Friday 31 July 2015

LongEze ZK-LET - Flying Shots

Following receipt of Hairy Mole Rat's photos of the LongEze jet ZK-LET at Tauranga yesterday, I emailed him back to see if he had any flying photos.

Yes he did and here they are!

Overhead at 2,000 feet...

And landing.


It sure is unusual!


Yet more from WLG from Bargeldo1 on 30-07-2015

 Absolutely Positively Wellington.
You can just see the wind waiting to pounce.
Two of the Wellington Aero Clubs Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawks were out to play.
ZK-ESG is c/n 38-79A0379 has been with the Club since early 2011 - It is still in its basic ex Canterbury Aero Club scheme.
And ZK-TAW is c/n 38-78A0716 returned to the Club in January 2012 having had three previous spells there; and also a stint with the Wellington Flying Centre back in 2005 under its old ZK-JFD letters.
 Virgin Australia's Boeing 737-8FE VH-VOY (c/n 33996) is ex ZK-PBD and now carries the name "Brighton Beach".
 Below is the QANTAS tin pigeon (or should that be pidgeon ?) Boeing 737-838 ZK-ZQF (c/n 34204) "Abel Tasman". It has been with us since February of 2011.
Thanks to Bargeldo1 for the fine pics from a fine Wellington.

LongEze Jet ZK-LET Flying Yesterday 30-7-2015

Hairy Mole Rat reports that our only amateur built jet, LongEze ZK-LET was flying at Tauranga yesterday.  It was a lovely day for flying.

ZK-LET is owned by Tacan NZ Ltd of Mount Maunganui.

Thanks very much for sending the photos HMR.

The interesting and varied history of ZK-LET can be seen at www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2013/05/rutan-longezes-of-new-zealand.html


The Skyworks blimp.

Spotted yesterday being walked around the streets on the eastern edge of Christchurch Airport was the Skyworks Canterbury (2004) Ltd blimp.

Stationair ZK-EJH

The Cessna U206G Stationair N7391N c/n U20603648 ferried into NZ on 01-03-1977 and was dealt with by Dalhoff and King Aviation Ltd at Ardmore to become ZK-EJH on 26-04-1977 and went on line with the Dalhoff  and King Flying School from the 9th of the following month.
I seem to recall that it struck a fence at Te Araroa towards the end of September of 1977.
It is seen below at Ardmore on 04-09-1979 wearing the "Rex" logo on its fin.
It was sold to Jim Small of Taihoa in the Hakataramea Valley in November of 1981 replacing the                                                Auster J5P Super Autocar ZK-BLZ.
And above we see it on the McCaw gliding strip in the Hakataramea Valley in January of 1982.
(And no - that is not Richie).
Then we see it at Oamaru as race number 26 on an unknown date.
Above at West Melton on 30-03-1989.
Above as seen at West Melton on 16-01-1991
It has been in the Haka Valley ever since but with ownership passing to Nathan Small on 28-02-2004.
Pic above is from Ben Patterson taken at Timaru 29-07-2015.

Two Dash Eights

 Above is another shot from Bargeldo1's Wexford road position of  DHC-8-311 ZK-NER2 (639) also about to depart from Wellington yesterday, with Jetstream ZK-JSH on the roll behind.
**
Below we have the Dash 8 ZK-NEU2 (c/n 647) arriving on Christchurch's runway 07 11 yesterday.

ZK-PLZ with Soundsair

Bargeldo1 captured the Soundsair Pilatus PC-12/45 ZK-PLZ (c/n 445) on approach into Wellington yesterday (30-07-2015)
 This arrived in NZ from Melbourne/Essendon on 30-04-2015 for NZ certification by Avcraft at Feilding and was delivered to Soundsair at Blenheim/Woodbourne on 30-05-2015.

Originair's ZK-JSH

BAe Jetstream ZK-JSH (c/n 838) now in its full Originair livery, was seen yesterday (30-07-2015) from the Wexford Road park as it moves out on another training flight from Wellington.
 Below it is lined up on runway 16.
Photos thanks to Bargeldo1.

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Spied last Wednesday 22nd.

Two photos from Matt Hayes taken last Wednesday the 22nd July 2015.
The Anderson Helicopters Ltd's Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HRY3 (c/n 10966) is departing Hokitika Airport.
It has been covered before at :-
Down at Wanaka the Eurocopter AS 350B2 ZK-HFF4 (c/n 4967) was listed to Alpine Helicopters on 16-06-2015 having been with The Helicopter Line since 12-01-2015.
Check out its previous colour scheme etc at :-

9H-GGG out in the sun


Matt Hayes captured the Boeing 737-7ZX BBJ 9H-GGG (c/n 40119) out in the sun at Christchurch International on Saturday 25-07-2015 in what appeared to be a compass swing exercise.
For some earlier views see :-

The Aircraft Factory Sling ZK-SLG

Also photo'd by Hairy Mole Rat at Tauranga recently was our only The Aircraft Factory Sling.

