Another off shore arrival.

 Another exotic visitor captured by Tony McFarlin on finals for Christchurch International today.

Airbus A319-115 (ACJ) B-54111 c/n 5792 arriving in from Port Moresby, having departed Shanghai on the 20th.

Built as D-AVXJ by Airbus Deutschland at Hamburg and first flying on 29-10-2013, with a registration and title change to F-WTAD for Airbus Industries at Toulouse on delivery on 07-11-2013 for cabin configuration.

Next noted on delivery to Eva Air as B-54111 on 14-08-2015.

90th Anniversary Flight Celebrations at Inchbonnie

Inchbonnie is a small farming settlement 16 kilometres West of the Otira Gorge, and it was from an airfield here that New Zealand's first scheduled air service took off 90 years ago.  Captain Bert Mercer of Air Travel (NZ) Ltd  flew in to the Inchbonnie airfield on 18 December 1934 to pick up two passengers who had come from Christchurch by train and who had alighted at the nearby Inchbonnie Railway Station, Messrs G B Christie and H Worrall.  They then flew to Hokitika and on to Franz Josef on the first scheduled airline service in New Zealand, returning later in the day in time to catch the train back to Christchurch.

On 18 December 2024, 90 years later,  a commemorative flight was carried out over the original route with an over flight of Inchbonnie.  Amazingly the flight was carried out by the same aircraft that flew the original flight - the DH 83 Fox Moth ZK-ADI which is owned by the Croydon Aircraft Company but is painted in its original Air Travel (NZ) Ltd colours.  The above photo is from the Grey District Council's Facebook page.

A couple of recent Christchurch visitors from Tony McFarlin.

 Two interesting Christchurch visitors from earlier this week.

This Gulfstream Aerospace G650 c/n 6107 was manufactured as N617GD in the earlier part of 2013 and became 4K-A188 from 18-03-2015 and is operated by Azerbaijan Airline. 

It arrived in from Hobart on the 14th and departed for Sydney on the 18th.

Airbus Industries A321-231 4K-A188 c/n 1695 first flew out of Hamburg as D-AVZA on 27-02-2002 and went on to become B-HTG followed by a return to the German register as D-AATC in May of 2013 at end of lease. 

It was registered as VH-XF4 on 15-02-2024 for operations by Express Freighter and as can be seen carries SANTAS'FREIGHT titles.

It arrived from Auckland and departed for Sydney on the 15th.

Turbulent ZK-CWE Flies Further North

Druine Turbulent ZK-CWE has recently been purchased by Maurice Honey of Haruru in Northland.  Maurice is an experienced glider pilot and also owns PW-5 Smyk glider ZK-GWW.

Maurice Honey got Peter Garlick to make the delivery flight to Kaikohe from Whangarei, where the Turbulent has spent all its life after being built by Bruce Shepherd (who also built Turbulent ZK-BWE).  In spite of not having flown for some years everything checked out well.

So Peter took off and climbed overhead then set out  for Kaikohe.  That is Whangarei Airport down there.

And here is ZK-CWE safely on the ground at Kaikohe where Maurice will hangar it.

Thanks for the photos Peter - keep them coming!

Airtrainer ZK-JMV at North Shore on 14-12-2024

As I was staying on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula over the weekend and it is quite close to North Shore airfield, it would be rude not to make the trip down there.   While I was there the NZ Aerospace CT/4B Airtrainer ZK-JMV arrived from Tauranga on an interesting mission:

ZK-JMV ex NZ1935 outside Stan Smith's hangar.

Here is a close up photo of the logo on the tail.  There must be a story to this - can anyone assist?

Seen Flying Over the Whangaparaoa Peninsula

 

I have spent the weekend dogsitting at Stanmore Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.  The weekend weather was great and I was amazed at how many aircraft flew over in all directions including lots of helicopters and scheduled services to and from Great Barrier (FR24 was working overtime).  But in the early evening on Sunday this guy cruised down the peninsula then cruised back about a half an hour later.  I reckon he would have been under 1,000 feet and I know he would have been getting great views!

It certainly qualifies as civil aviation, just not as we know it!

PW-5 Smyk ZK-GVF at Kaipara Flats Today 14-12-2024

Continuing with the long(ish) wing aircraft, a surprise arrival at Kaipara Flats today was the PZL -Swidnik PW-5 Smyk glider which made an outlanding from Whenuapai:

ZK-GVF (c/n 17.08.006) was registered to the RNZAF Aviation Sports Club (Gliding Section) of Waitakere on 4/11/97.  It has not appeared on the blog previously.

