Another Visit to NZKF by Airbus ACH 145 ZK-HPB/9

The impressive Airbus MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopter ZK-HPB9 flew into Kaipara Flats airfield this afternoon with Sir Peter Beck up front.  While registered as a MBB-BK117 it is badged as an  ACH 145 which is its model name for Airbus Helicopters.

It came for Sir Peter to inspect another of his projects that had been built by a Warkworth engineering firm.  Look out for the finished project at Alexandra airfield sometime.

Rangiora on Tuesday afternoon - the 21st of July.

 A very cool afternoon at Rangiora on Tuesday the 21st found the Schweizer 269C ZK-HKF3 c/n S1388 working the circuit.

First noted on the UK register as G-GREJ in July of 1989 with CSE Aviation of Kidlington. It was damaged on 02-07-1991 and cancelled the following month.

It next popped up in New Zealand with Keith Broady of Motueka who reworked it to become ZK-HGJ2 from 02-07-1992. By mid 2022 it was with Mid West Helicopters (NZ) Ltd.

They re-registered it as ZK-HKF3 on 23-03-2023.

It arrived in inland Canterbury in July of 2024 with NZ Helicopter Training Academy Markings.

Arriving in from Woodbourne and Ardmore was the Britten-Norman BN2A-6 Islander ZK-SFK c/n 236 
First flown in the UK with the BN Ltd.'s test registration of G-51-236 on 30-10-1970. It served about four years in Belgium as OO-GVS before sneaking down to Australia to become VH-CPG in March of 1975.
It crossed the Ditch via Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands to arrive in Auckland on 28-09-1993 for Southflight Aviation Ltd of Christchurch. In November of 2000 it moved to Wings Over Whales Ltd at Kaikoura, followed by Commercial Helicopters/Fly My Sky from mid 2005.
Current owner/operator since August of 2021 are Auckland Seaplanes/Island/Island Air of Auckland.

Cessna 182Q ZK-XLT (c/n 18266451) was built in 1978 and served three years in the States as N94591 before spending the best part of nine years in Canada as C-GTHW. Then followed three years in Australia as VH-XLT. 

It powered into Wellington on 17-12-1992 and became ZK-XLT on 28-01-1993 for Opiki Cropping Ltd of Wellington before going on line with the Wellington Aero Club from 18-05-1994. 

Jawline Ltd of Palmerston North took it over from 19-11-1999 and then it dithered around at Ardmore for a couple of months before DTI listed it from December of 2001. Next in line was the Northland Aero Club at Whangarei in December 2002 with a move to Simon Barradell in July of 2005 and David Saunders of Auckland from January 2014.

Since April this year it has been with the Antebus Trust of North Canterbury, but has spent some time picketed at Rangiora.

Topdressing DC 3s (6) - ZK-AZA

 The next of our topdressing DC 3s was James Aviation's ZK-AZA:

ZK-AZA at Ardmore on 31/3/73 (above) and on 9/11/75 (below)

Douglas C-47B-20-DK  (c/n 15699/27144)

Built by The Douglas Aircraft Co, Oklahoma City, OK with 2x 1200HP 14-cyl R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engines, as 43-49883 

16 Jan 1945 USAAF diverted through “Lend-Lease” 

Exported to New Zealand flown 

NZ3531 19 Feb 1945 RNZAF Unit 19, Whenuapai. 

 RNZAF 40 Sqn, Whenuapai. Withdrawn from use 24 May 1946 storage . Struck Off Charge 31 May 1947. 

ZK-AZA 17 Sep 1951 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington, named “Parera” NZ Certificate of Airworthiness 16 Oct 1951 Converted to passenger configuration at Palmerston North 11 Aug 1952 Exported to Fiji as VQ-FAJ 1963 for Fiji Airways Ltd, Suva 

Exported back to New Zealand Converted to Skyliner configuration at Christchurch 6 Sep 1963 as “Skyliner Rotorua” 

Exported again to Fiji as VQ-FBF 29 Sep 1967 Fiji Airways Ltd, Suva @ 27,907 hours Flight Time

DQ-FBF 31 Jul 1971 Air Pacific Ltd, Suva cancelled 31 Oct 1972 

Exported back to New Zealand again, flown to Auckland 8 Oct 1972 

ZK-AZA 14 Dec 1972 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington 

1 Feb 1973 James Aviation Ltd,   Hamilton (delivered 5 Mar 1973) Converted to topdresser Last flight as a topdresser 1 Oct 1979 @ 35,565 hours Flight Time. 

