Stemme S 10 ZK-GDC

I saw this photo on the Stratford Aero Club photo board, so I took a photo of it.

The impressive Stemme S 10 ZK-GDC2 is owned by Fine Particle Application Ltd of Inglewood.  It was D-KGCS and was first registered in New Zealand on 2/3/98.

There are 3 of these large (23 metre wingspan) self launching sailplanes in New Zealand.  They have an unusual propeller arrangement where the nose cone slides forward and the propeller extends out from the gap, and the engine is located in the fuselage behind the cockpit.

Rapture ZK-GXB

A very recent addition to the NZ register is the Jonker JS3 Rapture ZK-GXB (c/n 03-015) registered to J S Sailplanes Ltd of Tauranga on 06-04-2018.

This is the first of its type in NZ and follows on from three of the earlier JS1's imported (ZK-GOB, ZK-GVR and ZK-GVZ) from this South African manufacturer.

Three items of note are the 18m wing tips, the retractable MD jet sustainer engine and if you look hard you will note the 'bug wiper' on/under the leading edge of the wing root.

Photo from Hairy Mole Rat taken at Matamata on the 60th anniversary of the Piako Gliding Club on 15-04-2018

Various CT 4s at Hamilton and Ardmore

There were several examples of Pacific Aerospace's ultimate development of the CT-4 at Hamilton and Ardmore as I passed through:

ZK-PTH (c/n 207 and ex NZ1992) is one of the batch of 12 remaining PAC CT-4E Airtrainers that were leased to the RNZAF.  They were originally registered in the ZK-PT block in 1998 before entering service with the RNZAF.  They returned to the civil register under their original registrations on 3/3/15 (except ZK-PTE which was re-registered as ZK-PTV because a Yak 52 had taken up ZK-PTE2 in the meantime), under the ownership of Aeromotive Ltd of Hamilton and are now all listed to BMH Ltd of Napier who purchased the batch of 12 aircraft on 10/1/17.

I could only manage this somewhat sad photo of CT4E ZK-JDZ (c/n 241) from the road (because I didn't want to clamber across the drain again).  You can see a much better photo of it with a bit of its history HERE

Then for sale at Dennis Thompson's at Ardmore were ZK-PTA (c/n 200 and ex NZ1985),

and ZK-PTB (c/n 201 and ex NZ1986),

while their ex RAAF cousin NZ Aerospace CT-4A Airtrainer ZK-LJH2 (c/n 042 and ex VH-JDN, A19-042 and ZK-EAE) is also for sale.

Cessna 150G N5JP at Te Kowhai 23-4-2018

Parked outon the grass at Te Kowhai was the 1966 model Cessna 150G N5JP.  I think it could be based there as it was parked in the same spot when I was there a couple of months ago.

It has been around in New Zealand for a long time as seen in this 2010 blog post HERE

I am not sure of the regulations of flying N registered aircraft in New Zealand but I do know that the Vans RV 6A N43TX has to be re-registered on the NZ civil register within 2 years.

Stratford on 22-4-2018

Further on up the road is Stratford which was my overnight stop - thanks Nick.  Stratford is a hot-spot of sport aircraft activity and in the mid afternoon quite a few aviators and aircraft were hanging around in the sun.

Just arrived from its previous base on the Western side of Lake Taupo was Shaun Richmond's Zenair CH 601XL ZK-JQT, which is the latest aircraft to be based at Stratford.

Don Boyd arrived in his Sonerai IILS ZK-SNJ(aws), showing off its new sharks teeth smile.

It now has Boyd Racing on the spats.

Then Brett Emeny arrived overhead in the Trojan on his way back from Hawera, and approached for a landing.

Taxying in showing the quite marked dihedral.

It's a big beast.

After everyone had a cup of coffee - thanks Alan, and a local flight with Wayne Richmond, Brett and passenger were off to New Plymouth in the late afternoon sun.

Up and away...

Then it was load my VW engine into the back of the relocation rental car for transport back to Auckland on Monday - thanks Wayne.

And at the end the day, Gary Marsh blasted off for his nearby home airstrip in his Sonerai 1UL ZK-SNG.  I had a great day!

