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)

Tasman Valley on the 26th.

 Here we have just three shots taken on the 26th using my phone camera.

At Glentanner Park I caught the Aerospatiale AS 350 B2 ZK-HAA3 c/n 3700 wearing Glacier Helicopters titles.

The Inflite Ltd's Pilatus PC-6/B2-B4 Turbo Porter skiplane ZK-MCN c/n 824 at Mount Cook Airfield.

What more can I say ?

Sweet.

One of at least eleven other helicopters working the Mount Cook/Glentanner fields was the Heliventures NZ Ltd's MD 520 NOTAR ZK-IEN c/n LN047. This is currently Pukaki/Twizel based.

Three New AW 169 Rescue Helicopters Coming

An interesting article in our local newspaper was news to me.  In an article headlined "New $18.5m Helicopter for Northern Region it was reported that The Auckland and Northland emergency air ambulance provider has bought another Leonardo AW 169 helicopter as part of its fleet modernisation programme.  The helicopter is coming from the US with only 70 hours of flight time.

And also it was reported that the purchase follows Northern Rescue Helicopter's agreement in May to lease another two AW 169 helicopters from the Dublin-based aircraft leasing group Milestone Aviation.

I reckon that they are quite likely to look like the existing two Westpac Rescue AW 169s as illustrated below, but we will see:

ZK-HLH4 at Ardmore on 24/7/19.

and ZK-IZB near Warkworth on 3/1/21.

Northern Aviators Club Poker Run on 23 November

The NAC Poker Run has been going for many years, organised by Paul Hopper.  This year's run started at Dargaville and competitors picked up sealed cards at Ruawai, Springhill, Kaipara Flats and Parakai before finishing at Paul's hangar at North Shore and revealing their hands.  The conditions were challenging but all went well and 13 aircraft took part.  After the prizegiving we had a lovely afternoon tea before the various aircraft took off for home.

A 32 Vixxen ZK-WCV is the ex Whangarei Flying Club machine that was damaged with only a few hours on the clock.  It has been rebuilt by David Truss of Tauranga and as you can see it is for sale.  It was flown up from Matamata for the Poker Run by Jim Lyver and his student.

Vans RV 12 ZK-YRV and A 32 Vixxen ZK-VHC were new to the Poker Run, both having been acquired by new owners recently (at Pukekohe and Whangarei respectively).

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Greg Van Der Hulst flew up from Rangiora in his Jabiru J230 ZK-CPA2 for one of his regular trips North, so why not enter the Poker Run?

Wanaka Sunday the 24th.

 Sunday at Wanaka was one of those 'hard to get the light right' days.

Air Milford 2000 Ltd's Cessna A185F ZK-ENW c/n A18503133 dropped in from Queenstown with a pilot to pick up their Cessna C208 Caravan ZK-SKM c/n 20800581. Then both departed for Queenstown.

The Cessna 172S ZK-FIG c/n 172S9619 has been listed with Airplay 2016 Ltd since 2-10-2020.

The Glenorchy Air Services and Tourist Co Ltd's Daher Kodiak 100 ZK-KDI c/n 100-0313 was listed to them on 18-10-2024.

Its delivery flight was covered HERE

A few from Wanaka on Saturday 23-11-2024

 A small collection of the action at Wanaka on Saturday the 23rd.

The Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HWJ4 c/n 1124 has been listed with Wanaka Helicopters Ltd since 23-02-2024.

(As MRC mentioned "Very patriotic").

The Andrew Meighan Cessna A185F ZK-DOC c/n 18502318 just arrived from its Omaka base.

Cessna U206F ZK-ERQ c/n U20601738 has been listed with the Western Flying Group from Thornbury, Southland, since 18-09-2024.

And the latest addition, from 24-06-2024, to the Southern Alps Air Ltd's fleet is the Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-ZEA c/n GA8-06-102.

Tecnam P 92 Echo Mk II ZK-OAJ

The New Zealand Tecnam agent, Neil Ross, has sent in a photo of the latest P 92 Echo Mk II to be registered here being assembled at the NZ Airline Academy engineering base at Oamaru:

ZK-OAJ (c/n 1761) was registered to the Otago Aero Club at Taieri on 25/10/24.  It will join Tecnam P 2008 ZK-OAC4 and Vans RV 12 ZK-OPT in their fleet.

