A Tale of Two Squirrels

I was down at North Shore airfield yesterday when a black Airbus Helicopters Squirrel helicopter was pushed out of its hangar and hover taxied across to the fuel pumps for some Jet A1.  I didn't take too much notice of it as a black Squirrel is a black Squirrel, but when I was talking to Stan Smith it lifted off and I took a long shot of it.

It did, however, turn out to be confusingly different:

ZK-HTS4 (c/n 9791) AS350B3 was registered to Stormbird Ltd of Auckland on 9/10/25.

But wait, I hear you ask - didn't Richard Currie take a photo of ZK-HTS at North Shore and post it on the blog back on 28 December 2022?  Yes he did, but that was ZK-HTS3 (c/n 9189) AS350B3, also registered to Stormbird Ltd.

Confused?  Well ZK-HTS3 was re-registered as ZK-HYY4 on 11/6/25 this freeing up the registration to be used on the almost identical looking black AS350B3 Squirrel of today.

The Rans S-7 Courier ZK-TKB

 Below we have a recent photograph of the Rans S-7 Courier ZK-TKB2 c/n 0707466 taken in the Upper Rakaia River region by Steve Gunn showing its modified colour scheme.

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Below we have a selection from previous posts on this aircraft.

First registered on 15-05-2013 the Rans S-7 Courier ZK-TKB (c/n 0707466) was listed to Phil Meredith of Christchurch.

And as you can see - it is no ordinary S-7 Courier.

 At the front end is a port and polished Lycoming O-235 engine giving around 130hp and spinning a Brent Thompson propeller. It has a Toyota starter motor and alternator; P mags and Light Speed electronic ignition.

 It has removable aluminium cockpit sides and clear full length doors.

The office is adequately equipped.

 A home designed STOL kit is fitted with control gap seals and wing fences plus high to low pressure guides to redirect the air flow over the flaps. 

The flaps are 40% larger than the standard S-7 and the ailerons are 20% larger, and the wing tips are modified.

It has a Fat Boy tail wheel with a reinforced double spring and a keel beam in the lower fuselage.

A 1.98m long fibre under fuselage pod can be fitted.  

New fuel tanks are mounted one wing bay further out giving a total of 37 US gallons.As can be seen in the photo (taken at Rangiora on 14/4/13), it has Roberts Bush Gear with big tires and it also has large wing fences.  Power (as already mentioned) is from a Lycoming O-235 of 130 HP which potentially gives it plenty of get up and go. The wider engine cowling shows up well in the shadows.

 Back on March the 14th 2025 I spotted ZK-TKB2 doing circuits at Rangiora.

Note the under fuselage pod and that the outer wing fence has been moved to become wing tip end plates.

It also appears to now have a Sensenich propeller.

New owners were recorded in March of 2025 as Innovative Aviation Ltd of Rangiora.

The ex John Smith DH 98 Mosquito Taxies at Omaka

Not actually a civil or a military aircraft, the ex John Smith Mosquito has taken another step forward by taxying under its own power at Omaka on Saturday 12 September with Al Marshall and Deane Baunton in the cockpit.  Zac Yates was there and videoed the occasion and also sent the photo below:

And here is a screenshot of a video posted on the Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters Facebook page.  They stated that the Mosquito will be taxied at Classic Fighters 2027 so that will be something to see.

Meanwhile at Ardmore the next Mosquito is very close to being completed!

 

Update on DC 3 ZK-BBJ - the Final Chapter

In my previous post on the topdressing history of DC 3 ZK-BBJ I recorded that its fate in Kenya was unknown.  In fact we do know the sad fate that befell her and this has been mostly covered by Dave Paull in a post on this blog that you can see HERE  This post in turn has a link to a Stuff article from November 2021 that gives a very good overview of the life of ZK-BBJ, which ends up with the murders of  the owner of ZK-BBJ New Zealander David Morris and his son in Somalia in 1995.

After David Morris's murder ZK-BBJ sat at Mombasa Airport in Kenya and was sold for scrap for NZ$500.  It was bought by Swiss businessmen Reto Cassanova and Dario Urbani who converted into a luxury restaurant at the Mombasa Go Cart Track as photo'd above.

But there is one final sad twist in the story of ZK-BBJ because on April 13 2024 a sudden power surge triggered a devastating fire and ZK-BBJ was destroyed.

A very sad end to an aircraft that was manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company way back in July 1945.  Thanks to Marcus of Marcus's Old Aircraft Photos for a heads up on this.

Topdressing DC 3s (8) - ZK-BBJ

After a bit of a break in this series, the next topdressing DC 3 (in alphabetical registration order) was ZK-BBJ:

ZK-BBJ photo'd above at Wairoa on 5/1/76 and below at Gisborne on 10/2/85.

