A Couple of WW 2 Twins at Ardmore 1-9-2026

There were two twin engined WW 2 aircraft at Ardmore when I visited on Tuesday 1 September:

The ex NZ Warbirds DC 3 ZK-DAK2, manufactured in 1944 is registered to Flight 2000 Ltd (Fly DC 3) but I think it is going to Australia.

And the other twin was the 1945 DH 98 Mosquito FB Mk VI (ex TE881/NZ2345) that is destined for Fly a Spitfire in the UK.  This is being painted at Avspecs and I was told it will be ready finished the end of September or early October.

Gulfstream GVI C-GGVI cruising into Christchurch.

Tony McFarlin was on site at Christchurch International today to capture the Gulfstream GVI (G650ER) C-GVVI c/n 6331 arrival.

 Built in 2018 and initially serving as N100A with Exxon Mobil Corporation out of Dallas, Texas following delivery on 13-11-2018. 

After sale it became C-GGVI with Noro Ltd of Toronto, Canada from 28-12-2023 and is operated by their inhouse Fairflight Company.

Cessna A152 Aerobat ZK-TIE

  The Cessna A152 Aerobat c/n A1520917 entered the US register as N4960A and was listed with Superstition Air Service Inc of Mesa, Arizona on 10-11-1981. 
Gerrard Feller of Los Alamitos, California took it on from June of 2012 followed by Ted Schye, initially of Fort Peck, Montana, and then out of Billing, Montana from March 2018. 
The final US owner was William Hagerman of Lincoln, Illinois from April of 2021.

It is seen below, ex container from the USA, being uplifted for road delivery to Rangiora Airfield.

Its NZ certification was caried out by Aerofix Ltd at Rangiora with it becoming ZK-TIE on 28-01-2025 for Tie-Upp Aviation Ltd - who also operate the Pipistrel Alpha Trainers ZK-TGS and ZK-FTD2 plus the diesel-powered Piper PA-28-161 ZK-LYD.

Above we see its old US registration letters.

Above is the first rendition of its NZ registration lettering.

Below the final version.

It is IFR equipped.

Below it is on short final with property development in the background.

Wisk Aero eVTOL Mule ZK-UZA at MOTAT 28-8-2026

I was only at the MOTAT aircraft hall 3 months ago but today I had the opportunity to visit again with a group from Warkworth and there was a new addition on display:

Th eVTOL aircraft ZK-UZA that was registered in New Zealand as a Zephyr Airworks Mule on 3/10/17 and flew as a proof of concept craft under the New Zealand Government's Airspace Integration Trials programme which facilitated the testing and development of advanced unmanned aircraft.  I saw its sister ship ZK-UZB flying at Tekapo on 9/9/19 but I had never seen ZK-UZA, which was cancelled from the New Zealand register on 13/4/21 as withdrawn from use.

Both the Zephyr Airworks Mules were examples of the fifth generation eVTOL aircraft from the company which started in as Zee Aero in 2010 with backing from Google co-founder Larry Page and at the time they were flying in New Zealand the Wisk company was jointly owned by Boeing and Larry Page's Kittyhawk Aircraft Company.

Wisk has gone on to develop its sixth generation eVTOL aircraft in the US and this is now flying.  It is planned to be used in an unmanned air taxi service in several cities across America and also in Brisbane.

This is the sixth generation Wisk eVTOL aircraft and you can see the lineage derived from ZK-UZA.

And here is a video of it flying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MIdAgDX7WI&list=PLvSlX-KbrTxFnXvg_nD4aHRYEbztRC3Il&index=1

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Delore Trikes (3) - ZK-JQC to ZK-XTC

This is the final bunch of Delore Skytrikes that were built by Terry Delore in Christchurch.  The first trike, ZK-JQC2 nicely illustrates the potential chameleon nature of these machines, having been an unregistered example that after registration flew with a several different wings:

ZK-JQC2 fitted here with a high performance P&M GTR wing.

Smoking on!  And below at Rangiora fitted with an Enterprise wing.

