Comper Swift Replica ZK-ACG/2 Registered

At the Easter 2023 Classic Fighters airshow at Omaka there was a homebuilt Comper Swift replica displayed in the Marlborough Aero Club hangar. It looked fairly complete and a sign detailed that it was powered by a Revmaster conversion of a VW engine and that the first flight was expected "within the year".

Of course the well known homebuilding rule of thumb of " 80% finished with 80% still to go applied" and the aircraft has just been registered ZK-ACG2 (c/n CS01) in the last few days, to the Comper Swift Syndicate of Blenheim.  It will make a nice addition to the sport aircraft fleet alongside the VW powered Chilton Racer replica ZK-CHT.

And I am also aware of another Chilton Racer in the North that is well advanced! 

From the shoe box. My taxi to town.

 Whilst ratting around recently in the bottom of one of my shoe boxes of odd non specific photos I found this grotty olde Kodachrome slide.

Taken at Kontum in the Central Highlands of Vietnam about early 1974.

It is the Air America C47A "559" c/n 20025 doing the courier run and was my lift down to Saigon.

The 559 serial comes from its ex USAAF serial of 43-15559.

I believe it is now 'preserved' and mounted on concrete blocks at Lop Buri in Thailand.

If you are in the know about the lingo of the time 

"This was one photo the Plumbers didn't find when I shot thru".

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Rotec Rallys

The next type of microlight to be registered here was the Rotec Rally.  This was designed by aeronautical engineer Bill Adaska and was developed from a hang glider in 1977.  It was produced by Rotec Engineering Inc of Duncanville, Texas.  The single seat Rally 2 appeared in 1979 and the Rally Sport was a strengthened version that was aerobatic which appeared in 1983.  The wider and longer span 2 seat Rally 3 appeared in 1981.  They were pushers with the engine mounted above the wing and the control column came down from above and the throttle was a twist grip - you can see the column in the advert below.  Roll control was by differential spoilers which can also be seen..

The Rally was constructed of aluminium tubing with dacron covers.  It was cable braced from a central kingpost and was a taildragger.  The specifications for the Rally 2B (with those for the Rally 3 in brackets) were:  length 16.8 feet (17.3 feet), wingspan 31 feet (38 feet) and wing area 155 square feet (190 square feet).  The Rally 2 was powered by a Cuyuna 430R or a Rotax 377 engine of around 35 HP while the Rally Sport and the Rally 3 had Rotax 503 engines of 48 HP.  With their various engines, the Rally 2B cruised around 40 mph while the Rally Sport was a bit faster and the Rally 3 was a bit slower.  The stall speed is quoted as 20 mph. 

We have had 15 Rallys of various marks registered here and one was re-registered with a new registration.

ZK-FCH at the Poerua River Mouth, near Harihari in Westland in 1987, flown by Lindsay Molloy.

The first Rotec Rally to be registered in New Zealand was a 2B model, ZK-FCH (c/n MAANZ/106) that was registered on 12 Aug 1982 to New Zealand Aeronautical Services, Christchurch, then 15 Nov 1989 to Lindsay B. Molloy, Harihari.  Cancelled 16 Mar 1992 as withdrawn from use and for spares.

ZK-FCI (c/n MAANZ/107)  Rotec Rally 2B  Registered 12 Aug 1982 to New Zealand Aeronautical Services, Christchurch.  Ground loop after heavy landing in a gale at Waharoa 19 Jan 1983. Damaged by said gale.  Cancelled 22 Jun 1992 as withdrawn from use. 

ZK-FGO (c/n 25302)  Rotec Rally 3 (2 seater) with a 48 HP Rotax 503 engine.  Registered 17 Feb 1984 to P. J. Silcock, Haast.  Flew into high voltage power lines while flying into setting sun at Kokatahi, near Hokitika 28 Oct 1985,  Then 12 Aug 1992 M. J. Moynihan, Hokitika.  Cancelled 27 Aug 1997 as registration revoked.

ZK-FHD (c/n 25470)  Rotec Rally 3  Registered 5 Aug 1985 to H. A. (Alex) Taylor, West Dome Station, Mossburn.  Cancelled 20 May 1993.  Recorded as withdrawn from use and scrapped, some parts with Russell Brodie at Rangitata Island.

ZK-FHY (c/n 25461)  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 14 Mar 1984 to A. C. West, New Plymouth, operated by Stratford Aero Club.  Engine lost power due to loose spark plug and force landed near Stratford 2 Mar 1986.  Then 28 Aug 1987 G. Chivers, New Plymouth ($9,000).  Swung on landing and ran into ditch at Stratford 18 Oct 1987.  Cancelled 15 Mar 1994 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FIG (c/n MAANZ/238) Rotec Rally Sport at Rangiora on 21/9/00.

ZK-FIG Registered 27 Mar 1984 to Marshall P. H. Freer, Rangiora, then 19 Dec 1989 A. R. Dalley, Oxford Cancelled 13 May 1999 as withdrawn from use. 