Douglas C47B-45-DK  (c/n 16962/34222)

Built by The Douglas Aircraft Co, Oklahoma City, OK with 2x 1200HP 14-cyl R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engines as 45-969  on 19 Jul 1945 for the USAAF 

Exported to New Zealand, became NZ3552 

16 Aug 1945 RNZAF.1 ASU, Hamilton. RNZAF then 41 Sqn, Whenuapai. Struck Off Charge 3 Jul 1952 

ZK-BBJ 15 Jul 1952 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington named “Piripiri” NZ cofa 12 Jun 1953 

6 Jun 1953 conv to DC-3C passenger at Palmerston North 

17 Mar 1964 converted to Skyliner configuration at Christchurch as  “Skyliner Gisborne” 

31 Aug 1970 Alpine Helicopters Ltd, Queenstown (leased).

29 May 1972 Fieldair Ltd, Palmerston North converted to topdresser Test Flight 4 Dec 1974 

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

30 Mar 1984 Fieldair Holdings Ltd, Palmerston North 

8 Feb 1988 Fieldair Freight Ltd, Palmerston North Undercarriage collapsed during start up at Christchurch 15 Nov 1989

19 Apr 1993 Cambodia Carrying Co Ltd, Auckland (Larry K. Bennett & John D B Donaldson) Cancelled 14 Sep 1994 

Exported to Cambodia flown Ardmore to Norfolk Island to 21 Apr 1993. Reported to be in Kenya in 1995. Further details unknown.

Comper Swift Replica ZK-ACG/2 Registered

At the Easter 2023 Classic Fighters airshow at Omaka there was a homebuilt Comper Swift replica displayed in the Marlborough Aero Club hangar. It looked fairly complete and a sign detailed that it was powered by a Revmaster conversion of a VW engine and that the first flight was expected "within the year".

Of course the well known homebuilding rule of thumb of " 80% finished with 80% still to go applied" and the aircraft has just been registered ZK-ACG2 (c/n CS01) in the last few days, to the Comper Swift Syndicate of Blenheim.  It will make a nice addition to the sport aircraft fleet alongside the VW powered Chilton Racer replica ZK-CHT.

And I am also aware of another Chilton Racer in the North that is well advanced! 

From the shoe box. My taxi to town.

 Whilst ratting around recently in the bottom of one of my shoe boxes of odd non specific photos I found this grotty olde Kodachrome slide.

Taken at Kontum in the Central Highlands of Vietnam about early 1974.

It is the Air America C47A "559" c/n 20025 doing the courier run and was my lift down to Saigon.

The 559 serial comes from its ex USAAF serial of 43-15559.

I believe it is now 'preserved' and mounted on concrete blocks at Lop Buri in Thailand.

If you are in the know about the lingo of the time 

"This was one photo the Plumbers didn't find when I shot thru".

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Rotec Rallys

The next type of microlight to be registered here was the Rotec Rally.  This was designed by aeronautical engineer Bill Adaska and was developed from a hang glider in 1977.  It was produced by Rotec Engineering Inc of Duncanville, Texas.  The single seat Rally 2 appeared in 1979 and the Rally Sport was a strengthened version that was aerobatic which appeared in 1983.  The wider and longer span 2 seat Rally 3 appeared in 1981.  They were pushers with the engine mounted above the wing and the control column came down from above and the throttle was a twist grip - you can see the column in the advert below.  Roll control was by differential spoilers which can also be seen..

The Rally was constructed of aluminium tubing with dacron covers.  It was cable braced from a central kingpost and was a taildragger.  The specifications for the Rally 2B (with those for the Rally 3 in brackets) were:  length 16.8 feet (17.3 feet), wingspan 31 feet (38 feet) and wing area 155 square feet (190 square feet).  The Rally 2 was powered by a Cuyuna 430R or a Rotax 377 engine of around 35 HP while the Rally Sport and the Rally 3 had Rotax 503 engines of 48 HP.  With their various engines, the Rally 2B cruised around 40 mph while the Rally Sport was a bit faster and the Rally 3 was a bit slower.  The stall speed is quoted as 20 mph. 

We have had 15 Rallys of various marks registered here and one was re-registered with a new registration.

ZK-FCH at the Poerua River Mouth, near Harihari in Westland in 1987, flown by Lindsay Molloy.

The first Rotec Rally to be registered in New Zealand was a 2B model, ZK-FCH (c/n MAANZ/106) that was registered on 12 Aug 1982 to New Zealand Aeronautical Services, Christchurch, then 15 Nov 1989 to Lindsay B. Molloy, Harihari.  Cancelled 16 Mar 1992 as withdrawn from use and for spares.

ZK-FCI (c/n MAANZ/107)  Rotec Rally 2B  Registered 12 Aug 1982 to New Zealand Aeronautical Services, Christchurch.  Ground loop after heavy landing in a gale at Waharoa 19 Jan 1983. Damaged by said gale.  Cancelled 22 Jun 1992 as withdrawn from use. 

