As this is probably the last post for the blog for 2023, it could be considered as an eppilogue!
We have covered ZK-EPP before but back in February 2021 it was test flown by Pacific Aerospace Ltd. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then with PAL going into liquidation and the assets of PAL being "rescued" by investors and aviation enthusiasts Dee Bond and Neil Young of NZSkydive Ltd, and more recently the company has been re-branded as NZ Aero. I understand that NZ Aero now owns the rights to the XL 750 and the SuperPac, the CT 4 Airtrainer, the Cresco and the FBA-2C3 which is also known as the E-350 Expedition.Sunday 31 December 2023
NZ Aero FBA-2C3 ZK-EPP at Wings Over Wairarapa
Hawker Sea Fury FB 11 ZK-SFR
When I was looking for photos of the late Sir Tim Wallis's Spitfire Mk XVI for a post after his recent passing, I scanned a couple of photos of it from the 25th anniversary of the Walsh Flying School airshow I attended at Matamata in 1991. However there were a couple of other warbirds in attendance, so I also scanned my photo of the Hawker FB 11 Sea Fury ZK-SFR:
This Sea Fury was one of 24 FB 11 Furys that were recovered from a wreckers yard in Iraq in the 1980s. It is not actually a real Sea Fury but rather a FB 11(c/n 37223 but also quoted as 41H643827) that was delivered to the Iraqi Air Force in 1952 and was coded 326. It arrived in New Zealand on 19 June 1986 (airfreighted by RNZAF Hercules!) with very low hours and was completely overhauled and painted in Fleet Air Arm colours as WJ232, representing the aircraft of Royal Navy pilot Peter "Hoagy" Carmichael in the Korean conflict. Carmichael shot down a North Korean MIG 15 in the original Sea Fury on 9 August 1952 while operating off the carrier HMS Ocean.Friday 29 December 2023
Random Rotorcraft - Barnett J4B ZK-RBM
Dennis Moore commenced building his Barnett J4B gyrocopter in the early 1980s I think. At the time Dennis and I were both members of the Manawatu Chapter of the AACA and I saw it under construction.
When it was finished he took it down to Foxpine airfield where I took this photo of Dennis about to fire it up in the mid 1980s. ZK-RBM (c/n NZRA/06/2) was registered in July 1983 and was the first Barnett J4B to be registered here (there has been one more being ZK-RBF that I know nothing of). The Barnett J4B was an American design and it was more powerful than other gyrocopters of the time, having a 100 HP Continental O-200 engine. It was withdrawn from use and de-registered in January 1994.Thursday 28 December 2023
Cessna U206F Stationair ZK-DWX
Pietenpol G-L ZK-LBB For Sale on Trade Me
Tom Grant has listed his damaged Pietenpol G-L on Trade Me, with several photos. This model has a Piper Cub airfoil.
ZK-LBB (c/n TG02) was registered to J T Grant of Dunedin on 7/7/23 and it is photo'd above taxying at Tom's airfield just South of Dunedin. It was later transported to Taieri but it was damaged in a forced landing on its first flight on 24/8/23 when it overturned. It was cancelled on 12/10/23.Wednesday 27 December 2023
Canadian Squirrels aboard the Araon at Lyttelton
A recent posting showed the Squirrel ZK-HWG departing from the Korean icebreaker Araon at Lyttelton. HERE
Yesterday December 26th two more Squirrels helicopter arrived aboard the Araon. Both Canadian registered - and both have very interesting previous New Zealand histories.
Monday 25 December 2023
Sunday 24 December 2023
ZK-HWG returns from 'The Ice".
Saturday 23 December 2023
Centenarian ex RNZAF Pilot's Birthday Flight 22-12-2023
Yesterday at Kaikohe Peter Garlick took Allan Emett for a flight in Cherokee ZK-CUC to celebrate his 100th birthday:
Friday 22 December 2023
I remember when.
Pauanui 22 December
And included in a group of 7 aircraft down from Whitianga for morning coffee was the Pitts S1SS ZK-LOL.
Global Express VH-VQN at Christchurch
It transferred briefly to the US register as N791JG with TVPX Aircraft Solutions Inc Trustee of North Salt Lake Cit, Utah (Jetcraft Corporation) from 20-07-2022 until becoming VH-VQN2 on 16-09-2022 with Mineralogy Pty from 16-09-2022.
Thursday 21 December 2023
Random Rotorcraft - Bensen B8M ZK-RAL
The Bensen B8M gyrocopoter ZK-RAL (c/n PRA 5253) must be one of the longest life gyros in New Zealand, having been first registered way back in July 1975. And I think it has been registered to Russell Kappely of Waipukurau for all that time. It actually goes back further to when it was first registered ZK-HBU to Syd Lane of Taupo back in March 1963 (but in that guise it was damaged at Taupo in March 1968 and then rebuilt and reregistered as above.
I first photo'd it at Feilding in 1986. We lived quite a distance from the airfield but I heard it arriving (it was loud! - possibly with a McCullough engine?) and went out to see it. It was named Buzzo. It was withdrawn from the register in November 1998 but restored in December 1999.I next photo'd it in its hangar at Waipukurau on 31/12/08 where you can see it is quite different with a different engine, new tail and new front undercarriage. But still named Buzzo. A case of grandfathers axe?
Wednesday 20 December 2023
Hamilton back on 17 December
I was able to make a short visit to Hamilton Airport on the morning of 17 December. There was not much to see there except for one newly registered aircraft that I completely overlooked!
These XL 750s have been parked up for a while but the photo does show a comparison between the XL750 Falcon 3000 (ZK-XLA) and the standard XL750 (ZK-SDT3). The Falcon is a modified XL750 with a revised cowling and other lightening features for an increased topdressing payload.Tuesday 19 December 2023
Cessna 172A ZK-BPT
Current operator Rotor & Wing Maintenance Ltd (John Hobday) of Taupo were listed from 20-12-2003.At Taupo on 21-12-2013 with an all white rudder.
It then spent some time parked up at Taupo until some TLC and a repaint, as below took place.
It was noted at Nelson yesterday by Bill Mannix after it had flown from Taupo to Paraparaumu and Nelson on the 14th. To Motueka on the 15th and was back to Nelson by the 17th.
Pauanui 19 December
And making its first airfield visit away from Whitianga following its first flight there on 10 December was the Vans RV12iS UL ZK-LCH.
Sunday 17 December 2023
ICP Savannah S ZK-SGM
ICP Savannah S ZK-SGM2 c/n 22-12-54-0928 was a project commenced by Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club members with the guidance from experienced ICP Savannah builders Mike Sheffield, Graeme Main and David Tillman.Above progress as at 31-10-2022.