Re-registered 19 Jul 2000 to B. van der Velden, Rangiora Cancelled 20 Aug 2002 as withdrawn from use.

Re-registered as ZK-EIG2 (just one piece of tape as ZK-FIG had been taken!) 12 Apr 2005 to Russell K. Brodie, Rangitata island.  Cancelled 2 Oct 2008 as withdrawn from use.  Stored at Russell Brodie's NZ Microlight Heritage Museum, Rangitata Island.

ZK-FKT (c/n 25545)  Rotec Rally 3  Registered 27 Mar 1985 to J. G. Perry, Turangi.  Crashed at Turangi 21 Apr 1985.  Cancelled 10 Aug 1989.

ZK-FOC (c/n 72318)  Rotec Rally Sport.  Registered 26 May 1987 to K. Wilkinson, Motueka, then 27 May 1994 Neil M. France, Auckland. then 6 Aug 1994 L. F. Mabey, Palmerston North, then 12 Oct 1994 C. I. Aitken, Stratford.  Cancelled 13 Oct 1997 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FON (c/n 25448)  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 16 Jul 1987 to A. R. & L. D. Dalley, Oxford.  Cancelled 24 Aug 1995 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FVJ (c/n MAANZ/435)  Rotec Rally Sport.  Registered 15 Nov 1989 to Wright Products & Services, Mount Maunganui, then 28 Jun 1990 D. C. Inwood, Christchurch.  Cancelled 31 Jul 1998 registration revoked.

ZK-PWJ (c/n 25476)  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 27 Mar 1985 to P. W. Jones, Kokatahi, RD 1, Hokitika Cancelled 1 May 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-RDJ (c/n MAANZ/236) Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 9 Feb 1984 to Aero-Hire Ltd, Ohope (John R. Eades) Cancelled 8 Apr 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-ROT (c/n 25585) Rotec Rally 3 at Waitohi.

ZK-ROT Registered 27 Mar 1985 to Clayton Farming Co Ltd, Clayton Station, Fairlie (John D. McFarlane & Donn J. Armstrong).  Cancelled 9 Mar 1990 withdrawn from use.

ZK-SIM (c/n 010650) Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 27 May 1985 to R. J. Sim, Heriot Crashed at Heriot 16 Jan 1986 then R. J. Sim moved to Paekakariki.  Cancelled 7 Apr 1992 as withdrawn from use and scrapped.

ZK-WAC2 (c/n 25568/MAANZ/416).  Rotec Rally 3.  Registered 14 Dec 1988 to Martin G. Farrand and Paul E. Morrison, Warkworth.  Paul Morrison modified this Rally to have a standard control stick and throttle, and I think others may have been similarly modified.  ZK-WAC2 crashed into bush after in-flight incapacitation of the pilot at Matakana near Warkworth (2 killed) 14 Apr 1991.  Cancelled 1 Feb 1994. 

Amphibious Savannah ZK-CEE/2 at Dargaville

The unique in New Zealand amphibious Savannah S ZK-CEE2 flew into Dargaville for lunch last Saturday:

We have previously posted about this aircraft HERE and HERE

Ex TVAL Vintage Aviator Albatros Dva-1 for sale

 I noticed recently that one of the Ex TVAL Albatros Dva-1 is up for sale. This aircraft was built as ZK-ALB and was exported to the UK IN 2018 as G-WAHT owned by Oliver Wulff and operated by the Shuttleworth Trust at Old Warden.

                                                  Photo courtesy of AirHistory.net

Previous blog post with more info can be found here ZK-ALB / G-WAHT

 The sales page for this aircraft can be found here

 

Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Ultraflight Systems Trikes

As I have previously alluded to there were 3 early types of trikes registered in New Zealand within a few weeks of each other in March/April 1982.  These were the Ultrasports trike from the UK, the Delore trike from New Zealand and the third type was the Ultraflight Systems trike that was also manufactured in New Zealand, by Steve Edridge at Hamilton.  By my reckoning we have had 9 Ultraflight Systems (or UFS) trikes registered here and at least one that we know about was unregistered.

ZK-EXW (c/n MAANZ/038) First registered as an Edridge Ultraflight trike (fitted to a Vampyre hang glider wing) on 13 Apr 1982 to Steve R. Edridge trading as Ultra Flight Systems, Hamilton.  Cancelled 21 Jul 1992 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FDK (c/n MAANZ/142)  UFS trike fitted to a Vampyre hang glider wing.  Registered 21 Sep 1982 to D. G. Firth, Wellington, then 24 May 1983 D. N. Allen, Blenheim. Cancelled 21 May 1998 registration revoked.

ZK-FDY c/n MAANZ/158) Ultraflight Systems trike fitted to a Vampyre 162 hang glider wing.

