ZK-STX into Nelson today

 The Pitts S-2B Special ZK-STX c/n 5090 did some local flying at Omaka this morning (Monday the 27th) and then popped over to Nelson in fifteen minutes early this afternoon and is seen below outside the Nelson Aero Club Hangar. 
After a couple of hours on the ground, it then took seventeen minutes to get back on the ground back at Omaka.

Initially flying in the US as N80TW in late 1985 it entered the NZ register as ZK-KHM with Keith Mitchell of Pleasant Point on 25-11-1996. 

After six more owner/operators it was re-registered by Aerostunts Ltd to ZK-STX on 22-01-2010. 

Some five more owners later it was taken up by The Flying Saucer Partnership of Blenheim from September of 2017. It has undergone a serious rebuild and is now with Mark O'Sullivan od Fighter Pilots Ltd at Omaka.

It has been mentioned several times previously in these pages.

Piper PA 28-161 Cherokee ZK-MBH at Omaka 1-7-2026

On my recent flight South Honey Bebe was hangared overnight in the Marlborough Aero Club hangar beside Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II ZK-MBH which is now in different colours from those previously posted on the blog:

ZK-MBH was built by the Piper Aircraft Corporation at Vero Beach in Florida in 1985 as N25621 and after s couple of US owners it was imported into New Zealand for the Massey University School of Aviation at Palmerston North being registered on 29 June 1990.  On 20 May 2016 ownership changed to Oceania Aviation Ltd, Ardmore, then on 2 June 2017 to Lindsay H. Mason, Blenheim and then on 21 June 2024 to Mrs. F. McCullagh of Blenheim.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Skycraft Scouts (7) - Other Unidentified Scouts

When I started this series of Skycraft Scouts of New Zealand I wrote that the Scout agents, L M Wright of Dunedin reckoned that they had sold around 80 Scouts here but only around 50 had been registered.  In preparing for my posts on Scouts I can account for 49 Scouts that have been registered although 2 of those are early unregistered examples that have been registered quite recently (ZK-JJN and ZK-SLF).  We have been able to obtain photos of 15 of the registered Scouts so that leaves a lot that we don't have photographs of, and we probably never will.

Nevertheless, for my final post on Scouts I will record a few others as follows:

An unidentified Scout at Rangitata Island, probably at the time of one of their Scout "Jamborees".

Three Scouts at one of the Scout "Jamborees" at Rangitata Island.  Russell Brodie told me that they held several Jamborees with as many as seven Scouts attending.

In this photo we have ZK-EYK and the other blue one is ZK-FFA.  The red one is unknown.

This is a photo of an unidentified Scout hanging up at the South Canterbury Aviation Heritage Centre and Timaru Airport.  Maybe it is one that was never registered?

And to conclude, two Scouts that were never registered but had MAANZ numbers were MAANZ/027 for David McPherson of Oxford and MAANZ/202 for V A N Scott of Wellington - I think this one never flew.  And of course there was the unregistered one that flew with Geoff Williams around the Otago Peninsula and other areas and of which I will attach another photo below:

That's a wrap!  It would be great if any readers could scout around their old photos and produce some more photos of Scouts.

 

New Tecnam P-Mentor ZK-LZA

 The first of two new Tecnam P-Mentors for the Canterbury Aero Club (Inc) ZK-LZA c/n 1181 was registered to the Club on 20-07-2026 and first flew from Christchurch International on Wednesday the 22nd of July 2026.
I was advised that it was for Club member use and not attached to the International Aviation Academy of NZ so it will be mainly based at West Melton.

The second Mentor ZK-LZB c/n 1182 is coming together in the Club's maintenance hangar.

Cessna 182S ZK-CZY

Making a brief touch & go visit to Pauanui airfield this morning was the Tauranga based Cessna 182S Skylane ZK-CZY2.   This was reregistered from ZK-EBG3 in June 2026 and as such was a very regular visitor to Pauanui with its Marton based owner.   It was originally imported new in 1999 as ZK-MDH, becoming EBG in January 2017.

 

Cessna 172F ZK-CHO

 The prototype Cessna 172 was a tricycle undercarriage version of the Cessna 170C incorporating a rectangular vertical tail and powered with the Continental O-300 engine. It first flew on 12-05-1955.

The first Cessna 172 on the NZ register was ZK-BQG from 01-05-1956, which is still current in a tail wheel configuration with Ray Patchett at Omaka.

However it is the 34th imported example we look at today.

Cessna 172F ZK-CHO was c/n 51967 and had initially been registered to the Cessna Aircraft Company as N7967U. Following initial test flying this US registration was cancelled on 18-09-1964 and it was shipped to NZ aboard the MV Lossiebank. It first flew here on 23-11-1964 and registered to Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd of New Plymouth on 21-12-1964.

It was listed over to the Northern Wairoa Aero Club at Dargaville on 11-03-1965.

Above photo shows ZK-CHO on 21-11-1966 in its factory paint scheme.

