Homebuilt and Sport Helicopters of New Zealand - Castiglioni Dragon Fly 333 ZK-HLD/2

Following on from my series on Homebuilt and Sport Helicopters of New Zealand, I have become aware of a new type that I did not know about - a case of you don't know what you don't know.  This was the Castiglioni Dragon Fly 333 ZK-HLD2.

The Castiglioni Dragon Fly 333 was an ultralight utility helicopter that was developed by twin brothers Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni in the 1990s for their personal use in archeological exploration.  Two prototype single seat versions were built and flown in 1989 and these were followed by the 2 seat production version.  It is of all metal construction with an enclosed pod and tubular tailboom and it was powered by a 4 cylinder 105 HP Hirth F30.A2 two stroke engine which gave a cruise speed of around 70 mph (60 knots).  Length is 7.68 metres (25 feet 10 inches) and the rotor diameter is 6.70 metres (22 feet).  Its empty weight is quoted as 260 Kg (573 pounds) and MAUW is 500 Kg (1,100 pounds). 

The Dragon Fly 333 has been developed into the Dragon Fly 334 and has also been produced as a drone.

ZK-HLD2 (c/n 012-94) was registered to Dragon Fly Helicopter Sales Ltd of Patumahoe on 2/3/95.  It may have been operated by Jim Campbell of national Park for a time, and it was also on line with the Ardmore Flying School for a time.  On 21/12/95 its ownership changed to the Dragonfly Syndicate (M Poole) of Mt Wellington in Auckland.  Then on 14/3/97 it was cancelled as Withdrawn at Patumahoe - can anyone advise what happened to it?.  

So it didn't last long, but fortunately Bob Kerr photo'd it at Ardmore in December 1994.