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.

Honey Bebe Delivery Flight South (4)

In my previous post I was still at Rangiora on Thursday 2 July and I still had to make it to Rangitata Island.  Dave Paull and I got back to the airfield mid afternoon but I still had to top up Honey Bebe with Avgas.  The Avgas pump was about 300 metres away from where I was parked outside the Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club clubrooms and I only had a 5 litre container that I had brought with me.  It would be too much of a hassle to start up or push Honey Bebe the 300 metres so we had to make 3 trips to the pump by car of 5 litres each time.  I only mention this because it took up a bit of time and the afternoon was getting on.  I eventually was ready and hand started her and I took off at 3.15 pm.

Take off from Rangiora.

For this last leg I planned to skirt around the Christchurch Airport Control Zone as required and head South until I got to the Rakaia River and then follow it down to the State Highway 1 bridge, after which I would follow the highway down to the Rangitata River and Rangitata Island.

I had not planned this last leg as well as I should have and after a while I found myself a bit lost.  The Canterbury Plains are obviously very flat and there are roads going in many directions (including a State Highway with edge markings).  So my IFR assumptions did not work so well. 

I flew around for a while without making much progress, and I was also mindful that the sun was going down quite fast in the late afternoon.  So I decided that I would aim for Ashburton aerodrome and I retraced my route.  I climbed up to 2,000 feet and saw in the distance what seemed to be big white buildings so I headed there and found State Highway 1 (edge markings and lots of traffic with big trucks and trailers).  The big white buildings turned out to be the big box commercial area of Rolleston.  

By this time the shadows were really lengthening (the highway is between the trees in the photo) but all I had to do was follow the highway to Ashburton where I arrived overhead and landed at 4.45pm.  I rang Russell Brodie and he was relieved to hear from me, and offered to drive up to Ashburton to pick me up and drive me back to his place for the night.  Thanks Russell.

This is what it looked like about 30 minutes after I landed - it was cold!  Later Russell helped to picket her down for a cold night outside.

It could have been quite serious if I had had to stay outside in the freezing cold to wait for Russell, but thankfully the Mid Canterbury Aero Club clubrooms were open and several people were attending to the day's paperwork and invited me in (I was wearing my Rodney Aero Club cap but it wasn't well recognised I found).  It was warm as toast inside and they had a jug so I made myself a coffee which was most welcome. 

After a night with Russell and Linda in their historic homestead at Rangitata Island and surprisingly a nice meal out at a restaurant less than 10 minutes down the road, we headed back to Ashburton mid morning on Friday with Russell's son Ross and readied Honey Bebe for Russell to fly back to her new home.

Russell lifting off from Ashburton. 

Au revoir old and faithful friend!  All up I had flown her South for 9 hours 45 minutes and she didn't miss a beat.  The weather had been fabulous and what a great adventure I had experienced!

I travelled back to Christchurch with Dave Paull who had driven down to Ashburton to meet me and I spent a nice night and had another lovely meal with Dave and Joi, and their guest bed was so comfortable!  Thanks Dave and Joi.

Then on the Saturday I flew back to Auckland by Jetstar leaving under Nor-Wester skies.  1 hour 20 minutes at 37,000 feet compared to my 9 hours 45 minutes at mostly under 1,500 feet!  It was good to get home.

 

Honey Bebe Delivery Flight South (3)

After a good night's sleep (and a delicious meal) at Neville and Tessa Sutherland's lovely house which is only 2 minutes from the airfield, we drove to Omaka, paid the landing fee and hangar rent for 1 night at the Aero Club office and pulled Honey Bebe out into the sun.  It was another stunning day:

All part of the service!  Neville cleaning my windscreen.

I took off around 10.15 (on Thursday 2 July) for the continuation of my big adventure flying South.  It was the first time I had flown Honey Bebe in the South Island so there was a lack of familiarity with the lie of the land compared to the North Island.  Out of Omaka I climbed up and had to make some turns to get over the Taylor Pass which is at 1,000 feet and then I was flying across the Awatere Valley.

Lake Grassmere and the salt works in the distance.

Then on to the Kaikoura Coast - that is State Highway 1 and the railway just above the prop (click to enlarge).

Following the coast South, here near the Marlborough and Canterbury boundary.

Snow on the Seaward Kaikouras.

Getting nearer to Kaikoura and the coast is pretty rugged.

And we are at the Kaikoura Peninsula, the airfield is South of the town.

At Kaikoura airfield for 15 litres of Avgas, flight time from Omaka 1 hour 5 minutes.

Continuing on South from Kaikoura in lovely conditions.  SH 1 has gone inland but the railway sticks near the coast - you can see it just above the nose (click to enlarge if you want to see it better).