Then later on in the afternoon the cavalry arrived to retrieve the glider.

Thanks for the photos Rob.

Pipistrel Sinus ZK-LAU at Whangarei

Peter Garlick has sent in a photo of the newly registered Pipistrel Sinus that was signed off by CAA one day after the Shark at Kaipara Flats:

ZK-LAU (c/n 166s9120305) was registered to Richard Prentice of Opua on 16/9/24.  It was imported from Australia where it was 24-4400.

Thanks for the photo Peter.

Micro Aviation Bantam B22J ZK-WNJ

 Whilst poking around at Mandeville the other day I came across this Bantam that has not been mentioned previously on this blog.

Micro Aviation Bantam B22J ZK-WNJ c/n 01-0195 first appeared on our civil aircraft register on 05-12-2001 for Wilkie Wilkens of Paeroa. 

He sold it on briefly to Lindsay Brown and Simon Bankhart of Waihi from 20-08-2007. They sold it in November of 2007 with Lindsay purchasing the Czech Sportcruiser ZK-CSC2 and Simon the Bantam B22S ZK-DTC2. 

WNJ's new owner was Aaron Robins of Winton - who also acquired the Revolution Mini 500 ZK-HOW2 at about the same time - followed by the Bantam B22J ZK-JMT later.

Bradley Yorke of Wyndham listed it from 01-10-2009. Bradley has had at least a dozen aircraft since 1994. It was then transferred to John Stewart, also of Wyndham from 04-08-2010 where it joined the Gemini 503TC ZK-EEX and the Banam B22J ZK-SJW and then later by the Impulse 100 ZK-MPL.

The Croydon Aircraft Co Ltd of Mandeville (the one near Gore) acquired it from 18-05-2015.

Below is a portion of the blurb that accompanies the aircraft on display.

Hmmm !

Robinson R44 Duo at Nelson 12-12-2024

 Bill on his usual morning walk about captured these two Robinson R44's at Nelson Airport today.

Above we have the Robinson R44 ZK-HHS3 c/n 0805 as listed with Coast To Coast Helicopters Tasman Ltd of Upper Moutere from 06-08-24.

First registered back on 01-09-2004 as ZK-HLB4 with North Shore Helicopters Ltd.

Its following history can be found HERE

    ZK-HRT3 c/n 10567 was built as a Robinson R44 Clipper II and served time in the Pacific Islands,      initially as F-OMGL from 2007 and then as YJ-VHH with Vanuatu Helicopters of Port Vila, Vanuatu         from March of 2010. It then moved over to Pacific Island Air at Nadi, Fiji in 2014 as DQ-HFR.

It was next noted at Motueka in for its twelve year rebuild in July 2020 and was listed to Argus Aviation Ltd as ZK-HRT3 from 05-10-2020. The rebuild actually took place at the Argus Aviation facility at Taupo with a sale to Western Helicopters Ltd of Te Kuiti from 10-03-2021.

Current operator Heli Marlborough 2021 Ltd took in on from 30-05-2024.

Shark Aero Shark ZK-SAS/2 First Flight on 11-12-2024

Yesterday I was fortunate to be able to be at Kaipara Flats airfield to help Bruce Stevenson with pulling a couple of aircraft out of the hangar to enable him to release his new Shark 600 microlight out into the wild.  It is the first of this type of microlight to arrive in New Zealand and it comes with serious credentials as it is the same type of microlight that Zara Rutherford flew solo around the world in 2021/22 to become the youngest female pilot to do so at 19, and her little brother Mack Rutherford also flew around the world in 2022 in another Shark becoming the youngest earthrounder at age 17.  The Shark is unique among microlights in New Zealand to date (I think) by being a tandem 2 seater.  (Actually that is not true because the barber Snark was a tandem 2 seater).

The Shark is manufactured by Shark Aero of Slovakia and is of all carbon fibre and kevlar construction, and as mentioned above is a tandem 2 seater.  It has side stick controllers for both cockpits.  Its length is 6.7 metres and its wingspan is 7.9 metres, with a wing area of 9.5 square metres.  The empty weight is around 300 Kg and MAUW in New Zealand is 598 Kg.  The Shark is powered by a Rotax 912 ULS of 100 HP and that power gives incredible performance with a Shark in France holding the FAI Speed record for its class of 303 km/hr set in 2015.

