Tomahawk ZK-DMF

Andy Heap has just sent in the lower photograph showing Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk ZK-DMF2 (c/n 38-79A0636) in its relatively recent new colour scheme, parked outside the Marlborough Aero Club office today (16-04-2012).

As the c/n tells us it was built in the US 1979 fiscal year. It was shipped out to Australia in 1988 and then reached NZ and became ZK-DMF on 18-08-1993 with the Marlborough Aero Club.

I believe its registration of DMF is in memory of D M Furness, who was a navigator in Ventura bombers during WW11 and later was the O/C of 27 Blenheim Squadron ATC. He was also boss man at the Marlborough Express.

Anyone tell us any more about this gent ?

The top pic was shot at Rangiora on 25-10-2007 when it was still in its basic Piper delivery scheme, although the stripe colours had changed from orange, to red and black. It also carried a Snoopy sitting atop his kennel graphic and a small SAFE Air label on its engine cowling.