Rangiora Friday visitation 08-05-2026

 First stop for the day was with Aero Fix which had this Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HRY2 c/n 10966 out front. This is currently listed to Gerald Jefferies of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
This has been in NZ since new in late 2005 and has been mentioned in these pages previously.
Following ten years with Anderson Helicopters Ltd of Hokitika from 2014 - it went to Gerald Jefferies of Hanmer Springs in May of 2025 - with a recent change of Address to Australia.

I managed to catch the Southbranch Farm Ltd's Maule M-5-235C Lunar Rocket ZK-MEZ c/n 7228C after it arrived back from a round of circuits. 

t looks much more hairy chested with its larger wheels.
For earlier posts on ZK-MEZ SEE HERE

A resident from the same Hangar 8 was this Australian registered Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage VH-BHR2  c/n 4622019. This arrived into Christchurch International direct from Melbourne on 01-02-2026.

this was built as N9157Q and delivered to Australia to become VH-LBE on 02-06-1989. After five operators it returned to the USA to become N113KR from 29-06-2007

It returned to Australia to become VH-BHR2 on 01-03-2012. It is currently listed to George Glaister of Balclutha who also has interests in the Culverden area.

As a PA-46-350P it is the first of this model in NZ and is not covered by the current NZ type certificate - (which only covers the -310P and the 500TP models) hence it remains on the Australian register. 

George also operates the Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six ZK-OMT and previously had the Cherokee Six ZK-ECV.

For further details on VH-BHR See here.

ZK-HPB the Ninth!

Brien O'Brien was at Kaipara Flats yesterday when (Sir) Peter Beck flew in in his latest helicopter to do some stuff at Rocket Lab in Warkworth:

ZK-HPB9 (c/n 20165) is a used Airbus MBB-BK 117 D-2 model that was registered to Advanced Flight Ltd of Auckland in December 2025 and is operated by them for Peter Beck.  It replaced his previous EC130T2 helicopter ZK-HPB8 which was cancelled in March 2025 and went to Australia as VH-83E. 

Thanks for the photo Brien.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait - ARV Super2 ZK-FSQ

We have been doing this for a long time!  Way back in April 2010 I did a post on some aircraft that were imported by Dougal Dallison.  In that post I could only include a photo of it as G-BSRK which it became after it was exported back to the UK in 1990 after its short life in New Zealand.  I then asked "can anyone post a photo of ZK-FSQ?" but nothing came of it.  Now 16 years later I became aware of a photo of ZK-FSQ on the AustAirData website.

The ARV Super2 was designed by Bruce Giddings in the UK in the early 1980s and was promoted by Richard Noble (holder of the 1983 world land speed record) who had identified a potential gap in the low weight low cost training aircraft market after major US manufacturers temporarily stopped production due to product liability issues.  Richard Noble set up a factory on the Isle of Wight to build the ARV (which stands for Air Recreational Vehicle) but production ceased after around 35 aircraft were built.  The prototype first flew on 11 March 1985.

The ARV Super2 was a side by side trainer with a tricycle undercarriage and a shoulder wing for good visibility.  Its specifications are:  length 18 feet (5.49 metres), wingspan 28 feet 6 inches (8.69 metres) and a wing area of 92.5 square feet.  Its empty weight was 675 pounds (306 Kg) and its MAUW was 1,100 pounds (400 kg) and with its 75 HP engine its performance was cruise speed 83 knots (95 mph) and it had a stall speed of  48 knots (55 mph).  The engine was interesting, it was a Hewland AE75 3 cylinder 2 stroke with a 2.75 to 1 reduction gearbox.  It only weighed 108 pounds (49 Kg) and was specifically designed for the ARV Super2.  However it only had a TBO of 800 hours and with the lack of ongoing factory support, many ARV Super2s have been re-engined with Rotax 912s and Jabirus.

Obviously we have only had one ARV Super2 registered in New Zealand.  Was it registered as a microlight?

ZK-FSQ (c/n 007) was registered to Dougal Dallison of Auckland on 31/1/89 and was cancelled on 30/7/90 so its life here was quite short.  The above photo was taken at Ardmore in April 1990.

