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.
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.
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As seen at the Wellington Aero Club compound on 11-12-1971
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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 of Auckland.
It remained in Auckland 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.
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 of Auckland.
It remained in Auckland 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 24-03-1985Then 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.
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.
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