Zenair/Zenith CH 601XL Zodiacs of New Zealand (5) - Factory Built Aircraft

In addition to kits, the CH 601XL was also supplied as a factory built aircraft built by the Czech Aircraft Works of Kunovice in the Czech Republic (which was declared bankrupt in 2009, after our CH 601XLs were imported).  The New Zealand agent for these aircraft was Anton Meier of Aerosport Aviation near Cambridge, and 11 factory built aircraft were imported, and all were registered within a short period from September 2005 to July 2006.  I think all these aircraft have Rotax 912 engines.

ZK-ZXL (c/n 6-9726) was first rergistered to Aerposport Aviation on 15/9/05 and was used as their demonstrator.  It is photo'd above at the 2006 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga where a good number of Zenith 601 aircraft were in attendance.  On 20/10/06 ownership transferred to Pegasus Flying of Wairoa.  It crashed with the loss of two lives on 25/5/08 in a bizarre accident just off Wairoa airfield, late at night in a storm, and it was cancelled on 23/7/09..

ZK-MZP (c/n 6-9625) was first registered to Motueka Recreational Flight Training Ltd (Alister Hart) of Motueka on 15/9/05 (the same day as ZK-ZXL), and it is photo'd above just beside ZK-ZXL at the 2006 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga.  On 11/7/07 it was sold to RS Prince of Auckland and he owned it until its registration was revoked on 15/4/14.

ZK-ZXZ (c/n 6-9750) was first registered to David Rose of Auckland on 6/10/05.  Later on 1/4/06 it was transferred to the ESOR Trust (Rose spelled backwards) of Auckland.  Then more recently it was sold to the Magill Family Trust of Papakura.  It is photo'd above at the 2014 Black Sands flyin at Raglan.

ZK-MEY (c/n 6-9749) was first registered to B (Ben) & S Meyer of Hamilton on 11/10/05 and is based on the Meyer's farm airstrip.  It is also photo'd at the 2006 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga.

The second Zenith 601 ZK-SSF (c/n 3637 (which does not seem to line up with the c/ns of other factory built CH 601XLs)), is an XL model that was first registered to the Stratford Aero Club on 12/1/06, The first ZK-SSF was a UL model that has been re-registered ZK-JPX, and is painted in a similar scheme but with the number 01, and both are on line with  the Stratford Aero Club.  ZK-SSF is photo'd above at the 2014 SAANZ flyin at Hastings.

ZK-TKA (c/n 6-9788) was first registered to Golden Bay Flying Club of Takaka on 12/1/06 and is still owned by them.  It is also photo'd at the 2006 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga.

ZK-VCP (c/n 6-9819, VCP for Vehicle Chip Protection) was first registered to Jack Schaake of Hamilton on 20/3/06.

On 16/11/07 it was re-registered ZK-OBH (to allow Jack Schaake to register his Sportcruiser as ZK-VCP).  On the same day ownership changed to GG Sherrard of Hamilton.  The above photo was taken at the Waikato Microlight Club airstrip at Collins Road on 27/3/10.

ZK-JQT (c/n 6-9817) was first registered to Mark E Oliver of Otorohanga on 22/3/06.  It is still owned by him although it is now based near Turangi.  The above photo was taken at Wanaka on 13/4/06.

ZK-RZB (c/n 6-9832) was registered to Charlton properties (Jeff Charlton) of Korere on 25/5/06.  Jeff Charlton has recently moved to Richmond where the above photo was taken on Bob Wagner's airstrip on 4/3/12.

ZK-ZNR (c/n 6-9831) was registered to Robert (Bob) and Margaret Wagner of Richmond on 13/6/06.  It is photo'd above at Motueka.

And finally for our factory built CH 601XLs, ZK-JRL (c/n 6-9845) was registered to the JR (John) and MM Lissington Partnership of Otorohanga on 17/7/06.  It is photo'd above at the 2006 Black Sands flyin at Raglan, on 4/11/06.

That ends the story of Zenair/Zenith CH 601s of New Zealand to date.  We have had a total of 19 CH 601s of various models and we will see more kit built aircraft in the future.