ZK-FiSH & ZK-DME

The Zenair CH100 Mono-Z ZK-FSH (c/n AACA/609) was first registered on 16-02-1989 to Neville F Read and J A Nagelkerke of Christchurch.

Check the earlier post at :-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/zenith-ch-100-mono-zs-of-new-zealand.html

It was withdrawn to storage and cancelled on 07-05-1999.

Above we see ZK-FSH at Rangiora on 19-02-1993.

And at Ashburton on 07-02-1997.

And a close up of the "FiSH".

The airframe was purchased by "Rangiora Tug" a group of five worthy gentlemen from Rangiora Airfield who intend to restore this aircraft as an economical and affordable glider tug to spur the interest in flying and gliding within the younger generation.
As you can see it now carries the "DME" markings although it is not yet registered as such.

Pic above shows it on 26-05-2015 at RT awaiting its Honda Jazz turbo engine.

ZK-JWH at Takaka

Lord Nelson captured this Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair ZK-JWH (c/n T20609703) at Takaka on Sunday 29-11-2015.

It was originally briefly listed in the States as N94778 before coming to NZ to be registered here on 21-02-2013 with Opiki Cropping Ltd of Wellington with whom it replaced their Cessna T182R ZK-MRH and the 182S ZK-MDH and the 182Q ZK-XLT before that.

The Haast Eagle has landed at NZKH.

Ben Patterson of Wilderness Wings at Hokitika took this shot of the Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer ZK-SJG2 (c/n 22-3292) today.
In the background is the Henry Adams Robinson R44 ZK-HHI3 (c/n 0097).

Below is a close up of the fin.

This aircraft has featured previously at :-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2015/03/haast-eagle-zk-sjg.html

Robbie Gentry 12/2/28 - 2/11/15

While overseas I was sad to hear that Robbie Gentry had died, and I could not attend his funeral.

Robbie was a foundation member of the Amateur Aircraft Constructors Association (AACA), and had the honour of being allocated the first AACA constructors number of 10 (the numbering started at ten to recognise New Zealand's earlier homebuilders).  He was the first AACA secretary and magazine editor and over the years he was a prolific homebuilt aircraft builder.

Robbie was my first AACA stage inspector when I started building my Jodel D 9 in Wellington in 1973, and even then he had a refreshing approach that was almost experimental.  He looked me over and said:  "you're a fairly tall guy so we should raise the turtledeck 4 inches so your head doesn't stick out, then because the D 9's cockpit is a bit cramped we will make it 2 inches wider and 2 inches deeper, and because of the raised turtledeck we will raise the rudder by 6 inches".  I did all that and then had a visit from Robbie who said: "quick, David Rendall (of CAD) is retiring.  Draw up all those mods and get them into him".  And so I did and they were officially approved!  I reckon that makes ZK-KMM a Jodel D 9 and a half.  I know Robbie also mentored many other homebuilders over the years (have a look at the tail of Dave King's Minicab ZK-DRK and compare it to Robbie's D 11 ZK-DGA), and he leaves a lasting legacy in New Zealand's homebuilt aircraft movement

Robbie in his Turbulent ZK-CAE at the first AACA gathering at Paraparaumu in 1965.

Robbie's Aircraft

I reckon Robbie built or rebuilt 8 aircraft over the years, all in wood, as detailed below:

And he was still working on another Turbulent which he had nearly completed at the time of his passing!

Our condolences to Robbie's family.

Cutlass duo

 At Timaru back on the 24th there were two Cessna 172RG Cutlass II aircraft.

Above is the Napier Computer Systems ZK-EWB (c/n 172RG0671) tied down.

Below is the locally based ZK-JCL (c/n 172RG0732) receiving attention at AVTEK.

Back to North Shore 26-11-2015

After recovering from jetlag and beginning to sort the garden out, I finally made it up to North Shore airfield yesterday for a look-see.  It is still a busy place with Aero Club circuits and various helicopters also in the circuit and hover.  (And a few other interesting things).

One aircraft in a new colour scheme was North Shore Aero Club's Robin R 2120U ZK-TZK which has been painted in the club's new colour scheme, joining ZK-TZL2.

Piper PA 28-181 Archer ZK-KCC is owned at a Paparoa address (near the North Eastern arm of the Kaipara Harbour), and took off heading North, presumably for home.  This aircraft was first registered as ZK-NDA back on 11/2/81, becoming ZK-KCC on 1/5/01.

North Shore Helicopters Eurocopter MBB BK 117 C-2 (or EC 145) ZK-ILJ2 has not been featured under this rego on this blog previously, However I did post it at Ardmore in February 2015 in its previous guise as ZK-IEH.  Proir to that it was ZK-ITF2 and ZK-IGT.  Confused?  At least the "Ï"might still be original!

