Monday, 6 February 2012
Tiger Moths at Pacific Aero Coatings, Tauranga
While poking around hangars at Tauranga I came across a couple of Tiger Moths coming together in Pacific Aero Coatings' hangar.
This is ZK-BAL of the Darton Feild Flying Syndicate of Gisborne.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Diversions at Dannevirke
QW from GA Long Haul (http://www.galonghaul.blogspot.com/) kindly provides the following images from this weekends gyrocopter convention at Dannevirke along with some fixed wing varieties.
| AutoGyro Europe MT03 Eagle ZK-KIW |
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| ELA Aviacion ELA-08-R-115 ZK-LMO |
| AutoGyro Europe Calidus Fern ZK-MDD |
| Magni Gyro M-24 ZK-MWR |
| Auto Flight Ltd Tandem Dominator ZK-RDH |
| Paul Scherrer KB3 ZK-RKK |
| Celier Xenon ZK-ZMY |
| Gardan GY-20 Minicab ZK-DDH |
| Rans S6S Coyote II ZK-JDP |
| Socata TB10 ZK-JIE |
| Cessna U206G ZK-PJB |
| Titan T51 Mustang ZK-WWM |
Omaka report # 3
Third and final batch from Andy H consists of the LMA-1-W (J-3 Kitten) ZK-LWP (c/n 1021) as built by Larry W Pattersonof Picton (using his initials as its registration). Built from plans and powereed by a 2100cc Revmaster engine. It was first flown on 06-05-2007 at Omaka
Cessna 172K ZK-PAM (c/n 172K-58484) began its career in Pago Pago in American Samoa in 1969 and crossed the Date Line to Samoa in 1972 (I think). By February 1983 it was in Auckland and became ZK-PAM on 07-03-1983. By mid 1989 it was registered to the Marlborough Gliding Club at Omaka until being transferred to the Marlborough Aero Club in December of 2002. It is still used as the glider tug.
Out braving the elements for a brief flight was the Flug Werk FW190 A8/N ZK-RFR (c/n 990001).
This was the prototype new build Flug Werk FW190 which was listed on the German register as D-FWWC on 23-12-1996 and first flew on 22-07-2004. It is now with the Chariots of Fire Collection at blenheim.
Cessna 172K ZK-PAM (c/n 172K-58484) began its career in Pago Pago in American Samoa in 1969 and crossed the Date Line to Samoa in 1972 (I think). By February 1983 it was in Auckland and became ZK-PAM on 07-03-1983. By mid 1989 it was registered to the Marlborough Gliding Club at Omaka until being transferred to the Marlborough Aero Club in December of 2002. It is still used as the glider tug.
Out braving the elements for a brief flight was the Flug Werk FW190 A8/N ZK-RFR (c/n 990001).
This was the prototype new build Flug Werk FW190 which was listed on the German register as D-FWWC on 23-12-1996 and first flew on 22-07-2004. It is now with the Chariots of Fire Collection at blenheim.
Omaka report # 2
Continuing Andy H's photographic Omaka report we have the Titan Tornado 11 ZK-JHJ (c/n D95582COHKO192). This came on our register with the Van Bennekom Verdonk Syndicate of Rotorua on 20-02-1997. Its registration was revoked on 03-05-2001 and it was sold during December that year. It was re-listed to Andrew Carter of Murupara on 02-08-2007 with different c/n of D95582COHK6192 and a Rotax 618 engine in lieu of the original Rotax 582. (I would have thought the c/n would become D95618etc !). It caries a "618" decal on the fuselage. It was listed for sale on Trade Me in June of 2009 with ownership changing on 22-12-2009 to Tomino Cacciamani of Havelock.
Above is the Sigma-4 ZK-JRN (c/n 10) of Mike Gray of Blenheim now carrying "Crip Air" signage. I like your sense of humour there Michael.
One of Andrew Fairfax's flying machines is this SpezioDAL-1 Tuholer ZK-JRZ (c/n 227). This originated in the US in about 1967 and came to NZ to be listed here on 15-09-2003.
Above is the Sigma-4 ZK-JRN (c/n 10) of Mike Gray of Blenheim now carrying "Crip Air" signage. I like your sense of humour there Michael.
One of Andrew Fairfax's flying machines is this SpezioDAL-1 Tuholer ZK-JRZ (c/n 227). This originated in the US in about 1967 and came to NZ to be listed here on 15-09-2003.
