Tell me all you know about this flying machine.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Going completely Mooney............
What the! Mooney M20E ZK-CFV is still on the register however it is currently hung on the wall of a hanger at Parakai!
Another Mooney at Parakai awaiting attention is this 20C model, ZK-DBK.
And rounding out the Moonie's noted on 11May is this example, another 20C, ZK-DBN outside at Ardmore. I last noticed this aircraft in an open ended hanger at New Plymouth in January this year.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Rakaia postie
On Monday May 10th the troops went out on another mission. This time we used the Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ZK-HRM2 of The Helicopter Line Ltd from Glentanner and worked out of the Station at the northern end of Lake Heron
The point of the exercise was to plant another pre-assembled weather station in the high country, on a ridge to the west ofMt Medhurst and Bastion Peak, which overlook the Upper Rakaia River.
The point of the exercise was to plant another pre-assembled weather station in the high country, on a ridge to the west ofMt Medhurst and Bastion Peak, which overlook the Upper Rakaia River.The pics show the gear being laid out ready for underslunging; and a view of the mast on short final to the already installed mounting block.
This Squirrel came from Canada in 1997 and was re-furbished by Heliquip International and registered to them on 29-07-1997 before being listed to Southern Lakes Helicopters Ltd at Te Anau on 08-05-1998. It was transferred to The Helicopter Line on 04-09-2006.
This Squirrel came from Canada in 1997 and was re-furbished by Heliquip International and registered to them on 29-07-1997 before being listed to Southern Lakes Helicopters Ltd at Te Anau on 08-05-1998. It was transferred to The Helicopter Line on 04-09-2006.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Cessna 185 ZK-CAV
Cessna 185 , c/n 185-0212 was a product of 1961. Like most Cessna's of its time it was allocated a US registration by the Cessna Aircraft Company even though it was for immediated export. Cessna tended to use blocks of registrations for specific models. The numbers applied to the aircraft often carried the same last two numbers of its construction number. In this case c/n 0212 became N4012Y. These registrations were often not marked on the aircraft and instead they used the Cessna test registration of N11B
for test flying purposes.
This airframe came direct to NZ for Rural Aviation Ltd of New Plymouth and was registered as ZK-CAV on 04-09-1961. It had its first flight in NZ at New Plymouth on 12-10-1961 with its registration being transferred to the Manawatu Aerial Top Dressing Company Ltd on the 13th. With them it became fleet number 7.
The first photograph (in magic monochrome) shows it at rest on the 17th of May 1964 at Masterton.
The second & third views were taken sometime in 1967.
On 20-03-1968 ownership passed to Mount Cook Air Services of Timaru with whom it became a ski plane. The Company went through a couple of name changes :- to Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd on 18-07-1973 and to The Mount Cook Group on 07-02-1978. It was allocated the fleet number 18.
for test flying purposes.This airframe came direct to NZ for Rural Aviation Ltd of New Plymouth and was registered as ZK-CAV on 04-09-1961. It had its first flight in NZ at New Plymouth on 12-10-1961 with its registration being transferred to the Manawatu Aerial Top Dressing Company Ltd on the 13th. With them it became fleet number 7.
The first photograph (in magic monochrome) shows it at rest on the 17th of May 1964 at Masterton.
The second & third views were taken sometime in 1967.
On 20-03-1968 ownership passed to Mount Cook Air Services of Timaru with whom it became a ski plane. The Company went through a couple of name changes :- to Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd on 18-07-1973 and to The Mount Cook Group on 07-02-1978. It was allocated the fleet number 18.
It had a couple of reasonably minor incidents - On 18-04-1977 it was damaged on take off from the Tasman Glacier; after which I believe it was upgraded to a 300hp model. On 18-10-1978 it nosed over on the Franz Josef Neve. The photo shows it at the Mount Cook strip on 31-12-1977.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Rally New Zealand Eye in the Sky
If you have been watching Sebastien Loeb power his way back through the field in the Rally of New Zealand today, this is where the pictures have been coming from. It is Helipro's Aerospatiale AS 350 BA Squirrel ZK-HYW fitted with a gimbal camera and painted up with the Abu Dhabi logo (Abu Dhabi sponsors the Ford Focus rally team).ZK-HYW is ex N5782G and was first registered in New Zealand on 17/2/95. It has been owned by Rick Lucas Helicopters for all of its life in New Zealand.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Druine Turbulents of New Zealand (8) and a Close Cousin
Our latest Turbulent.