Skydiving Kiwis Cessna's

Skydiving Kiwis Ltd's Cessna aircraft were captured at Timaru on 25 and 24-11-2015.

 Cessna 180A ZK-BUQ (c/n 32995) was listed to them on 01-05-2012 and was operated out of Rangitata until a move to Ashburton.

Cessna A185E ZK-DAH2 (c/n 185-1492) joined them on 14-10-2015.

Ardmore open day Sunday 22-11-2015

Magnaman offers these photographs taken at the Open Day at Ardmore on Sunday last.

All have appeared on these pages previously.

 ZK-MXS2 (c/n 0013) is Doug Brooker's MX Aircraft MXS. It joined our register on 10-07-2015.

 ZK-NUT is c/n G202028 and is the Akrotech G202 as listed with the great Stunt Company.

 The Yakovlev ZK-PTE is c/n 9010311 and belongs to the Vause Trusts Partnership.

 ZK-SUK (c/n 75-01) is the Robert Fry Sukhoi SU-29.

 Auckland Seaplanes De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Mk1 ZK-WKA (c/n 1585) shows its size.

 Yak-52 ZK-YAC2 is c/n 822108 and is listed to Yak 52 Ltd.

 Yak-52 ZK-YAQ3 is c/n 844515 and is currently listed with Russian Aero Adventures Ltd of Pauanui Beach.

And the Yak-52 ZK-ZAH being c/n 888708 is with Blue 52 Ltd of Hamilton.

The light side of aviation.

Not to be confused with 'The Dark Side'.

A quick visit to the Skytrek Tandem hang Gliding and Paragliding site near Arrowtown produced these flying machines.

 Above is the BGD Dual 25D s/n BGO31717A.

 Above we have the Gin Fuse 23U s/n BD06-K6600179D.

*****

 And now two I haven't identified.

All a bit outside my immediate sphere of interest - but it is aviation.

Gee It's Nice To Be Back Home Again

With apologies to John Denver, it was great to return to New Zealand this morning after more than 3 months away, even if the weather in Auckland was wet and windy forcing the postponement of the Brian Langley Memorial aerobatic competition at North Shore Airfield.

This was taken from Air New Zealand flight NZ 288 approaching North Cape this morning, operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZC3 .  A very nice flight.

Holiday bliss.

Where else could you take a holiday like this ?

Fishing in the Ahuriri River and hauling in a clump of Didymosphenia geminata ( better known as didymo or rock snot to most of us) and about to be buzzed by the LS3 ZK-GLS on a competition finish - with a suspicious patch of "weed" in the foreground (not that I would know anything about that).

ZK-DJM revisited.

Further to the original post on the Cessna A185F ZK-DJM (c/n 18502156) at :-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2015/09/that-oft-overlooked-ski-plane.html

Thanks to Jamie Gunson I can now add these photographs showing ZK-DJM undertaking spray work on his property near Onga Onga on 24-01-2010.

Raven II ZK-HTH

The Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HFH3 (c/n 13529) first appeared on the Australian register as VH-MTD7 on 24-01-2014 with Heliflite Pty Ltd of Sydney. 

It came over to NZ and became ZK-HTH from 02-07-2014 with East Sea (NZ) Ltd. 

It is now Dargaville based with Helinorth Ltd on long term lease from Helisika Agricultural Ltd and replaces the Raven II ZK-IPZ.

Thanks to Jean210.

South Island Glider Champs pics # 3

Roger Sparks had his Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2cT ZK-GVT (c/n 60) at the rear of the start grid.

ZK-GXG (c/n 31) is the Glider Rentals Schempp-Hirth Discus-2c. 

Max Stevens trying to remain cool and awaiting his turn to launch in his Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2c ZK-GYD (c/n 76).

Graham Parker and Mark Morgan are on their way in the Theo Newfield Schleicher ASH 25E ZK-GZZ (c/n 25062).

South Island Gliding Champs pics # 2

A Mike Tango Syndicate member does some pre flight thinking in the Rolladen-Schneider LS4 ZK-GMT (c/n 4129).

The Melisa Simpson Rolladen-Schneider LS4 ZK-GSC (v/n 4129) patiently waiting for things to happen further up the start grid.

The Doug Hamilton Schleicher ASH 25 ZK-GTF (c/n 25104) looks like it is crewed by Karen Morgan and Terry Jones.

ZK-GUC is the Keith Essex Schleicher ASW 27-18E (c/n 29703) still with ground handling wheel attached (possibly to keep the water ballast even in both wings). 

This is Nigel Maxey's Schleicher ASW 27 ZK-GUZ (c/n 29216) in ground handling mode.