On past the Conway Flat area.  Obviously I was in IFC mode.

A good check point is the mouth of the Waiau River.  Time for a radio position report.

Past Gore Bay and the Cathedral Cliffs.  Wonderful views!

Past the settlement of Motunau, and nearly at the Northern Canterbury Plains.  Look how calm the sea was. 

When you get to the plains change frequency to the Rangiora CFZ at Amberly and follow the beach.

Until you get to the mouth of the Ashley River (radio position call) and follow the river up to Rangiora airfield.

I landed on Runway 07 at Rangiora to be met by Dave Paull and he took the photo. Then we went into town for an posh artisinal pie.  Flight time from Kaikoura to Rangiora was 1 hour 10 minutes.

I did fly on South from Rangiora later in the afternoon but I will leave posting about that until next time as it proved to be a somewhat "interesting" flight.

Honey Bebe Delivery Flight South (2)

In the morning of Wednesday 1 July Wayne picked me up and took me out to the airfield where the sun was again shining brightly.  I phoned the Ohakea Tower to enquire about the status of the Raumai live firing range and was told that it was active but would be finished before I arrived there around 11 am.  They advised to listen to the Ohakea Flight Information Service on 124.5 after I passed Wanganui to check on the Raumai status.  Then it was time to go and I took off around 10.15 am:

Wayne took this neat video of my take off from Stratford (you can click to enlarge it).  When you watch it do not be fooled by the lack of climb performance as when I lift off at around 30 knots or so I keep the plane level and low until the speed builds up to 50 knots which is what I climb out at.

Good bye Mount Taranaki.  Wayne advised to follow the power lines South to the coast which is what I did.

On the coast near Waverly, past the wind farm and with the Waiototara River up ahead.

Looking down on Wanganui.  I climbed up to 2,000 feet here to be above the circuit height on Wanganui Airport which is busy these days with the NZ Airline Academy flying school on the airport.

And here is the airport.

As advised I tuned to 124.5 and listened to the Ohakea Flight Information Service who advised that the Raumai live firing range was not active, so I was not blown out of the sky!  This photo is inside the firing range and I flew at 1,000 feet down the rest of the Manawatu coastline.

Until I arrived at Foxton which is up ahead, and landed at Foxpine for fuel.

Taxiing in at Foxpine.  Thanks to Simon Hills for the photos on the ground.  Thanks also to Dave Stuart who also met me and drove me to he nearby Mobil station where I bought 20 litres of 98 octane fuel.  Foxpine is where ZK-KMM first flew, with test pilot Stuart Tantrum on 15 January 1984 - that is 42 and a half years ago!

I think I got a slight bit of carb icing coming into Foxpine, but to feel safer I checked and set the tappets while I was on the ground (I had bought tools with me but forgot the feeler gauge! - thanks again Dave).  Then I was all set to go with Cook Strait ahead.

A benign sea and sky climbing out of Foxpine with the coast curving up towards Wanganui.

I headed South down the coast and photo'd Kapiti Island on my way past.

Looking down on Paraparaumu and the airport.  A nice lady in the tower advised me of QNH and I advised her of my position as I flew by.  An aircraft took off as I was nearby but I was well clear.

Then down past Paekakariki and on to Porirua City with Plimmerton and Paremata in the foreground.

The coastline gets decidedly rougher down towards Makara and there are a lot of wind turbines.

Goodbye North Island!

The conditions over Cook Strait were excellent with almost no wind as you can see in the photo.  This is what I had expected with the big high sitting over New Zealand.  But there was a lens of cloud in the middle of the Strait at 1,500 feet that I had to fly under.  Otherwise I flew at around 2,000 feet to keep below the Wellington Airport control zone.

Getting nearer to the South Island.  This was the 39th time that the aircraft that I had built had flown across Cook Strait!  (The other 38 were flown by Paul Legg).

Then I flew down the seaward side of the Marlborough Sounds which was quite spectacular.

This is Port Underwood which is a sound off the open sea.

Then finally I got to the flat land where the Wairau Valley meets the sea.  This is over Rarangi Beach with the Wairau Diversion Channel up ahead (not to be confused with the Wairau River Estuary).

I landed at Omaka around 4 pm to be met by fellow Jodel D9 owner and friend Neville Sutherland.  We topped Honey Bebe up with Avgas and tucked her away in the Marlborough Aero Club hangar for the night.

I had flown Honey Bebe for 1 hour 10 minutes from Stratford to Foxpine and 1 hour 35 minutes from Foxpine to Omaka.  Another great day of flying!