Merlin in town

 Two of Merlin Labs NZ Ltd's aircraft arrived into Christchurch International Airport on Thursday the 29th of January.   Australian registered Cessna 208B Grand Caravan VH-WZY c/n 1035 ferried over from Gold Coast, Queensland via Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands on 09-01-2026, reaching Auckland and Ardmore on the 10th. 

It arrived at Christchurch from Kerikeri via Blenheim the 28th and Christchurch (see comment below) on Thursday the 29th. It moved on today (31st) to Hokitika and Franz Josef.

This is a 2005 model initially listed in the US as N5058J followed by N421YC before taking up VH-ZGS on 28-10-2005. It was transferred to VH -WZY on 14-09-2006 and spent most of its time with Lip Air, West Wing Aviation and Skytrans - all in Queensland.
Then followed a private owner with a transfer to operator Merlin Labs on 28-01-2026 with it remaining on the Australian register.

Also at Christchurch is the Cessna TU206F Turbo Stationair ZK-MLP c/n U206-02397 which has been with Merlin Labs of Paraparaumu since 14-11-2022.

This has had a varied career since 1974 -serving time in the USA, then in Lesotho, Kenya and South Africa. It became ZK-OAY on 15-03-1999 and after several operators was acquired by Merli Labs from 16-09-2022 and re-registered as ZK-MLP on 14-11-2022.

Rangiora swap over today - Friday 30th

 From the North, with a stop over at Whanganui, came the Piper PA-28 -181 Cherokee Archer II       ZK-EBQ c/n 28-7690458. It later departed for Alexandra.
ZK-EBQ was first registered in NZ to Airwork (NZ) Ltd at Ardmore on 21-10-1976 having been built in the States as N9633N. 
It took up with the Southern Districts Aero Club at Gore on 03-03-1977 until becoming part of the Southland Aero Club on 01-12-1999 and the Southland Aviation College Ltd on 22-02-2001.
This in turn became Southern Wings Ltd on 02-04-2002.
Southern Wings Ltd set up a branch at Ardmore in August of 2014.

From the South, direct from Invercargill, came the Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II ZK-MIL c/n 28-869035. It later departed for Omaka and Ardmore.

Ten years younger - ZK-MIL was originally listed with the Piper Aircraft Company at Lock Haven as N169AV and N9094L. After six US operators it was exported to NZ to become ZK-MIL from 07-06-1995 with D & C Croft of Kamo.

It went to the Southland Aero Club at Invercargill from 24-12-1996. This became the Southland Aviation College Ltd from 22-02-2001, and then Southern Wings Ltd from 02-04-2002.

Ten Thousand Posts! and a New H 130 Helicopter

WOO HOO!  This post is number TEN THOUSAND since the NZ Civair blog was first published in December 2007.  You can have a look at the first post HERE

The blog was set up by Mike Condon (MRC Aviation) and other contributors over the 18 years have included Blue Bus, Greybeard, AVI8OR, Flyernzl, AgAirNZ, Minicooper, Richard Currie and I used the handle Sir Minty for many years.  My apologies if I have missed any contributing posters - let me know and I can add to this post.  Thanks also to the many other people who have sent in photos to be posted  Although ten thousand posts is a great milestone we will carry on and if anyone else wants to join as a posting contributor contact Dave Paull whose email is in the heading photo.

And so to the subject of this post:  Yesterday I was down at North Shore and I called into the Rosedale heliport where a new bright red Airbus H 130 helicopter was out in the sun:

ZK-IEH3 (c/n 7939) was registered to Inflite Ltd earlier this month.  It is great to see a brightly coloured H 130 as although most of the others have subtle colours they mostly all seem to be black to me.

Actually the fortuitous sighting of this helicopter nicely book-ends the ten thousand posts as the very first photo posted was of a bright yellow Eurocopter EC 130 helicopter, ZK-HPV4.  In that original post Mike Condon noted that this bought the New Zealand population of these machines to one dozen.  And Richard Currie advises that there are now 46 of these machines (of various versions) on the register.

A Line Up of Biplanes at Kaipara Flats Today 28-1-2026

One of  our Rodney Aero Club members, David Signal, has some really nice video equipment and he arranged to do a bit of vintage aircraft videoing at Kaipara Flats in the nice weather today.  I am more of a stills guy and before the flying we lined up some of the Kaipara Flats vintage aircraft fleet for a photoshoot:

The line up consisted of Isaacs Fury ZK-JHR, and de Havillands: Tiger Moth ZK-CCQ, Fox Moth ZK-APT, Tiger Moth ZK-ATM2 and Tiger Moth ZK-ASM.

