Sport Aircraft at North Shore Today

It was such a lovely day at North Shore Airfield today that lots of aircraft were out flying (and in the case of one, being polished in a hangar). Here are a selection of the sport aircraft:

Pitts S 2S ZK-WIZ is owned by Special Syndicate 8 of Whangaparoa. It was first registered in New Zealand on 28/6/89.

ATEC Zephyr ZK-ZFR is owned by Hyflyte Aviation Ltd. It was first registered on 27/1/05.

PA 18A-150 Super Cub looks pristine in a classic J3 Cub colour scheme. It is owned by the BKH Syndicate of Whangaparoa and was first registered in January 1956.

And finally the colourfully named TRI-Tech KIS TR-4 ZK-TEL was outside its hangar. It is owned by Scientific Management Associates (Pty) Vic Ltd who also own TRI-Tech KIS TR-1 ZK-KIS, which was out flying. ZK-KIS was first registered on 17/2/99.

TL-3000 Sirius - A New Aircraft in New Zealand

When 2 TL-3000 Class 2 Microlight aircraft ZK-SPR and ZK-SUS were registered to Sport Aircraft Ltd of North Shore on 17/5/10, I had to investigate further! It turns out the the TL-3000 is the latest aircraft to come from TL Aircraft in the Czech Republic, and ZK-SPR and ZK-SUS are airframe numbers 12 and 13. The TL-3000 follows on from the TL-2000 Sting Class 2 Microlight, of which there are 4 in New Zealand. It turned out that Sport Aircraft Ltd was formed by 4 local guys who previously all owned shares in the TL-2000 Sting ZK-STG. They were so impresssed that they became the New Zealand agents for TL aircraft! Sport Aircraft Ltd has a website: http://www.sportaircraft.co.nz/

A phone call to John O'Hara came up with an invite to North Shore Airfield where ZK-SUS was due to test fly today. ZK-SUS is interesting as it is registered as a Light Sport Aircraft, and is one of the first LSA'a in New Zealand. The LSA category is a step up on the microlight catgory, and ZK-SUS is approved for a Maximum Take Off Weight of 600 Kg (as opposed to a Class 2 Microlight of 544 Kg), it is also approved for flight over built up areas, and can be used to gain flight hours for more advanced licences. However, it must be maintained by a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME). The above shot (in shadow and into the sun) shows both ZK-SUS and ZK-SPR, and you can see the top opening cabin door which makes entry impressively easy.

Soon ZK-SUS was pulled out into the sunlight and John O'Hara fired up the Rotax and taxied out for take-off.

........Holding for take-off.

........ And into the air for a successful first flight! It all seemed very matter-of -fact, and very smooth. ZK-SUS has been sold to Bruce Gordon of Marton, who was present to see his new baby take to the air.

It was then ZK-SPR's turn to go. This aircraft is identical to ZK-SUS but is registered as Class 2 Microlight. Zk-SPR first flew on 19/5/10. I asked Bruce Reynolds of Sport Aircraft Ltd why the registration SPR, and he said it stands for Sports, and ZK-SUS just sounded right.

The TL-3000 is all carbon fibre construction and the finish is very impressive. The cabin is quite wide and the fitout is also impressive with a glass cockpit as shown above. It seemed like Formula 1 meets computerisation! The aircraft is also fitted with a ballistic parachute as standard. Sport Aircraft say that they have a lot of interest in the aircraft, so we can expect to see more local Sirius's in the future.

An ex Pom. ZK-CDT.

Below is a photo of the P & M Aviation Pegasus Quantum 15-912 Super Sports G-CDTC , c/n 8135 , photographed somewhere in the UK (I knicked it from the Air Britain files). This was initially registered on 12-10-2005 to Chris Davis and then to Mark Holman on 19-11-2009. Cancelled from the UKCAA list on 26-03-2010 to re-appear on the NZCAA list on 17-05-2010 to Richard Mason of Rangiora.

Bottom pic was shot today at Rangiora. If you look carefully you can still see the first & last letter of its UK registration. (So an easy conversion to ZK status).

Richard also currently operated the Solar Wings Pegasus ZK-TOW/ZK-TQW.

Pitts S-2A ZK-JAG

Spied today at two different airfields was the Pitts S-2A ZK-JAG2. Top picture shows it at Christchurch this morning on the tie down wires and bottom view is of it at Rangiora about to receive some TLC at Pat Scotters Rangiora Aircraft Engineering.
An Aerotek factory built two seater built in about 1968 as N84FS. it came to NZ to become ZK-FXT with the Ashburton Aviation Syndicate on 13-02-1991. It served at Rotorua from 1992 until moving down to Queenstown for Peter Clarke from January of 1995. It then operated under the Over The Top and then Actionflight banners until purchased by Ray and Amy Mudgway of Wellington on 25-08-2006 who trade as Jagair Ltd; and off course they re-registerd it as ZK-JAG on 20-11-2006.

