hard to pin down.

Russell has the remains of 8 Scouts at Rangitata Island;  ZK-EYK, ZK-EXQ, ZK-EZN, ZK-FMJ, ZK-FEN, ZK-YHI and ZK-OWL.  And Ross Brodie has the Scout Mk III ZK-FJI that is airworthy.

Amphibious Savannah ZK-CEE/2 Flies at Whangarei 11-7-2026

While we were enjoying the BBQ and talking aviation at Dargaville last Saturday, over at Whangarei Dave Cull was taking the amphibious Savannah ZK-CEE2 for its first flight in New Zealand.  Here is a screenshot from a video of it flying, not the best quality but the best we have at the moment:

We have covered the history of ZK-CEE2 in previous posts that you can see HERE.  Congratulations to Dave Cull and the owner Fergus Watts.  I will look forward to seeing its future adventures.

Diamond DA40 ZK-MTB at Christchurch.

 This Diamond DA 40 ZK-MTB c/n 40.941 was initially listed as N295DC on 16-05-2008 to Diamond Aircraft Sales USA Ltd of London Ontario, Canada. 
It was shipped to New Zealand and the US registration was cancelled on 30-04-2009. 

It became ZK-MTB on 06-05-2009 with the Massey University School of Aviation at Palmerston North. It arrived direct from Palmerston North and returned to same this afternoon.

Kaipara Flats to Dargaville for Lunch on Saturday 11-7-2026

Despite not having my Jodel D9 available to fly I will still be involved with all things aviation and my enjoyment of flying has not diminished.  So when Brien O'Brien rang me in the morning saying he was planning to fly to Dargaville for lunch and did I want to come, I quickly answered YES!

It was another great day for flying and so I headed out to Kaipara Flats airfield where every Saturday morning the Rodney Aero Club have the jug on for a cuppa or coffee, and where Brien has his Fly Synthesis Texan ready to go.  There was a bumper turnout of visiting aircraft for a cuppa or coffee with 5 visiting aircraft including Steve Williams new Savannah ZK-WIL over from Whitianga for its first visit to NZKF as well as Neil Wright's "new" Tecnam P 92 ZK-EKO2 which is now based at NZKF.

Our steed awaits....

The flight up to Dargaville was lovely and smooth, and the Kaipara Harbour is quite spectacular to fly over.  There was a little fog around the Northern Wairoa River but that was burning off.

Everyone was using Runway 22 (good for safety) but in fact there was hardly any wind - have a look at the reflection of the SH 12 bridge over the Northern Wairoa (click to enlarge to see it better).

The lunch at Dargaville was a BBQ yesterday and pretty yummy too.  The Dargaville Aero Club put in lunch every Saturday and yesterday the great weather bought out a surprising 3 visiting aircraft that I had not seen before (for 2 of them the only photo I had seen was by the much missed Peter Mole after they had been assembled by Solo Wings at Tauranga).  They were:

Tahi Morton's yellow A 22LS Foxbat ZK-MWK.

Gary Mills' Vans RV 12 ZK-EPM which he bases at Kerikeri.

This RV 12 was built as VH-RTR (the fourth) by Roger and Jeanette Russell of Newport, NSW and they are recorded below the cockpit.  And the metal plate has VH-RTR engraved on it.  The aircraft is named "Rosie" and this is because Jeanette Russell became known as Rosie the Riveter during building the aircraft.

And the third aircraft that was new to me was Richard Prentice's Pipistrel Sinus ZK-LAU which he keeps at Kaikohe.  The Sinus has the impressively long 15 metre wings and also has a feathering prop that is used when gliding.

Neil Wright followed up up to Dargaville for lunch in hos newly acquired Tecnam P 92 Echo ZK-EKO2.  This was a coming home of sorts as the first operators of the aircraft were the Whangarie Flying Club, back in July 2001.

I think there were about 12 visiting aircraft for lunch including 2 fairly local gyrocopters.. Lots of aviation was talked and it was a good time all around.  Thanks Dargaville Aero Club.

Shots from Nelson on Saturday the 11th

 Two visitors were snapped by Bill Mannix Today.

The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza ZK-VRR c/n E-564 dropped in from Ardmore for a while.

This is no spring chicken having hatched in Wichita, Kansas as N7335R in 1974. 

