Nelson today. Thursday 10th October 2024

 Bill Mannix snapped these three during his daily walk around Nelson Airport today.The privately listed Aerospatiale AS 350 BA ZK-IOR c/n 1646 was receiving some TLC.
It arrived in NZ in 1986 and has served time as ZK-HZR, ZK-HST2, and ZK-HWF3, settling on ZK-IOR on 03-11-2014, 

The Harmon Rocket II ZK-RMD2 c/n HR2-187-08 is up from Dunedin. It has been with Ed Nieman since March of 2018.

It has been previously mentioned several times  HERE.

Dropping in from Whangarei on the 8th was this Piper PA-28R-299 Arrow ZK-SMC3 c/n 28R-35606. 

It was imported by John Shaw from the UK where it had resided as G-AYAC since March of 1970.

It was registered to John on 14-06-2023.

Inland Canterbury Plains by CMM

 CMM is currently lurking in the Methven area and has offered us these images.

The first three where at the Mount Hutt Aviation Ltd's base.

The Aerospatiale AS 350 BA ZK-HBX2 c/n 1391 has been on the NZ register since mid 1996 and has been with its current operator Fox Franz Heliservices Ltd since September of last year.

Eurocopter AS 350 B3 ZK-HCQ4 c/n 4845 was over from Anderson Helicopters Ltd of Hokitika.

Gun City's Aerocopter AK1-3M ZK-HDA5 c/n 0098 was parked quietly to one side.

About 5.5km away is the Heli Rural Base.

They operate the Hughes 369D ZK-IPW c/n 1100853D was imported from Canada and first flew in NZ on 21-06-2022.

They also operate the Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-IOH.

CMM wishes to thank Scott and Simon for permissions.

Oskar Stielau and the Electric Mosquito revisited.

 Sir Minty wrote an in-depth blog post back in November 2022 covering Oskar Stielau's project to convert his Mosquito Air helicopter ZK-HNG6 to become the Electric Mosquito ZK-IAB2.

This blog post is reproduced in full below.

Russell Nay of Aerocronicles.com has recently published an article on this helicopter.
Check this link.

https://aerochronicles.com/how-to-make-an-electric-mini-helicopter-learn-from-oskar/

Then click on 

https://aerochronicles.com/

for further very interesting developments.

*******************************************************************

Below is Sir Minty's original post.

Thursday 29 December 2022

Homebuilt and Sport Helicopters of New Zealand - Electric Mosquito Air

After Oskar Stielau withdrew his Innovator Mosquito Air helicopter ZK-HNG6 from the register on 7/1/19 he had an idea of what he wanted to do with it.  And that was to convert it into an electric helicopter.

Oskar is an electrical engineer so he had a head start on such a project but it still was pioneering work and he built what was probably the world's first fully electric helicopter with separate electric motors driving the main and tail rotors.  The main electric motor is a Slovenian  Emrax 228 that weighs 12 Kg and produces a peak power of 109 KW (but the continuous power is much less) and it is 96% efficient.  Oskar mounted it in the same position as the original Rotax 2 stroke so as not to alter the mechanical drive of the machine.  While the electric motor is much lighter you then have to add batteries and these consist of 96 cells weighing 40 Kg.  Oskar went for medium performance batteries as the technology is improving all the time, and the Electric Mosquito was built as a proof of concept.

But when Oskar first tried out his helicopter with the main electric motor he felt all the vibrations associated with the still at that time mechanical tail rotor.  Then he had a eureka moment - why not also have the tail rotor also driven by separate electric motors!  So he purchased a 15Kg lifting capacity drone and with some adaption this formed the basis of the Electric Mosquito's 7 rotor anti-torque tail rotor system.  And with clever programming the tail rotor speed is controlled by the main throttle thereby making flying the helicopter much easier.

The endurance is around 15 minutes and the empty weight of the Electric Mosquito is 145 Kg (which includes the 40 Kg of batteries) and the pilot can weigh up to 86 Kg giving a MAUW if 230 Kg.

Oskar registered his Electric Mosquito as ZK-IAB2 (c/n 1083 the same c/n as his ZK-HNG6) on 5/11/20 and he first flew it at Tauranga in December 2020.  On 26 March he invited a group of interested aviators to Parakai for a demonstration and these photos are from that day.

The helicopter flew very well and impressed all of us who were watching.  Oskar flew it for 15 minutes and it was strange to hear the only sound being the main rotors moving through the air.

The batteries are the blue parts mounted low down around the pilot's seat.

And here is a photo of the 12 Kg Emrax 228 electric motor with Oskar pointing out some of the details of his creation.  Very impressive!

But Oskar is not one to rest on his laurels and having now proved the "proof of concept" he is moving on to build an improved electric helicopter that he already well on the way with.  A shout should also go out to CAA for getting on board and not standing in the way of pioneers like Oskar.

Avro Anson ZK-RRA Sold Overseas

As it has been advertised for sale for some time, it was no surprise that the beautiful and unique Avro Anson Mk 1 ZK-RRA has been sold overseas and it was cancelled from the register on 7/10/24.

Here is a nostalgic look back at "Annie" at Classic Fighters 2023.  She has been sold to a group in the Czech Republic called RAF Station Czechoslovakia who operate to honour the legacy of Czechoslovak airmen in exile in the RAF during World War II and they operate a pair if WW II Tiger Moths and a Miles Magister painted in their wartime colours.  No doubt the Anson with fit right in and provide a unique point of difference to the collection.

