Ardmore 29 February 2012

A couple of snaps from Ardmore today:

Cessna TU206F ZK-CRW was registered to Auckland Skydivers (Inc) in January 2009 and it has been at Ardmore for a few weeks now.  Also at Ardmore (not pictured) is another skydive ship, Cessna TU206A ZK-DAS.

The fuselage of Murphy Rebel ZK-ERX has been evident at Ardmore for 12+ months now but today was the first time I've noted it assembled and with its registration displayed.

Eurocopter EC120B ZK-HMY/2 arrived at Ardmore from the east and spent some time in the circuit.  It is registered to Advanced Flight.

Great Barrier Airlines Britten Norman BN2A MK.III-2 ZK-LGF was visiting Hawker Pacific.

Couple from Ardmore

The Auckland Aero Club's Cessna 162 Skycatcher ZK-AAC was out catching rain drops as the afternoon downpours that have punctuated the regions summer continued to build-up!

And arriving just as the heavens opened was locally based Piper PA25-235 ZK-JWW with the owners Harvard, ZK-WAR following soon after and his Cessna 180K ZK-EOH sitting outside waiting to be put back under shelter from the elements.

Bolkow MBB BO105 ZK-HAX

Bolkow MBB BO105 ZK-HAX, registered to Oceania Helicopters in August 2011, was noted outside their hanger at Ardmore 28 February.  This, along with three other examples, were picked up from the Dubai Police Air Wing.

It is understood ZK-HAX is operated on behalf of Greenpeace and a small snippet on TV news Monday night showed a BO105 overflying Greenpeace activity at the Port of Taranaki.

American Eaglets of New Zealand

Following from Blue Bus's excruciating Question Time 146 about Charlie Stanton's Sunbird motorglider ZK-JEA (which used parts from his American Eaglet ZK-GOE), I thought I would post about American Eaglets in New Zealand.

The American Eaglet is a self-launching ultralight sailplane that was designed for kit building, by Larry Haigh. The first flight of the prototype was on 19/11/75. It is truly ultralight with an empty weight of only 160 pounds (90 Kg) and it can carry a 200 pound payload. Its length is 16 feet (4.9 metres) and its wingspan is 36 feet (11.0 metres). It has an aspect ratio of 18:1 and a maximum glide ratio of 24:1.

It also features a McCulloch MC 101 go kart engine of 15 HP, with a folding propellor (but I do not know what engines were installed in New Zealand examples).

There have been 5 American Eaglets in New Zealand, as below. The photos are from the Keith Morris collection unless otherwise noted.

ZK-GOE (c/n AACA/641) was built by Charlie Stanton of Nelson and it was first registered on 10/6/86. It was cancelled on 15/2/92 and as noted above parts were used in Charlie's later Sunbird motorglider ZK-JEA. The photo was taken at the 1987 AACA flyin at Omaka where it was on static display without power.

ZK-GOH (c/n A591) was built by JL Williams on the North Shore of Auckland, and was first registered on 24/8/87. It was withdrawn for use and cancelled at Auckland in 8/95.

ZK-GOJ (c/n AACA/678) was built by D Visser of Auckland, and was first registered on 3/8/87. I think it and ZK-GOH may have been built together. I have seen a photo of both of them rigged together on the same North Shore lawn, but I do not have a photo of ZK-GOJ. Can anyone provide a photo? It was damaged at Hobsonville on 20/12/87 and was cancelled on 15/9/88.

ZK-GOK (c/n AACA/231) was built by NR Swan and G Jones of Auckland and was first registered on 18/5/84, making it our first Eaglet. It is photo'd here at Feilding in late 1985. It was sold to CG Donovan of Taihape on 22/1/86 and then to PR Ramsay of Dunedin on 5/12/02. It was withdrawn and cancelled on 6/10/03.

And finally we have ZK-GPF (c/n 365) which was started by Rex Handley of Blenhiem, and was completed by Andy Fairhall of Renwick. It also used parts from ZK-GOE. It was first registered on 23/11/94. As can be seen from the photo it featured a conventional rudder and tailplane, and from other photos it may not have been a motorglider. It was withdrawn and cancelled on 4/9/01. Thanks to Blue Bus for the photo, which was taken at Omaka on 21/5/95.

BK117 ZK-IPT

Spotted at Ardmore 27 February was this example of the Kawasaki BK117 B-2 ZK-IPT.  It has been registered to Skyline Aviation of Hastings since its arrival in the country during summer 2011 and still bears the corporate colours on the tail, however on the forward fuselage it has "Mt Hutt Helicopters" titles.

MRC photo

Dog ................................... Gone!

Well, following on from another post today http://www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/aero-l39-albatros-zk-ccp-on-move.html, L39 ZK-CCP was indeed out and about heading south from Ardmore to its South Island roost via a couple of fuel stops.  What Geoff's photo taken at Paraparaumu doesn't show is the back seat driver!

Man, its a dog's life!!!!!  Rover complete with ear protection!!

MRC photos

Recent Rangitata Island activities

Russell Brodie from Rangitata Island has kindly sent in the following photographs of some of the recent visitors to his airstrip. The first three being taken on 17-02-2012.

