Auster ZK-BQL

 The Auster J5 NZ1701 c/n 2094 was the first of seven purchased by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was purchased without its engine which was supplied by the RNZAF supply from stock ex the Tiger Moth production.
It was assembled at Ohakea in 1947 and served until being listed as surplus on 17-01-1956.

Above a view of NZ1701 at Rongotai.

and below on floats.

Sold through the Government Store Board on 27-02-1956 it went to the Piako Aero Club to whom it was registered as ZK-BQL on 30-05-1956. 

It was overhauled by Charlie Liddell at Waharoa and first flew as ZK-BQL on 31-03-1958.
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

Above - in the hangar at Omaka 15-04-1973

And back at Timaru 25-04-1973.

At Timaru on 17-12-1973 with a pronounced list to port.

Noted as Ashburton on  07-05-1984 with the enlarged rudder and mud guards.

From 23-01-1985 it was listed to F W & Laurie B Prouting at Camden  in the Awatere Valley.

Spied at Christchurch 16-08-1988 with slightly meatier registration letters.

And then at West Melton 22-02-1996 with a blue registration letters.

A less than perfect photo at Wigram 09-05-1999

From 04-07-2001 it was listed with Malcolm Prouting at Mesopotamia Station in the upper Rangitata.

Above and below at Mesopotamia 19-06-2003

On 20-03-2009 it suffered a power loss on take off from Omaka and struck a fence.

The damaged aircraft was acquired by Lindsay Williamson (ex Christchurch Motorcycles) who sold it on to John Kelly from 30-08-2010.

John trailered the aircraft to his workshop -

At John Kelly's 09-02-2014

- and carried out an extensive rebuild over the next eleven or so years.

Photo Barry Tod at John Kelly's via WONZ.

Above and below are photos from Malibu Airfield with ZK-BQL back in its original RNZAF NZ1701 scheme but with the John's Kiwi and 'stick thingi' on the cowling thanks to Andy Heap.

A Grant Newman photo of NZ1701/ZK-BQL at Malibu Park some 65 years later.