Cherokee Charger ZK-DGK

 The Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee was the next step up from the PA-28-180 but had the 235hp O-540 engine and slightly longer wings with extra wing tanks. 

The prototype was a modified PA-28-180 and first flew on 09-05-1962 with the first production machine being registered in February 1963. 

Each year model had its own minor modifications - perhaps the most obvious was that from the 1967 model 235C onward there was a third side fuselage window.

This is one of the few aircraft approved by the FAA to carry more than its own empty weight.

During the latter part of the US 1971 - 1972 fiscal year the PA-28-235 Cherokee Charger took over from the PA-28-235F.

This had a five-inch fuselage length increase between front and rear seats with a larger side door and a larger (all moving) horizontal tail.

ZK-DGK c/n 28-7310003 was the fourth production Charger and arrived in NZ aboard the MV Austral Pilot on 12-12-1972, was listed with Airwork (NZ) Ltd at Christchurch on 21-12-1972 and gained its NZ CofA the following day and was listed briefly to the Manukau Flying School at Ardmore on the 23rd.

Photo below shows ZK-DGK at Ardmore on 08-02-1973On 12-10-1973 it was listed to N J Managh of Kauri, Northland who placed it with Dennis Thompson International for onward sale. It went to the Auckland Flite Centre from 25-01-1974 until returning to N J Managh of Kamo from 03-04-1975. (N J Managh meanwhile operated the Beech V35 ZK-DDG between the two periods of his owning ZK-DGK).

B A Bowden of Upper Hutt had it for the few months between 13-10-1975 and 15-07-1976 then G W Prebble of Hamilton took it over. In 1984 it was delivered down to Invercargill for Bruce Hoffman Ltd who officially become the listed operator/owner from 21-02-1985.

Photo below shows ZK-DGK at Invercargill on 19-03-1984.Brian Hall Investments of Christchurch listed it from 30-03-1995 (re-named as BHD Investments in October1995).

Photo below shows it at Christchurch on 14-05-1995

 It was transferred to David Kerr at Christchurch from 12-07-2004.

Below at Motueka on 19-02-2011

And again at Motueka on 13-02-2021.

Current owners are the M F and S A Train Family Trust of Waverley from 12-08-2021.

Photo above by Simon Hills taken at Whanganui 01-01-2023.