A Couple of Mirages Flying High and Low

Following my posts on all of the Ultraflight Mirages that have been registered in New Zealand, here are a couple photos of of Mirages in their element:

I understand that this photo, probably of ZK-FCA, is of Lorry (sp?) Jones descending from a height record attempt when he reached 10,000 feet.  Can anyone add anything to this story?

And by contrast, here is George Taylor flying his Mirage ZK-EYN on an aerial lambing beat over his farm at Mossburn.  Quite a few early microlights were used for farm work including spraying and I will detail some examples in a future post. 

DHC 2 Beavers ZK-AZB and ZK-BVA/2

Because we like Beavers and posted about ZK-FPZ yesterday, here are photos of Patchett Ag-Air's two Omaka based Beavers at Healthy Bastards 2026:

We have posted the extensive history of ZK-AZB HERE, but that post didn't include its ownership by Patchett Ag-Air from August 2025.

We have also posted the history of ZK-BVA2 HERE but again that didn't include its ownership by Patchett Ag-Air from May 2025.

As well as ZK-FPZ there are two other Beavers on the register - ZK-CKH with NZ Warbirds at Ardmore, and ZK-SBV with Zodie Investments Ltd of Karamea.

And there are apparently a couple more Beavers being rebuilt at Rangiora.

Thanks for the photos Tim.

DHC 2 Beaver ZK-FPZ at Tauranga

We have posted about Beaver ZK-FPZ previously HERE but we haven't yet had a good photo of it in its latest scheme, until now:

Warwick Hamilton captured it recently at Tauranga wearing Taupo Sport Skydivers script.  It is owned by Venture Aviation Ltd (John Funnell) since way back on 31/3/98. 

Thanks for the photo Warwick.

PAC 750XL ZK-JBC/2 Has Flown Again at Hamilton

The Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-JBC2 has recently been returned to the air by Part 66 Maintenance at Hamilton.  It had been out of service since Farmers Air was liquidated in 2025:

It has been owned by Super Air Ltd since May 2025 and is now flying in their colours (with a nod to the old Farmers Air scheme).

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Mirages (5) - Personalised Registration Mirages

For this final batch of Mirages here are six of them that had personalised registrations:

I have already covered Ken Asplin's Mirage ZK-KJA which was the first Mirage to be registered in New Zealand, on 28 December 1981.  You can see the link to that post HERE

ZK-LJT

ZK-MOT at Motueka in 1982

ZK-MRO (possibly, Not owners initials).

ZK-PAB

ZK-RVT

That is all 39 Ultrafight Mirages that we have had registered in New Zealand.  There may have been others that were not registered and there certainly were Mirages here before microlights were required to be registered.  If you were counting we have photos of 22 of them, and if any blog readers have photos of any of the others (or know of someone who might have early microlight photos) we would be delighted to see them and post them.

Two recent movements at Christchurch International.

 The Bombardier Challenger 350 N730JH c/n 20565 is seen below about to depart from Christchurch on Monday the 27th.
This began life on the oft used Bombardier test registration of C-GUGY with a move to N985CR in mid 2015.

Ferrying in from Noumea, via Auckland yesterday the 28th was this Air Caledonie ATR 72-600 (212A) F-OZKN c/n 1459 for maintenance at Air New Zealand. 

Two more great photos from Tony McFarlin.

Warbirds Over Wanaka Catchup - 7

 A final post, covering three local lighties which seemed to be of interest.

ZK-BFC/2 is a Kitplanes for Africa Safari Mk.3 (The first ZK-BFC was a Tiger Moth flown by Airlift  in the Wellington and Wairarapa areas back in the 1950s/60s)).
This Safari is operated ny the Bush Flying Company, based in Queenston, so that clues you in on the significance of the registration.

Another Queenstown local is this ICP MXP-740 Savannah S ZK-SGD. Registered back in May last year, Greg Doran is the listed owner.

The JMB Aircraft VL-3E-1 ZK-JMB/2 flew in Greece as SX-UBN before arriving in NZ for the local agents, JMB NZ Ltd. who are based in Amberley. In mid-2025 it was re-registered as ZK-VLE.