Taylorcraft Auster V Series J, three seater ZK-AVU c/n 889 got a mention in the latest issue of NZ Aviation News magazine (on page 21). We also get a heads up call that it is to appear on next Saturdays Country Calendar on channel one at 7pm.Built for the RAF with serial number MT118 it is reputed to have served over the Normandy Beaches with 658 Squadron.
Post war it went back to Auster for conversion for the civil market and emerged registered as G-AIKA on 24-10-1946. It went to M & H Mining Contractors Ltd from 16-01-47 until sold abroad via T Shipside on 12-07-1950.
It entered our register as ZK-AVU for Ron M Fechney of Omaha in 1950 and remained with him until sold to the North Otago Gliding Club on 24-06-1975.
In 1966 it was converted to J1Y standard by replacing the O-290 engine with a O-320.
The NOGC kept it for some nine years, sometime hangared at Oamaru and also just out of Kurow.
On 19-09-1984 ownership passed to A D Stott of Christchurch followed by Ross Saunders on 09-05-1985.Nick Kagan of Lowburn (the one near Cromwell) took legal possession on 26-06-1986 only to damage it near Tarras on 08-10-86; followed by a more serious incident on 27-12-86 on take off from the Gorge River strip.
Gibson Aero Ltd at Te Anau are listed from 05-02-88 (so I assume that they repaired it !) and on 16-06-1989 it returned to its initial NZ owner, Ron Fechney of Aylesbury.
Top Pic show ZK-AVU at Wellington on 10-06-1971.Middle pic is at Oamaru on 09-10-1977
Bottom view on 07-02-1994 at West Melton.
No comments:
Post a Comment