 

ZK-JQC2 (c/n DRA001) Delore Skytrike possibly originally fitted to a Moyes Mega hang glider wing

Registered 21 Aug 2006 to Doug C. Anderson, Rangiora.  Cancelled 4 Dec 2012 as withdrawn from use. 

ZK-JRA (c/n MAANZ/289)  Delore Skytrike fitted to a Vampyre hang glider wing.

Registered 31 Oct 1984 to Ash-ford Motors Ltd, Hamilton (Brent A Smith) Engine failure and force landed at Hillsborough, Auckland.19 Nov 1992.   Cancelled 30 Aug 1994 withdrawn from use.  

Re-registered 20 Jul 2000 to John D. Finlayson, Hamilton Cancelled 24 Mar 2003 withdrawn from use.

ZK-JRS c/n MAANZ/346)  Delore Skytrike fitted to a Vampyre 185 hang glider wing.  Registered 24 Oct 1985 to J. R. Stewart, Auckland, then 23 Apr 1987 Anton J. Lawrence, Auckland.  Cancelled 27 Aug 1997 registration revoked.

ZK-JTT (c/n D/04336) Delore Skytrike.

Registered 18 Sep 1997 to Wadeson & Haines Syndicate, Rotorua, then 5 Mar 2001 Colin E. Taylor, Rotorua.  Cancelled 27 Aug 2010 registration revoked.

ZK-MIC (c/n MAANZ/371)  Delore Skytrike fitted to a Vampyre 185 hang glider wing.  Registered 27 Nov 1986 to R. A. Meech, Nelson. then 18 May 1989 K. C. Martin, Nelson. Crashed at Nelson 13 May 1989.  Fell from about 50 feet and landed heavily at Nelson 14 Jul 1990.  Cancelled 21 Dec 1990.

This Delore Skytrike was probably built Sep 1982 or shortly thereafter and owned by Tommy Namais, Auckland.  It was unregistered at that time but probably had the MAANZ number of 134 which was quite an early MAANZ number from around late 1982.  It was registered some 11 years later. 

Registered ZK-MOO (c/n MAANZ/134)  Fitted to a Foil-155 hang glider wing.  Registered 29 Oct 1993 to E. F. Harvey, Seddon.  Cancelled 19 Oct 2000 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-RCH (owners initials) c/n MAANZ/084)   An early Delore Skytrike fitted to a Lancer 4L hang glider wing.  Registered 13 Jul 1982 to R. C. Hanley, Auckland, then 10 Jul 1984 B. C. James & J. M. Budget, Auckland, then 19 Aug 1987 D. J. Smith & P. Bruning, Swanson, Auckland.  Crashed at Pikes Point 31 Mar 1991 Cancelled 2 Jul 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-RON (c/n MAANZ/180) Registered 13 Dec 1995 to Ron Ashman of Hamilton.  See my earlier post on Skytrike ZK-FEI which was registered on 30 Nov 1982 and returned to ZK-FEI on 24 Oct 1996.

ZK-XTC (c/n MAANZ/053)

Although this is the last Delore Skytrike in alphabetical registration order it is one of the earliest trike unit designed & built by Terry Delore, Christchurch It was fitted to a Moyes Kite Mega Major II hang-glider wing.

Unregistered Chris H. Dyer, Christchurch. Peter F. Dyer, the owner’s father who had a wealth of experience flying light aircraft lost control after take-off and hit a barn near Aylesbury 10 Apr 1982 

Registered ZK-XTC 31 Aug 1982 to Christopher H. Dyer, Christchurch, then 25 Mar 1987 Byron J. Kelly, Springs Junction.  Cancelled 31 Jul 1998 registration revoked.