One and the same

Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk , c/n 38-78A0075 , was manufactured to become N9370T and appeared on the US register on 23-05-1978. Some nine owners later, during 1995, it came to NZ and was registered as ZK-RPD on 21-11-1995 to the Ardmore Flying School Ltd at Ardmore. By 17-06-2002 it was relisted to Chris Fogden of Whangarei who traded as Tower Aviation Ltd. Top pic shows it at Ardmore on 18-03-2000.
Second photo shows it at Christchurch on 09-07-2004. Third pic is in its Canterbury Aero Club scheme on 24-04-2008.









ZK-RPD arrived at Christchurch on 05-03-2004 on lease and was registered to the Canterbury Aero Club on 07-05-2004.
It has recently had an airframe overhaul including the wing life extension modifications and a repaint into what could be a new scheme for the Club.

It has also been re-registered into the Club's ZK-EY# block of letters as ZK-EYJ2.
Bottom pic shows it today awaiting completion of paperwork before commiting aviation in its new scheme and registration.

Gone ZK-KFB

Gulfstream G-IV SP ZK-KFB, c/n 1362, was cancelled from the New Zealand civil register on 19-05-2010.

This airframe was of 1999 vintage and carried the previous US registrations of N32GA with Gulfstream Aerospace and N888LK with Deerport Aviation.

It was acquired by Air National Corporate Ltd of Auckland in a joint venture arrangement with Peter Jackson and flew into Auckland fron Sydney on 05-07-2003 to become ZK-KFB on the 15th.

It departed Auckland for Papeete and LA for the last time on 30-04-2010 and appears to be pencilled in to become N662GA.

A google search will find a multitude of excellent photographs of this aircraft.

The above pic was taken at windy (& wet) Wellington on 29-03-2004.

Thanks to http://www.mrcaviation.blogspot.com/ for the heads up on this move.

For a brief run down on the various Gulfstream models : have a look at Bob Hollands site at http://gulfstreamjets.blogspot.com/

More Foxing

I can add a little to the Fox Moth story.

Bill Paterson operated a farm on Motiti Island, off the coast of Tauranga. The Fox Moth was obtained to replace his previous aircraft, Tiger Moth ZK-BBK.
The Fox was used to carry many varied and interesting loads between the mainland and the island including, so I was told, a piano.
The end came when the Fox had to be forced-landed into the sea following engine failure.

A similar photo to Bluebus', taken at Tauranga 21October1967



The restoration at Mandeville, as at 3January2008





Dave Lilico bought the remains of ZK-AQB after the ditching, as at the time he owned Fox ZK-ASP. I knew him as he had earlier been dating a girlfriend of my older sister. Even then I was angling for a flight in his Fox, but somehow this never actually happened.
ZK-ASP was later sold to Myles Robertson, traveled overseas to the USA and UK, and eventually returned home as ZK-ADI.

Fox Moth ZK-ASP at Ardmore 28January1968

I remember when

I remember when Fox Moths worked for a living.

Here we have a view of De Havilland DH83C Fox Moth ZK-AQB c/n FM.49 taken in the long gone hangar at Tauranga in April of 1969.

A Canadian built example - recognisable by the tailwheel and the cockpit canopy - it arrived in NZ at Auckland on 13-10-1947 aboard the Australind. It was registered to the Auckland Aero Club on 25-11-1947 and to the Tauranga Aero Club on 17-12-1955. J Paterson of Tauranga appears on 17-04-1959 followed by W Paterson of Motiti Island from 01-01-1961.

It was damaged on Motiti Island on 28-06-1972 with the remains going to David Lilico of Papatoetoe on 26-10-1972 and then to Miles Robertson of Takapuna on 15-10-1976. I believe Miles did some restoration on the airframe before it went to Colin Smith at Mandeville.

Its registration was cancelled on 20-05-1991. It is still currently under restoration - I believe for John Eaton.

Timaru Saturday.

On Saturday I gained entry to the Aviation Heritage museum at Timaru again. This time I managed to get a slightly better shot of the "exported" DHC-1 Chipmunk ZK-CHP2 ,c/n C1-0099. This was registered to Tony & Sarah Green on 18-01-2005 and was cancelled as exported on 08-05-2009.

See previous blogs :- http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2009/05/greens-have-revoked-and-exported.html

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2009/09/south-canterbury-aviation-heritage.html

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2008/01/chipmunk-zk-chp.html

The Elliotts of Newbury (EoN) Olympia glider ZK-GLY c/n EoN/0/063, has been moved to a brighter corner. This was also registered on 18-01-2005 and was cancelled as revoked on 23-04-2009.

The DH Tiger Moth ZK-TGR is also still on site.

Also noted (not at the Museum) was the fuselage of the long deceased Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six ZK-CUV c/n 32-673. this was damaged at Haururu Falls on 19-12-1989 and was cancelled on 07-02-94. As can be seen, it has been exposed to the elements for many a year

Question time # 97 resolved - but !

Mit scores with the Schneider ES-52 Kookaburra glider ZK-GBB , c/n ES52/11-26 , taken at German Road on the 20th March 2010.

This first flew on 14-09-1957 having been registered to the Marlborough Gliding and Soaring Club (Inc) of Blenheim on the 11th.

But - can you tell us what has happened to it since about 1995 ?

Mit - well done - flick me an email to bluebus@windowslive.com with your postal address & the fish is yours.