Piper Cherokee ZK-DFA and ZK-LMA

On the 19th of December 1967 Piper PA-28-180D Cherokee (c/n 28-4478) first flew possibly as N5189L or more likely as N9428J and was delivered to D Hile of Santa Clara, California.

It was shipped to NZ aboard the MV Cape Melville - reaching Auckland on 20-05-1971, having already been registered as ZK-DFA on 12-05-1971, thanks to Dennis Thompson Aviation Ltd of Ardmore.

Its first flight here was on 03-06-1971

The photo below shows it at the Wellington Aero Club on 24-07-1971.

Interestingly - in the left background is the tail of the Aztec ZK-DEU - but nearer is a Cherokee from the Airline Flying School. In the right rear is the Wellington District Aero Clubs Musketeer ZK-DAD.

Another bit of useless information is that two further owners of ZK-DFA also owned ZK-DAD at some stage.

Below is a pic of her at Ardmore on 19-03-1972.

It was damaged in an incident at Paparoa on 22-04-1972.

On 20-09-1972 ZK-DFA was listed to Stark Aviation Ltd of Ardmore, and below we see her, in a fine colour shot from Allan Wooller, at Wellington in in December of 1972.

and below at Ardmore sometime in 1973.

The Ardmore Flying School took it on from 18-02-1974 followed by A P Orchard who traded as West Coast Air Charter out of Greymouth from 21-02-1975.

Next in line was James McPhee of Papakura from 30-04-1984 with a change to F J Deering of Dairy Flat on 12-09-1984.

Pic below was taken at Dairy Flat on 27-08-1985 with a new scheme and bearing "North Shore" titles and with an all white rudder.

Further owners include R W Massey of Auckland from 16-02-1987; C G Field of Waitoki from 19-10-1990 and the V J Brown and B M Ririnui Syndicate of Kawerau from 22-05-1991.

As from 08-12-1998 it was listed with Nic Halberg from up Dargaville way.

These two views show ZK-DFA on the "for sale" line up at Dennis Thompson International Ltd at Ardmore. Note the red Kittyhawk Club badge (precursor to the AOPA).

It was purchased by Michael and Amy Law on 01-05-2003, who, using a combination of their initials re-registered it as ZK-LMA on the same date. They also formed Astrella Investments Ltd for the purpose of leasing ZK-LMA.

It was leased to the Auckland Aero Club (Inc) from 11-11-2003 through to 29-06-2004 when it was returned to Astrella with a lease to the Airline Flying Club (Inc) being listed from 16-03-2008.

It is seen below at Omaka on 11-04-2009. 

Ownership was transferred to the private ownership of Michael and Amy Law on 16-12-2011.

Below we see her on 09-01-2010 at Omaha Flats.

And on 06-02-2011 also at Omaha Flats.

and finally on 16-02-2013 out of Springhill.

Michael and Amy sold ZK-LMA to Mark Galloway of Napier on 07-08-2013.

Thanks to Michael Law for a selection of shots of ZK-DFA and ZK-LMA.