Also in Bruce Lynch's hangar were his Miles Messenger ZK-AKE2 and his Aeronca ZK-AMW2, but we kept it to biplanes on the day..

Savannah S ZK-MOB at Paraparaumu on 26-1-2026

Savannah's keep on coming and Jordan Elvy was at Paraparaumu yesterday to photograph one of the latest:

ZK-MOB (c/n 22-09-54-0894) was registered on 5/6/24 to Viella Ltd of Masterton.

Thanks for the photo Jordan.

Some of the Last NZICPA Aircraft at Wanganui on 18-1-2026

With the imminent takeover of the NZ International Commercial Pilot Academy facilities at Wanganui by the Oamaru based NZ Airline Academy, there were a lot of NZICPA aircraft perked out at Wanganui when the Aero Club held their open day on Sunday 18 January.  Tim Gorman photographed them and several of their aircraft have not appeared on the blog wearing the NZICPA tail logo and script (although all have been covered in their previous lives here), so for posterity here they are:

Cessna 172S ZK-CAA2 has been with NZICPA since September 2019

Cessna 172S ZK-CTQ3 has been with NZICPA since July 2022.

Diamond DA 20 ZK-DAF2 has been with NZICPA since December 2023.

Cessna 172S ZK-KOL has been with NZICPA since May 2022.

Cessna 172R ZK-NPJ has been with NZICPA since December 2019.

And Diamond DA 40 ZK-TTC has only been with NZICPA since December 2023.

While having another look at the NZICPA logo I realised there is an aircraft at the top of the fern.

And finally from a recent news report it seems that NZICPA will continue to operate for a time at Wanganui, based at the Aero Club.

Thanks very much for taking the photos Tim.

Another View of Supermarine Spitfire Mk 26B ZK-CPN/2

 Brian Greenwood was also at Oxford last Sunday when the new Spitfire Mk 26B made an appearance:

ZK-CPN2 is registered as a Supermarine Aircraft (Australia) Spitfire Mk 26B Replica., making it our fourth Spitfire Mk 26B model as well as one Mk 26 and one Mk 25.  You can see details of them HERE

Thanks for the photo Brian.

USAF Gulfstream C37B 18-1942 into Christchurch on the 23rd.

 Gulfstream 550 GV-SP or C-37B of the U S Air Force, serial number 18-1942, dropped into Christchurch ex Wellington and Canberra on Friday the 23rd January 2026.

Built by Gulfstream Aerospace it was registered with their oft used test registration of N586GA and with the c/n 5586 and an airworthiness date of 03-12-2018. 

This registration was cancelled on 07-10-2019 and it was inducted into the US Air Force as 18-1942 and delivered to Andrews Air Force Base on 20-12-2019.

It originally carried its 18-1942 serial number on its fin.

It departed from Christchurch and headed offshore in the north easterly direction this morning (24th).

Another Tony McFarlin photo capture.

Oxford 'Wings With Wheels' last Sunday # 1

 The Oxford regions Lions Club held its now annual Wings With Wheels last Sunday - January 18th.
The weather was not brilliant with the rain ceasing just prior to the 10am opening - and started again early afternoon.
Over twenty aircraft were noted.
Here we have a small selection of them.

Tony Den Haan was in from Cust with his third ICP Savannah S ZK-BIC3 c/n 19-09-54-0686.

Just as the rain started again this Supermarine Spitfire Mk26B Replica suddenly appeared over the field but did not land.

In desperation I poked my camera at it and got a couple very long distance shots of it.

Above is an edited view which shows it to have been Gary Cotterell in his ZK-CPN2 c/n 85 which only came onto the register on 30-09-2025.

It carries the RAF serial of the Spitfire MkVB BL384 and the squadron markings BP of 457 squadron and aircraft letter N.

It also has the Donald Duck nose art as flown by John Gibson in early 1942.

For more detail on the original Spitfire - check it out on GOOGLE.

Returning to a new owner at Rangiora recently was this ICP Savannah XL ZK-CVK2 c/n 10-7-51-916.

Imported from West Australia in 2015 for the South Eyre Trust, it migrated north in April of 2019 to Stephen Williams of Auckland.

It returned to Rangiora in December for Gerard Coulson in December last.

An earlier post on ZK-CVK can be seen HERE

Gerard also operated the Jabiru J120 ZK-MLA.