The NZAA engineering base will be very busy for the next little while as they have another 9 Tecnams to assemble!

Gore on November 17th.

Gore also produced an interesting variety of aircraft on November the 17th..

Alan Caldwell from Edendale was on site with his Tecnam P2008 UL ZK-ZZD c/n 056.

First registered n NZ on 29-05-2013 - with Alan taking it over from 19-11-2020.

           The Tecnam P92 Echo MkII ZK-EAZ c/n 1689 has been listed with the Gore Aero Club since 04-04-2023.

Parking up after a day in the field was the Mackenzie Aviation Ltd's Air Tractor AT-402B ZK-RUR2 c/n 402B-1022. 

This is on lease from Rural Aerial Co-op in the North Island and moved South to be listed with Mackenzie Aviation from 15-10-2023. 

Down from Taieri was Gary Montagu and a colleague in his Alpi Aviation Pioneer 300 ZK-LPT c/n 255 to get rated on the local Clubs Tecnam P92 Echo pending the delivery of the Otago Aero Clubs new P92 ZK-OAJ - due for delivery next week.

Still lurking about is the Walter powered Fletcher FU24-950 ZK-LAC c/n 157 as listed with Skywagon Ltd of Kerikeri.

Mandeville on the 17th November

 A visit to Mandeville on November 17th was rewarded with a chance to have a good look around.

Of interest (to me) was the Rans S-6S ZK-LDB c/n 11111951 as listed with Lindsay Baird of Otautau since 10-05-2013.

The De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth NZ1459 would indicate that it is in fact ZK-BRB c/n DHNZ139.

This is coming along nicely having been inactive for some years.

It has been registered to Graham Levitt of Canberra ACT since 01-03-2010.

The Yeoman YA-1 250R Srs II Cropmaster ZK-CTX c/n 120 in all its glory following a major rebuild. For previous posts on this airframe see HERE.

Alexandra back on the 16th November

 At Alexandra back on November 17th the Cessna R172K ZK-XPD c/n R1723235 of the Central Otago Flying Club Inc was giving air experience flights to the local Air Training Corps camp attendees.

The Best of Skyranger Swift ZK-SCT c/n 796 was listed to John McCaul of Christchurch on 04-12-2023 which he keeps in his Alexandra hangar. 

His Tecnam P2004 Bravo ZK-JTB is kept in his Rangiora hangar.

I originally noticed the Swift in tail wheel mode back in 2011.  See HERE

Boeing 737-83N VH-AN2 of Air Nauru at Christchurch.

 Boeing 737-83N VH-AN2 c/n 30660 and line number 1330 was captured at Christchurch on the 20th by Tony McFarlin.

First flown by Boeing as N331TZ on 17-05-2003 before heading out on lease to ATA Airlines from 09-2003. A lease to SpiceJet from 04-2006 saw it registered as VT-SPH, followed by another lease from 05-2012 as HL8268 with T'Way Airlines. From 06-2023 it was registered as LY-FBI until becoming VH-AN2 from 18-12-2023 registered to Nauru Leasing Corporation for operations by Nauru Air Corporation.

From Christchurch it headed away to Brisbane, Nauru, Tarawa and Majuro.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter at Auckland Hospital Heliport

I had cause yesterday to be down nearby Auckland hospital in the early evening (again!).  I took my camera just in case and I was rewarded with a rescue helicopter parked at the heliport outside the Starship hospital:

Kawasaki B117 B-2 ZK-HKZ3 was resplendent in the very late sun.  It is registered to Northern Rescue Helicopter Ltd of Whangarei.  After a lot of waiting around, unfortunately I had to leave before it took off.

Ex Fieldair Beaver in Sydney October 1999

Murray Kirkus has sent in a photo he took in a hangar at Bankstown Airport in October 1999, and which he has wondered about ever since:

It is the rear fuselage of a Fieldair Beaver on which has been written VH-BRF.  It never made it to VH-BRF and Murray has asked a long shot question - which Beaver is it?  Can any Beaver experts out there help?