One not often seen about the countryside is Peter and Anne Presland's Cessna U206F Stationair 11 ZK-DWV (c/n U206F-02585). This 206 was imported by Rex Aviation in mid 1975 for the Tauranga Aero Club. It had an encounter with the Tauranga Harbour in March of 1977. R J Auger of Dunedin sorted it wqith ownership passing to him on 28-04-1978. By mid December it had transferred to Peter and Anne Presland of Minaret Station on the western shore of Lake Wanaka. Apart from a few months with the Wakatipu Aero Club and Queenstown Air it has been with the Presland's ever since.

Above is the O-235 powered Murphy Rebel ZK-FMR2 (c/n 565R). This was built by Laurence Farmer and sold to Trevor Davies of Fairlie in July of 1979.

Above is the Rans S-6ES Coyote 11 ZK-WAL2 (c/n 02991305) in its new clothes. She is now " flagship " for the Otago Aero Club and the team are raving about it and having lots of fun. It has come back nicely after its late 2008 incident.
Blue and Gold = Otago colours.

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Following are a few photos taken yesterday (26-02-2012) at a gathering of "aerobatists" ( maybe a new word !! ). A great day with lots of aerobatics, pilot talk and cups of coffee.

Below is the well known Ivan Krippner owned Bushby MM1 Midget Mustang ZK-DDC (c/n AACA/107). This was built by Jack Reeves and first appeared on the register on 24-07-1975. It was purchased by Ivan on 06-08-1991

The Reims/Cessna FRA150L T/D ZK-FWW (c/n FRA150L-0122) was a Stan and Gilly Smith import from Singapore in 1991. Not too sure when the wheels were turned around. It is now with Glenn Armstrong and Rangiora based. That will be Brent Thompson of propellor fame cluttering the pic.

Good to see the Jerry Savage Aero Design Pulsar XP ZK-MIV (c/n 294) out and about. It only flew for the first time at NZRT on 28-10-2011.

Last and seriously serious is the Yakovlev 55M ZK-YKV (c/n 920402) of 55M NZ Ltd. This is currently Ashburton based. Built in 1992 it came to NZ via the USA for Nick Pilbrow in March 2008 and was syndicated in June of that year.

Mark on your calendar the Rangitata Island Autumn Fly - In on Sunday March 18.

As always - everyone is welcome. Hope you can make it.

Aero L39 Albatros ZK-CCP on the move.

Considering we have a moving aircraft and a moving vehicle I think this shot came out pretty well.
It was shot by Geoff Lloyd at Paraparaumu today (27-02-2012) showing the Aero L-39C Albatros ZK-CCP2 (c/n 332639) seemingly about to commit aviation. It is still listed to the ADT Trust of Queenstown.

And even more from Rangiora. Sunday 26-02-2012

Three more from Allan Bowman, taken this day - Sunday 26-02-2012 - at Rangiora.
Above we have the Les Eade Rans S-6ES Coyote 11 ZK-LVE (c/n 05051662ES). Evan Belworthy has done the test flying and is seen here is in the right hand seat checking Les out.

Two Titan T51 Mustangs in for fuel. The nearest one "Hurry Home Honey" is ZK-MPC (c/n M05XXXS0HK0062), which is Marty Cantlon's machine from Tauranga. This is 3.5l Honda powered whilst "Loburn Lady" ZK-MSY (c/n 0035) is the Ivan Campbell example from Loburn Abbey.
[I would guess that the full c/n could read something like M04914S0HK0035].

& a couple from North Shore Today (Sunday 26-02-2012)

Sir Minty has come good with a couple more shots taken at North Shore this afternoon.

The Cessna 150M Aerobat ZK-DOF (c/n A150M-0529) arrived in NZ aboard the Austral Endurance and registered to Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd on 14-10-1974 - first flying the next day for delivery down the field to the Rex Flying School at Ardmore. It is now listed with Robert Jago of Auckland.

The 1971 Piper PA28-180F Cherokee ZK-FEL (c/n 28-7105137) is a rebuild of the original ZK-DEC and now some eight owner/operators later it with FEL Aviation Partnership at North Shore.

Two more from Loburn Abbey on Saturday.

Some more pics from Allan Bowman taken yesterday 25-02-2012 at Loburn Abbey.

The Fisher R80 Tiger Moth ZK-LAS (c/n 18) with the owner, Ivan Campbell in the back seat.

Below is Matthew Dowdall's Aeroprakt A-22 ZK-MYD (c/n 079).

This was originally registered as ZK-PGC on 10-08-2004 and re-registered as MYD on 28-07-2011.

In the background is the Pober Pixie Pathfinder ZK-PXI, the Karatoo J6C ZK-KTO, Avid MkIV ZK-JHW and the Chipmunk ZK-XUK.

Sport Aircraft at North Shore Today 26-2-2012

A quick trip up to North Shore Airfield this afternoon saw sport aviation underway.

