In my previous post on Beaver ZK-CPE I stated that it was the last Beaver from the heyday of aerial topdressing in New Zealand. But Hawker Siddeley had another Beaver as a demonstrator aircraft at the end of 1965. Unfortunately for expensive topdressing aircraft like the Beaver, the price of wool crashed in 1966 and many topdressing aircraft were mothballed or retired as farmers looked to make savings.
ZK-CTJ (c/n 1596) was registered to Hawker Siddeley Ltd at Wellington on 28/10/65. It was for a time fitted with a hopper as in this photo at Wellington in November 1966 but I do not know if it ever carried out any topdressing work. Does anyone know? It was eventually leased to Mt Cook Air Services Ltd who operated it in a passenger configuration and for some time on retractable skis as in the photo below.Monday 30 September 2024
Beaver ZK-CTJ and a Reference to Beaver ZK-CYD
More Rounding Out of New Zealand's LM 1 Cub Replicas
Back in January 2010 I did a post on Rounding Out our LM 1 Cub Replicas and that post can be found HERE Now more than 14 years later I have become aware of another Light Miniature LM 1U scale Cub replica that was not on my original list (a case of you don't know what you don't know):
Sunday 29 September 2024
Beaver ZK-CPE
The third single example of a Beaver in the fleet was ZK-CPE for Wanganui Aero Work:
Saturday 28 September 2024
Slingsville at NZKF Today 28-9-2024
There aren't too many Slings flying in New Zealand but more are on the way, being built from kits. However there were two Slings in the sun at NZKF this morning:
Friday 27 September 2024
Beaver ZK-COV
Tragically it crashed near Cave in North Canterbury on 1/3/75 not only with the loss of the pilot but also with the loss of an 8 year old boy who was going for a flight. It was cancelled from the register on 10/4/75.
Thursday 26 September 2024
Sling 4 TSi ZK-MKV/2 at Kaipara Flats
Bill Mannix on Nelson today - 26-09-2024
Wednesday 25 September 2024
Belated Christchurch International visitors
It has previously been mentioned HERE
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On the 21st the Gulfstream Aerospace GVI (650ER) N916AA c/n 6505 cruised in.
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I assume somebody loves it !
Two Avspecs Mosquitos Flying in the US
Last weekend saw an interesting formation flight at the Planes of Fame Central Coast AirFest in Santa Maria which is a couple of hundred kilometres North West of Los Angeles, CA. It was the first time that two Avspecs restored DH 98 Mosquitos had flown together and they were spectacular!
Mosquito FB VI N474PZ ex ZK-BCV leads the ex Glynn Powell Mosquito T 43 N2308Z ex ZK-PWL2. Both have previous RNZAF identities so there is a double connection to New Zealand.Here is a video of the Mosquitos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5swJXcoMEo8
Tuesday 24 September 2024
Cessna 180C ZK-BVV updated
The next operator was the Mangapa Land Company of Auckland from 16-02-1973.Above we have an interesting shot of ZK-BVV somewhere in the North Island and I suspect sometime around the mid 1970's showing it wearing spats.
And then it went back down South to Ron J Auger at Mosgiel from 25-09-1974.Captured at Momona on 08-09-1974.
And below again at Momona but in April 1975.
We then see a series of owner/operators including Allan S Drinkrow of Auckland from 04-08-1976.At an unknow site in August 1976 as captured by CMM.
Pask Air Service Ltd at Hastings 18-01-1979.
It then went to its current owner James D Butler of Tikokino, near Waipapa from 24-06-2024.
Monday 23 September 2024
Beaver ZK-BXJ
I have so far posted about our topdressing operators that had several Beavers in their fleets, and now there are three operators who each had one Beaver. The first of these was Barr Brothers who operated Beaver ZK-BXJ from October 1965:
The 1054th Beaver off the production line at Downsview Ontario in 1957 was delivered to the US Army as a L 20 model on 25/2/57 where it operated with the serial number 56-0364 (later being re-designated as a U-6A) until it was struck off charge in August 1962. On 2/8/62 it was registered N74085 and on 30/6/65 it was registered to State Airlines Inc of Charleston, North Carolina. It was cancelled from the US register on 20/8/65 and exported to New Zealand.