The Classic Aircraft Sales Ltd's of Blenheim, Boeing Stearman A75N1 ZK-KJO (c/n 75-2100) was built for the US military around 1941. Post war it was on the US civil register until being purchased by Graham Orphan in about August of 2009. It came onto the NZ register on 05-05-2011. The "529" numbers being the last three of its US registration of N52529.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Omaka report #1
Young Andy Heap managed to get to Omaka today (Saturday 04-02-2012) and captured some of the activity in less than ideal conditions.The Auster J1B Autocrat ZK-AWH (c/n 1865) was a post WW11Auster J1 first registered to Marshall's Flying School in the UK as G-AHAW. It was sold abroad in September of 1950 and became ZK-AWH with the Middle Districts Aero Club on 04-08-1950. In 1957 it migrated down to Lauder for M H Mee and then to the Hokonui Gliding Club of Gore in 1972. In private ownership by mid 1974 it underwent a rebuild in the early 1990's. It has been listed to M P Brereton of Feilding since May of 2010.
Cessna 172L Superhawk ZK-DAT (c/n 172L-59648) belongs to Chris Brown of Picton.
Yak Yak Yak. Check out :-
Andrew Fairhall built up his Fairhall Special ZK-JBF (c/n 001) based around the 1929 Pietenpol Aircamper.
See earlier blog at :-
Cessna 172L Superhawk ZK-DAT (c/n 172L-59648) belongs to Chris Brown of Picton.
Yak Yak Yak. Check out :-
Andrew Fairhall built up his Fairhall Special ZK-JBF (c/n 001) based around the 1929 Pietenpol Aircamper.
See earlier blog at :-
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Action at Whitianga
During the summer season the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust bases one of their Kawasaki BK 117 rescue helicopters at Whitianga, and on 28 January it was ZK-HLN (The other Auckland Westpac rescue helicopter based at Mechanics Bay in Auckland is ZK-HKZ)
I photo'd ZK-HLN during the afternoon of the SAANZ flyin.
Then just as I was about to leave, 2 cars raced up to the carpark - driven by the paramedic and the pilot. There was also a TV cameraman, I guess for the TV show Rescue 1. A very quick start and after around 5 minutes liftoff.
Look out for it on TVNZ's Rescue 1 programme.
Question time # 146 not resolved
Question time # 146 was not answered to my satisfaction. We are looking at the Stanton Sunbird ZK-JEA (c/n 001) as constructed by Charlie Stanton. I believe parts from Charlie's earlier project - the American Eaglet glider ZK-GOE were used on the Sunbird.
It is now on display at the Ashburton Aviation Museum.
It is now on display at the Ashburton Aviation Museum.
Friday, 3 February 2012
Earlier Vans RV's at SAANZ Flyin Whitianga
There were several other Vans models at Whitianga, and I thought I would post some of the less photographed of them as follows:
RV 4 ZK-RVB was built by Bruce Bowen of Katikati, and was first registered on 26/3/03. It is still owned by him.
RV 6A ZK-RVC was built by Case Groot of Matamata and was first registered on 20/11/98. Case still owns it and it is a very active aircraft.
And finally RV 6A ZK-RVF is owned by the Cardinal Partnership of Tauranga. It was first registered on 19/9/00.
A lonely twin
Sir Minty has provided the above photograph of the "Bay Flight Aviation" Tecnam P2006T ZK-TWN (c/n 052) taken at Tauranga on 27-01-2012.
*************
Below is a snip from the media.
Helipro purchases Bay Flight school
PostWednesday 25th Jan, 2012 | By Phillipa Yalden
Tauranga’s only flight school will re-open its doors in February under the new name Bay Flight 2012 after being purchased by Palmerston North based company Helipro.
Staff and members of the operations team are back on site at the flight school on Jean Batten Drive after the sale to Helipro was finalised last Friday.
The Helipro deal does not include the purchase of the Tecnam P2006T bought in 2011 for $700,000, but does include the purchase of Bay Flight’s 10 other aircraft.
(Title change for these ten aircraft occured on 23-01-2012. Aircraft involved are ZK-DAD, ZK-ELX, ZK-FCO, ZK-KID, ZK-MUM, ZK-NAN, ZK-PQP, ZK-SIS, ZK-SON and ZK-TWI.Added by Blue Bus).
(Title change for these ten aircraft occured on 23-01-2012. Aircraft involved are ZK-DAD, ZK-ELX, ZK-FCO, ZK-KID, ZK-MUM, ZK-NAN, ZK-PQP, ZK-SIS, ZK-SON and ZK-TWI.Added by Blue Bus).
The flight school was put into voluntary liquidation by owner, Palmerston North based pilot Steve Rowe, in December 2011.
He cited trading difficulties and a lack of flying hours due to bad weather as reasons for this move.
