Question time # 168 answer

Question time # 168 answer

Grumman G44A (Super) Widgeon ZK-AVM.

Seen here at Te Anau 17-03-1966.

This airframe has been well covered in previous postings. See :-

http://www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2010/04/i-remember-when.html

The selection of photographs below show ZK-AVM at Ardmore on 19-03-1980.

 

The "clue" photo was taken from this pic above.

See also :- 

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/a-couple-of-recent-ownership-changes.html

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/grumman-widgeon-zk-avm-at-ardmore.html
 

Other Helos at Mechanics Bay Heliport 12-4-2014

Apart from "Police 1" there were a selection of other helicopters at Mechanics Bay yesterday:

Helilink's AS 355 F1 Twin Squirrel ZK-HPA in their new Inflite markings.

Kawasaki BK 117 B-2 ZK-IPT flew in, in rather plain colours.  Ownership is shown as Search and Rescue Services of Taupo, but it may be at least temporarily based at Mechanics Bay as it was later towed into the hangar.  In the background is the rather posh Mikado restaurant.

And thankfully staying in their hangar were the Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust's two  Westpac Kawasaki BK 117 B-2's ZK-HKZ and ZK-HLN.  I say thankfully because that meant no-one had been badly injured out there.

Piper Cub ZK-BKW returns to Ardmore.

Airwork (NZ) Ltd of Christchurch imported a batch of eighteen Piper Cubs in early 1956

One of them became ZK-BKW on 09-02-1956.

C/n 18-4673 gained it CofA on the 28th and trundled up to join the Auckland Aero Club from 03-04-1956. They named it "Cliff Leys".

The photo below was taken at Ardmore on 09-02-1964.

 Ownership changed to A J and A V Rauner of Warkworth in October of 1964.

Then it was with the North Shore Aero Club briefly followed by the Mercury Bay Aero Club.

In early October of 1968 Pentair Associates of Ardmore became the listed owners.

Pic below was taken at Ardmore on 27-05-1971.

 It survived an incident at Waiau Pa on 16-02-1972 before being sold to K W Sample of Albany on 18-09-1974.

It did the big move down to Otautau in Southland for A F Sutherland in February of 1977 and is seen below

at Timaru on 27-02-1979

 On 13-03-1979 it was listed to A J Main at Twizel and then to Airwork (NZ) Ltd on 15-12-1980.

It was actually photographed outside Airwork at Christchurch (below) on 21-11-1980 - some time before the "official" change.

 Airwork moved it on to Jamison Contractors at Ashburton from 13-07-1981 who in turn sold it to Roger Gould of Pleasant Point from 02-06-1982.

Seen below at Timaru on 10-05-1983.

 And below - seen again at Timaru on 17-06-1989.

 It survived an engine failure at Orari on 27-11-1994.

 Seen above at Timaru on 08-10-2007.

Roger recently sold it and it is now in the good hands of Kevin Paulsen and Leanne Butler of Papakura.

Final photo - below - was taken at Ardmore today (13-04-1014) by Magnaman.

Taylor Monoplane ZK-DQG

Two pics from Magnaman taken at Ardmore today 13-04-2014.

Taylor JT-1 Monoplane ZK-DQG (c/n AACA/150) was built by Cliff Cragie and registered on 24-04-1975. Current owner is Bryan McAnulty of Manukau City.

 Check out:-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=dqg

 for an earlier posting on ZK-DQG.

Thanks for the memory.

Lou Grant.

 Sergeant New Zealand Police.

30-12-1953 to 26-11-1993.

Lou was a mate of mine.

.

Above (left) is a pic of Lou taken at Lake Vanda, Antarctica in 1987.

The reason for the dress uniform escapes me.

Lou was the leader of a small field team based for the summer months at the Lake Vanda Station in the Wright Valley, Antarctica.

 

Lou was selected to go to the US to gain an insight into police helicopter operations. On his return to NZ from the States he was instrumental in setting up the Eagle operation at Auckland.

 

One very vivid memory was of the hike we made to the western end of "The Dias".

Lou had a couple of young sons waiting back in Auckland with his wife Cathy at this time - one of whom had just lost one of his teeth. This was ceremoniously  placed under a rock on the western end of the Dias overlooking the Labyrinth, the Upper Wright Glacier and Airdevronsix Ice Falls..

It being Lou's hope that his son would someday retrieve that tooth.

 

"The Lou Grant Award".

 Lou's widow Cath Grant donated a bronze trophy which is awarded every two years for excellence and contribution to police SAR.

Lou Grant ran the Auckland Police SAR squad for many years, leaving SAR only to set up the Auckland Police air support unit.

Thanks for the memory Sir Minty.

 

The TAIC report on this accident can be found here :-

Click on "Download the report" at right hand side of page. 

http://www.taic.org.nz/AviationReports/tabid/78/ctl/Detail/mid/482/InvNumber/1993-020/Page/19/Default.aspx

Also check this out:-

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=711

 

This artists impression was drawn by Allan Campbell (a US visiting artist) and shows the Dias as seen - looking West - from Vanda Station.

The "Tooth" is at the far end of the formation - about 16km away.

 

You may have noted that this art work is drawn on a thermograph chart.

This is a two piece work. The other view is looking to the East.

A copy hangs with pride on my lounge wall.

Police Eagle Helicopter and Memorial at Mechanics Bay Heliport 12-4-2014

I photographed this memorial plaque at the rear of the Mechanics Bay heliport this afternoon. A reminder of a sad day for Police helicopter operations in Auckland.

Out the front of the heliport was the Police helicopter on duty today - Aerospatiale AS 355 F1 Twin Squirrel "Police 1".

Question time # 168

Found this whilst having a rat around in the olde shoe box.

 Yes - It has been seen in New Zealand.

 

What do you make of it ?

Can you name the Manufacturer ?

Can you name the type/model number ?

If you get this far - how about a likely civil registration for it ?

(any of the three registrations would do).

ZK-HDS ready to go.

At Pacific Aircraft Services at Christchurch yesterday (10-04-2014) ZK-HDS4 (c/n 1058), with its graphic stripes applied, is ready for delivery to David Sutton of Waitangi Station Ltd.

There should be a good chance to see these Guimbal Cabri G2's at Wanaka over Easter.

In the hills.

Three shots taken in the "Hills".

No particular reason for posting them.

Apart from the fact that I like them.

 I Know it's a terrible job - but somebody has to did it.

 The top two are at the Murchison Hut.

The lower view is somewhere else.

Cessna Skycatchers at Ardmore 6-4-2014

Three quarters of our four strong Cessna C 162 Skycatcher fleet was at Ardmore on Sunday.  Auckland Aero Club owns three of them - ZK-AAC and ZK-AMN (which wasn't in evidence on the day).

ZK-VCG is now also owned by Auckland Aero Club, having been with them since 7-3-13.

ZK-SKC was for sale at Dennis Thompson's used aircraft lot for $175,000 + GST if sold in New Zealand.  It is still listed to Air Napier Ltd.