The Red Star Aviation Trust's recently restored Polikarpov Po 2 was out in the sun at Ardmore yesterday:
A colourful scene outside Aero Technology hangar. ZK-POL2 (c/n 046) bears the very small numbers 641-046 on the fin. You can see more photos of the aircraft on our sister blog MRC Aviation, at: https://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2019/04/polikarpov-po-2-takes-flight-updated-21.html
However this is not the first Polikarpov Po 2 we have had in New Zealand, as can be seen from this photo from the 2003 Classic Fighters airshow, also at Omaka, held over Easter 2003. This aircraft (c/n 0094) was owned by Pat Donovan. It was kept on the ground by paperwork at the airshow but it did taxy along the crowd line. It had the registration ZK-POZ reserved for it but I assume that it did not fly in New Zealand as it was never officially registered. Later in 2003 it was exported to England where it was registered G-BSSY for the Shuttleworth Collection with whom it is still current.
The Shvetsov 5 cylinder radial engine looking very shiny!
The aircraft will be based at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka.
I remember a photo of "POZ" flying in a biref, Stop Press! article in Classic Wings magazine and then seeing news of its export one or two issues later. I'll try track it down.
ReplyDeleteI can't find my box of later CW mags but Peter Lewis noted a test flight at Omaka on 15/05/2003 in a post at the Key Publishing Forum.
DeleteHi there Handbag. I was aware of a possible test flight and that is why I used the wording "I assume" as I also noted that it was never registered here. I guess it could have flown under its US registration.
ReplyDeleteContributing to the "colourful scene" in the opening photograph is the Auckland Gliding Club Pawnee ZK-CEB, away from its base at Drury.
ReplyDeleteI have been reliably informed that
ReplyDelete"it flew twice at Omaka and it seemed to go very well - but was offered to the Shuttleworth Trust almost straight away".