27 Jul 1983 Dwen Airmotive Ltd, Ardmore cancelled 11 Oct 1983 Most of airframe broken up at Ardmore Nov 1983 Some parts including at least one engine & prop were exported to Aitutaki, Cook Islands for use as a “hurricane” maker for the film “The Silent Ones”. Engines sold and removed off island. Some remains still on Aitutaki.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Skycraft Scouts (5) - ZK-FGK to ZK-FSS

Carrying on with our Skycraft Scouts of which these are the the 26th to the 40th examples out of 49 that have been registered.  As we go on with New Zealand microlights we will cover models with smaller numbers (except for 2 seat Quicksilvers and Bantams!).

ZK-FGK (c/n MAANZ/213) Registered 18 Nov 1983 to D. G. Spencer, Aokautere, then  26 Aug 1985 L. R. Cameron, Foxton ($4,700), then 9 Nov 1987 C. D. Hercock, Palmerston North.  Cancelled 18 May 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FGM (c/n MAANZ/214) Registered 18 Nov 1983 to A. B. Jenkins, Christchurch.  Cancelled 11 Jun 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FGN (c/n MAANZ/231) Registered 11 Jan 1984 to M. J. Charles, Murchison, then 19 May 1987 Merv. R. Thompson and Mike C Beaven, Christchurch, then 23 Dec 1987 V. R. Chamberlain, Christchurch.  Cancelled 28 Aug 1990 as withdrawn from use and scrapped.

ZK-FIQ (c/n MAANZ/244) Registered 19 Apr 1984 to O. J. Craw, Duvauchelle, Banks Peninsula.  Cancelled 4 Sep 1996 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FIR (c/n MAANZ/250) Registered 30 Apr 1984 to Merv. R. Thompson, Christchurch, then 8 Dec 1986 S. D. Cairns, Nelson.  Flew into turbulence just after take-off, stalled in turn and crashed at Claxby, near Kaiapoi 3 Jan 1987 seriously injuring the pilot.   Cancelled 23 Aug 1989.

ZK-FJD (c/n MAANZ/267) Registered 18 Jun 1984 to W. W. Ridgley, Whangarei.  Cancelled 28 May 1998 registration revoked.

ZK-FJI c/n MAANZ/275)

Registered 26 Jun 1984 to Wayne B. Affleck, Invercargill. then 13 Jan 1986 William H. Johnstone, Otematata, then 7 Nov 1986 Stewart L. Kerr, Invercargill (later Dunedin). Hit and severed four power wires when flying after dusk from his own air strip then hit the ground heavily near Invercargill 21Feb 1989 Cancelled 3 Aug 1995 as withdrawn from use.  Re-registered 10 Feb 2023 to Ross. E. A. Brodie, Rolleston.  Currently airworthy at Rangitata Island.

ZK-FJM (c/n MAANZ/263) Registered 16 Jul 1984 to Affleck Aviation Ltd, Auckland (later Invercargill)(Wayne B. Affleck).  Cancelled 14 Jun 1995 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FJN (c/n MAANZ/281) Registered 29 Oct 1984 to D. P. Madden, Christchurch Exported to UK possibly as registered to D P Madden, Craven Hill Gardens London UK.  Cancelled 6 Jan 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FKG (c/n MAANZ/273) Registered 24 Dec 1984 to R. H. F. Conder, Wanganui, then 14 Mar 1985 F. M. Conder, Wanganui.  Crashed at Galatea (unknown date) Cancelled 10 Aug 1995 as destroyed. 

ZK-FKL (c/n 0136/651) Registered 24 Dec 1984 to to Z. L. MacDonald, Christchurch.  Cancelled 28 May 1998 as registration revoked.

ZK-FKQ (c/n 558)  Registered 31 Jan 1985 to Russel J. Kingan, Ashburton.  Cancelled 11 Jun 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FMJ (c/n 541)

Registered 7 Apr 1986 to M. D. Syme, Ashburton. Stalled and dived into ground near Temuka 14 Jul 1990 Cancelled 8 Jun 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FMN (c/n MAANZ/433)  Registered 26 Sep 1989 to Michael J. Ryan, Taradale (later Napier) Cancelled 1 Apr 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FSS (c/n 86012) Registered 1 Feb 1989 to S. J. Gatehouse, Christchurch later Wellington.  Cancelled 8 May 1998 as withdrawn from use.