Bruce's Shark ZK-SAS2 (c/n 067) is a factory re-manufactured example that has flown for 5 years as OM-5333 in Slovakia.  Its trim and registration are of silver reflective material which can make it hard to photograph the registration on the curved fuselage side.  You really need it to be reflecting something dark which I managed to do with the hanger in the above photo.

But not in this photo in the open air!

The take off roll was short with only Bruce on board, and I just managed to get this uncropped shot as he whizzed past.  You can see the trailing link main undercarriage and big flaps well in this shot.

And in this shot you can see the narrower fuselage with the tandem seating configuration, which no doubt helps with its performance.  A mean machine!

Lockhead 12-A Electra Junior ZK-LHE

The first of its type to be operated on the New Zealand civil register is this Lockheed 12-A Electra Junior ZK-LHE c/n 1262 as registered on 08-11-2024 to a Private Owner.

This airframe was delivered to the United States Army Air Force as a Lockheed C-40A on 23-03-1939 with the military serial of 38-545. It was re-designated as a UC-40A in January 1943.

Post World War Two it entered the US civil register as NC48471 followed by N48471, N87P, N299A and then to N712FM in 1962.

After about eight civilian owners it was purchased by Ray Piggot of Mareeba, Queensland and ferried into Cairns in mid 1982. Ray intended to start up 'Air Heart Safaris' but this did not eventuate, and I believe the aircraft was withdrawn from use in 10-1983.

The photo above was taken by Willian Gray at Mareeba, Queensland on 08-10-1982.

Marked as 712FM.

Its US registration was cancelled on 17-07-1987 for it to become VH-HID from 16-09-1987 with J J Rundell of Greenwood, West Australia and was ferried across to Jandakot on 26-10-1987.

Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd of Mascot, NSW listed it from 02-02-1989 followed by International Jetliners Pty Ltd of Mascot from 30-12-1997, and I believe it was operated by John Love out of Albury before returning to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd in late 2001.

Doug Hamilton of Whorouly, Victoria added it to his collection from 09-08-2007.

It was briefly marked up in a USAAC scheme for its part in the movie 'Unbroken' but quickly reverted to its polished aluminium scheme.

VH-HID was ferried from Wangaratta to Taree and Lord Howe Island by Doug Hamilton and Steve Death on 08-05-2022, then on to Norfolk Island and Auckland on the 9th. To Timaru on the 10th and then to Wanaka.

As part of the overall deal Steve Death then ferried the Mustang Flights Ltd's North American P51D Mustang ZK-SAS - which had been re-registered as VH-LUI on 14-06-2024 to Precision Airmotive Pty Ltd at Whorouly (Doug Hamilton) - from Wanaka to Kerikeri on 17-06-2024, then to Norfolk Island and Coolangatta on the 18th.

VH-HID was on display at Warbirds over Wanaka as seen above on 28-03-2024.

I next noted it at Alexandra in the care of Arron Cooper and his team at Tinshed Aviation where it was placed on the NZ register on 08-11-2024.

The three photos below were taken at Alexandra on 22-11-2024 with thanks to Arron Cooper.

Still wearing its old VH-HID markings - although now officially ZK-LHE.

This however is not the first Lockheed 12-A to be operated in New Zealand as N14999 c/n 1252 was operated here early this century by Pat Donovan.

75 Years of Aerowork (sort of) Celebration at Wanganui

As I have previously posted, Ravensdown Aerowork held a large private gathering at Wanganui on 7 December to celebrate 75 years of the Aerowork brand.  It involved a flying display comprising the original Wanganui Aero Work Tiger Moth ZK-AUZ followed by the 400 HP Fletcher 950 ZK-EGK with the Cresco ZK-LTJ bringing up the rear.  Despite being busy with commentary duties, Ray Deerness managed to take a few photos in the lead up to the celebration:

A procession of the oldest to the newest Aerowork topdressing aircraft - Tiger Moth ZK-AUZ, Fletcher FU24-950 ZK-EGK and PAC Cresco ZK-LTJ.  This photo was taken the day before during practice for the flypast.