When I finished off my last post with "Here endeth the story of the Aerocraft Turbulents", several people may have thought that was the end of Druine Turbulents in New Zealand. Actually no, there is one more Turbulent and a close cousin as I detail below.
The photos are from the Keith Morris collection.
ZK-CWE (c/n BCS 154-2) is the (so far) latest Turbulent in New Zealand. ZK-CWE was built by Bruce Shepherd of Whangarei. It was first registered on 4/12/02 and its first flight was on 22/2/03. Bruce is also the long time owner of New Zealand's original Turbulent ZK-BWE that I detailed in my first post on Druine Turbulents of New Zealand, and it a nice touch that Bruce owns both our oldest and newest Turbulents. It is an even nicer touch that both ZK-BWE and ZK-CWE are painted in very nearly identical colour schemes. The above photograph was taken at the 2008 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga.
ZK-CWE started life as ZK-CHW, being built by Bruce Absolum of Moerewa. However it was only progressed to a basic woodwork stage and was not completed. Bruce Shepherd the took it over and completed it, incorporating several improvements from his experience with ZK-BWE. One such improvement is rubber damped engine mounts which makes ZK-CWE much smoother to fly according to Bruce. ZK-CWE is still current as a Class 1 microlight.
And here is the close cousin: the John Shakes J1 ZK-JGX (c/n J1/1) which is really a Turbulent with a raised turtledeck enabling a Casssutt style canopy and a VP 1 sprung steel undercarriage. The Maximum weight at 299 Kgs is the same as a Turbulent. John Shakes (who also built the VP 1 ZK-VPI) built ZK-JGX for P Austin of Paremata and it was first registered on 24/12/96. On 12/11/97 it was sold to M C Bennett of Carterton. It is still current as a Class 1 microlight.
Now that really endeth the story of all Druine Turbulents in New Zealand! I hope you have enjoyed the series.
However, as a footnote, there have been several Turbulents that have been registered but were never completed. These have included ZK-BXK, ZK-CBM, ZK-CHW, ZK-CJC, ZK-CJJ, ZK-CJW, ZK-CPI, ZK-CPX, ZK-CRN and ZK-DNL. The only one of these that I know of is ZK-CPI which was being built by John Snackers of Christchurch in the 1970's. I followed the progress of this aircraft in the AACA magazine Sport Flying, and the last time there was a photo of it, it looked complete and was even painted. However, it was cancelled on 2/4/91.
Another Turbulent was advertised for sale in the Winter 2009 edition of Sport Flying by Dennis Niles of New Plymouth. This aircraft also looked nearly complete and was painted in a blue and yellow colour scheme. This may be going to be registered ZK-WRX.
And finally, Nathan Rayner (Rayner123 of this blog) has acquired all of the remaining Aerocraft Turbulent kits, and intends to finish off ZK-CFW.
When I finished off my last post with "Here endeth the story of the Aerocraft Turbulents", several people may have thought that was the end of Druine Turbulents in New Zealand. Actually no, there is one more Turbulent and a close cousin as I detail below.
The photos are from the Keith Morris collection.
ZK-CWE (c/n BCS 154-2) is the (so far) latest Turbulent in New Zealand. ZK-CWE was built by Bruce Shepherd of Whangarei. It was first registered on 4/12/02 and its first flight was on 22/2/03. Bruce is also the long time owner of New Zealand's original Turbulent ZK-BWE that I detailed in my first post on Druine Turbulents of New Zealand, and it a nice touch that Bruce owns both our oldest and newest Turbulents. It is an even nicer touch that both ZK-BWE and ZK-CWE are painted in very nearly identical colour schemes. The above photograph was taken at the 2008 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga.ZK-CWE started life as ZK-CHW, being built by Bruce Absolum of Moerewa. However it was only progressed to a basic woodwork stage and was not completed. Bruce Shepherd the took it over and completed it, incorporating several improvements from his experience with ZK-BWE. One such improvement is rubber damped engine mounts which makes ZK-CWE much smoother to fly according to Bruce. ZK-CWE is still current as a Class 1 microlight.
