Robinson R22 Beta ZK-IMO. Cancelled

Robinson R22 Beta ZK-IMO , c/n 1010, was built in 1989 as N429DB and was listed to Sunrise Helicopters Inc of Stockton, California. It came to NZ and was assembled by Wing & Rotor at Ardmore to become ZK-HCR on 19-09-1990 for Hauraki Helicopters of Drury.
Ownership moved to B Dillon & C Thompson at Pahiatua on 02-09-2002.
It was damaged at Turangi on landing on 07-03-07 and cancelled on 05-07-07.
About mid August 2008 I came across an all white unmarked airframe at Heli-Maintenance at Christchurch. On the 26th the letters IMO were being attached - as in the above pic.
Three days later the tail boom had been added (pic below) and it came onto the register on 16-09-2008 with M S Hall of Wellington.
Less than a month later (13-10-08) it was listed to Astral Helicopters of Rotorua, however on December the 18th it suffered a dynamic rollover at Rotorua in the hands of a first solo pupil during a hovering exercise.
Its registration was cancelled (again) on June 12th 2009.

Question time # 56 ................RESOLVED

Whilst passing through Wellington Airport recently I took this photograph.

Yes it is a photograph of a photograph which hangs on the wall opposite the small cafe near the start of the finger that leads out to the main ANZ gates.

Now - we all know that the aircraft in the right foreground (G-ABCF) is the Southern Cross Junior, what I would like to ask is:-

What flight is this aircraft probably better known for in NZ circles ?

In case of a deluge of correct answers:-

What was the name of the dog ?

To the right of the hangar is what I believe to be an anemometer mast. What is its claim to fame ? !

[Rodney - Do you recognise your club rooms in the background ?]

Coming or Going ? Gone South ZK-EEU

At the Pudding Hill fly in on 25-01-1981 there were two of a kind.
Pitts Special S-1's ZK-EES , c/n AACA/28/1 , of Max Clear and ZK-EEU , c/n AACA/24/1 of Keith Trillo.
As a matter of interest:- to my knowledge there has been no ZK-EET.
I caught up with EEU again at New Plymouth on New Years Day 1986.
I assume the shoes are part of the ritual.

Keith has just kindly advised me that ZK-EEU has been sold to Ryan Southam and Andrew Love and the aircraft has been transported to Mandeville for restoration after being dormant for a number of years.

Ryan is chief pilot at Croydon and Andrew has operated Pitts in Queenstown.

More & more Sirocco's

I've managed to extract a couple more photos from the heap.
Above is ZK-ECW as spied at Manapouri on 22-01-1984.
And below is ZK-EDQ at Nelson on 27-12-1979 snuggled between Tigers ZK-BRM and ZK-BFS.

Too late on the round out again ?

No, not really.
Another pic from the shoe box.
The remains of an unknown Bristol 170 Freighter on the perimeter of Woodbourne taken on 27-05-1989.
Is it just my imagination - or do airfields these days lack the interesting relics and wrecks of the older days.

Question time #55 resolved.

Drat Nick; that was quick.

Second clue below: not needed.
Third clue below: not needed.

The complete beast below.:

Aero Gare Sea Hawk ZK-SEA , c/n AACA 175/2

First registered to Pam & Ces Collings and Bruce Fraser on 13-03-1987.

Transferred to Martin O'Neil on 07-03-2001.

Kicked out of Wigram earlier this year and found in the rear of this hangar at Rangiora.

There is a saying that "If it looks good, it probably flies good etc".

Well done.

Question time # 55

? ? ? ?

Out and About at Ardmore 17Jun

On a chance visit to Ardmore today I was pleasantly surprised to see Heydecke V16 ZK-VVV in the circuit. It is now hangered at Ardmore, obviously its place of construction, Drury Gliding Strip, proves to be a little short in runway length and perhaps too wet for it. More can be found at http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2009/01/really-different-homebuilt.html

Vans RV-4 ZK-RVN was also on the airport and its been registered to a West Auckland address since its arrival from Australia in 2006. The prop was covered in plastic so perhaps its had an overhaul. Nice scheme.

Finally, the most recent addition to the Advanced Flight helicopter management firm is Eurocopter EC130 ZK-IJV and its seen here parked outside the Hawker Pacific hanger.

There are 17 EC130's on the NZ register with 8 of them being operated for their owners by Advanced Flight.

More Sirocco

In response to the request . . .

Ron Keyte's Sirocco ZK-DAF at Masterton 22Jan1977
Colours noted at that time were white and orange



The Evans Sirocco at Rangiora 14April 2007

Another departure. ZK-JSL

Cessna 182T Skylane ZK-JSL2 , c/n 81978 , was unpacked from its container at Ardmore on 04-12-2007 and registered in NZ on 29-11-07 with Flightline Aviation Ltd

It previously had the N11027 test registration with the Cessna Aircraft Company of Wichita where it had gained its airworthiness certificate on 25-10-2007.

It departed Ardmore for Kerikeri and Norfolk Island on 29-05-09, was cancelled here on June the 6th and became VH-IPC with Aiflite Pty Ltd of Jandakot, West Australia on 10-06-09.

Top pic at Ardmore on 18-03-08 & lower at Ardmore on 27-02-09.