Auster J1B Aiglet ZK-AWY

 In the 1950's the New Zealand agents for Auster Aircraft was British Aircraft Ltd of Wellington who imported at least sixteen Auster aircraft.

One of these was the Auster J1B Aiglet c/n 2668 which became ZK-AWY on 01-06-1951 before being issued with a CofA on 19-05-1951 and placed briefly to J P Hunt of Wanaka and then on to Southern Scenic Air Services Ltd of Queenstown from 23-01-1952.

Above is a photo of ZK-AWY at Glenorchy in May of 1953, taken by Jacke Browne.

Obviously, no hopper at this stage.

It had a heavy landing at Mount Nicholas Station on 25-02-1955 and was freighted back to Frankton Airfield on the MV Moana for repairs.

ZK-AWY aboard the MV Moana standing off near Frankton late February 1955.

It had another incident at Bell Hill Station, Canterbury, on 05-12-1958.

From early July of 1959 Southern Aviation Ltd of Gore had the use of it until it was returned to Southern Scenic Air Service Ltd from 07-03-1960.

The next lucky owner was J F Sutherland of Greenstone, up the western side of Lake Wakatipu from November of 1960.

Ray Goulden of Christchurch had it for a while in about the mid 1960's followed by B W J Squire of Timaru from early May of 1967.

And the unlucky final owner was John Young of Wanaka from mid September of 1967.

On 10-11-1967 it was parked near the Southland Aero Club buildings at Invercargill when it was dramatically overturned by the wind.

Three views of the Auster in the upright position.

Nothing that a good cut and polish wouldn't fix.

John went on to operate at least another eleven aircraft up until 2004.