And here is the close cousin: the John Shakes J1 ZK-JGX (c/n J1/1) which is really a Turbulent with a raised turtledeck enabling a Casssutt style canopy and a VP 1 sprung steel undercarriage. The Maximum weight at 299 Kgs is the same as a Turbulent. John Shakes (who also built the VP 1 ZK-VPI) built ZK-JGX for P Austin of Paremata and it was first registered on 24/12/96. On 12/11/97 it was sold to M C Bennett of Carterton. It is still current as a Class 1 microlight.Now that really endeth the story of all Druine Turbulents in New Zealand! I hope you have enjoyed the series.
However, as a footnote, there have been several Turbulents that have been registered but were never completed. These have included ZK-BXK, ZK-CBM, ZK-CHW, ZK-CJC, ZK-CJJ, ZK-CJW, ZK-CPI, ZK-CPX, ZK-CRN and ZK-DNL. The only one of these that I know of is ZK-CPI which was being built by John Snackers of Christchurch in the 1970's. I followed the progress of this aircraft in the AACA magazine Sport Flying, and the last time there was a photo of it, it looked complete and was even painted. However, it was cancelled on 2/4/91.
Another Turbulent was advertised for sale in the Winter 2009 edition of Sport Flying by Dennis Niles of New Plymouth. This aircraft also looked nearly complete and was painted in a blue and yellow colour scheme. This may be going to be registered ZK-WRX.
And finally, Nathan Rayner (Rayner123 of this blog) has acquired all of the remaining Aerocraft Turbulent kits, and intends to finish off ZK-CFW.
Question time # 96 resolved.
ZK-CKE gets the type correct as Miles Messenger.
Roger gets the airfield correct as Taieri.
Greybeard (welcome back aboard) gets the registration correct as ZK-AWE and adds some useful comments.
(I suppose you want your share of the chocky fish then ! I didn't actually ask for the registration).
The photo is of Miles M.38 Messenger 2A ZK-AWE ,c/n 6717 , and was taken at Taieri in March of 1968.
We have been blessed with five of these on our register, with one, ZK-CMM2 still currently listed.
Does anybody know the current status of the project to revive ZK-ATT (mid North Island), and what about c/n 6707 G-AKEZ, which I believe came to NZ in 2006 ?
Now if roger would like to flick me an email (bluebus@windowslive.com) with his postal address I can forward a king size sprat.
Eurocopter EC 120B ZK-INN
Eurocopter EC 120B ZK-INN , c/n 1570 , photographed at Greymouth on 5th May 2010. Registered to the Endurance Fishing Company Ltd of Nelson since 23-09-09 having first been with Summit Helicopters of Nelson from 19-02-2009.
Pic provided by Aaron
Question time # 96
Three of a kind parked together.
This photo was taken with a long lens away back, when men were men, and shows three of a kind parked close together.
All I would like to know is - What kind,
And because it is "so easy" - which airfield are we parked on ?
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Druine Turbulents of New Zealand (7)
The second batch of Aerocraft kits.
In July 1966 Aerocraft registered another 7 Turbulents: ZK-CFW, ZK-CFX, ZK-CFY, ZK-CFZ, ZK-CGK, ZK-CGL and ZK-CJD. (Actually the records show that the first 5 were registered on 20/7/66 and ZK-CGL and ZK-CJD were registered on 1/7/66).
Again, the photographs are from the Keith Morris collection unless otherwise noted.
ZK-CFW (c/n 1008) was not completed and the registration was cancelled on 11/6/77.
ZK-CFX (c/n 1009) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 but was re-registered on 22/5/80 to Dave Provan and D W Phillips of Bulls with a new c/n of AACA 1009. Dave Provan was in the RNZAF at that time. He has owned ZK-CFX all of its life with only address changes as he moved to Wellington and then to Christchurch. The above photograph was taken at Foxpine in late 1980.
And here is ZK-CFX wearing its latest colours in a photograph taken at Rangiora by Blue Bus. It was sold to Michael Fleming of Rangiora on 18/3/13, and he had the aircraft re-designated as a Class 1 microlight on 8/4/13.
ZK-CFY (c/n 1010) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 but was re-registered to A L Davidson of Tuatapere on 16/11/77. It then went to Murray Kirkus of Hastings on 116/11/77 and finally to Keith Paulsen of Waimauku on 29/6/88.
ZK-CFY is photographed here at the 1990 AACA flyin at Waipukurau, now with a canopy. It is still current as an amateur built aircraft.