 Obviously we don't have photos of a lot of these Scouts - can anyone out there help with Scout photos?

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Skycraft Scouts (4) - ZK-FCM to ZK-FFZ

 Continuing on with Skycraft Scouts registered in 1982 and 1983:

ZK-FCM c/n MAANZ/110)

Registered 23 Aug 1982 to Mike C. Beaven & Merv R. Thompson, Christchurch.  Engine stopped and overturned after landing at Hilderthorpe 25 Apr 1983.  Repaired with new engine and other “mods” as Super Scout, then 13 Jan 1986 R. E. Waddington, Christchurch, then 15 Aug 1990 R. H. Burdon, Nelson.  Cancelled 27 Apr 1993 as withdrawn from use.  Re-registered 30 Aug 2012 to a Private owner, then 12 Mar 2020 to another Private owner.  Cancelled 21 Dec 2020 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FCY (c/n 541/MAANZ/115).

Registered 9 Sep 1982 to S. W. Wallace, Wairaki Valley, Ohai.  Cancelled 9 Mar 1992 as withdrawn from use.  Was reported stolen but obviously recovered.  Displayed in Ashburton Aviation Museum.

ZK-FDG (c/n 541/MAANZ/132)

Registered 10 Sep 1982 to R. D. Ferguson, Turakina, then 9 Jan 1986 R. T. Lambess, Napier, then 29 Jul 1988 N. H. Cohen, Hastings.  Cancelled 31 Jul 1995 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FDM (c/n MAANZ/117)  Registered 24 Sep 1982 to I. D. Caldwell, Opua (later Whangarei) Cancelled 27 Oct 1995 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FDN (c/n MAANZ/146) Registered 24 Sep 1982 to D. I. MacIver, Hapenui, Greytown, then 7 Jul 1987 B. W. V. Wilson, Kaeo @ 48 hrs FT ($5,100). Cancelled 21 May 1998 registration revoked.

ZK-FDZ (MAANZ/159)  Registered 19 Oct 1982 J. R. Osbourne, Kaukapakapa.  Cancelled 24 Nov 1993 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FFA (c/n MAANZ/192)

Registered 11 Apr 1983 B. J. Patterson & G. Berry, Waimate. Stalled after take-off and crashed at Timaru Aerodrome 14 Jun 1986.   Cancelled 29 Jan 1992 as destroyed.

ZK-FFJ (c/n MAANZ/172)  Registered 10 Jun 1983 to M. K. Browning, Cheviot.  Crashed on a farm near Cheviot 27 Aug 1983, then 17 Sep 1986 G. J. Harnett, Christchurch, then 15 May 1989 D. Y. Roberts, Hokitika.  Cancelled 18 May 2011 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FFP (c/n MAANZ/198)  Registered15 Jun 1983 to D. E. Robertson, Waikouaiti.  Crashed near Waikouaiti 1 Feb 1984.  Cancelled 24 Feb 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FFV (c/n MAANZ/198)  Registered 21 Jun 1983 to A. G. Cone, Hilton, South Canterbury. Damaged. Cancelled 1 Jul 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FFZ (c/n MAANZ/173)  Registered 18 Nov 1983 to Neil H. Cardno, Rotorua, then 20 Aug 1985 G. R. Couper, Putaruru, then 11 Nov 1985 J. K. Thomson, Arapuni.  Cancelled 21 May 1998 registration revoked.

I Remember when !

 The sixteenth Cessna 185 to join the NZ Civil register became ZK-CCX on 19-10-1962.

This airframe was c/n 185-0115 and first flew in the States as N9915X on 12-05-1961 and was registered to Airflite Inc on 23-05-1961. It then moved to Air Oasis of Long Beach, California until cancelled from the US register on 14-09-1962.

It was a private import by Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd at Omaka and was used Tom Furse of Sounds Scenic Flights Ltd.

Southern Scenic Air Services Ltd of Queenstown appear on the paperwork from 01-05-1965.

Above is an early photo from an unknown source showing ZK-CCX in Southern Scenic Air Services titles somewhere in Fiordland.

It soon become part of Tourist Air Travel Ltd (1966?), 

Two shots of ZK-CCX at Lake Wanaka in January of 1968.

At Invercargill on an unknown date.

And at Queenstown on 11-04-1969.

followed by Mount Cook Airlines Ltd from 01-01-1968 with whom it became fleet number 24.