Cessna TU206 ZK-SUY

 The Cessna TU206G VH-KPG2 c/n U20605696 arrived into Nelson from Auckland and points west on 13-11-2024.

As N5380X it arrived in Australia to become VH-AWR3 from 01-08-1980 and was re-registered to VH-KPG2 on 07-12-1998. It has spent much of its later life in the aerial survey role with FUGRO. 

It was registered privately to Gerald Lappin of Morwell, Victoria on 17-05-2024.

It was photographed above at long range at Nelson by Lord Nelson on the 15th - the same date as it was registered in NZ as ZK-SUY to Landpro Ltd of Cromwell - I believe certified by Aero Solutions NZ Ltd of Nelson.

Belated Ardmore report from Auckland.

 Back on the 3rd of November Allister Jenks kindly sent me some picks taken at Auckland International and Ardmore Airports.

Due to serious technical problems with this traveling laptop (a poor workman always blames his tools) I have not been able to post photos.Above 
 Does size have right ?
Air NZ's Boeing 777-319ER ZK-OKR c/n 44546 trundles along with the Beech A36 ZK-ACO2 c/n E1896 of R Leach and D Paterson.

Over at Ardmore we have the one engined Douglas DC-3 ZK-DAK c/n 26480 of Flight 2000 Ltd.

And the Buckley Air Ltd's Piper Aerostar 600 ZK-MVY c/n 60-0649-7961216 was parked outside its hangar.

Carbon Cub ZK-SCH/2

The Cub Crafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub ZK-SCH2 c/n CC11-00443 for Steve Lyttle of Timaru was coming together nicely at AVTEK, Timaru when I visited on November 4th.

It was registered on 13-11-2024.

Steve has been aviating for some years and has operated several gliders including LS4's ZK-GMT and ZK-GMU. the DG400's ZK-GOM, ZK-GQP and ZK-GWW - the ASW20 ZK-GRA plus the Zlin Savage ZK-LAP.

He also currently lists the Alpi Pioneer 300 ZK-SJL. 

Whilst Holly lists the Carbon Cub ZK-CSS and the Grob 103 glider ZK-GNE.

Yak 52 ZK-RUS/2 at Kaipara Flats

Yesterday at Kaipara Flats airfield it was a bit too windy for the microlights but not for Brett Hempell's "new" Yak 52 ZK-RUS2 which flew up from North Shore to do a modern version of a compass swing on the grass.

This Yak was originally built in 1989 in Romania with the Russian registration RA-02956, moved onto the UK briefly in March 2005 as G-CBPX before settling in South Africa in October 2005 as ZU-RUS.  It was imported into NZ in early 2024.

After a coffee Brett and Christoph climbed aboard for the start procedure.

The Yak is called "Russian Thunder".

Then it was back to North Shore.  A very colourful aircraft!

What Goes Up Must Come Down

A couple of days ago I posted about the Airscapade DC 3 ZK-JGB flying past Warkworth up to Kerikeri.

Well today it flew back down South past Warkworth again.  This time I heard it coming and it was again quite low, so I had time to get my camera and take a photo of it.  very nice to have a DC 3 fly over.

Look out for it at points further South.

Tecnam P2002 Sierra RG ZK-TZS in New Colours.

Tecnam Sierra RG ZK-TZS is the ex John Crone machine that was sold to Gilson Silviero of Queenstown on 18/2/24.  He has given it a major birthday with a refurbished cockpit and the latest factory Tecnam P2002 colour scheme (although it is not a Mk II):

Gilson Silviero posted this photo of ZK-TZS on Facebook and it looks very smart.

And a reminder of how it used to look, parked under the late lamented Raglan trees on a lunch stop in February 2020.

Silverer Shadow ZK-STK

Noted at Taieri on Tuesday the 12th was the Zenair CH701 STOL ZK-STK2 c/n 7-9507 which has been listed with Thomas Hoefner of Green Island., Dunedin since importation from Germany in 2012.

It has a small cargo pod beneath and is also fitted with a ballistic parachute.

An earlier post on this aircraft can be seen here HERE.

