Pukekohe East and Dave Locke Minitwins

Another reason I went to the Pukekohe East airstrip was to see Dave Locke who is retired and has built his house beside the strip. Readers may remember that Dave locke built New Zealand's first 2 seater homebuilt aicraft which first flew in July 1966 - his Minicab ZK-CLS. (See www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/gardan-gy-20201-minicabs-of-new-zealand.html )

In later years Dave built two of his own 2 seater microlight designs - the Dave Locke Minitwins, which were developed from the single seat TEAM Hi Max with the fuselage width and wingspan both increased.  (See www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/homegrown-two-seat-homebuilt-aircraft.html )

ZK-DBL2 is Dave's second Mini Twin and is officially a D Locke Minitwin Mark II.  Dave keeps it in a double garage in his house that faces onto the strip and pushes it in sideways like a glider.  it is a neat fit.

Dave also had an interesting photo of his first Minitwin hanging on his wall.  This was ZK-JEB which is officially a David Boehm Locke Hi Max Minitwin.  In this photo it can be seen that it first flew in the same colours as his Minicab, which I had not seen before.  So I took a photo of Dave's photo.  Thanks very much for your hospitality Dave.

Ardmore 3-5-2015

Following in Sir Minty's footsteps, an opportunity presented itself for a drive-by of Ardmore 3 May. Just when we thought the autumnal anti-cyclonic gloom would dominate the visit it was the proliferation of another airborne phenomena  that caught our attention - tail draggers!

I cannot remember the last time I caught up with 4 Piper Cubs in one setting! 

Piper PA18-150 ZK-BKD - its past is well covered in Sir Minty's review.

Ardmore resident Piper PA18 ZK-BKW on finals for grass 21. 

Registered to a Napier address since May 1998, Piper PA18 ZK-BQS

Piper PA18 ZK-BTU had an ownership change in March this year to a Hamilton address. 

Piper PA22-135 Pacer ZK-PAL outside its residence 

P40 Kittyhawk ZK-CAG returning from a local flight, preceded by Harvard ZK-WAR 

Spitfire MK IX ZK-WDQ rumbles away on a local flight. 

Ex RNZAF Airtourer ZK-CLD seems to have its past identity a little confused. Its ex NZ1769 but seems to enjoy posing as the more powerful CT4 Airtrainer with the serial number NZ1941. 

Vans RV 8 ZK-SST at North Shore this Afternoon 4-5-2015

I went up to North Shore Airfield this afternoon to check if the Aeronca ZK-AMW had arrived.  It has been bought by a local syndicate and will be based at the airfield.  However it had not made it from Matamata and will now arrive some time in the next week or so, weather permitting.

But nevermind!  As I have said before, if you wait around something interesting will come along.

Today it was Vans RV 8 ZK-SST which arrived and taxied back to its hangar.
 

This is the first time I have seen it outside at North Shore and it sure looks striking in the late afternoon sun.  It is owned by a private owner and is based on the field.

Air New Zealand New Aircraft in New Colours at Auckland International 2-5-2015

A further selection of Air New Zealand's new Airbus A 320-232s were seen departing Auckland International last Saturday.

ZK-OXB

ZK-OXD

And the latest one ZK-OXI.

Imco Callairs.

About five years ago I did a post on the Imco Callairs in New Zealand

See link at :-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2010/07/imco-callair-b-1.html

Now with thanks to CMM we have three more photographs of Callairs.

 The above shot is taken outside Aero Engine Services hangar at Hamilton and is dated 13-08-1966.

It shows a rough US N26 registration

Alas all six Callairs that came to NZ carried the N26B registration as a test allocation from the manufacturer in the States. 

So I would not care to put a definitive ZK registration to this particular airframe.

The ZK allocations where ZK-CRA, ZK-CRB, ZK-CRC, ZK-CRD, ZK-CRI, ZK-CRJ, ZK-CRU and ZK-CRV. 

All had their first flights in NZ between 07-07-1966 and 08-12-1966.

The pic above was taken at Hamilton on 06-05-1967. 

It shows ZK-CRA (c/n 10011), possibly just after repairs following its incident at Tinui on 30-03-1967.

The final view is of ZK-CRC tied down at an unknown strip (maybe Taihape ?). 

The date is 1971 or 1972. 

It carries the pilots name of "Graeme Brough" and the Rangitikei Air Services Ltd insignia.

New Sirius and Sting at North Shore 3-5-2015

Another 40 foot container for TL Aircraft agents Sport Aircraft Ltd at North Shore airfield, another Sirius and another Sting.  They were unpacked last Thursday and are in the process of being re-assembled.

TL 3000 Sirius ZK-SRZ  (c/n 15 SI 107) is to be the next demonstrator for Sport Aviation Ltd, after they sold their last Sting demonstrator to an owner in Taranaki.

And TL-2000 Sting S4 ZK-MTN (c/n 15 ST 422) is registered to Glenn N Martin Ltd of Christchurch and will be based at Rangiora  Glenn is Glenn Martin who developed the Jetpack.

Like the last shipment of a Sirius and a Sting in June 2014, these two aircraft are powered by Rotax 912 iS fuel injected engines producing 100 HP.

Pukekohe East 2-5-2015

Further down the road from Drury is the Pukekohe East airstrip on Runciman Road.  Here there is a collection of hangars, one of which contains the 400 HP Fletcher FU 24 ZK-SFL of Cropdusters Ltd.

Another resident is the CubCrafters Carbon Cub ZK-CSS3 , which returned briefly for fuel.