The Mount Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd change was listed for ZK-CCX on 18-07-1973 

Above, as noted at Mount Cook on 12-02-1975.

                   Noted above at Lake Te Anau in May of 1975 with the "Mt Cook Lilly" on its fin.

Above as seen at Mount Cook on 31-12-1977 with fleet number 24 on the fin fillet.

And then to the Mount Cook Group from 07-02-1978.

It was sold to R (Bob) D Mackay of Rotorua from 05-10-1982 and was used in the parachute dropping role until a take-off accident at Parakai on 29-01-1990 saw all eight person aboard injured.

As seen on 30-04-1983.

Its registration was cancelled on 01-06-1990.

Topdressing DC 3s (5) - ZK-AWP

The next topdressing DC 3 (by registration order) was ZK-AWP which had the usual wartime and NAC service but then survived to carry on flying after its topdressing career and it is still flying today.

ZK-AWP at Woodbourne above on 9/11/73 and below at Milson in March 1984.

Douglas C-47B-30-DK (c.n 16387/33135)

Built by The Douglas Aircraft Co, Oklahoma City, OK with 2x 1200HP 14-cyl R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engines as  44-76803 

20 Apr 1945 USAAF but diverted under “lend-lease” 

Exported to New Zealand.  Arrived Hamilton 21 April 1945 

NZ3543 13 May 1945 RNZAF 1 ASU Hamilton. 

RNZAF 41 Sqn, Whenuapai.  Struck off charge 3 July 1952. 

ZK-AWP 3 Jul 1952 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington “Pawahitere". Converted to passenger configuration at Palmerston North First Flight 27 Mar 1953  

Converted to Skyliner configuration 9 May 1963 as “Skyliner Kaitaia”  Cancelled 2 Feb 1970.

Exported to Samoa as 5W-FAI 2 Feb 1970 for Polynesian Airlines Ltd, Apia, Western Samoa. 

Exported back to New Zealand 1972 and stored at Christchurch.

Restored as ZK-AWP 8 Jul 1973 for NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington (used as spares machine). 

3 Aug 1973 to Southern Air Super Ltd, Palmerston North (del 25 Jul 1973) converted to topdresser 

14 Jul 1975 Fieldair Ltd, Gisborne.

13 Nov 1976 Loader bucket fell on to fuselage during loading at Gisborne.

18 Nov 1980 Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd, Palmerston North 

30 Mar 1984 Fieldair Holdings Ltd, Palmerston North 

Last topdressing flight 27 May 1985 (6722 hours Flight Time topdressing) 

Converted to freighter at Palmerston North 30 Oct 1986 for Classic Air Services Ltd, Palmerston North 27 Aug 1993 Alpine Deer Group, Wanaka (converted to passenger configuration) leased to Classic Air Ltd, Wellington from 11 Mar 1994. 

20 Aug 1995 Mackley Aviation, Auckland . 

28 Aug 1998 NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd (Historic Flight), Dairy Flat overhauled 1999 

5 Jul 2000 Leased to Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch 

8 Nov 2001 Flight 2000 Ltd, Ardmore renamed Future Flight Ltd., Ardmore . 

22 May 2002 Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch . Named "Lucille".  Attempted a take-off in knee-deep snow when the starboard undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft skidded along and off the runway at Glentanner 19 Jun 2002. Later flown to Palmerston North for repairs flown Christchurch to Melbourne 28 May 2003(US Travel Tours Australia).

18 Jul 2003 flown Auckland to Fua’amotu in TongaVava'u

2 Jun 2004 A3-AWP Air Chathams Ltd.trading as Peau Vava'u Air Tonga March 2006.

25 Nov 2013 Re-registered ZK-AWP again for Air Chathams.  Repainted as "Skyliner Kaitaia"

Exported to Australia Flown Kaitaia to Norfolk Island 8 Feb 2025. Cancelled from NZ register.

11 Feb 2025 Gooney Bird Adventures Pty Ltd, Masterton. 

27 May 2026 to VH-X73 Gooney Bird Adventures Pty Ltd, Darwin.

June 2026 Gooney Bird Leasing Pty Ltd, Darwin.

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Skycraft Scouts (3) - Rangitata Island Scouts

Well, after the excitement of the last couple of weeks it is time to get back to my Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand series with the next instalment about Skycraft Scouts.  A couple of weeks ago I spent some time with Russell Brodie at Rangitata Island and he knows a lot about Skycraft Scouts, and had some photos of Scouts on his airstrip that I managed to photograph.  He was an agent for the Scout for a while and sold several of them into the local Mid and South Canterbury areas.

