Cessna 172M Skyhawk II ZK-EKP c/n 17267279 was a product of 1976 and initially registered in the US as N73130 spending time with Iowa Aviation of Des Moines, Iowa before being shunted down to NZ to be registered here as ZK-EKP on 21-09-1977 to Dennis Thompson International Ltd at Ardmore.
It went on line with the Auckland Aero Club officially from 11-10-1977.
It is seen above at Christchurch on 29-12-1978.
And below at Ardmore on 04-09-1979..jpg)
It was sold to R & S Hines of Tokoroa. from 19-03-1981 and then to Waitomo Air Services Ltd of Te Kuiti from 26-02-1987.
It soon moved on to Commercial Helicopters Ltd (Keith McKenzie) of Taumaranui, who traded it under the Mountain Air label from 18-11-1987.
It soon moved on to Commercial Helicopters Ltd (Keith McKenzie) of Taumaranui, who traded it under the Mountain Air label from 18-11-1987.
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Above we have ZK-EKP at Christchurch on 29-08-1989 in its distinctive Mountain Air scheme.
Above is a view of it departing the Chateau strip
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Noted above at Tauranga on 18-03-2000 minus the Mountain Air graphics on its tail.From around 2007 it was transferred to Brent & Cathy Guy who traded as Mountain Air Ltd, Mt Ruapehu from 29-10-2008.
It is seen below at Tokaanu on 22-03-2008.
What is that mounting bracket for on the wing strut ?
What is that mounting bracket for on the wing strut ?
In mid-May of 2021, it moved to New Plymouth for Flighttech Ltd and was snapped below at Pauanui on 06-01-2022. 
It then went to Paul Jury, also of New Plymouth, from 07-03-2022.
A change of colour scheme then took place - replacing the multi colour with black and white.
The new paint job was noted at Ardmore on 23-07-2022.
Susan Kronfeld of Kaikoura listed it from 19-04-2024.
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Above we see it at Kaikoura with a red port wing tip and a black Starboard tip. Also on bigger main wheels.
The mounting on the wing strut is to mount an aerial for tracking various animals that have a tracker aerial mounted on them, ie kiwi, fish, .
ReplyDeleteNoting today that this aircraft is still flying in the South Island. Many years ago I stopped by the airstrip at National Park and the McKenzies needed EKP ferried up from Taumaranui. So I got the job while a friend drove my car back from NZTM. The first and last time I landed at National Park. Fun times.
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