ZK-SLG2 (c/n 182) was registered to Darren E Price of Warkworth on 29/10/14 and first flew in New Zealand on 19/12/14, flown by Tim Harrison of the agents - Sports Aircraft New Zealand Ltd, also of Warkworth.  (The first ZK-SLG was a Piel Emeraude that although registered in May 1991 was not completed and the registration was cancelled in August 2010 - so does that count?).

The Sling is manufactured by The Aircraft Factory in Johannesburg, South Africa.  ZK-SLG2  is a 2 seater so it is more correctly a Sling 2, and a 4 seater Sling 4 is also available. 

ZK-AHA

I received some photographs from "Anonymous" the other day.
There was no text message - just the pics.
This is one of them.
Nice.
De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-AHA was c/n 3789 - a real pre World War Two example.
Built in the UK and issued with a UK CofA on 15-12-1938 and a NZ date of 19-01-1939 to Air Survey and Transport Co and then to the Otago Aero Club at Taieri.
It was impressed into RNZAF service from 05-10-1939 and became NZ713 initially for operations by No 1EFTS until being struck off charge on 04-09-1946 from 42 squadron.
It was a Government Gift Aircraft to the Marlborough Aero Club and was registered on 31-07-1946 as ZK-AKJ.
ZK-AKJ didn't last long.
It crashed and was destroyed by fire near Omaka 01-12-1946.
Pic above from the Peter Lewis collection.
So the top photo of ZK-AHA would have been taken between January and October of 1939 and is at Taieri.

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Vans RV 3 ZK-WCO

Hairy Mole Rat has sent this photo of Chris and Martin Schadler's new RV 3 U/L at Tauranga recently, now in its finished colour scheme.

ZK-WCO2 (c/n 11504) was registered to CA and MH Schadler of Whakatane on 15/2/15.  Chris told me that the aircraft has a 160 HP Lycoming engine and that he has built it to compete in aerobatics.  A nice looking aircraft.

This is the fourth aircraft and the second ZK-WCO that Chris and Martin Schadler Schadler have built, the first ZK-WCO being their SG Aviation Storm (see my post at www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2015/07/sg-aviation-storm-300s-of-new-zealand.html ).


Sunday 26 July 2015

Maurice Farman MF 11bis Replica at The Great War Exhibition

When in Wellington last week, I returned to Sir Peter Jackson's Great War Exhibition at the old Dominion Museum to have a closer look at The Vintage Aviator-built Belgian Air Force Maurice Farman MF 11bis replica that is hanging from the roof in the display hall.

Since my last visit there are now information signs including the above for the aircraft.  Double click on the photo to enlarge it for easier reading.

A more detailed shot of the nose showing the "Death Head" insignia.  I think that this insignia makes it a replica of one of the Farmans that were flown by Lts Fernand Jacquet (pilot) and Louis Robin (gunner) in 1916.  Can anyone confirm this?

The gunner is in the front of the fuselage pod and this makes it the "bis" model - you can see the gunner's hand waving in the photo.  Lt Jacquet was the first Belgian pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft, on 17 April 1915.  He was also the fourth highest scoring Belgian fighter ace with seven enemy aircraft downed.  He had a version of the death head painted on all of his aircraft.

Above is a more detailed view of the engine, which I understand to be a 70 HP Renault.  I was told by staff at the exhibition that it is an original engine, and also that it had been run in New Zealand in the aircraft which was taxied before being displayed.  Again, can anyone confirm this?

This is the best shot I could get showing the overall layout of the MF 11 (pity about the display light).  In this photo you can see the twin rudders.

And here is a detailed shot of the rudder showing that the serial number is MF 366.  We have not been able to track down the history of the original aircraft, so again can anyone add anything to the story of the original aircraft?

Over to you out there in the blogosphere!


I remember when - Heli towing 20 years ago.