By Mid 1974 it was in Australia as VH-PJJ until moving to Singapore in 1992. By November 1992 it had become 9M-BAL.

It ferried into Auckland via Lord Howe Island and Brisbane on 08-12-1997 and became ZK-VRR on 10-03-1998 with Vinogopal Ramayah of Auckland.

From May of 1999 it operated under the Flight Safety NZ titles until returning to Vin; as Vin Aviation Ltd; from 31-01-1999.

In early November of 2007 it went on line with Eagle Flight Training Ltd until returning to Vin Aviation in late August of 2009.

Out for a play today was the Alex Armstrong built Vans RV-4 ZK-LXC c/n 3761 which was first registered at Taieri on 15-08-1997. It joined the Family Trust's Clutton Fred ZK-LXA and the Sisler Cygnet ZK-LXB.

ZK-LXC was sold to Ross Dawson of Tauranga in October 2024 and then sold on to John Dore of Nelson in late 2025.

Also on site was the Paraparaumu based Cessna 172M Skyhawk II ZK-DRT c/n 17263287 of Robin Hodgson of Porirua. This is of similar vintage to ZK-VRR above.

It has had at least fourteen operators over the years - having a 180hp Avcon engine conversion about the mid1980's.

Cherokee ZK-FEL Christchurch Friday the 10th.

 The Piper PA-28-180F Cherokee c/n 28-7105137 was shipped to New Zealand aboard the MV Austral Patriot reaching Auckland on 11-06-1971 and was registered as ZK-DEC to Airwork (NZ) Ltd on 16-06-1971. 
It first flew from Ardmore on 23-06-1971, was issued with its CofA on the 25th and delivered to the Manukau Flying School on 02-07-1971.

Below ZK-DEC at Ardmore on 24-07-1971.

As seen at the Wellington Aero Club compound on 11-12-1971

Above as seen at on a cool morning at Queenstown on 23-04-1973.

On 14-08-1975 it was passed on to the Rex Flying School of Ardmore only to be damaged in a 'very heavy landing' at Waiheke Island on 22-02-1976. 

Its registration was cancelled on 06-04-1976.
It was rebuilt by Norak Engineering at Ardmore and re-registered as ZK-FEL on 22-11-1977, passing through R D Leach & Associates to Frethey Electrical Ltd of Auckland.
It remained in Auckland with a selection of owner operators until 2018 including D G Simpson & A  Hayward in 1983, then B Santowski and Photographic Air Services in July 1984. 

Noted at New Plymouth on 24-03-1985

Then we see it with J Cooper & A Roberts in 1986, and A Roberts & M Smith in early 1991.At Christchurch on 04-03-1992.

On 01-12-1993 at North Shore.

It visited the Waimea Estuary at Nelson in February of 1999 but lived on to Join the North Shore Aero Club in November 2003. Then we see the FEL Partnership mentioned from February 2010.On 26-02-2012 Keith Morris captured it at North Shore.

It moved to Wanaka to join U-Fly (2014) Ltd from 04-08-2018 and then went briefly with Kylie Krippner to Te Anau.As noted at Wanaka on 23-02-2019.

David Trust of Whakatane took it over from 27-12-2019 followed by MATADAN Ltd, still of Whakatane in May of 2022.
Then it was back to Wanaka for the Prestige Aviation Group in May 2024 and it has been with U-Fly New Zealand Ltd of Wanaka since July of last year.

It cruised into Christchurch on Friday morning. Did a short local flight, then returned to Wanaka in the afternoon.

Below ZK-FEL at Christchurch International Airport on Friday 10th July 2026.

Air Whanganui's Cessna Citation ZK-KGS in Christchurch

 

Air Whanganui's Cessna 525A Citation Jet CJ2 ZK-KGS c/n 525A0156 arrived in Christchurch today 09-07-2026.

As captured by Tony McFarlin.

SEE HERE for an earlier post on this aircraft.

Honey Bebe brief stop over at NZRT

 Last Thursday, July 2nd, we had the honour to have the Jodel D9 ZK-KMM park outside the Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club rooms on its journey from Kaipara Flats to Rangitata Island.

Here it rests whilst its chief pilot has gone downtown to feast on a pie and liquid refreshment.