The Club sold it through Dennis Thompson (Aviation) Ltd with it going to General Finance Acceptance Ltd from 29-05-1969. It was hired to the Waikato Flying School of Hamilton until it was damaged at Waihi on Queens Birthday - 05-06-1971.

A year later, June of 1972, it was with G Tapp of Ngāruawāhia until being passed on briefly to Keith Kenyon of Huntly from 03-07-1972, and then to Reid Development & H P Holt Ltd of Christchurch from 02-08-1972.

In September of 1973 CMM captured this image.

Then we have a forced landing near Burnham on 08-09-1974.

Next in line was E L Whitmore of Kumara on 10-03-1976 until an incident at Taihape on 26-09-1976.

New paint scheme after repairs at Ardmore on 08-10-1977.

Dennis Thompson International feature again from 07-11-1977 until it was taken on by Interworld Plastics NZ Ltd of Papakura on 12-07-1978.

At Ardmore on 01-07-1981.

 For $17,900 it was acquired by E H Pemberton & R G Maxwell of Papakura from 04-03-1982  -  with L Hodgson joining them in late 1983. In August of 1985 Stan Hayes of Hukerunui took possession followed by D & C Fletcher of Wellsford from 30-08-2005.

It then moved south to Queenstown for Paul Beardsell in early December of 2007.

I spied it above at Queenstown 09-10-2008 - with the tail markings as below.

It then went on lease to the Wakatipu Aero Club (Inc) from 18-11-2009.

Now we see it above at Wanaka on 04-04-2010 minus the tail markings.

 It was damaged at Queenstown on 15-01-2011 when the Cessna 172 ZK-FKS was blown from its pickets to land on top of ZK-CHO. Its registration was cancelled on 08-09-2011.

I then noted it at Momona on 26-03-2013 Above.

And below at Rangiora on 15-01-2014 in the capable hands of Arnold Galagher. 

I noted it again on 13-11-2014, this time at Wanaka. Above.

And below - also at Wanaka - on 10-02-2017. Below.

I have not seen this airframe since !

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand (6) - The Remaining Registered Scouts

Here are the remaining nine Scouts of the 49 that have been registered in New Zealand including three that have been recently registered by Jonathan Mauchline of Wanganui:

ZK-OMA (c/n MAANZ/193)

Registered 14 Apr 1983 to Alistair M. Maydon, Waitati.  Crashed Waitati after an engine failure 24 March 1992.  Cancelled 24 Sep 1998 withdrawn from use.

ZK-OWL (c/n 0522/MAANZ114)

Registered 13 Aug 1982 to B. L. Aldred, Whenuapai, then 20 Mar 1998 B. D. Boswell, Wellington.  Cancelled 27 Sep 1999 withdrawn from use.  

Feb 2002 Stored at Taupo hanging from ceiling with Neil France.

Aug 2012 preserved at Rangitata Island with Russell Brodie

ZK-PCB (c.n MAANZ/168)  Registered 4 Nov 1982 to P. C. Brown, Christchurch, then 22 Dec 1983 Don M. Palmer, Kaiapoi, then 28 Apr 1986 P. G. Penny, Wanaka.  Cancelled 7 Jan 1994 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-PGH (c/n MAANZ/209)  Registered 17 Aug 1983 to G. A. Hassall, Kaiapoi.  Cancelled 7 Sep 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-RDS (c/n MAANZ/187)  Registered 21 Apr 1983 to J. & R. Smith Ltd Onewhero.   Cancelled 29 Mar 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-YHI (c/n MAANZ/196)  Registered 9 Jun 1983 to J .P. & H. J. Taylor, Wairuna, RD1 Clinton.  Cancelled 10 Sep 1990 as destroyed (in a non flying accident).

And here are the three recent Scouts that have been rescued by Jonathan Mauchline of Wanganui and I guess form the basis of his Scout Troop:

Unregistered example Sep 1982  R. C. Ferguson, Turakina then Jonathan Higgie, Wanganui. Withdrawn from use. 

ZK-RWW (c/n HAR1998)  Registered 17 Nov 1998 to Williams & MacPhee Syndicate (Ralph Williams and Hayden McPhee), Wanganui Cancelled 7 Sep 2001 withdrawn from use 

Re-registered 9 May 2022 to Jonathan A. Mauchline, Whanganui Re-engined with 1-cyl Victa Pixie engine. 

.

Unregistered example from the Taradale area.  Flew in the early 1990s

Registered ZK-SLF (c/n PMC2023) 19 Jan 2023 to Jonathan A. Mauchline, Whanganui.  Re-engined with 1-cyl Rotax.

Unregistered example from the Waipukurau area.  Crashed at Waipukurau 7 Jan 2019(?). Stored with Ron Day at Waipukurau.

Registered ZK-JJN (c/n DAY2023) 6 Mar 2023 to Jonathan A. Mauchline, Whanganui.  Re-engined with a Rotax 337 engine.