ZK-FGO (c/n 25302)  Rotec Rally 3 (2 seater) with a 48 HP Rotax 503 engine.  Registered 17 Feb 1984 to P. J. Silcock, Haast.  Flew into high voltage power lines while flying into setting sun at Kokatahi, near Hokitika 28 Oct 1985,  Then 12 Aug 1992 M. J. Moynihan, Hokitika.  Cancelled 27 Aug 1997 as registration revoked.

ZK-FHD (c/n 25470)  Rotec Rally 3  Registered 5 Aug 1985 to H. A. (Alex) Taylor, West Dome Station, Mossburn.  Cancelled 20 May 1993.  Recorded as withdrawn from use and scrapped, some parts with Russell Brodie at Rangitata Island.

ZK-FHY (c/n 25461)  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 14 Mar 1984 to A. C. West, New Plymouth, operated by Stratford Aero Club.  Engine lost power due to loose spark plug and force landed near Stratford 2 Mar 1986.  Then 28 Aug 1987 G. Chivers, New Plymouth ($9,000).  Swung on landing and ran into ditch at Stratford 18 Oct 1987.  Cancelled 15 Mar 1994 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FIG (c/n MAANZ/238) Rotec Rally Sport at Rangiora on 21/9/00.

ZK-FIG Registered 27 Mar 1984 to Marshall P. H. Freer, Rangiora, then 19 Dec 1989 A. R. Dalley, Oxford Cancelled 13 May 1999 as withdrawn from use. 

Re-registered 19 Jul 2000 to B. van der Velden, Rangiora Cancelled 20 Aug 2002 as withdrawn from use.

Re-registered as ZK-EIG2 (just one piece of tape as ZK-FIG had been taken!) 12 Apr 2005 to Russell K. Brodie, Rangitata island.  Cancelled 2 Oct 2008 as withdrawn from use.  Stored at Russell Brodie's NZ Microlight Heritage Museum, Rangitata Island.

ZK-FKT (c/n 25545)  Rotec Rally 3  Registered 27 Mar 1985 to J. G. Perry, Turangi.  Crashed at Turangi 21 Apr 1985.  Cancelled 10 Aug 1989.

ZK-FOC (c/n 72318)  Rotec Rally Sport.  Registered 26 May 1987 to K. Wilkinson, Motueka, then 27 May 1994 Neil M. France, Auckland. then 6 Aug 1994 L. F. Mabey, Palmerston North, then 12 Oct 1994 C. I. Aitken, Stratford.  Cancelled 13 Oct 1997 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FON (c/n 25448)  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 16 Jul 1987 to A. R. & L. D. Dalley, Oxford.  Cancelled 24 Aug 1995 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FVJ (c/n MAANZ/435)  Rotec Rally Sport.  Registered 15 Nov 1989 to Wright Products & Services, Mount Maunganui, then 28 Jun 1990 D. C. Inwood, Christchurch.  Cancelled 31 Jul 1998 registration revoked.

ZK-PWJ (c/n 25476)  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 27 Mar 1985 to P. W. Jones, Kokatahi, RD 1, Hokitika Cancelled 1 May 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-RDJ (c/n MAANZ/236) Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 9 Feb 1984 to Aero-Hire Ltd, Ohope (John R. Eades) Cancelled 8 Apr 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-ROT (c/n 25585) Rotec Rally 3 at Waitohi.

ZK-ROT Registered 27 Mar 1985 to Clayton Farming Co Ltd, Clayton Station, Fairlie (John D. McFarlane & Donn J. Armstrong).  Cancelled 9 Mar 1990 withdrawn from use.

ZK-SIM (c/n 010650) Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 27 May 1985 to R. J. Sim, Heriot Crashed at Heriot 16 Jan 1986 then R. J. Sim moved to Paekakariki.  Cancelled 7 Apr 1992 as withdrawn from use and scrapped.

ZK-WAC2 (c/n 25568/MAANZ/416).  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 14 Dec 1988 to Martin G. Farrand and Paul E. Morrison, Warkworth.  Paul Morrison modified this Rally to have a standard control stick and throttle, and I think others may have been similarly modified.  ZK-WAC2 crashed into bush after in-flight incapacitation of the pilot at Matakana near Warkworth (2 killed) 14 Apr 1991.  Cancelled 1 Feb 1994. 

Amphibious Savannah ZK-CEE/2 at Dargaville

The unique in New Zealand amphibious Savannah S ZK-CEE2 flew into Dargaville for lunch last Saturday:

We have previously posted about this aircraft HERE and HERE

Ex TVAL Vintage Aviator Albatros Dva-1 for sale

 I noticed recently that one of the Ex TVAL Albatros Dva-1 is up for sale. This aircraft was built as ZK-ALB and was exported to the UK IN 2018 as G-WAHT owned by Oliver Wulff and operated by the Shuttleworth Trust at Old Warden.

                                                  Photo courtesy of AirHistory.net

Previous blog post with more info can be found here ZK-ALB / G-WAHT

 The sales page for this aircraft can be found here