And just across the road was the brand new ZK-HIR5 c/n 1301 as listed to P & E Ltd of Darfield.
Thursday 30 June 2022
Three more Guimbal Cabri G2's registered today.
Taylor Monoplane ZK-DQG Restored
Alan Butler test flew the DQG Syndicate's Taylor Monoplane ZK-DQG at Ardmore on Sunday afternoon 19 June:
ZK-DQG was built by Cliff Craigie of Auckland and it was first registered to him on 24/4/75. It was damaged in a taxying incident at the 2016 Black Sands flyin at Raglan, and ownership changed to the DQG Syndicate of Papakura on 30/9/19.Wednesday 29 June 2022
A Short Lived (in NZ) Shock Cub ZK-EUP/2
I came across this nice photo in my records the other day, and I thought I would share it as the only other photo we have posted of it was in a hangar at Kaipara Flats. This photo was taken at the factory in Italy during test flying of the aircraft.
ZK-EUP2 (c/n 338) was registered to Sports Aircraft NZ Ltd of Wellsford on 27/2/17 and it was sold to Australia as 23-1232, being cancelled from the NZ register on 30/10/17. You can see the previous post on ZK-EUP2 HERESunday 26 June 2022
Auster J5 ZK-BQL/NZ1701 Flies to its New Home
The immaculately restored Auster J5 ZK-BQL, wearing its RNZAF identity NZ1701, flew from its re-birthplace of Malibu Park near Nelson to its new home at Waipukurau last Thursday 23 June.
The Auster outside the Central Hawkes Bay Aero Club hangar at Waipukurau. This makes several historic aircraft based at Waipukurau including Ron Day's Piper J2 ZK-AGD and Ross McDonald's Porterfield 35-70 ZK-POR.Thursday 23 June 2022
Bombardier BD-700 9H-VIC at Christchurch
New Bristell ZK-KKK at Parakai
Bryn Lockie of Leading Edge Aircraft Maintenance at Parakai has recently assembled the "new" BRM Aero Bristell LSA ZK-KKK2, and he has sent the following photo:
ZK-KKK2 (c/n 309/2018) was registered to R Scott of Kumeu on 10/5/22. It was first registered in Australia on the AUF register as 23-1150 on 19/9/17, then it transferred to VH-YVR in May 2020 and then back to 23-1150 in May 2021, before being exported to New Zealand.Wednesday 22 June 2022
ZK-DPP into Rangiora today
Couple more helicopters at Ardmore
Refurbished and repainted is Uber Air's R44 II ZK-HCY3. This was originally imported new in 2005 as ZK-IGS, moving onto ZK-HLD4 in 2006 and ZK-HCY3 in 2007.
Tuesday 21 June 2022
Beechcraft King Air ZK-APL
Beechcraft B300 Super King Air 350 ZK-APL2 c/n FL-415 was built at Wichita as N36715 and registered to Raytheon Aircraft Company in October 2004.
In January 2005 it went into hiding within the Well Fargo Bank Northwest books.
I next noted it in Australia in 2011 still on its US registration with Sundown Pastoral Co Pty Ltd of Bonogib, Queensland until becoming VH-NSI on 17-04-214 to the same operator.
Photo above taken today at Nelson by Cody Forward.
Sunday 19 June 2022
Waihi Beach comes to Pauanui
Christchurch last Thursday.
Saturday 18 June 2022
EC120B ZK-HCA 4
P51D Mustang ZK-SAS Dove of Peace Flies Away
Yesterday 17 June saw Mustang Flights of Wanaka's P 51D Mustang ZK-SAS depart from Wanaka direct to Kerikeri and on to Norfolk Island for the night and today will carry on to Coolangatta and the Wangaratta for its new owner Doug Hamilton. It was cancelled from the New Zealand register on 14/6/22. The Mustang was piloted by experienced long distance delivery pilot Steve Death.
ZK-PNX at Nelson
Phoenix was been acquired by Super Air with both ZK-PNX3 and FU24-950 ZK-EGI transferring to Super Air ownership The FU24s ZK-JSW and ZK-WLN were cancelled as withdrawn in June 2021. Operations will continue at Gore under the Phoenix brand.
Friday 17 June 2022
A few helicopters at Ardmore
Over at Airwork the BK117B-2 ZK-HEP3 was doing test flights. This was imported from Spain in 2018 and is registered to Search & Rescue Services, Taupo.
Also at Airwork was the former Over the Top Queenstown EC130B4 ZK-IVP2 which was imported from Panama in 2018, and was returned to Airwork subsidiary, Helilink in February this year.
Tuesday 14 June 2022
Fletcher FU 24s - Then and Now
Thanks to Zac Yates, I was reminded that today is the 68th anniversary of the first flight of the Fletcher FU 24 in Los Angeles back on 14 June 1954. That first Fletcher FU 24 was registered N6505C and it became ZK-BDS with Robertson Air Service Ltd. I see from looking back on the blog that we often do a Fletcher FU 24 post around the time of the anniversary of its first flight. Here is a post from 5 years ago: https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2017/06/first-flight-63-years-ago.html
This is what it looked like when it arrived in New Zealand, here during testing at the old Rongotai Airport in late 1954. It was fitted with a 225 HP Continental O-470E engine.Monday 13 June 2022
Update on the Various ZK-VNMs
Back in May I posted about a Trio of Venoms in which I detailed the histories of our three NZ registered Venoms, all of which have been registered ZK-VNM. The link to that post is: http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-trio-of-venoms.html Since that post I have been contacted by Zac Yates who has advised of a couple of factual inaccuracies, so I will now correct them as follows:
1. The remains of the first ZK-VNM came as a package with the second ZK-VNM when John Luff purchased it, and are stored on the family farm near Wanganui.
2. The second ZK-VNM never went to Brett Emeny after its accident at Masterton. It is still owned by John Luff and is on long term loan to the Classic Flyers Museum at Mt Maunganui, where it is photo'd below by Richard Currie:
(And don't be fooled by the Fletcher hanging above in the photo - it is wrong in many details).
Thursday 9 June 2022
Scene at Hastings yesterday 08-06-2022.
Wednesday 8 June 2022
Helicopters in the Waikato
At Rotor Work's maintenance base at Kihikihi was their sole AS350B2 ZK-HAN2. This was imported for them in 2013 from the USA.
And over at Heli Ag Waikato's base at Te Pahu their Bell 206B ZK-HFE3 was resident. This was imported from Japan in 2006 initially for Paihia based Salt Air, moving onto Heli A1 in 2011, Precision Helicopters in 2012 and then Heli Ag in 2018.
The company also operates R44 sprayers ZK-HSY2 and HUB2.
Tuesday 7 June 2022
Auster ZK-BQL
It was assembled at Ohakea in 1947 and served until being listed as surplus on 17-01-1956.
The Club sold it to F B Thurlow of Balfour in August 1961 who in turn sold it on the Keith Mitchell and G D Murray of Timaru from 17-12-1969