We should take the time to give a huge thank you to Bill Reid and his team for the 10 year restoration of the Anson to an amazing standard, and for displaying it widely around the country in the last 12 years.  Here is a link to a post that I did on the Anson back in 2012 when it was "new":  https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2012/12/2012-vintage-year-nelson.html

There was also a lot of other stuff happening in the vintage aircraft scene back in 2012!

Rans S-21 ZK-DCB 2

Noted departing Ardmore last week was Doug Brooker's smart Rans S-21 Outbound ZK-DBC2.  This was originally built back in 2020 by Neil Corella, Springhill, Florida as N69NC and exported to New Zealand in late 2022.      It is one of 6 S-21s now on the NZ Register.

 

Rotorua Airport Opening Pageant and the 60th Anniversary Flyin

With the 60th Anniversary Flyin being held at Rotorua Airport yesterday, 5 October 2024, it is somewhat sobering to confess that I was at what I thought was the original Opening Pageant back on 25 November 1967.  I guess that puts a lot of us in our place!  However it does throw up the question why was the Opening Pageant held 3 years after the opening?  On further research, the airshow might have been held at that time to take advantage of the RNZAF who were camped on the airfield for Operation Shining Cuckoo with 10 Vampires and Canberras.

Here is a photo that I took back then on the day, Saturday 25 November 1967 (the date thanks to Delticman who was also there - we drove up from Wanganui in his Mini).  It is of Jack Inder's Turbulent ZK-CGT.  The two guys checking it out are John Galpin (the taller) and I think Clarry Healy from Nelson who was building a Taylor Monoplane.  Here is a link to the history of ZK-CGT and other mid-1960s Turbulents:  https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2010/05/druine-turbulents-of-new-zealand-5.html

And 60 years later this is what a lot of modern sport aircraft look like, Gary Thorne's Vans RV 12 ZK-VGT.  Of course back in the 1960s you were allocated the next registration alphabetically but today you can choose your registration (for a fee).  I guess VGT stands for Van's (of) Gary Thorne.

Thanks for the photo Mark.

South Canterbury Helicopters drop in by CMM

              Helicopters South Canterbury 2015 Ltd is based inland from Temuka, South Canterbury. 

CMM called in earlier this week and checked in with Richard Geary and photographed three of their machines.

They also list the Bell 206B JetRanger ZK-IMB3 and the Robinson R44 II ZK-IGR which were out doing stuff.

Eurocopter AS 350 BA ZK-HMG2 c/n 2647 has been with Richard since July of 2015.
More early stuff on this airframe can be seen Here

Bell 206B JetRanger III ZK-IGT3 c/n 3122 has been with them since importation in 2016.

Its previous history has been mentioned Here

Bell 206B JetRanger III ZK-IOI c/n 3060 spent its first thirty five years in the USA.

Its earlier story can be seen  HERE

Title moved to Coast to Coast Helicopters 2013 of Motueka in early 2016 and then to Able Tasman Air Ltd from mid 2017. In late 2017 it moved on to Nelson Tasman Air Ltd until being taken on by Helicopters South Canterbury 2015 Ltd from 15-08-2018.

Thanks to Richard Geary for access and your time.

Two recent Australian visitors to Christchurch

 Tony McFarlin captured these two Australian visitors into Christchurch earlier this week.

Embraer 505 Phenom VH-NJR3 c/n 5050074 was built by Embraer as PS-GMU and became VH-NJR on 06-03-2024. It was listed to if current operator NIOA Aviation Number 2 Pty Ltd of Brisbane on 29-07-2024.

It flew into Christchurch on 01-10-2024.

Dropping in on the 3rd via Queenstown and Sydney was the Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604  VH-XPA3 c/n 5385. Initially allocated C-GLXD to the manufacturer it moved on to become N72NP in August 1998, then back to Canada as C-FCPI in December 2012. Next allocation was N604SC in February 2015 and then as LV-FWZ from August 2015. From March 2022 it was N685SC until sold in Australia to take up VH-XPA3 from 18-07-2023 with Business Aviation Solutions of Brisbane.

A Matching Pair of VL 3s at Raglan on 30-9-2024

John Crone dropped into Raglan last Monday in his JMB VL 3 and found the newly flying VL 3 from Te Kowhai also on the field:

The matching pair of ZK-VLT and ZK-TVL resting in the sun at Raglan.

And because we haven't featured ZK-TVL on the blog previously, here it is enlarged to save you clicking on the original photo to enlarge it.  ZK-TVL (c/n 548) was registered to a private owner at Te Kowhai on 21/12/23 and was assembled at Te Kowhai. 

Another Rangiora visit. Friday 04-10-2024

 A quick look around at Rangiora this afternoon found the following.Cessna 177B Cardinal ZK-DIH c/n 17701900 has been with Ian and Katie Whitmore since November of 2011.      It has been previously mentioned Here

The all electric Pipistrel Alpha Electro ZK-EAL4 c/n 942 AE 60 of Electric Airline Ltd sits 'on charge'.

The restoration of the Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer ZK-EEL2 c/n 1045 is coming along nicely.

It was previously listed in NZ as ZK-DQN between April of 2008 and February of 2010.

Cessna A152 Aerobat ZK-FSL c/n A1520899 was imported from the States in 1988 originally for the Air NZ Sports & Social Club Southern Inc of Christchurch and is still serving the Air New Zealand Flying Club well.

The Garlick-Bell UH-1L ZK-HUE2 c/n 6045 carries the name 'THUMPER' under its nose and 'City of Herbert' on the right hand side of its nose.