Then on the day there was this impressive lineup of Ravensdown Aero Work aircraft.  The Crescos on this side of the lineup were ZK-LTY in the front with ZK-LTW, LTV and LTG.

And the other side comprised of ZK-LTN in the front with ZK-LTL, LTJ and LTH.

While in the middle was the dual control Fletcher ZK-EGK.

Of the rest of the fleet, ZK-LTB was in the South Island still fighting the Castle Hill fire, and ZK-LTS and ZK-LTZ are currently dismantled.

As for the 75 years, Wally Harding carried out his first topdressing at Blinkbonnie on 27 April 1950 and from there requests for spreading superphosphate flowed in.  Later in 1950 he ordered two Tiger Moths from the UK, quickly followed by four more.  Wanganui Aero Work Ltd was registered on 13 November 1950 and that month Wally Harding employed Doug Holloway and Wally Green to fly Tiger Moths ZK-AUY and ZK-AUZ, with the latter being the first to be signed out on 4 December 1950.  

So the 75th was not quite historically accurate but it still a great achievement.

Meanwhile at Wanganui on 7-12-2024 - 750XL-II ZK-EPQ

Ravensdown Aerowork held a large private gathering at Wanganui Airport yesterday to celebrate 75 years of the Aerowork brand.  There were about 600 Ravensdown clients and current and former staff going as far back as 1959.  Due to the busy day there were only 3 air displays, flown by the Wanganui Aerowork Tiger Moth ZK-AUZ, FU 24-950 ZK-EGK and Cresco ZK-LTJ.  Ray Deerness was there and was doing the commentary for the day.  Because of his commitments he couldn't take photos but did manage to take one of a surprise visitor:

The latest NZ Skydive 750XL-II ZK-EPQ (c/n XL502) flew down from Hamilton with top management of NZ Aero and this was fitting given the long association of Aerowork with aircraft built in Hamilton by NZ Skydive's predecessors over many years.  This is the first time for ZK-EPQ on the blog.

Thanks very much for the photo Ray.

Nelson this morning from Bill Mannix.

 Bill Mannix captured these two helicopters during his morning walk around Nelson Airport.

The McDonnell Douglas 500N NOTAR ZK-IDL3 c/n LN051 is a recent addition to the NZ civil register, being listed to a Private Owner on 30-10-2024. 

It carries Nelson Helicopters titles and I believe it replaces their on sold Squirrel ZK-HQN.

Also on the Nelson Helicopters pad was the Aerospatiale AS 350 BA (with FX2 mods) ZK-IOS c/n 1646. This has been in NZ since1986 when it served as ZK-HZR, becoming ZK-HST2 in mid 1993 and then ZK-HWF3 in mid 2009. It took up its current ZK-IOR marks from 03-11-2014.

Lancair 320 ZK-KWK at Springhill 7-12-2024

Just as we were packing up the BBQ stuff at Springhill yesterday, a couple of exotic aircraft appeared overhead and landed.  They were Brent Hempel in his Yak 52 ZK-RUS2 and Rob Fry in his Nieco Lancair 320 ZK-KWK:

ZK-KWK (c/n 360-001) was imported as N817S by Rob Fry and was registered to him in New Zealand on 4/10/19.  A smooth machine.  Rob parked his Lancair to allow for a photo with a nice rural backdrop (John King would approve I am sure).  For whatever reason it has not appeared on the blog previously.

Northern Aviators Club Christmas BBQ at Springhill Today 7-12-2024

The Northern Aviators Club held their Christmas BBQ at Springhill today, in conjunction with the Auckland Chapter of the Sport Aircraft Association of NZ.  There was a good turnout of about 25 planes including 4 gyrocopters:

Rusty Russell taking off for a photo sortie seen over the turtle deck of RV 7 ZK-LVA

And this is the photo he took, there are 16 different aircraft types on the field.  Thanks Rusty

Mark Biddle took off in his Tandem Dominator ZK-RCE2 headed for lunch at Dargaville,

Followed by Rusty with passenger Luke Dixon in Rusty's trusty MT 03 Eagle ZK-RBG.  That is a hand held camera that Luke is holding so I guess I will be in a video somewhere.

A Helicopter in Heartland Suburbia

Simon Hills spotted this helicopter on a front lawn in John F Kennedy Drive in Palmerston North recently:

Simon has identified it as the MBB BK 117A-3 ex ZK-IED (c/n 7059) of Precision Helicopters which ditched in the Pauatahanui Inlet after loss of control on 2 May 2017 and was cancelled from the register on 19 October 2018.  It is promoting the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter as well as being an attraction for the street's Christmas lights.  I don't think it has been on the blog previously so it is a good "catch".