Here is the original brochure for the Skycraft Scout Mk III as given to me by Russell:  (click to enlarge  - actually I found it easier to use Control + to enlarge it to read).

In the above brochure it mentions "The Scout is supplied crated and takes about one hour to assemble for the first time, this requires no special skills or tools."

And here is how a Scout crate arrived, with a young Russell Brodie and his father Struan on the porch of their Rangitata Island homestead.  This may have been ZK-EYK that was registered to Struan G Brodie on 25 May 1982.

And here is ZK-EYK being flown by Russell at Rangitata Island.  You can make out its registration in small letters on the tail.  Later it was in blue sailcloth covers, the ease of change of which makes these early microlights hard to pin down.

Russell has the remains of 8 Scouts at Rangitata Island;  ZK-EYK, ZK-EXQ, ZK-EZN, ZK-FMJ, ZK-FEN, ZK-YHI and ZK-OWL.  And Ross Brodie has the Scout Mk III ZK-FJI that is airworthy.

Amphibious Savannah ZK-CEE/2 Flies at Whangarei 11-7-2026

While we were enjoying the BBQ and talking aviation at Dargaville last Saturday, over at Whangarei Dave Cull was taking the amphibious Savannah ZK-CEE2 for its first flight in New Zealand.  Here is a screenshot from a video of it flying, not the best quality but the best we have at the moment:

We have covered the history of ZK-CEE2 in previous posts that you can see HERE.  Congratulations to Dave Cull and the owner Fergus Watts.  I will look forward to seeing its future adventures.

Diamond DA40 ZK-MTB at Christchurch.

 This Diamond DA 40 ZK-MTB c/n 40.941 was initially listed as N295DC on 16-05-2008 to Diamond Aircraft Sales USA Ltd of London Ontario, Canada. 
It was shipped to New Zealand and the US registration was cancelled on 30-04-2009. 

It became ZK-MTB on 06-05-2009 with the Massey University School of Aviation at Palmerston North. It arrived direct from Palmerston North and returned to same this afternoon.

Kaipara Flats to Dargaville for Lunch on Saturday 11-7-2026

Despite not having my Jodel D9 available to fly I will still be involved with all things aviation and my enjoyment of flying has not diminished.  So when Brien O'Brien rang me in the morning saying he was planning to fly to Dargaville for lunch and did I want to come, I quickly answered YES!

It was another great day for flying and so I headed out to Kaipara Flats airfield where every Saturday morning the Rodney Aero Club have the jug on for a cuppa or coffee, and where Brien has his Fly Synthesis Texan ready to go.  There was a bumper turnout of visiting aircraft for a cuppa or coffee with 5 visiting aircraft including Steve Williams new Savannah ZK-WIL over from Whitianga for its first visit to NZKF as well as Neil Wright's "new" Tecnam P 92 ZK-EKO2 which is now based at NZKF.

Our steed awaits....

The flight up to Dargaville was lovely and smooth, and the Kaipara Harbour is quite spectacular to fly over.  There was a little fog around the Northern Wairoa River but that was burning off.

Everyone was using Runway 22 (good for safety) but in fact there was hardly any wind - have a look at the reflection of the SH 12 bridge over the Northern Wairoa (click to enlarge to see it better).

The lunch at Dargaville was a BBQ yesterday and pretty yummy too.  The Dargaville Aero Club put in lunch every Saturday and yesterday the great weather bought out a surprising 3 visiting aircraft that I had not seen before (for 2 of them the only photo I had seen was by the much missed Peter Mole after they had been assembled by Solo Wings at Tauranga).  They were:

Tahi Morton's yellow A 22LS Foxbat ZK-MWK.

Gary Mills' Vans RV 12 ZK-EPM which he bases at Kerikeri.

This RV 12 was built as VH-RTR (the fourth) by Roger and Jeanette Russell of Newport, NSW and they are recorded below the cockpit.  And the metal plate has VH-RTR engraved on it.  The aircraft is named "Rosie" and this is because Jeanette Russell became known as Rosie the Riveter during building the aircraft.

And the third aircraft that was new to me was Richard Prentice's Pipistrel Sinus ZK-LAU which he keeps at Kaikohe.  The Sinus has the impressively long 15 metre wings and also has a feathering prop that is used when gliding.