That is the end of the series on Delore Skytrikes which were a New Zealand built microlight success.  They were one of 3 trike microlight types registered early on and quite close together in March and April 1982, the first being the Ultrasports trikes that I have already covered and after the Delore trikes the next was the Ultraflight Systems Trikes which were built in Hamilton.  I will get on to those soon.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - A Photo of a NZ Registered Ultrasports Trike

In my recent post about Ultrasports trikes (HERE), I said that I could not find a photo of a New Zealand registered one.  Now I have (and it was right under my nose).  Here is ZK-FSV taken at a Waitohi flyin:

I will go back to my post and add this photo in

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Delore Trikes (2) - ZK-Fxx Machines

In total we have had 28 Delore Skytrikes registered here (as well as the 5 unregistered examples detailed in my previous post).  Here are the ZK-Fxx registered trikes which cover the period 1982 to 1989:

ZK-FDL (c/n MAANZ/149)  Delore Skytrike fitted with a Vampyre 162 hang glider wing.  Registered 4 Oct 1982 to D. G. Spencer, Aokautere, then 19 Oct 1983 R. G. Johnston, Foxton, then 8 Dec 1983 D. G. Spencer, Aokautere, then 31 Jan 1985 Perry M. Husband, Woodbourne.  Wing dropped in turbulence, hit breakwater and rolled on to its side at Nelson 12 Sep 1987.  Then 22 Jan 1988 S. R. & N. J. Robinson, Nelson. then 19 Aug 1988 D. W. Preston, Nelson.  Cancelled 19 Jan 1999 as withdrawn from use

ZK-FEA (c/n MAANZ/139)  Delore Skytrike fitted to a Lancer 4L hang glider wing.  Registered 4 Nov 1982 to N. J. Wilson & M. R. Sarson, Invercargill, then 13 Sep 1988 D. C. Anderson & ? Kerr, Christchurch, then 17 Apr 1989 K. J. Ashby, Kaiapoi (Type Change - fitted with a Probe wing), then 9 Aug 1991 D. J. Little, Richmond, then 30 Jun 2000 D. R. Baran, Nelson.  Cancelled 2 Aug 2002 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FEI (c/n MAANZ/180) Janic Geelen Photo

Registered 30 Nov 1982 to Bernard P. "Red" Sussmilch, Palmerston North. Hang glider wing changed to Moyes Mega (trike 3 combo), then 12 Aug 1995 Ron J. Ashman, Hamilton 

Re-registered 13 August 1995 as ZK-RON to Ron J Ashman, Hamilton, then 24 Oct 1996 H N McIvor, Hamilton.   

Re-registered back to ZK-FEI 24 Oct 1996 to H N McIvor, Hamilton.  Cancelled 2 Dec 1997 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FEM (c/n MAANZ/177) fitted to a Lancer 4L hang glider wing.  Janic Geelen Photo

Registered 2 Dec 1982 to N. G. McDonnell, Tirau, then 11 May 1983 S. T. Hockly, Walton, then 1 Jul 1983 B. J. Lawson, P. A. Thomas, H. Currie, G. G. Keon & J. R. Hansen, Auckland.  (Type Change to Vampyre 164 wing), then 28 Nov 2019 Lawson Syndicate, Waimauku.  Current August 2026.

ZK-FFM (c/n MAANZ/203)  Delore Skytrike fitted to a Vampyre 162 hang glider wing.  Registered 10 Jun 1983 to Patrick C. Driessen, Bulls, later of Auckland.  Cancelled 4 Mar 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FFW (c/n MAANZ/208) Delore Skytrike fitted to a Vampyre 185 hang glider wing.  Registered 21 Jul 1983 to Richard R. Rayne, Fairlie, later Nelson  Cancelled 27 May 1998 as registration revoked.

ZK-FFY (c/n MAANZ/112) fitted to a Flight Sails Shark 180 hang glider wing

Registered 26 Sep 1983 to Rim Malskaitis, Auckland Cancelled 24 Aug 1995 as withdrawn from use  

ZK-FHR (c/n MAANZ/230)  Fitted to a Moyes Mega hang glider wing.  Registered 30 Jan 1984 to P. N. Kubala, Croydon Bush, Gore, then 30 Oct 1986 Kerry W. Eggers, Upper Moutere, then 23 Apr 1990 M. J. Bourke, Upper Moutere. Cancelled 18 Jun 1998 registration revoked.