A Look Back at Beaver ZK-BMF

Back in July I posted the history of Beaver ZK-BMF as part of my series on topdressing Beavers in New Zealand.  In that post I posted a black and white photo of ZK-BMF as a Hawker Siddeley demonstration aircraft which I said was painted with a blue fuselage stripe with a dark blue lower fuselage.  This was corrected in a comment where Anonymous advised that the lower fuselage was painted maroon.

To confirm this, Murray Kirkus has sent in a colour photo of ZK-BMF taken at Rongotai in October or November 1959.  Thanks very much for the photo Murray.

I have gone back to my original post and corrected it and inserted this photo.

DC 3 ZK-JGB Heading North

I just saw the Airscapade DC 3 ZK-JGB flying quite low North over Warkworth.  I wonder what that is about?

Armistice Day Remembrance 2024

Armistice Day  marked the end of World War 1 back on 11th of November 1918.  Given the rich New Zealand history in WW 1 including the recent rise of the WW 1 original and replica aircraft here, it is appropriate to mark the 106th anniversary:

One of the Allied types that was in service at the end of WW 1 was the Sopwith Snipe.  This accurate replica of an early model of Snipe was built by The Vintage Aviator for Kermit Weeks and was registered as ZK-SBT back on 8/8/11.  It is powered by an original Bentley rotary engine.  It is now in Kermit Weeks collection in Florida as N6313S.

Pietenpol Air Camper ZK-BZY

I was talking to Paul Waterhouse yesterday and telling him about the blog.  Try searching for ZK-BZY I told him so he did and came back with "it's not there!"  Dang!  So I asked Paul for a nice pic of it and here it is:

Paul made a really nice job of his Pietenpol ZK-BZY2 (c/n PCW001) which he registered on 13/12/21.  Unfortunately Paul suffered a whoopsie on landing and overturned on John Hansen's strip near Te Awamutu on 26/3/22 but he is rebuilding the aircraft with learnings from the whoopsie, and he told me it is nearly ready to fly again.

Paul's Pietenpol should really be the first ZK-BZY I reckon but there is an interesting story about the first issue of ZK-BZY.  That was an Enzeduce 1 which was a man powered aircraft that was designed by B Little and F Lindsey of Auckland and the registration ZK-BZY was allotted on 20/3/61.  But building was never commenced and it was cancelled on 3/10/69 as Construction Abandoned.

Thanks very much for the photo Paul.  Welcome aboard.

Two new Tecnams at Oamaru.

A quick drop into the New Zealand Airline Academy at Oamaru Airport found their two latest Tecnam P2008 JC's in Action.

Above is ZK-NYF which is c/n 1330.

Below is ZK-NYG with c/n 1331.This brings the Academy's fleet up to18 aircraft.

Acro Sport ZK-YKS at Ashburton.

 Hartz Super (EAA) Acro Sport N19ED     Update

 The EAA Acro Sport N19ED c/n 18 was built by Edwin H Hartz of Green Valley, Arizona and registered as a Hartz Super Acro Sport on 17-07-1978 and gained its Airworthiness certificate on 27-05-1980.

Ed was very active in aerobatic competitions in the early years with the aircraft.

He moved to New Zealand, and I believe had a farm in the Te Anau area, where he built a hangar and airstrip for this aircraft. A change of address to Te Anau was listed on 15-07-2017.

 I don't believe he flew it all that much in NZ.

N19ED above in its hangar at Te Anau about mid 2021.

Ed's other and perhaps more active hobby was as an amateur (ham) radio operator, gaining his ticket in 1961 - I think as K8VIR. 
He continued this hobby mainly as ZL41R up until his passing in March of 2021. He was also an avid fly fisherman.
The aircraft was reported as sold on 30-09-2022 and was cancelled from the US register on 02-12-2022 and is now in the hands of Kevin Langford at Ashburton for its NZ certification for a 'Private Owner'.

The photo below was taken at Ashburton by roving reported CMM on 22-07-2023.

It was registered as ZK-YKS on 20-10-2023.

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Below.

I caught up ZK-YKS at Ashburton on Sunday the 3rd whilst it was having a compass swing.

Now proudly displaying its NZ 'YKS' markings and still carrying its old US markings of N19ED on its rudder minus the national letter 'N'.

It also has the US flag on the rear fuselage and 'Snoopy' on both sides of the upper rudder.

NICE.