I plucked this shot out of the olde shoe box this morning.
One which I took during my gliding days.
The place was Omarama.
The date was 07-01-1995.
The glider was the Schleicher ASW24CL ZK-GRC (c/n 24223) and the pilot was Bruce Drake. 
The helicopter was the Hughes 369D ZK-HLE (c/n 870179D) and the pilot was the late Alan Bond.
The take off and climb out was I imagine pretty conventional but the release was something different.
The helicopter went into a hover and the glider dangled beneath from its nose hook.
The hook was then release and the glider dropped/flopped away.
The Schleicher ASW24CL ZK-GRC (c/n 24223) was imported new by Bruce and Rae Drake of Fernside and registered on 10-12-1993.
It is seen above at Omarama on on 31-12-1993.
The only one of its type in NZ it was cancelled on 19-06-1995 and returned to Germany where it became D-5983 with U Burkart at Olching the following month.
****************
The Hughes 369D ZK-HLE (c/n 870179D) has a longer history.
Imported new by Dalhoff and King Aviation Ltd at Ardmore and registered on 27-01-1978.
It moved along the airfield to Marine Helicopters Ltd.
Here we have two shots from the CMM collection showing ZK-HLE in Marine Helicopters markings at Ardmore in April of 1978 (above) and  June of 1978 (below).
Whats with the side containers in the shot below ?
It then headed down to Taupo for S R Lane from 23-03-1979 and then on to Airwest Helicopters Ltd at Reefton from 04-10-1079.
It was damaged on 18-01-1982 at George Sound and then went to J A Kane of Te Anau/Manapouri from 21-05-1982.
Next up was Doug Hood from 19-09-1983 which became Methven Air Ltd a few weeks later.
Title changed to Mt Hutt Aviation Ltd on 31-08-1984.
Above and below we see it at Christchurch International on 18-11-1988.
Note the airfoil shaped extension to the Passengers door.
This was to hold a stretcher cross wise.
 Alan was the man on the spot at the Mount Hutt skifield, with his hangar just at the base of the mountain, and got a good number of customers for transfer to Christchurch hospital.

The furry shot below gives a  better idea of the length of the extension.
Below it is November of 1994 and the site is the Harper Village where the Harper River either diverts into Lake Coleridge or down to the Wilberforce River.
The occasion is an infield gearbox change following a very determined flashing of the metal making detector light whilst we were on our way up the valley.
Alas Alan Bond and his crewman Bruce Garrick were killed on 12-02-1996 on the way back to their Rakaia Gorge base following a nigh time recovery mission of a foreign national whom had got caught out on an island in the braided Rakaia River following the usual late afternoon river rise.

On a humerous note. Alan came to pick us up from the Hamilton hut away up the Harper River late one afternoon. The normal procedure was to have all our gear and ourselves in one group on the edge of the small landing spot and Alan would land right beside us and all we had to do was to stand up and open the doors, toss our gear in and then clamber in ourselves. My off sider loaded the gear and himself into the back whilst I remained on my knees beside the helicopter. I vividly recall Alan looking down at me and his head movement and  eyes saying "well aren't you getting aboard".
I had to signal him to take the weight of the helicopter because the length of the skid had brushed my leg when he landed and caught my overalls hard against the ground.
That was worth a few laughs back in the after hours hangar.
One of our really great helicopter pilots from the deer culling days.

Saturday 25 July 2015

And More from Wellington 23-7-2015

While in Wellington I did manage an hour in my new favourite photography spot (after that the windchill drove me indoors).  A couple of ZKs left for Oz and I also caught up with the last A 320 with sharklets that I had been missing.

Air New Zealand Airbus A 320-232 ZK-OJK (c/n 2445) of the international fleet departed.

As did Qantas Boeing 737-838 ZK-ZQE. (c/n 34185)

Then Airbus A 320-232 ZK-OXE (c/n 5993) arrived.  These new Airbus's of the domestic Air New Zealand fleet have higher MAUW's than the original domestic models ( and it is more than the extra weight of the sharklets!).  I have previously posted photos of ZK-OXA to OXD and ZK-OXF to OXI.  I guess that Air New Zealand must be due for another new A 320 sometime soon.


And more from Ardmore.

 On a nice morning at Ardmore - Magnaman caught these three out in the sunshine.
Nothing new - but it was nice to see the Grob 109 ZK-GNW (c/n 6148) on the move.
 It is listed to the GNW Syndicate and carries the "Air Training Corps" script on its fuselage side and "Pegasus Flying Trust (ATC) on its fin.
See earlier post at: 

 Still listed with Plains Investments Ltd of Ashburton is this Cessna 182R ZK-NML (c/n 18267842) is still located at Ardmore.
And another regular is the Pilatus PC-12/47E ZK-TFL (c/n 1122) from Instra Aviation of Wellsford was about to get a fuel top up.

More from NZRT today

 Down from it base south of Cheviot for lunch was the Aerospool Dynamic WT9 ZK-DVM (c/n DY408/2011) of Stephen Field.
 And partaking of a spot of lunch in the shade was this young gentleman over from The Coast with the CJK Consulting Ltd's Robinson R22 Beta ZK-HVW2 (c/n 0874).
Of 1988 vintage - it arrived in NZ in late 1998 - moving to its current owner in Greymouth in late 2014.
 Recently returned to the Christchurch area is the Cessna U206G Stationair 6 ZK-PJB (c/n U20605776) now listed with Orthopaedic Surgical Management Ltd. 
 Two projects that are progressing nicely - thank you very much - are the delightful little Chilton of late 1930's design above.
And below is the Australian Av Works Karatoo J6C ZK-KTC (elect) about to receive a coat of white top coat.