Director of RHB Accountants, the Tauranga based liquidator for the flight school, Tom Rodewald, says plans were finalised for the purchase at the end of last week and the flight school will officially re-open from February 1.
“Staff are on-site getting everything ready to go and they expect the students to be back in the air by first of February. It was signed and sealed at the end of last week.”
Helipro business manager John Read says Bay Flight 2012 is an opportunity to extend the company’s training platform.
“It has a very good name and part of what we do is aviation training, with rotor wing and fixed wing, and we saw this as an extension.
“We are very pleased to have bought it and to be continuing on to be able to provide students with the courses, so they can finish their qualifications.
“We have asked all the previous staff to forward their CVs and we are currently working through putting the team together now.”
Tauranga based pilot Phil Hooker, who founded Bay Flight International in 1996 and then sold it to Steve Rowe 18 months ago, is the new chief flight instructor of Bay Flight 2012.
John says a skeleton crew is working at the school at the moment, but formal operations will begin on February 1.
The Bay Flight training centre is due to reopen its doors next week.
“Doors are actually open now with a skeleton crew getting everything prepared, but the normal operations will be from February 1.
“It’s a fairly tight timeframe, but given that we are a large training organisation we have had all the necessary approvals and certifications so it’s a matter of getting it up and running.”
The sale agreement does not include the Tecnam P2006T purchased for $700,000 by Bay Flight Aviation in 2011, but does include the remaining 10 planes in the Bay Flight fleet.
John says they are expecting all of the students to continue training and will be looking to keep 15 staff in total at the Mount Maunganui base.
“They (the students) seemed very pleased when we met them and discussed the plan, we will be looking at providing a lot of backing support through our head office, as we do for our other bases.”
Helipro was established in 1983 by Wellington pilot Rick Lucas, who still owns the business.
“He started the business as one pilot and one helicopter.”
The business now operates a fleet of 40 helicopters from nine bases in New Zealand and one in Australia.
“Its been rotor wing flight training since 1983, but it got involved in fixed wing training in 1995 and we have been training in fixed wing in 2005 and has been training a large number of international students from that date.”
Bay Flight 2012 will operate under Helipro Aviation Training a NZQA accredited organisation that provides specialist aviation and flight training courses for helicopter and fixed wing aircraft.
John says flight training institutes have faced a number of challenges in the last year throughout New Zealand and Helipro are looking to move forward in the fixed wing training industry.
“We are working in a positive manner to make it a viable, ongoing business.”
Both John and owner Rick will be regular visitors to the region and are looking forward to the Classics in the Sky Tauranga City Airshow this weekend.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Vans RV 12 ZK-YRV at SAANZ Flyin Whitianga
With no criticism of Mike Condon's earlier post on ZK-YRV, I thought this aircraft needed a bit more detail as it is potentially an important new type of sport aircraft in our skies, and it is likely to be the first of many. (Another has already been registered: ZK-RVS in Hawkes Bay).
Alan Coubray has made a very nice job of ZK-YRV. He spent a lot of time explaining details of the aircraft in his hangar at Whitianga, and he graciously pulled the aircraft out for my photos. Alan took less than a year to build ZK-YRV and has previously built Safari helicopter ZK-IQP and Sonex ZK-JQP. Alan said that YRV stands for Yellow RV.
The RV 12 was developed by Van's as a Light Sport Aircraft in 2006, and it can be built as such in New Zealand, or it can be built as a microlight Class 2. ZK-YRV is registered as an Amateur Built Aircraft (whereas ZK-RVS is registered as a Microlight Class 2). The wingspan is 26 feet 8 inches (8.21 m), the length is 19 feet 11 inches (6.12 m), the wing area is 127 square feet (11.8 square metres) and with a Rotax 912S motor of 100 HP, its maximum speed is 138 MPH. Empty weight is 750 pounds (340 Kg) and MAUW is 1320 pounds (600 Kg). Interestingly these are almost identical statistics to the Jodel D 11 with a 100 HP Continental 0-200 motor.
The RV 12 can only be built from kits, and the kit is the most comprehensive ever I think. The kit comes with the wing spar solid rivetted and everything else ready to pop rivet, so it can be assembled by one person. The panels are punched out by computerised machines and are extremely exact, with even the rivet holes being to exact size so they only need to be smoothed before rivetting. The kit also includes all control runs, hoses etc, cowlings and the canopy, and even the complete instrument panel and instruments that the builder has ordered, with everything pre-assembled. The kit includes the motor which is standard. Even the stickers are included with dimension as to where to put them!
In a first for Van's the wings are removeable.
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