Tecnam P 2002 Sierras of New Zealand (5) - Retractable Gear Sierras

In the mid 2000s Tecnam developed a retractable version of the Sierra.  The retraction system is pneumatic and the nose wheel is steerable.  The empty weight is increased by about 20 Kg over the fixed gear Sierra at 415 Kg, and the cruise speed is about 10 - 15 knots higher at around 125 knots.

Our first Sierra RG was registered in February 2008 and we have had six airframes registered here (with a couple of them having several registrations).  In order of their registration dates they are:

Our first Sierra P 2002 RG was ZK-SRG (c/n 295) that was registered to Tecnam Ltd of Papakura on 27/2/08.  It is photo'd above at Ardmore during its brief time as ZK-SRG, on 16/9/08, where you can get a good look at the retractable undercarriage with the main wheels retracting outwards.

It was re-registered on 2/12 08 to become ZK-SJS2 and was sold on the same day to S J Robinson of Thames and it is photo'd above in his ownership at Paul Hopper's airstrip at Silverdale, on 28/3/09.  Ownership changed to the David Josef Van Bysterveldt Family Trust of Morrinsville with whom it is still current.

ZK-TZS (c/n 304) was registered to Richard Izard of Taupo on 22/4/08 and on 30/4/09 it went to the Gallagher Family Trust of Manakau City. On 18/1/12 ownership changed to John Crone of Matakana and it is still current with him and based at North Shore airfield, where the above photo was taken on 4/5/15.

ZK-SGO (c/n 362) was registered in 21/10/08 to Scherer Farms Ltd of Putaruru and it is photo'd above at the 2009 Black Sands flyin at Raglan on 8/11/09.  On 15/12/15 ownership changed to B F Boult of Blenheim and then it went to N A Comerford of Paekakariki on 7/2/19.  Tragically it was lost in a crash in the Tararuas inland from Foxton on 29/9/19 when it was caught in deteriorating weather, and both pilots were killed.  It was cancelled from the register on 7/11/19.

It is somewhat difficult to keep up with the registrations of P 2002 RG c/n 364.  It was first registered as ZK-SJS to S J Robertson of Thames, on 6/11/08.  But he already had the first P 2002 RG ZK-SRG that he re-registered as ZK-SJS2 on 12/11/08.  Then for whatever reason a registration swap occurred on 2/12/08 when this aircraft was re-registered as ZK-MLX and then on the same day it was again re-registered as ZK-SRG2 to Tecnam Ltd of Papakura.  I guess it never wore the ZK-MLX registration and maybe it also never wore the ZK-SJS registration, as I have never seen photos of those.  It became a demonstrator aircraft for Tecnam and it is photo'd above as such at Rangiora on 5/5/09.

On 10/3/09 ownership changed to Ardmore Aviation Services ltd and then on 8/7/09 it went to R J (Roslyn) Skinner of Taupo.  It is photo'd above departing Ardmore in February 2010 to compete in the New Zealand Air Safari as race number 23 and wearing Taupo Ultralight Academy titles.  Later that year, on 8/11/10 it flew from Kerikeri to Norfolk Island and on across the Tasman.  For these flights it wore the full ZK-SRG2 registration marks on the fuselage and under the wing, as required for international flights.  It returned to New Zealand on 5/7/11 having been demonstrated at the Avalon Airshow.

In 2012 long range tanks were fitted and it again crossed the Tasman, this time leaving from Kerikeri on 10/12/12 and returning on 30/9/13. ownership continued with Roslyn Skinner under the names of a couple of dental practices in Papamoa until it was sold to the Neil J and Lorna A Ashton Partnership of Hamilton on 24/9/15.  It is photo'd above at Taumarunui on 26/5/16.

ZK-ZZT (c/n 390) was registered to Richard Izard of Taupo on 17/1/11.  On 28/2 13 ownership transferred to Izard Pacific Aviation Ltd of Taupo and then on 10/8/14 to N W (Bill) Izard of Te Awamutu.  It is photo'd above arriving at the 2014 Black Sands flyin at Raglan, on 8/11/14.  Most recently ownership has changed to G M Pannett of Napier.

And our last P 2002 RG Sierra to date is ZK-MEG2 (c/n 485) was registered to G M Addison of Opotiki on 9/2/12 and it is still owned by him.  It is also photo'd above at the 2014 Black Sands flyin at Raglan, on 8/11/14.