While we were chatting, Peter Beer and Jon Farmer arrived in their new Aeroprakt A-22LS Foxbat ZK-LFG2 (c/n 227) which was only registered less than a month ago on 6/3/15.  They were flying in the area so just popped in as it would be rude not to!  This must have been somewhat poignant for Peter and Jon as the Pukekohe East strip was where their earlier Foxbat ZK-LFG (c/n 168) crashed and was written off last November.  (Not being flown by them at the time although they were at the strip).  See www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/aeroprakt-22ls-foxbat-zk-lfg-accident.html

Then after a few minutes they were off back to their home base at nearby Patumahoe.

Followed by the Carbon Cub - with 180 HP and one up it sure gets up and goes!.

Drury 2-5-2015

Down the road from Ardmore to the Auckland Gliding Club airstrip at Drury where the conditions were not very conducive for gliding.  However some flights were being made as the club towplane was out.

Piper PA 25-235 Pawnee ZK-CEB was with Rangitikei Air Services from 1964. Ownership transferred to the Auckland Club in October of 1967 and it has been with them ever since. 

A better view of the four bladed prop, which is fitted for noise reduction.

Another towplane was picketed, being the PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35 ZK-PZM of the RNZAF Base Aviation Sports Club of Whenuapai, which has been at Drury for several months.  This has been in New Zealand since 11/5/92.

Ardmore 2-5-2015

Another trip to Auckland International (more on that later), so another trip to Ardmore which produced its usual crop of different and interesting aircraft.  Most of these aircraft have been in New Zealand for a long time as evidenced by their being the first use of their registration marks..

I did not realise that we had more than one Grob G 109 motor glider until I saw ZK-GNW (c/n 6148) being towed to a hangar. It is owned by the GNW Syndicate of Auckland, operated by the Pegasus Flying Trust and flown by the Air Training Corps, I presume at Whenuapai. It was originally D-KARR from mid-November of 1982 initially with Grob Werks. Its German registration was cancelled in mid-October of 1983 and was imported by Drake Aviation to be registered in NZ on 02/12/1983. It was listed to the Tauranga Gliding Club on 27/07/1984 and then to Allan McNaughton of Christchurch on 16-11-1987. It then did a stint with the Ruapehu Gliding Club at Raetihi from April of 1987 with a transfer up to the Whangarei District Gliding Club from 16/11/2004. It joined its current Syndicate on 17/11/2013.

Piper PA 18-150 Super Cub ZK-BKD2 (c/n 18-8470) was registered on 12/3/15 to the BKD Syndicate of Auckland.  I understand that it will be fitted with large wheels. This cub went new to Ansett General Aviation at Bankstown, Sydney as VH-PPH on 13-04-1967 and became one of two delivered to the Southern Cross Gliding Club Ltd from 09-07-1968. It went private to George Louez of Griffith NSW on 28-09-1978 and then to Arthur Loder at Moree on 13-07-1988. Then came Ian Barraclough and friends at East Killara, NSW from 14-05-1996. It was restored and used as a back-up glider tow plane based at Lake Keepit in northern NSW. In August of 2008 it was re-engined with a Penn Yann Textron 180hp O-360-A4M engine and McCauley propeller.  (So does that make it a PA 18-180?).   Its final Australian owner was Chris Leon, initially at Wahroonga, NSW and later at Mason Field, Queensland.

The first ZK-BKD was a DC 3 originally owned by NAC from 27/6/55, then by Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Air Services and finally as a topdressor for Fieldair.  It was withdrawn from use in 1983 and cancelled in October 1983.

ZK-SGH is a Cessna 182P with a moustache.  In fact the canard wing is part of a Peterson 260SE STOL conversion.  It is ex N182KL and was first registered on 5/7/01 to S & C Horne of Waiheke Island, with whom it is still current.

VH-UBV is a Cessna 206G that was first registered in Australia on 27/6/80.  It is owned by Missionary Aviation Fellowship and arrived in New Zealand on 11/3/15 for eventual registration as ZK-MAF2 .  For its history you can search for VH-UBV in the search box at the top left of the blog header page.

Piper PA 34-220T Seneca ZK-RSQ is registered to Rick Lucas Helicopters of Palmerston North.  I am not sure how this fits in with the recievership of Helipro.  It is ex N8239D and was first registered in New Zealand on 18/8/95 having had a succession of seven owners to date.

Cessna 172H ZK-DHN has been around since way back in July 1972 and has had four owners in that time.  It is currently owned by Sunair Aviation Ltd of Mt Maunganui.  It is at Ardmore to provide the Sunair service to Great Barrier Island.

Another oldie is Bolkow Junior ZK-EDH which has been around since November 1974.  It has had four owners over its life in New Zealand and is for sale at Dennis Thompson's for $35,000.

ZK-EIF is a smart looking Piper PA 28R-201 Arrow III that is woned by Arrow Partners of Wellington.  It was first registered in New Zealand on 28/4/86 and has had five owners to date.

ZK-EKR is a Piper PA 28R-200 Arrow that was first registered in New Zealand on 12/2/85 and has had four owners to date.  It is currently for sale by Dennis Thompson.

ZK-KVZ at NZHK

The Cessna U206G Stationair 6 ZK-KVZ (c/n 20606144) flew into Auckland from Pago Pago as N6110Z on 25-11-1983 from Illinois in the US. It joined the ZK register on 23-12-1983.

These first two shots shot it at New Plymouth on 28-10-1984 whilst it was in the care of United Aviation Ltd of Palmerston North.

In mid-April of 1998 it went to Wellair Ltd of Paraparaumu and then over to Westair Flying Ltd at Hokitika from 05-06-1998.

It moved back to Palmerston North to the Manawatu Districts Aero Club from 26-07-1999 and is seen below at Feilding on 21-02-2001.

Less than two months later (18-11-99) it transferred over to Alpine Hunting Adventures Ltd

Now fitted with the IO-550 engine it was seen at Hokitika on 22-04-2015 by Ben from Wilderness Wings.