A selection of other aircraft outside at Ardmore on Boxing Day.
Slingsby T 67B Firefly ZK-WAE was pushed out of its hangar to let the Europa out. It is owned by Auckland Aero Club as an aerobatic trainer and it is painted up as a USAF T 3A Firefly trainer which was used from 1994 to 1997 to screen pilot trainees and it replaced the Cessna T 41 (the USAF version of the 172) in the role. So ZK-WAE does wear an appropriate colour scheme. The T 67B has a fully composite airframe and a Continental IO 360 engine (whereas the UASF T 3A had a bigger IO 540 engine).
Cessna 172M ZK-DXJ is sporting a colourful new scheme.
Colin Dale arrived overhead, landed and taxied in in his latest Barber Snark ZK-PIE. Colin told me that this aircraft is owned by himself and his son. Of course it replaces their previous Snark ZK-JEK which sadly met a fiery but thankfully injury-free end at Ardmore nearly one year ago. (See www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/barber-snark-zk-jek.html ). Colin also told me that ZK-PIE has a 20 HP less powerful Suzuki G 15 motor than ZK-JEK's M 15, and the difference shows in the performance.
Sharing a hangar with ZK-PIE, Jabiru J 230 ZK-PSH was pushed out into the sun for a nice photo angle. Originally owned by Painter Sinton Holdings (hence PSH), it is now owned by Manakau Microlights Ltd of Henderson in Auckland. There was another Jabiru J 230 on the field with ZK-DIZ still for sale at Dennis Thompson's.
WAE actually has an O-235 engine of a whopping 118hp! So she doesn't climb very well but once away from the ground the control harmony is beautiful, nicest handling aircraft I've ever flown!
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