Registered 19 Oct 1982 to Troy Griffin, Te Puke (later Christchurch), then 19 Jun 1986 W. Tauaki, Mount Maunganui ($4,500), then 14 May 1990 G. Clifton, Auckland, then 9 Sep 1994 N. J. Whittles, Auckland.  Cancelled 28 May 1996 as withdrawn from use 

Re-registered 14 Aug 1996 to G. K. & M. Skilton, Warkworth.   Cancelled 1 Sep 1999 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FLO (c/n UFS-1)  UFS trike fitted to a Meteor hang glider wing.  Registered 25 Oct 1985 to D. G. Spencer, Aokautere, then 22 Apr 1991 Mitchell & Robins Syndicate, Palmerston North, then 7 Jan 1994 B. J. Neville, Taupo.   Crashed on landing at Wharepuhunga, 30km from Te Awamutu 10 Dec 1995 Cancelled 8 Dec 1996.

ZK-FWD (c/n MAANZ/443) UFS trike fitted to a lancer 4L hang glider wing.  Registered 6 Mar 1990 to G. Clifton, Auckland.  Exported.  Cancelled 28 Jul 1997.

ZK-FWE (c/n MAANZ/444)  Ultraflight Systems trike fitted to a Lancer 4L hang glider wing.

Registered 12 Mar 1990 to Tony D. Morrison, Ohaupo.  Destroyed.  Cancelled 22 Aug 2002.

Re-registered  12 Nov 2002 to Tony E. Pinny, Te Awamutu fitted with a  Vampyre 162 hang glider wing, then 8 Mar 2003 Marc M. H. La Grand, Hamilton, then 28 Sep 2004 Peter W. Sparrow, Blenheim, then 18 Jun 2005 John D. Osmers, Takaka.  Cancelled 11 Jan 2013 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-FWQ (c/n MAANZ/447)  Ultraflight Systems trike fitted to a Vampyre 164 hang glider wing. Fitted with a 28HP 1-cyl Robin EC25PS engine.  Registered 6 Jul 1990 to Kevin B. Paulsen, Auckland, then 15 Jan 1991 S. J. Rodda.  Cancelled 23 May 1995 as withdrawn from use at Waimauku.

ZK-FWU (c/n KH2/MAANZ/449).  Ultraflight Systems trike fitted to a Swift hang glider wing.  Registered 26 Jul 1990 to K. R. Hoffmann, Waitakere, then 7 May 1997 Gary Vissers, Tokoroa.          Cancelled 8 Sep 1998 as withdrawn from use.

ZK-MLO (c/n U.F.S.H).  Uktraflight Systems trike fitted to a Moyes Mega hang glider wing.  Registered 20 Jun 1986 to P. G. Moloney, Feilding, then 4 Dec 1992  P G Mouat, Palmerston North, then 1 May 1997 David G. Spencer, Palmerston North, then 19 Apr 2000 Glen Robins, Kimbolton, then 28 Apr 2004 Sabin A. N. Hallard, Mosgiel, then 15 Jun 2005 Glen Robins, Feilding.  Cancelled 12 Dec 2007 as withdrawn from use.

That's it for trikes for a while and I will go on to more traditional fixed wing microlights.  

 

A Couple of WW 2 Twins at Ardmore 1-9-2026

There were two twin engined WW 2 aircraft at Ardmore when I visited on Tuesday 1 September:

The ex NZ Warbirds DC 3 ZK-DAK2, manufactured in 1944 is registered to Flight 2000 Ltd (Fly DC 3) but I think it is going to Australia.

And the other twin was the 1945 DH 98 Mosquito FB Mk VI (ex TE881/NZ2345) that is destined for Fly a Spitfire in the UK.  This is being painted at Avspecs and I was told it will be finished by the end of September or early October.

Gulfstream GVI C-GGVI cruising into Christchurch.

Tony McFarlin was on site at Christchurch International today to capture the Gulfstream GVI (G650ER) C-GVVI c/n 6331 arrival.

 Built in 2018 and initially serving as N100A with Exxon Mobil Corporation out of Dallas, Texas following delivery on 13-11-2018. 

After sale it became C-GGVI with Noro Ltd of Toronto, Canada from 28-12-2023 and is operated by their inhouse Fairflight Company.

Cessna A152 Aerobat ZK-TIE

  The Cessna A152 Aerobat c/n A1520917 entered the US register as N4960A and was listed with Superstition Air Service Inc of Mesa, Arizona on 10-11-1981. 
Gerrard Feller of Los Alamitos, California took it on from June of 2012 followed by Ted Schye, initially of Fort Peck, Montana, and then out of Billing, Montana from March 2018. 
The final US owner was William Hagerman of Lincoln, Illinois from April of 2021.

It is seen below, ex container from the USA, being uplifted for road delivery to Rangiora Airfield.

Its NZ certification was caried out by Aerofix Ltd at Rangiora with it becoming ZK-TIE on 28-01-2025 for Tie-Upp Aviation Ltd - who also operate the Pipistrel Alpha Trainers ZK-TGS and ZK-FTD2 plus the diesel-powered Piper PA-28-161 ZK-LYD.

Above we see its old US registration letters.

Above is the first rendition of its NZ registration lettering.

Below the final version.

It is IFR equipped.

Below it is on short final with property development in the background.