          "B" is the R & B Bearhawk ZK-NSB c/n 1578B as built by Neville Bailey and operated as 'Bearhawk Bravo'.

Oxford 'Wings With Wheels' last Sunday. #2

 The annual Lions Club Oxford Wheels With Wings fly in on a private airstrip on the outskirts of town took place last Sunday January the 18th.

Over twenty aircraft arrived in less than perfect weather.

The old familiar MacDonald Syndicate Auster 5D ZK-BGU c/n 1757 attracted a good number of viewers, which required a certain amount of patients to get a people free photograph.

It has been briefly mentioned several times previously Here

Karl West of West Aero Engineering with his Cessna 180A ZK-BVG c/n 50068 was center stage and received much attention from the locals.

Mentioned previously HERE

The only Piper PA-14 Family Cruiser on the NZ aircraft register is ZK-BZL c/n 14-132 - previously mentioned HERE

It joined its current listed owner CNC Aviation of Eyrewell in December of 2023.

Roy Hill's real tidy Fletcher FU24-950 ZK-EGS c/n 241 has been based nearby since late 2024.

Prior to this it has been North Island based since its creation. 

It has received multi mentions previously HERE

The average age of these four aircraft is knocking on 69 years.

With ZK-EGS being the pup at a young 49 years.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Pterodactyls (4) - Ascenders of 1983

The 1983 registered Pterodactyl Ascenders were mainly the original single seat models but there was one Ascender II and one interesting Ascender II+2.  The Ascender II+ was an improved single seater for larger pilots with larger tube spars for the wing that was introduced in the US in1982.  The Ascender II+2 was a two seat version with an off centre side seat and frame for the second crew member that was removable, and there was a counter weight on the opposite wingtip to the second seat, to balance the aircraft..

There were 13 Pterodactyl Ascenders registered here in 1983 as follows:

This aircraft was the prototype Pterodactyl Ascender II+2 that was built in the US by Jack McCornack and imported into New Zealand for a film called "Flying Light" that was filmed around Sweetwaters in 1983 and for which Jack McCornack came here to take part in.  The film was completed and distributed.

This is a photo of Jack McCornack flying in New Zealand (it must be in ZK-FFH) and the photo shows how the second seat was slung alongside the pilot in the Ascender II+2 and the control stick was in the centre.

This is another interesting Ascender as Bruce Reay flew it extensively around South Westland and Fiordland, mostly on floats.  I will cover some of his adventures in a later post.

In the meantime, if any readers have photos of any of the above aircraft that we do not have photos of, please send them in and I will add them to the post.

Spotted at Oxford last Sunday.

 

I just happened to be at Oxford last Sunday afternoon and this appeared - not out of the blue - but out of the very dull sky and the commencement of the rain.

Lovely.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Pterodactyls (3) - a Ptiger

The Pterodactyl Ptiger was developed from the Ascender II+ and featured a fibreglass tub which replaced the basic Ascender airframe, and a wingspan that was reduced by 4 feet to 29 feet.  And as a result it could reach 75 mph in level flight instead of the 45 mph cruise of the Ascender.  It was powered by the same Cuyuna 430R engine as the Ascender.  We have only had one Ptiger registered in New Zealand and I will include it here because it was registered in 1982: 

Murray Hagen told me that he did some agricultural work in the Ptiger, spreading cobalt prills.to promote stock health.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Pterodactyls (2) - Ascenders of 1982

The single seat Pterodactyl Ascender was developed in the late 1970s by Jack McCornack in California, from the rigid wing Manta Fledge hang glider via the Fledgeling ultralight as I have detailed in a previous post..

The specifications for the basic Ascender were:  wingspan 33 feet (10.06 metres) although some versions had shorter wings, length 16 feet 8 inches (5.08 metres), wing area 16.07 square metres, empty weight around 235 pounds (106 Kg) and MAUW 535 pounds (232 Kg).  The cruising speed was 45 mph and the stall speed was around 25 mph.  The usual engine was a 2 cylinder 2 stroke geared (2.2:1) Cuyuna 430R which produced around 30 HP.  Because the engine was geared and the gearbox stuck upwards, it could run a 54 inch propeller (compared to the direct drive Cuyuna 430D engine of the Fledgeling which could only run a 36 inch prop).  And with the bigger prop it had a spectacular rate of climb, hence it was called an Ascender.

Pterodactyl Ascenders were initially registered here at a fast rate.  After ZK-ESS in December 1981, 16 more were registered in 1982, as follows: (I have added photos where we have them - if blog readers have any more photos of Pterodactyls please send them in).