A couple of strays at Rangiora 31st March 2026.

 Similar but very different.

Above we have Phil Higgins of Rotorua and his Vans RV-8 ZK-PJH3 c/n 80043 which hit our register on 12-05-2008.

He arrived from Rotorua and moved on to Christchurch International mid afternoon.

This is powered with a 200hp IO-360 engine.

It carries the 'ENVY' script near the top of its fin.

And then we have the Harmon Rocket II ZK-RMD c/n HR2-187-08 with owner Edwin Nieman of Dunedin in the hot seat.

This is powered with a 285hp Lycoming IO-540.

It departed north bound - but I believe ended up going back south.

See here for more about our Rockets.

Some Rangiora locals today. 31 March 2026

 A very productive hour was spent at Rangiora this afternoon.

The very slippery and elusive JMB Aircraft VL-3TE-915is Evolution LSA ZK-ECO2 c/n VL-3-527 was snapped whilst it was out for a local run today.

The Westland Bell 47G-3B1 ZK-HJH4 c/n WA508 was also out for a short flight and re-positioning today.

 It has been mentioned several times previously See Here

In December 2021 it passed to Flaxfern Ltd of Rangiora.

This is another way of saying Dan Smith

and also the New Zealand Helicopter Heritage Museum.

The Aerospool Dynamic WT9 ZK-XYX c/n DY-706 which I believe has been in town from about mid month.
This was acquired by Onslow Investments Ltd, from Southern Soaring Ltd, in September of 2024.

Onslow is another way of saying Jerry O'Neil who has been a long time member of the Canterbury Gliding Club.

Enroute to Wanaka (4)

 At the end of the line up of the five De Havilland aircraft (plus a Harvard) at Rangiora on Sunday the 29th was the Maule M5-210C Lunar Rocket ZK-SLS c/n 6188C.

This was also awaiting the lifting of the stratus cloud base.

It had arrived from Ardmore via Whanganui and Kaikoura.

This came new to NZ as N434X and was assembled at the Auckland Aero Club for C B Sheldon of Whitianga and registered here as ZK-SLS from 02-08-1977. 

Seven years on it was with the Robinson's at Mount Palm out of Rotherham, North Canterbury then to Harry Devonish, based at Rangiora from June of 2005.

December of 2006 Rick Lucas Helicopters of Palmerston North took it over with a transfer to Helipro in August of 2009.

Current owner David Banks listed it from January of 2014.

In early 1989 it was sold to Pam and Ces Collings and Pat Scotter of West Eyreton and then to W K Allen of Tuatapere in April of 1993. 

En Route to Wanaka (3)

 A pack of Yaks at Hamner, overnighting while waiting for the weather to clear further South:

AIrbus A319 T7-1177 at Christchurch 30-03-2026

 This Airbus A319-153N (ACJ) T7-1177 c/n 11760 arrived at Christchurch on the 27th after a direct flight from Taichung, Taiwan.

Above we see it taxying out today for departure to Dunedin.

This executive fitted out aircraft first flew as D-AVWM on 11-06-2024 for Airbus out of Hamburg. and became T7-1177 for delivery to Chang Kua-Wei from 19-07-2024.

I hear that it is operated by Starlux.

Enroute to Wanaka (2A). A Nelson stopover for the Albatros flight.

 Some of the American Eagle Display Team, Wanaka bound - stopped over in Nelson yesterday (29th) for fuel and followed by a weather delay.

Above Aero Vodochody L39 Albatros ZK-TCS , number '88', about to join the line up with ZK-VLK, '68'. ZK-WLM, '28', and ZK-EJA, '48'.

En Route to Wanaka (2)

Also heading for Wanaka but thwarted by the weather in the South Island were the four L 39 Albatros's of Fighter Jets NZ who left Tauranga on Sunday but stayed the night in Nelson: 

The photo is from their Facebook page.  Also on their Facebook page this morning is that they are planning to leave Nelson at 12.30pm today - they are flying as a group of four under ALB88 if you look on Flightradar24.

En Route to Wanaka (1)

Prior to Dave Paull catching up at Rangiora with the Legend Aviation fleet flight to Wanaka. they posted a nice photo of 3 de Havilland machines flying South (actually the Tiger Moth ZK-BER is from the Omaka Real Flying Club).

Wanaka bound. On hold at Rangiora 29-03-2026.

 Temporarily weather bound at Rangiora yesterday, 29-03-2026, was the Wanaka bound Legend Aviation /Warbird Aero Ltd's flight from Masterton. 

The line up includes the Legend Aviation De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-ANL is c/n 82512.

A very recent to the Legend Aviation fleet is the De Havilland DH83C Fox Moth ZK-APT, c/n FM48.

Also included in the line up was the De Havilland H82A Tiger Moth ZK-BER c/n DHA.844 of the Omaka Real Flying Club.

And ZK-BFS, c/n 82862, is also one of Legend's De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths.

North American NA88 Harvard 2A* ZK-OTU c/n 88-13193 of Bevan Dewe's Warbird Aero Ltd.

And don't overlook Bevan's De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk N861WP c/n C1-0748.

All have been previously mentioned on this blog.

Nelson today 29-03-2026. Caravan ZK-EAV.

 The Evander Aviation Ltd's Cessna 208 Caravan 1 ZK-EAV2 c/n 20800659 stopped over in Nelson before carrying on to Takaka and returning to Wellington today.

ZK-EAV2 has been mentioned several times previously see  HERE