Auster ZK-BDY

The Auster J5F Aiglet Trainer c/n 3109 was placed on the UK civil aircraft register as G-ANAO with W S Shackleton after being issued with its CofA on 06-10-1953.

It was immediately shipped out to New Zealand where it was listed as ZK-BDY to the Southland Aero Club at Invercargill the following month.

Below is a lineup at Omaka in 1955 with ZK-BDY nearest. Jack Browne photo.

 Below an undated shot from the Ed Coates collection.

It was traded in to Rural Aviation Ltd at New Plymouth from 05-06-1961 as a trade in on the new Cessna 172B ZK-CAA.

Below we see her at Gore - with a slight change in paint scheme and spats - thanks to Ned Kelly.

It was damaged on delivery at Tuapeka Mouth on 26-05-1961.

Now I am not sure if it was on delivery to New Plymouth or on delivery back south again to its new owners W E and later to N M & D R Falconer of Gore.

The Falconer's traded it back to Rex Aviation at Dunedin from 24-11-1970 and took away the Cessna 172A ZK-BWZ.

I A Strathern and Associates of Dunedin took if up from 10-02-1971 and it was damaged at Whangamata on 21-04-1972 and then a year later it was re-listed back with Rex Aviation of Dunedin.

       Now three views of ZK-BDY as seen at Taieri on 11-10-1974.

Note the split flaps in lowered position.

The marking on the fin is the emblem of the Kittyhawk Club (AOPA precursor).

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And now two more shots taken at Taieri on 24-02-1975.

I then have a note that it was with an owner in the Cromwell area until it moved up to Rotorua for the No 29 Squadron ATC from 27-08-1976.

We then see it with K H Nielsen of Mount Maunganui from 24-02-1977 followed by A J Sissons of Levin from 21-02-1979.

Below - three views of it at Pudding Hill on 25-01-1981.
Now wearing just the last three letters of its registration on its tail and a repaint.

And below - Allan Woollers shot of it at about the same time.

C G Field at Kaukapakapa took it over from 21-06-1990 and took the liberty of changing its registration (using his initials) to that of ZK-CGF2 on 19-11-1990.

It was sold to the James Schmidt Investment Trust of Warkworth as from 20-04-1995 and its registration was changed back to ZK-BDY on 15-09-1995.
Photo below shows it now with blue trim at Whitianga on 29-01-2000 from Phil Treweek.

On 16-10-2003 it changed hands to L G Wilson of Auckland but was damaged during a forced landing due to a rough running engine near Ardmore on 25-10-2009.

I then have a note that it went to Paul Morrison in 2010 and as we can see from the latest photograph by Sir Minty it is in fine health and still listed with L G Wilson of Waiuku.

Above - at Raglan on 08-11-2015 from Pete Pattenden.

And finally at Ardmore on 23-01-2016 from Keith Morris.