BAC to the skies

BAC 167 Strikemaster MK88 NZ6372 has returned home to New Zealand after many years in Australia after the type was phased out of military service and replaced (at the time) with Macchi's. 

After several months static at Ardmore, near Auckland, NZ6372 shed its VH-LLD marks in favour

ZK-BAC and was registered to RNZAF Strikemaster Ltd of Lower Hutt on 17 March 2014.

Today, at 1140, it lifted off for the first time post its import, and is seen here departing off Ardmore's runway 21 in the capable hands of Dave Brown for what to be a brief first flight. 

NZ6372 was delivered to the RNZAF in May 1975 ex G27-241 and was trucked from Wellington to Ohakea for assembly.  It served with 14 Squadron, Ohakea through until December 1992 when it was sold to Aermacchi as part of the purchase deal for the MB339's.  In May 1993 it was sold by tender and moved to Australia where it became VH-LLD with J L Pierce of Watcham, Victoria, in November the following year.  It has remained airworthy since and becomes New Zealand's third airworthy Strikemaster after ZK-STR (a MK88 based at Ardmore) and ZK-VPR (a Mk80A located at Christchurch).  A fourth Strikemaster has arrived at Ardmore for re-assembly with this aircraft ex NZ6362.