Thanks for the photo Simon.

Christchurch visitors on Monday the 2nd and Wednesday 4th.

 These two visitors were noted at Christchurch International on Monday the 2nd.

Thanks to Tony McFarlin.

The return of Cathay Pacific to Christchurch on Monday the 2nd of December was carried out by their Airbus A350-1041 B-LXC c/n 188 in a direct flight from Hong Kong.

This was first flown by Airbus Industries on 15-06-2018 as F-WZGS for delivery to Cathay Pacific on 19-07-2018.

Terminating its Monday's oceanic patrol at Christchurch was the RNZAF Boeing P-8A Poseidon NZ4802 c/n 67018.

Listed as test flown as N788DS by Boeing as a model 737-8FV(ER) it was delivered into Ohakea on 20-03-2023.

Today December 4th 2024 saw the arrival of the corporate Airbus A319-153NCJ VP-CRR c/n 10339.

First flown by Airbus Industries on 05-01-2021 as D-AVWH for delivery on 27-01-2021.

Another Query

I got a good response to by Labour Weekend Query, which turned out to be a Curtis Flyer replica that was built by Chris Henry and Warwick Vaile in Cambridge in 1977.  It was never registered.  Thanks very much to all those blog readers who provided comments.

Now here is another one that I am seeking information on.  I know that it is a microlight built by Richard Brett at Raglan in the late 1970s(?), and it was powered by two Briggs and Stratton 2 stroke engines.  It was also unregistered but registration wasn't required for microlights between the late 1970s when the first ones appeared, and 1982 when they flooded the register.

What can blog readers tell me about it?  Did it ever fly?  And what eventually happened to it?

And while I am at it, do any blog readers know of any other unregistered microlights during the period 1977 to 1982? (or unregistered homebuilt aircraft from any period)  The problem is that we don't know what we don't know!

Nelson on December 1st

 Bill Mannix was out on his morning walk at Nelson Airport and snapped these for us.

The Mooney M20C Mk21 ZK-CKF c/n 20C-2802 arrived in NZ on 14-10-1964 for the Southern Districts Aero Club. It has been with its current Nelson owner Thomas Ashton of Nelson since March 2019.

The ex Austrian Air Force Agusta Bell AB206A ZK-HMU c/n 8127 has been Masterton based with Mike Ross since 2014.

Lloyd Heslop had his RAF 2000 GTX SE ZK-RAE2 c/n H2-97-8-283 was about to do some circuits on the western grass.

And out getting some sunshine was the Ross Stratford's Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200 ZK-SML2 c/n 249-09. Prior to March 2020 this was registered ZK-KPD1.

A Stranger at NZPP - Australian Aircraft Hornet ZK-DLV/2

Jordan Elvy was on hand at Paraparaumu airport this afternoon to catch this unusual visitor:

Australia Aircraft Hornet STOL ZK-DLV2 (c/n 64) was registered to DL Van Reenen of Upper Moutere on 9/11/22 and has been elusive for photographers until now.  It arrived at Paraparaumu after being blocked by weather both North and South.

Thanks very much for the photo Jordan.

Our Latest Civil Huey - ZK-HXL/4 at Taupo

Earlier in the week Mark Pattenden photo'd the latest Bell UH 1 to be registered here, at Taupo:

ZK-HXL4 (c/n 4637/65-9593) was registered to a Private Owner on 19/2/24 and as can be seen it is wearing Lakeview Helicopters titles.

Thanks to Richard Currie we have its history as below: 

Dec 65      Taken on charge by US Army as an UH-1D 65-9593 with 68^th Assault Helicopter Company "Top Tigers"  Converted at some stage to UH-1H

9 Sept 05     N50558   Northwest Helicopters, Olympia,  WA

19 Mar 08    N207PJ   Helibro,  Red Bluff, CA    op by PJ Helicopters

21 Oct 21                           sold Mariani Bros Air Support,  Vacaville, CA

11 May 22   N516MB   Mariana Bros Air Support

5 Feb 24     cancelled exported to NZ     (UH1s in Fire role  being replaced by S-70 Blackhawks in California)