Saturday 24 August 2024

Beaver ZK-CZO

The second of the two Beavers that Fieldair bought from Australia in 1969 was ZK-CZO, and this was their nineteenth and last Beaver.

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver , c/n 1533 , had a date of manufacture of 29/10/63 and went to Australia to become VH-IDE with Robby's Aerial Services Ltd from 17/1/64. It was cancelled in May of 1969 as being sold abroad.

It became ZK-CZO with Fieldair Ltd at Gisborne on 3/6/69 and it is photo'd above at Gisborne on 1/8/69.  It had an accident at Castle Point Station on 19/5/70 when it failed to become airborne but was repaired.

And here it is painted in Fieldair's yellow colours at Palmerston North on 16/1/72.  It suffered a fatal accident near Te Karaka on 6/12/72 when it dived into the ground on a ferry flight back to Gisborne at the end of a days topdressing.

That is the end of my series on Fieldair's Beavers.  I guess I will now beaver away and post about our other topdressing Beavers.

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3 comments:

  1. packapoo25 August 2024 at 06:20

    My home town. I didn't know that. Been an interesting series. Thanks for your labours.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sir Minty25 August 2024 at 16:34

    You are welcome!

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  3. Anonymous26 August 2024 at 10:34

    My home town too. I grew up at the Okitu end of Wainui Beach and in the valley behind us was an airstrip servicing Moana Station (and others). At sun-up on still mornings we would often be awakened by the Fielder Beavers (and Fletchers) roaring their way down the Hamanatua Stream at full throttle and with a full (possibly more) load. They would head out to sea, gain enough altitude to get up to dropping level, then do it all again until the breeze came up.
    Better than an alarm clock for a dozy teenager!

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