Hawera on 22-4-2018

Up the road from Wanganui, Hawera was also also in the sun.  The Hawera Aero Club operates on Sundays so their aircraft were outside.

Cessna A152 Aerobat ZK-UNB (c/n A1520920) has not been posted on the blog before.  It is ex VH-UNB and has been owned by the Hawera Aero Club since 21/6/95.

and the club's Cessna 172N ZK-EOS (c/n 17272633) is another long time Hawera Aero Club aircraft, having been on line with them since 1980.

The club's other aircraft, Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen ZK-VHC was out flying in the local area.

However the star of the show was Brett Emeny's North American T 28C Trojan ZK-JGS which was visiting from New Plymouth.  I arrived just as it was taxying out.

then it clattered into the air and did some manoeuvres overhead.

New Zealand Aviation

Another of the 6 Australian Cessna 172Rs imported by Aeromotive last year has been converted to diesel power and added to the NZ Aviation fleet at Matamata as ZK-NUU.    Fellow 172R import ZK-NUC was noted overflying Pauanui this week and is also  diesel powered,  possibly Hamilton based.

Still running on avgas with NZ Aviation is 172M ZK-YAH

Also part of the NZ Aviation fleet, 172M ZK-NPA, is diesel powered

Nostalgic Fletcher FU 24-950 ZK-EGK at Wanganui 22-4-2018

I was delighted to see a Fletcher in the old Wanganui Aerowork scheme when I was at Wanganui.  Although now owned by Ravensdown Aerowork Ltd (from 4/9/12) I think it is great that they have kept in its original colour scheme.  I understand that it is dual control and is used for pilot training.

ZK-EGK (c/n 233) is the Fletcher in question.  The old scheme is a much more detailed scheme than the new Ravensdown scheme which is no doubt simpler to apply and keep looking tidy.  However it sure brings back a lot of memories.

Wanganui on 22-4-2018

I headed back North from Wellington on Sunday 22 April on a lovely day.  First stop was Wanganui which was much more accessible than last time I called in, and quite a few aircraft were out in the sun.

The NZICPA (New Zealand International Commercial Pilot's Academy) Partenavia P 68B ZK-MYF (ex ZK-ERA) taxied down to the refuelling pumps before some flying training.

 Wanganui Aero Club's Piper PA 38-112 Tomahawk ZK-FRS.

and their Cessna  172S ZK-RQA.

Cessna A152 ZK-JDB is registered to the North Taranaki Aero Club at Inglewood (Norfolk Road) but I understand it is on loan to the Wanganui Aero Club.

 A visitor was Piper PA 28-181 Archer II ZK-ENV which is registered to a Timaru owner.

Also recently purchased by the Wanganui Aero Club is Piper PA 18-95 ZK-BTU.  It has been with them since 28/9/17.

In the crammed aero club hangar was Maule MXT 7-180 ZK-JQY which is registered to Wanganui Sea and Air Charters Ltd (John Luff).  In the foreground is Kitfox ZK-KIT and in the back of the hangar were a couple of Pitts - S 1D ZK-PEG and S 2A ZK-JAG2 and the Glasair TD ZK-JDL .

Air Chathams DC 3 ZK-AWP has been parked at Wanganui for some time, with a pretty nice background for a photo.

Another Dreamliner Laid Up

Another visit to Auckland International last week as I traveled to Wellington, and another Air New Zealand Dreamliner laid up at their engineering base sans its Rolls Royce Trents.

A somewhat cluttered shot of ZK-NZE2 taken from the 380 airporter bus on 18 April.

Some helicopters at Ardmore during this past week.

Helisika Agriculture Ltd duo taken on the 17th. At the top is Eurocopter AS350 B3 ZK-IJO msn 7451 seen in the Oceania compound and wearing Helisika titles but at the time still registered to Rotor Force NZ Ltd of Hastings. Ownership was changed to Helisika on 23-4-18. It also now has a spray pod fitted (see photo by Richard on 23-4-18).

Below is a distant shot in the rain of Eurocopter AS350 B2 ZK-HOP msn 4857 wearing a new livery. It had been all white for some time.