ZK-CFZ (c/n 1011) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 as not completed. I remember going to the Aerocraft factory at Kairanga sometime in the late 1960's and seeing the fuselages of several Turbulents stored up in the rafters with registrations painted on, I think they could have been ZK-CFW and ZK-CFZ. I did take photographs of them but I cannot find them now.
ZK-CGK (c/n 1012) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 as not completed, but was re-registered to Peter McCarthy of Paraparaumu on 18/1/88. It is photographed here at the 1990 AACA flyin at Waipukurau wearing the name "Mi Turbi". It was withdrawn from service and cancelled again on 14/12/99 but was again re-registered on 6/4/09, still to Peter McCarthy but in Papakura. It is still current as an amateur built aircraft.
ZK-CGL (c/n 1013) was cancelled as not built on 18/2/77.
And the final Aerocraft airframe was ZK-CJD (c/n 1014). It was cancelled on 11/8/77 but was re-registered on 7/12/77, with a new c/n of AACA/W-143, to Harold Symes of Hastings. I have only ever seen it in this rather nice colour scheme but it first flew in all silver with CJD on the side. Murray Kirkus took a photo of it in this scheme after it had had a (very) heavy landing at Bridge Pa on 16/1/78 which broke the main spar! Harold Symes sold it to R E Naylor of Havelock North on 3/4/02 and it was redesignated as a Class 1 microlight on the same day. It was cancelled on 12/12/11.
Here endeth the story of the Aerocraft Turbulents!
In July 1966 Aerocraft registered another 7 Turbulents: ZK-CFW, ZK-CFX, ZK-CFY, ZK-CFZ, ZK-CGK, ZK-CGL and ZK-CJD. (Actually the records show that the first 5 were registered on 20/7/66 and ZK-CGL and ZK-CJD were registered on 1/7/66).
Again, the photographs are from the Keith Morris collection unless otherwise noted.
ZK-CFW (c/n 1008) was not completed and the registration was cancelled on 11/6/77.
ZK-CFX (c/n 1009) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 but was re-registered on 22/5/80 to Dave Provan and D W Phillips of Bulls with a new c/n of AACA 1009. Dave Provan was in the RNZAF at that time. He has owned ZK-CFX all of its life with only address changes as he moved to Wellington and then to Christchurch. The above photograph was taken at Foxpine in late 1980.
And here is ZK-CFX wearing its latest colours in a photograph taken at Rangiora by Blue Bus. It was sold to Michael Fleming of Rangiora on 18/3/13, and he had the aircraft re-designated as a Class 1 microlight on 8/4/13.
ZK-CFY (c/n 1010) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 but was re-registered to A L Davidson of Tuatapere on 16/11/77. It then went to Murray Kirkus of Hastings on 116/11/77 and finally to Keith Paulsen of Waimauku on 29/6/88.
ZK-CFY is photographed here at the 1990 AACA flyin at Waipukurau, now with a canopy. It is still current as an amateur built aircraft.ZK-CFZ (c/n 1011) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 as not completed. I remember going to the Aerocraft factory at Kairanga sometime in the late 1960's and seeing the fuselages of several Turbulents stored up in the rafters with registrations painted on, I think they could have been ZK-CFW and ZK-CFZ. I did take photographs of them but I cannot find them now.
ZK-CGK (c/n 1012) was also cancelled on 11/8/77 as not completed, but was re-registered to Peter McCarthy of Paraparaumu on 18/1/88. It is photographed here at the 1990 AACA flyin at Waipukurau wearing the name "Mi Turbi". It was withdrawn from service and cancelled again on 14/12/99 but was again re-registered on 6/4/09, still to Peter McCarthy but in Papakura. It is still current as an amateur built aircraft.ZK-CGL (c/n 1013) was cancelled as not built on 18/2/77.
And the final Aerocraft airframe was ZK-CJD (c/n 1014). It was cancelled on 11/8/77 but was re-registered on 7/12/77, with a new c/n of AACA/W-143, to Harold Symes of Hastings. I have only ever seen it in this rather nice colour scheme but it first flew in all silver with CJD on the side. Murray Kirkus took a photo of it in this scheme after it had had a (very) heavy landing at Bridge Pa on 16/1/78 which broke the main spar! Harold Symes sold it to R E Naylor of Havelock North on 3/4/02 and it was redesignated as a Class 1 microlight on the same day. It was cancelled on 12/12/11.Here endeth the story of the Aerocraft Turbulents!
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