Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Pioneering North Cape to Bluff Flight in February 1982

Shortly after the first microlights were registered by CAA, three early microlight pilots planned a pioneering flight from North Cape to Bluff by microlight.  The three were Ken Asplin and Trevor Barrett from Hamilton and Marty Waller from Auckland.  Ken and Trevor were Kiwis while Marty Waller was an American who came to New Zealand with the Quicksilver agency, and with his business partner Tommy Namais they formed Pacific Sails Ltd.

Ken Asplin and Trevor Barrett both flew Ultraflight Mirages and all three were among the first microlights to be registered in New Zealand.  Ken’s machine was ZK-KJA (MAANZ/011), Trevor’s machine was ZK-ESQ (MAANZ/013) and Marty Waller flew his Quicksilver MX ZK-MRW (MAANZ/010).

The epic journey began on 7 February 1982 at North Cape and the trio completed the journey in 60 hours flying time, finishing up in Bluff on 27 February.  Here is an article that appeared in The Press newspaper at that time:

 Three microlight aircraft pilots – Trevor Barrett, Martin Waller and Kenneth Asplin – completed the last leg of a flight from North Cape to Bluff on Thursday.  People have walked, cycled, and ridden horses the length of New Zealand but few would have felt these pilots’ exhilaration

 You pull the stick back and feel yourself lift into the sky and the smooth air said Mr Barrett.  Then it’s the wind rushing past your cheek and throbbing in your eardrums – what he called “back to basics flying”.

 There are no gauges or cockpits on the microlights and navigational aids were not necessary because right down the country it was a matter of following the roads or the coastline.

 The trio completed the journey in 60 hours flying time.  They began their flight from Cape Reinga on February 7 and the last leg from Gore was like a carnival of flying machines in the sky.  The microlight plane trio had been joined by Murray Hagen in his Pterodactyl and the pilot of a motorized hang-glider or “trike” as it is known in the trade.  The five all taxied across the paddock together and rose effortlessly into the air.

 The three pilots had a good time in the air.  They took pictures, waved to one another, and evolved a system of sign language.  When it was time for “smoko” they hailed one another and chose a paddock to land in.

 The view is beautiful and you have a fabulous feeling of peace said Mr Barrett.

 The Press, 27 February 1982.

Bob Kerr, an aviation historian and photographer took photos of two of the three North Cape to Bluff  Mirage microlights during a stopover at Timaru on 23 February 1982:

Ken Asplin’s Mirage ZK-KJA (c/n MAANZ/011) with 10 Draught Beer sponsorship which was also applied under the wings.  I understand from another source that none of the three microlights carried registrations under their wings, and the white colour of the Mirage and the sponsorship logos raises the possibility that this was a bespoke set of sailcloth covers.

And here is Trevor Barrett’s Mirage ZK-ESQ (c/n MAANZ/013).

And a photo of Marty Waller's Quicksilver MX (c/n MAANZ/010) , taken later at Pikes Pont.

The MAANZ constructors number system started at MAANZ/010 which like the AACA system may have allowed for earlier microlight aircraft constructors that came before 1981 (even Richard Pearse?!).