ZK-FMZ (c/n MAANZ/369)  Fitted to a Vampyre 162 hang glider wing.  Registered 5 Nov 1986 to D. W. Preston, Nelson.  Crashed at Nelson Aerodrome 25 Jan 1989.  Then 13 Apr 1989 D. J. Wilkinson, Richmond Cancelled 1 Apr 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FQP (c/n 30) Fitted to a Vampyre 164 hang glider wing.  Registered 1 Mar 1988 to R. I. Woods, Christchurch, then 15 Jan 1990 J. Kerr, Christchurch.  Cancelled 8 Aug 1994 withdrawn from use.

ZK-FQS (c/n MAANZ/406)  Fitted to a Vampyre 180 hang glider wing.  Registered 1 Jun 1988 to S. R. & N. J. Robinson, Nelson, then 21 Mar 1989 J. G. Lamorie, Blackbird Valley, Upper Moutere.  Cancelled 19 Jan 1999 withdrawn from use.

ZK-FQT (c/n D153/MAANZ/399) fitted to a MIG 172 hang glider wing.

Registered  21 Apr 1988 to Peter C. Finnegan, Auckland (also Twizel), then 23 May 1990 Alexander R. McNab, Auckland, then 31 Oct 1998 A. C. Adams, Blenheim.  Cancelled 31 Oct 1998 as exported.

ZK-FQZ (c/n 028/MAANZ/407)  Fitted to a Lancer 4L hang glider wing.  Registered 9 Jun 1988 to M. J. Bourke, Upper Moutere (also owner of Delore Skytrike ZK-FHR) 24 Apr 1990 M. J. Bourke, Upper Moutere Type Change flown with Vampyre wing.  Then 17 May 1990 B. S. Johns, Upper Moutere.  Cancelled 17 Sep 1997 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FRM (c/n MAANZ/408)  Fitted to a Flight Sails Shark 180 hang glider wing.  Registered 7 Jun 1988 to B. J. Haslam, Auckland Cancelled 21 Apr 1995 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FSX (c/n MAANZ/421)  Fitted to a Vampyre 180 hang glider wing.  Registered 30 Mar 1989 to L. D. Dalley, Oxford.  Crashed at Leithfield May 1991 Cancelled 6 Sep 1991 as destroyed.

ZK-FUN (c/n MAANZ/061)  Delore Skytrike fitted with Vampyre hang glider wing

Registered 16 Jul 1982 to Richard L. Moore, Invercargill.  Made the first microlight crossing of Foveaux Strait with Graeme Henderson in a Flight Sails Trike 14 Jul 1983. Richard L. Moore, Woodbourne, Palmerston North.  Cancelled 1 Jul 1997 as destroyed.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Delore Trikes (1) - ZK-Exx Registered and Unregistered Machines

Hot on the heels of the first Ultrasports trike (that I recently posted about), came the locally designed and built Delore trikes from Terry Delore.  Terry Delore had been building trikes from very early on as I have posted HERE.  The first Delore trike was registered on 6 April 1982 and I believe it is shown in the poor quality photo below:

ZK-EWT (c/n MAANZ/037) Delore Skytrike fitted with a Vampyre 164 hang glider wing.  Registered 6 Apr 1982 to A. F. Boyd, Christchurch, on 10 April 1982 it hit a barn at Burnham but was repaired, then 29 Jan 1988 Pete. J. Robinson, Christchurch, then 7 Nov 1990 D. C. Buckley, Brightwater, then 27 Jun 1994 John W. Leslie, Woodend.   Cancelled 17 Aug 2004 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-EXM (c/n MAANZ/166)  Delore Skytrike fitted with a Lancer 4L hang glider wing.  Registered 26 Oct 1982 to G. J. Adam, Mount Maunganui.  Damaged in unreported accident.  Pilot (not the owner) attempted a take-off in gusty conditions with some trouble, clipped the top of a tree, went into a steep wing over and dived steeply into the ground at Waihi 3 Jan 1988.  Cancelled 15 Feb 1989.

