Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200s of New Zealand (4)

Our last batch of Alpi 200s comprises four aircraft that were delivered in 2006 then there was quite a gap until a kit built aircraft was registered in 2013, and another factory built aircraft was registered in 2015.  The Alpi factory still manufactures the Pioneer 200 and the similar Pioneer 230 as kits.

ZK-CIR (c/n NZ2019) was first registered to Charles I Redgrave of Auckland on 28/6/06.  It was fitted with a 6 cylinder Jabiru 3300 engine - the only Alpi 200 with this engine in New Zealand.  it is photo'd above in a hangar at Whangarei on 28/5/07 where it can be seen that is was named "Blue Skies".

It was sold to Ross M McLean of Whangarei (no relation of Logan) on 20/8/10 and now has a fuselage registration as in the above photo, also taken in the Whangarei hangar, on 2/3/15.

ZK-SYD2 (c/n 2020) was first registered to Sydney L Harvey of Tuatapere on 10/11/06).  It suffered an engine failure and force landed at Great Mercury Island on 14/2/08.  On 24/12/10 it was sold to Kevin S Harvey of Otautau.  It is currently operated by the Fiordland  Aero Club at Te Anau, from whose website I obtained the above photo.

ZK-LPA (c/n 2021) was registered to Alpi Aviation NZ Ltd,, now of Kaukapakapa on 29/11/06.  It was sold to Graham C Stokes of Whangarei on 3/12/07 then to the LPA 2011 Syndicate of Maungatapere on 16/6/11.  Most recently it was sold on 8/5/13 to the Fiordland Aero Club of Te Anau.  It is photo'd above at the 2007 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton, on 4/2/07.

ZK-LPI2 (c/n 2022) was Peter Randall's replacement for his earlier Alpi 200 ZK-LPI that was written off in a landing accident and was written off on 18/12/07.  ZK-LPI2 was registered on 24/12/07. It has the later Alpi colour scheme as can be seen in the above photo taken at the 2008 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga, on 6/2/08.

ZK-MGK (c/n 128) is out of the ordinary for Alpi 200s in New Zealand.  It was built from a damaged kit that was imported by Mike Sheffield, Graeme Main and Ken Richards (hence the registration).  It was built at Rangiora and was registered to the MGK Syndicate of Christchurch, on 11/12/13.  It is photo'd above at Rangiora on 17/5/15.

And our final Alpi 200 to date is a recent import:  ZK-KPD (c/n 249-09) is the latest model from the factory and is badged as a "Hawk".  It was imported by Logan McLean and registered to Kevin P Dore of Christchurch on 2/12/15.  It is photo'd above along with a line up of other Alpis, at Rangitata Island on 24/4/16.

I think we will see more Alpi 200s in New Zealand in the future, as they are a good honest aircraft for New Zealand conditions, and they are still being made by the Alpi factory.