Another Visit to NZKF by Airbus ACH 145 ZK-HPB/9

The impressive Airbus MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopter ZK-HPB9 flew into Kaipara Flats airfield this afternoon with Sir Peter Beck up front.  While registered as a MBB-BK117 it is badged as an  ACH 145 which is its model name for Airbus Helicopters.

It came for Sir Peter to inspect another of his projects that had been built by a Warkworth engineering firm.  Look out for the finished project at Alexandra airfield sometime.

Rangiora on Tuesday afternoon - the 21st of July.

 A very cool afternoon at Rangiora on Tuesday the 21st found the Schweizer 269C ZK-HKF3 c/n S1388 working the circuit.

First noted on the UK register as G-GREJ in July of 1989 with CSE Aviation of Kidlington. It was damaged on 02-07-1991 and cancelled the following month.

It next popped up in New Zealand with Keith Broady of Motueka who reworked it to become ZK-HGJ2 from 02-07-1992. By mid 2022 it was with Mid West Helicopters (NZ) Ltd.

They re-registered it as ZK-HKF3 on 23-03-2023.

It arrived in inland Canterbury in July of 2024 with NZ Helicopter Training Academy Markings.

Arriving in from Woodbourne and Ardmore was the Britten-Norman BN2A-6 Islander ZK-SFK c/n 236 
First flown in the UK with the BN Ltd.'s test registration of G-51-236 on 30-10-1970. It served about four years in Belgium as OO-GVS before sneaking down to Australia to become VH-CPG in March of 1975.
It crossed the Ditch via Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands to arrive in Auckland on 28-09-1993 for Southflight Aviation Ltd of Christchurch. In November of 2000 it moved to Wings Over Whales Ltd at Kaikoura, followed by Commercial Helicopters/Fly My Sky from mid 2005.
Current owner/operator since August of 2021 are Auckland Seaplanes/Island/Island Air of Auckland.

Cessna 182Q ZK-XLT (c/n 18266451) was built in 1978 and served three years in the States as N94591 before spending the best part of nine years in Canada as C-GTHW. Then followed three years in Australia as VH-XLT. 

It powered into Wellington on 17-12-1992 and became ZK-XLT on 28-01-1993 for Opiki Cropping Ltd of Wellington before going on line with the Wellington Aero Club from 18-05-1994. 

Jawline Ltd of Palmerston North took it over from 19-11-1999 and then it dithered around at Ardmore for a couple of months before DTI listed it from December of 2001. Next in line was the Northland Aero Club at Whangarei in December 2002 with a move to Simon Barradell in July of 2005 and David Saunders of Auckland from January 2014.

Since April this year it has been with the Antebus Trust of North Canterbury, but has spent some time picketed at Rangiora.

Topdressing DC 3s (6) - ZK-AZA

 The next of our topdressing DC 3s was James Aviation's ZK-AZA:

ZK-AZA at Ardmore on 31/3/73 (above) and on 9/11/75 (below)

Douglas C-47B-20-DK  (c/n 15699/27144)

Built by The Douglas Aircraft Co, Oklahoma City, OK with 2x 1200HP 14-cyl R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engines, as 43-49883 

16 Jan 1945 USAAF diverted through “Lend-Lease” 

Exported to New Zealand flown 

NZ3531 19 Feb 1945 RNZAF Unit 19, Whenuapai. 

 RNZAF 40 Sqn, Whenuapai. Withdrawn from use 24 May 1946 storage . Struck Off Charge 31 May 1947. 

ZK-AZA 17 Sep 1951 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington, named “Parera” NZ Certificate of Airworthiness 16 Oct 1951 Converted to passenger configuration at Palmerston North 11 Aug 1952 Exported to Fiji as VQ-FAJ 1963 for Fiji Airways Ltd, Suva 

Exported back to New Zealand Converted to Skyliner configuration at Christchurch 6 Sep 1963 as “Skyliner Rotorua” 

Exported again to Fiji as VQ-FBF 29 Sep 1967 Fiji Airways Ltd, Suva @ 27,907 hours Flight Time

DQ-FBF 31 Jul 1971 Air Pacific Ltd, Suva cancelled 31 Oct 1972 

Exported back to New Zealand again, flown to Auckland 8 Oct 1972 

ZK-AZA 14 Dec 1972 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington 

1 Feb 1973 James Aviation Ltd,   Hamilton (delivered 5 Mar 1973) Converted to topdresser Last flight as a topdresser 1 Oct 1979 @ 35,565 hours Flight Time. 

27 Jul 1983 Dwen Airmotive Ltd, Ardmore cancelled 11 Oct 1983 Most of airframe broken up at Ardmore Nov 1983 Some parts including at least one engine & prop were exported to Aitutaki, Cook Islands for use as a “hurricane” maker for the film “The Silent Ones”. Engines sold and removed off island. Some remains still on Aitutaki.