Bell 505 ZK-IJX msn 65050 of Tukituki Bay Farm Ltd, Massey Auckland photographed on the 19th. Our second 505 it was registered on 13-3-18

Eurocopter EC130 T2 ZK-IEC msn 7841 of Endurance Fishing Ltd, Nelson seen at Airbus Helicopters on the 20th.

Smart looking 1992 model Bell 206L-3 Longranger  N521RG msn 51566 registered to Microseal Inc of Greenpoint New York state,USA photographed on the 23rd.

Super-Pac 750XL ZK-JZL at Hamilton Today 23-4-2018

I photo'd this aircraft outside the Pacific Aerospace hangar at Hamilton today, (after scrambling across the drainage channel).  I thought there had to be a story behind it and there is, as advised by Delticman.

In fact it is the new Super-Pac 750XL which is fitted with the latest more powerful PT 6A-140A engine which is 15% more powerful that the PT 6A-34 that has powered most 750XLs to date.

ZK-JZL (c/n 156) was first registered on 6/5/09 and was sent as a demonstrator to the USA (see http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2009/08/750xls-at-oshkosh.html ).  It was cancelled on 18/4/11 but was eventually returned to New Zealand, being re-registered again on 18/2/16.  It has carried out high speed taxi trials but I do not think it has flown yet.

And also in the hangar behind was Pacific Aerospace's next aircraft type, the E 350 Expedition whcih is coming along slowly.

Helicopters

A selection of helicopters shot over the last few days included Inflite's AS350BA ZK-HBR which has been relocated from the South Is to Mechanics Bay

Also at Mechanics Bay there is now a AS355F1 "Police 3" which is believed to be ZK-HXE

Visiting briefly Pauanui was the Bell 206B ZK-IIK from Aviation Training Tauranga

While at Ardmore AS350B3 ZK-IJO is now wearing Heli Sika titling

Cessna 172S ZK-SWX.

Noted at Ardmore today by Magnaman was the Cessna 172S Skyhawk ZK-SWX.

This is c/n 172S10004 which began its NZ career on 16-11-2005 as ZK-XOX with Cherub Aviation Ltd of Auckland followed by a move to the North Shore Aero Club (Inc) on 10-07-2015.

The Little Aeroplane Co Ltd of Arrowtown took it over from 23-02-2016 before passing it to Southern Wings Ltd of Invercargill from 30-10-2017.

They re-registered it into the ZK-SW* block as ZK-SWX on 29-01-2018 where it joins their ZK-SWG, ZK-SWY and ZK-SWZ.

It carries the Southern Wings logo on its tail.

Loburn Abbey fly-in 21-04-2018

On Saturday the 21st of April Ivan and Sandy Campbell and Crew held an open day at their Loburn Abbey facility North of Rangiora.

The weather was initially great with a rather fickle wind which changed after lunch to a moderate North Westerly which convinced many of the visiting aircraft to scurry for home early.

The Nelson, Taranaki and Wanganui contingent, and the group from down south didn't make it because of the strong gusty North Westerlies on Thursday and Friday.

With all the movements I managed to count twenty four aircraft on the field during my time on site.

Two Titan T51 Mustangs and three Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk26's made up the line up.

The Kerry Miller Titan T51 Mustang U/L ZK-DGM2, (Linda Lovelace) is seen here during a fly past.

The Pegasus Aviation Maule M-5-235C Lunar Rocket ZK-DWR (7234C) seen here departing back to Rangiora.

Followed by the ICP Savannah XL ZK-MHG (c/n 09-02-51-809) of Michael Glenn.

It was nice to see the R and B Bearhawk ZK-NJB2 (c/n 125-237/238-1242) from the Bearhawk Syndicate arrive (above) and to later (below) make a positive departure.

One that did make up from the South was the Vans RV 7 ZK-SBJ2 (c/n 70566) from the RV Syndicate at Wanaka.

The surprise for the day (for me) was the arrival of the seldom seen Stolp Starduster SA 100 ZK-SDI (c/n 14) which has been with Greg Ward since June of 2015.

All these aircraft have been mentioned previously on this site.

To check these - enter the aircraft registration in the small 'search' box in the top left hand corner of the screen.