Carl Morgan refuelled his Vans RV 7A ZK-VII before departing North, and Trevor Parker also refuelled his Pazmany PL 2 ZK-TLP. And in the background Stephen Jones' RV 7 ZK-NVS was pounding the circuit.

Trevor and Marilyn Parker popped across from Whitianga in ZK-TLP, which is still immaculate after 23 years.

Loburn Abbey flyin today 25-02-2012

Allan Bowman reports from the flyin at Loburn Abbey this afternoon.

The Allan and Evan Belworthy Jodel D.9 UL ZK-CVN c/n AACA/54 popped up from Cust. This was first registered as far back as 06-10-1967, but did not fly until 02-12-1981 and was purchased by the present owners on 13-05-1985.

This Fiesler Storch Replica - Actually a Ragwing Aero Storch Single Seat - ZK-RWB with the c/n RW19 was built by Wayne Wilson and first flew from Rangiora on 04-07-2004 powered by a Subaru EA81 engine via a 2.2:1 reduction drive to an Ivo three bladed propeller.
Wayne sold it to Ivan Campbell on 08-03-2010 and it has since been re-engined with a Rotec R2800 radial engine and fitted with a Brent Thompson propeller.
For more on this see http://www.campbellaeroclassics.com/id65.html

Below we have Bob Jarman's Socata TB20 Trinidad ZK-CCA2 (c/n 473). This operated as ZK-JCC between July 1991 and September of 2000.

Finally we have a look at the powerhouse of Evan and Penny R Belworthy's Pietenpol Air Camper M/L ZK-PRB (c/n AACA/755). First flown in December of 1988.

FYI. The Loburn Abbey strip is sited at 43:14.1 South and 172:29.39 East.

Prior permission required before arriving.

Four from NZRT this afternoon 25-02-2012

Bargeld01 made the pilgrimage out to Rangiora this afternoon and caught four of the locals out to play.
Below is the Piper PA-18-150 ZK-BNX (c/n 18-5453) of the BNX Syndicate. This Cub did ten years with Central Aviation in the Ag role before going to private interests in 1967. It later joined the Otago Gliding Club in February of 1981 but was sold in 1983 when the Club went to a motorised glider.
Rangiora Sailplanes took it up and then passed it on to the BNX Syndicate on 20-12-2000. In the back window is a for sale sign.

The Robinson R22 Beta ZK-HYR3 (c/n 2336) was imported from Germany by Eddie Schenk of Temuka in 2008. He sold it to James Lilley of Ashburton mid August of 2010.

The CRAC (Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club) Rans S6-ES Coyote 11 ZK-JOL2  (c/n 08031519-1203ES) is clattering back to the Club hangar.

Below we have the Rodger Ward Titan Tornado 11 ZK-LOT (c/n D97912COHK0259). This has been flying since July of 2007. It now has a three bladed prop.

This morning at NZCH 25-02-2012.

An old favourite at the tie down wire on Christchurch's western grass was Cessna 180C ZK-BYI (c/n 50909) of Papa Juliet Trust from Queenstown.

 Three aircraft from the CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Ltd fleet were at the Canterbury Aero Club.
Above is the Diamond DA20-C1 Eclipse ZK-CSD2 (c/n C0387).

Two Cessna 172's were also outside the "Club". Above is 172S ZK-JMY (c/n 172S-8764). First registered in NZ on 12-06-2001.
Below is the 172S Skyhawk SP ZK-KOL (c/n 172S9188). This is a 2002 model which arrived in NZ for the Middle Districts Aero Club in late January of 2009, with a move across to CTC on 04-09-2009.

ZK-XLE on iPhone.

Henry M has sent in this view, taken on his iPhone, of the Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-XLE (c/n 151) sitting at Taupo. It is registered to Kiwi Air Ltd of Gisborne.

Piper Hatchets at Rangiora for lunch 24-02-2012

Four of the Canterbury Aero Club's Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk's were gathered at Rangiora early this afternoon. I believe they were crewed by a bunch of Indian air traffic controllers.
From the left we have ZK-EYJ2 (c/n 38-78A0075) in its "NW Arch" colour scheme.
Then we have ZK-EYC2, ZK-EYE and ZK-EYF2 (c/ns 38-78A0232; 38-79A0614; and 38-79A0402 respectively) in the older Club colour scheme.
ZK-EYJ was previously ZK-RPD; ZK-EYC is ex ZK-MKN, and ZK-EYF was once ZK-EZI.
Photo supplied by Allan Bowman.

Enjoying the solar radiation at Heli Maintenance 23-02-2012

Christchurch based, but not all that often observed, is the Robinson R44 ZK-HWT3 (c/n 0094) belonging to Donald Irvine. It is a 1994 model which arrived here from VH land for North Shore Helicopters in October of 2002. It spent a short time with NZ Paradise Holidays Ltd of Auckland between October 2009 and mid December 2009, when it went to Don.

Another Christchurch local -which has just come off a major check - is the Eurocopter EC 120B Colibri ZK-IFR2 (c/n 1312). This came from South Africa and first flew in NZ on 14-12-2007. It has been listed to Wairakei Holdings since arriving here.