A couple from Ardmore

Imported mid year by United Pacific Aero was the Kawasaki BK117C-1 ZK-HXM4 which was previously operated by the Japanese Police as JA6816.

And now featuring a partial repaint with red striping added is the Napier based PA46-500TP ZK-ROW3.

 

Airbus AS 350 B3 ZK-HTL

A lucky catch at Christchurch on Monday the 11th was the Airbus AS 350 B3 ZK-HTL5 c/n 8572 as listed with Claridges Helicopters Ltd of Christchurch - having recently been re-registered from ZK-ILO2.

A couple of helicopters at Ardmore

Noted at Ardmore this morning was John Key's EC130B4 ZK-IJK4.   This was the former Inflite ZK-HBZ4 reregistered in early 2025 to the personalised "IJK",  and replacing his former Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-IJK3 which was exported to the USA.

And test flying at Salus Aviation was the latest Grassroots Trust Palmerston North based rescue helicopter ZK-IIX replacing ZK-IPT.   Since importation from Papua New Guinea in 2018 IIX has been operated as a rescue helicopter in Hamilton, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and more recently Gisborne.

 

Pilatus PC-6 Porter ZK-SEX

Our latest Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter ZK-SEX2 (c/n 1005) was registered to Inflight Ltd on 02-07-2025. 

ZK-SEX was initially registered in Switzerland to Pilatus on 21-08-2015 as HB-FBP2 and first flew at Stans on 28-08-2015. It then became B-10FU on 04-05-2016 with Asian Express General Aviation Wuxi Co Ltd. (see note below). This Chinese registration was cancelled for its move to Australia where it became VH-82B from 02-04-2025 with Gerard Lappin of Morwell, Victoria. As such it ferried into Darwin from Balikpapan Airport on 10-06-2025. The following day it moved on to Coolangatta, and then a direct 12 hour 23 minute flight to Auckland on the 12th.
Following formalities, it then flew from North Shore to Motueka and on to Pukaki (Twizel) on 25-06-2025.

Note - Pilatus Aircraft created a joint venture, as Pilatus Aircraft Industry (China) Co, with Beijing Tian Xing Yu Science Co in Chongqing, China to produce PC-6 Porter components and sub assemblies including fuselage sections and wings. These were shipped back to Pilatus in Stans, Switzerland for assemble with the finished product being registered on the Swiss aircraft register to Pilatus. Many of them were then returned to China.

The first Chinese fuselage (c/n 991) was completed on 11-12-2014 and following full assembly at Stans became HB-FBC2 on 09-05-2014 and was returned to China to become B-0401 from 24-10-2014.

Above is a photo of ZK-SEX as VH-82B passing through Ho Chi Min City on 08-06-2025.

A Quickie Update - Quickie 1s of New Zealand

Back in May 2012 on the blog I covered Quickie 1s of New Zealand as part of my seemingly never ending series on our homebuilt and sport aircraft.  The link to that post is HERE and I posted about five of them.  I had thought that would be it for our Quickie 1 population but in the best traditions of "you don't know what you don't know" I have recently become aware of another one and there are even photos of it!

ZK-LIN (c/n AACA/637) was built by Barry W V Charlton of Waitati near Dunedin and it was first registered to him on 30/11/94.  Dave Paull photo'd it above and below in an open hangar at Taieri on 7/12/98.  It was cancelled as withdrawn on 23/08/99.  By the c/n it may have been built with another Dunedin Quickie 1, ZK-MAC, that had the c/n of AACA/636.

Barry Charlton went on to own the Kolb Twinstar ZK-FVK and then the RAF 2000 gyrocopter ZK-RCS which is still currently with him.

I should point out a couple of corrections that commenters made on my original blog post.  The Quickie 1s fuselage was not formed in 2 halves like the Q2, but was formed from straight foam blocks shaped as required and fibreglassed on the inside with bulkheads and also on the outside to form the finished fuselage shape.  And the builder of the first Quickie 1 to fly here was apparently Nicolas Silyn-Roberts (not Neil).

But Wait! - there is more!

Fast forward well into the 21st Century when another Quickie 1 appeared in Chris Hoskins hangar at Tauranga, and it eventually was registered ZK-CBW2 (c/n 463) on 17/02/20 to H Miller of Tauranga:

Mark Pattenden took this photo in October 2022.  As I understand ZK-CBW2 has a much more powerful engine so it should go like a rocket! but I do not think it has flown yet.  If anyone has any more info on this Quickie we would love to hear it.

At the end of my previous post on Quickie 1s of New Zealand I boldly stated that 5 Quickie 1s was probably our lot, but now I will not make a similarly bold claim!

Redwood Library display.

 The St Bedes College in Christchurch currently has a small art display from year 11 students in the Redwood Library.

This work of art and blurb caught my eye in passing.

Robinson R22 ZK-IVV at Rangiora.

 A recent addition to High Country Fencing Ltd of Darfield is this Robinson R22 Beta II ZK-IVV c/n 4042.

A February of 2006 listing as N468SH to the Robinson Helicopter Company at Torrance, California for delivery to Silver State Helicopters at Tulsa, Arizona from April of 2006.

It had a bit of a whoopsie at Shiatock, Oklahoma in September 2008.

Its US registration was cancelled on 04-12-2008 after it came to NZ to be sorted out by Doug McFarlane to become ZK-IVV from 11-12-2008.

Reid Heslop Helicopters Ltd of Wakefield started paying the bills from December 2010 until a change to Reid Helicopters Nelson Ltd took place from September 2011.

Then Chris Deroles of Winton took it over in August 2013 until its recent move to Geoff Rogers at Darfield.

Power Line Survey with JetRanger ZK-HOC

  Another good catch at Rangiora on 07-08-2025 was the Beck Helicopters Ltd Bell 206B JetRanger                                                                      ZK-HOC3 c/n 1227.

It carries a camera and LiDAR sensing equipment below and electronics wizardry in the rear. 

Because this is a reasonably low level flying activity it wears 'POWER LINE SURVEY' script on the lower fuselage.

It has been used in this role for some years now.

Below a note from the Beck Helicopter Facebook page.

We have received many inquiries regarding our ongoing activities.

Currently, we are conducting low-level power line survey for power companies.

This operation is executed under the guidance of a contracted team located in the helicopter, ensuring the accurate collection of data.

The helicopter is equipped with both a camera and a LiDAR system.

The camera is programmed with GPS coordinates to target specific points, primarily concentrating on cross heads and hardware.

Meanwhile, the LiDAR, which is mounted on the belly of the helicopter, employs light detection and ranging technology to utilise lasers for distance measurement and the creation of 3D maps.

Aerospool WT9 600NG Dynamic ZK-ALL/2

 A pleasant surprise yesterday at Rangiora was the fixed gear Aerospool WT9 600NG Dynamic         ZK-ALL2 c/n DY-860D which was registered to Aero Leasing Ltd of Prebbleton back on 04-11-2024.

Here we see John McCallister carrying out some checks.

As you can see - it is powered with a Rotax 916 which has proved to be a very useful glider tow plane.

MD Helicopters 369FF ZK-HPX 5

Noted at Ardmore today was the newly registered MD Helicopters 369FF ZK-HPX5.   This is a recent production model being built in 2023 as N340TM and exported to NZ in mid 2025 to become HPX with Advanced Flight Ltd, Auckland.