Neil Wright followed up up to Dargaville for lunch in hos newly acquired Tecnam P 92 Echo ZK-EKO2.  This was a coming home of sorts as the first operators of the aircraft were the Whangarie Flying Club, back in July 2001.

I think there were about 12 visiting aircraft for lunch including 2 fairly local gyrocopters.. Lots of aviation was talked and it was a good time all around.  Thanks Dargaville Aero Club.

Shots from Nelson on Saturday the 11th

 Two visitors were snapped by Bill Mannix Today.

The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza ZK-VRR c/n E-564 dropped in from Ardmore for a while.

This is no spring chicken having hatched in Wichita, Kansas as N7335R in 1974. 

By Mid 1974 it was in Australia as VH-PJJ until moving to Singapore in 1992. By November 1992 it had become 9M-BAL.

It ferried into Auckland via Lord Howe Island and Brisbane on 08-12-1997 and became ZK-VRR on 10-03-1998 with Vinogopal Ramayah of Auckland.

From May of 1999 it operated under the Flight Safety NZ titles until returning to Vin; as Vin Aviation Ltd; from 31-01-1999.

In early November of 2007 it went on line with Eagle Flight Training Ltd until returning to Vin Aviation in late August of 2009.

Out for a play today was the Alex Armstrong built Vans RV-4 ZK-LXC c/n 3761 which was first registered at Taieri on 15-08-1997. It joined the Family Trust's Clutton Fred ZK-LXA and the Sisler Cygnet ZK-LXB.

ZK-LXC was sold to Ross Dawson of Tauranga in October 2024 and then sold on to John Dore of Nelson in late 2025.

Also on site was the Paraparaumu based Cessna 172M Skyhawk II ZK-DRT c/n 17263287 of Robin Hodgson of Porirua. This is of similar vintage to ZK-VRR above.

It has had at least fourteen operators over the years - having a 180hp Avcon engine conversion about the mid1980's.

Cherokee ZK-FEL Christchurch Friday the 10th.

 The Piper PA-28-180F Cherokee c/n 28-7105137 was shipped to New Zealand aboard the MV Austral Patriot reaching Auckland on 11-06-1971 and was registered as ZK-DEC to Airwork (NZ) Ltd on 16-06-1971. 
It first flew from Ardmore on 23-06-1971, was issued with its CofA on the 25th and delivered to the Manukau Flying School on 02-07-1971.

Below ZK-DEC at Ardmore on 24-07-1971.

As seen at the Wellington Aero Club compound on 11-12-1971

Above as seen at on a cool morning at Queenstown on 23-04-1973.

On 14-08-1975 it was passed on to the Rex Flying School of Ardmore only to be damaged in a 'very heavy landing' at Waiheke Island on 22-02-1976. 

Its registration was cancelled on 06-04-1976.
It was rebuilt by Norak Engineering at Ardmore and re-registered as ZK-FEL on 22-11-1977, passing through R D Leach & Associates to Frethey Electrical Ltd, initially of Auckland and then at Paraparaumu from February of 1978.
It was back in Auckland from mid-1983 with a selection of owner operators until 2018 including D G Simpson & A Hayward in 1983, then B Santowski and Photographic Air Services in July 1984. 

Noted at New Plymouth on 24-03-1985

Then we see it with J Cooper & A Roberts in 1986, and A Roberts & M Smith in early 1991.At Christchurch on 04-03-1992.

On 01-12-1993 at North Shore.

It visited the Waimea Estuary at Nelson in February of 1999 but lived on to Join the North Shore Aero Club in November 2003. Then we see the FEL Partnership mentioned from February 2010.On 26-02-2012 Keith Morris captured it at North Shore.

It moved to Wanaka to join U-Fly (2014) Ltd from 04-08-2018 and then went briefly with Kylie Krippner to Te Anau.As noted at Wanaka on 23-02-2019.

David Trust of Whakatane took it over from 27-12-2019 followed by MATADAN Ltd, still of Whakatane in May of 2022.
Then it was back to Wanaka for the Prestige Aviation Group in May 2024 and it has been with U-Fly New Zealand Ltd of Wanaka since July of last year.

It cruised into Christchurch on Friday morning. Did a short local flight, then returned to Wanaka in the afternoon.

Below ZK-FEL at Christchurch International Airport on Friday 10th July 2026.