Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Phantoms

The Phantom was the second design from Ultralight Flight of Windsor, Connecticut, following on from their very successful Mirage.  It was designed by John Dempsey and was introduced at Sun N Fun in 1982 where it received the prize for the most outstanding microlight aircraft.  It had full 3 axis control with elevator, rudder and full span ailerons which was different from most of the earlier design microlights.  It was also very strong and had an excellent roll rate for a microlight.  And it was the next microlight type to be registered in New Zealand

Click twice to enlarge the brochures below to read them more easily.

In the brochure above it mentions "In addition to awards, it has also won innumerable imitators" and then somewhat sarcastically goes on referring to the imitators "we hail your ability to recognise the most sophisticated design concept available in the ultralight industry today".  I mention this because the Phantom was the basis of the Bantam B 10.

We only had 2 Phantoms imported into New Zealand, by the agents, Skyflight Waikato Ltd of Hamilton (Ken Asplin and Trevor Barrett), who were also the agents for the Mirage.

A very early photo of ZK-EXR at Te Kowhai.

ZK-EXR (c/n PH00054 and MAANZ/080) Powered by a 38HP 1-cyl Kawasaki TA-440-A engine.

Registered 28 Oct 1982 to Skyflight Waikato Ltd, Hamilton.  I understand that Max Clear assembled both of the Phantoms but he did more than assemble them - note the similarity to the Bantam B 10! Then 4 Feb 1983 C. N. Martin, Paengaroa, Te Puke.  NZ Permit to fly issued on 4 Feb 1983.  Was operated by the Tauranga Aero Club on loan from the owner.  On final approach the microlight suddenly dived steeply into the ground at Tauranga (1 killed) 19 Feb 1984 @ 69 hrs.  Rebuilt and registered 22 Apr 1991 to Alan R. Graham, Tauranga.  Cancelled 12 Nov 1999 as withdrawn from use.  Note that in the lower photo above after the rebuild ZK-EXR now has a strut braced wing rather than the kingpost and cables.

Re-registered ZK-CXR 6 Mar 2017 to Alan R. Graham, Tauranga and later of Opotiki.  Cancelled 14 Dec 2022 as withdrawn from use. 

ZK-EXS (c/n MAANZ/081)  Note the similarity to the Bantam B 10

Registered 28 Oct 1982 to Skyflight Waikato Ltd, Hamilton.  There is possibly an owner Christopher D. Waterworth but this is not certain.  Then 18 Sept 1985 W. R. & J. E. Cloutman, Waiuku, then  11 Jul 1988 Russel K. Brodie, Rangitata Island, then 27 Sep 1991 John R. Nicolson, Timaru, then 29 Jul 1992 John R. Farmer, Oamaru, then 10 Sep 1996 Graeme C. Main, Christchurch, then 17 Sept 1997 Angus K McAllister, Tuatapere, then 6 Jan 2003 Gary I. Tong, Otautau, then 15 Jul 2004 Selwyn L. Cranstoun, Te Anau, then 25 Jun 2006 Philip A. Hishon, Te Anau.   Cancelled 28 Jun 2017 as withdrawn from use.  It is stored with Russell Brodie at Rangitata Island as part of his early microlight collection.