ZK-EYM (c/n MAANZ/056)  Delore Skytrike fitted with a Vampyre 185 hang glider wing.  Registered 9 Jun 1982 to D. J. Singer, Christchurch, then 25 Feb 1987 Y. K. Chau, Nelson, then 22 Dec 1987 C. A. Walls, Motueka, then 24 Jul 1989 D. Hutton, Nelson.  Cancelled 27 Nov 1995 withdrawn from use.

ZK-EZY (c/n MAANZ/094)  Delore Skytrike fitted with a Vampyre hang glider wing.  Registered 4 Aug 1982 to P. J. Karl, Ohaupo.  Cancelled 7 Oct 1999 as destroyed no accident recorded.  I spoke to Peter Karl about his trike and he told me he was a hang glider pilot and he ordered the trike unit from Terry Delore to hang below his existing hang glider wing.  He said the trike unit came with basic instructions and he had to calculate where to attach the wing to the trike unit. 

And the MAANZ list we have shows there have been 5 unregistered Delore Skytrikes as follows:

MAANZ/133.  Skytrike Wedgetail, Trevor Pentecost, Kaihoura.

MAANZ/135.  John Dickson, Christchurch.

MAANZ/136.  Rob Fisher, Governors Bay, Christchurch.

MAANZ/137.  Keith Woodham, Christchurch.

MAANZ/138.  Peter Coleman, Rukuhia, Hamilton.

I am not sure why these five were not registered.

Five bladed prop on the Dynamic ZK-ALL

 Noted at Rangiora on Friday was the Aerospool WT9 600 NG ZK-ALL2 c/n DY-860D of Aero Leasing Ltd.

 In its original form it had a three bladed propellor but now carries a five bladed Helix H42A of 1.75m on the front of its Rotax 916 engine.

Tests indicated an increase of static thrust of 40% with a corresponding increase in overall performance.

A closer look at the new prop.

For a look at the three bladed version HERE

N9099Z finally enters the ZK register as ZK-MLB

 The Piper PA-46-310P Malibu N9099Z c/n 46-08007 arrived in Rangiora in about July of 2007 and for almost twenty years has remained on the US register and flying around New Zealand - apart from a period of time parked up due to "technical difficulties".

My first decent photograph of it is above - taken at Rangiora on 04-11-2007.

And on 28-12-2009 it was parked out in the elements.

Noted on the move at Nelson on 13-02-2015.

The only obvious external change in all its time here is the addition of a three bladed propeller as seen here at Nelson, thanks to Bill Mannix, on 21-07-2024.

I heard a rumour earlier this month that it was soon to join the New Zealand civil aircraft register.And behold. 

Above.  Bill Mannix snapped this shot of it marked up as ZK-MLB at Nelson on 21-07-2026 outside the RepairCraft facility.

Below. Also captured the same day at Nelson.

More technical difficulties have delayed its official listing on the NZ Civil Aircraft Register until the  19-08-2026 for Mark Carnegie of Karamea.

This was a 1986 production from Piper which gained its Airworthiness certificate as N9099Z on 26-08-1986 and went to Kansas City Aviation Center Inc at Olathe, Kansas until on sold to Riteway Oil and Gas co Inc of Fairmont, Nebraska in January 1987. By August 1995 it was with Hangar Nine Inc of Omaha, Nebraska. on 16-12-1997 it was certified to Kennon Shea of Quincy, California.
It then appears to have been sold through Dan Jay Aircraft Sales Inc of Chico, California to Six Six Hotel Corporation of Bangor, Pennsylvania in 2007 (about the time it came to NZ) and then on 23-11-2009 it was certified to Throwaway LLC of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania.

In NZ it was operated by Ian Andrews, initially out of Rangiora and then from Nelson.