Maule ZK-MEZ.

                By my count we have had twenty five Maule’s of various models on our register. 

The latest arrival has become ZK-MEZ for Southbranch Farm Ltd on the outskirts of Christchurch. This is a Maule M-5-235C Lunar Rocked which graced the US register as N56296 for just one day on 9 November 1978 listed with Maule Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd of Armadale, NSW with whom it became VH-MEW on 13 February, 1979.

Early operators include S Anderson of Alice Springs followed by Merine Pty Ltd at Camden, NSW from 20 April, 1989. 

Photo below shows VH-MEW at Camden, NSW on 23-05-2007 from Ray Barber/Air Britain.

From May 2007 it was with ATACS Consulting Services Pty Ltd at Grabben Gullen, NSW with it being re-registered as VH-MEZ on the 21^st.

It then spent time in Western Australia, South Australia and finally with Terry Wakeham at Croobyar, NSW from March 2021. 

With just on 3000 airframe hours it was ferried from Moruya to Port Macquarie on 21 March, 2022, to Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands on the 22^nd and then to Auckland and Kaikoura on the 23^rd, and Rangiora on the 24^th

Above VH-MEZ at Rangiora on 24-03-2022 from Aaron Murphy.

 Its NZ certification was done at Rangiora Aircraft Engineering where it became ZK-MEZ on 7  April 2022. 

Southbranch has previously operated the Cessna 180 ZK-FDO₂, the Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HKJ₃, Cessna 180B ZK-REN and more recently the Cessna TU206F ZK-OAY.

Above ZK-MEZ at Rangiora late yesterday 08-05-2022 from John Wagtendonk.