North Shore Today 15-1-2016

I went up to North Shore airfield today to try out my new camera, and saw some interesting aircraft.

A new type for New Zealand is the Aero Kros MP 02 Czajka ZK-PRO2 which was registered to an Auckland owner on 4/12/15.  The Czajka originates from Poland and is ex SPS-ROB (is this a correct registration?).

More to come from North Shore later.

A couple of strays at NZCH 15-01-2016

 Looking through the fence at the Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Special C-GCDS (c/n 9137) of I.M.P Group out of Dorval Quebec for Cirque Du Soleil (hence the last three letters - thanks Anon).

The Brazilian registered Cessna 750 Citation 10 PR-JAQ (c/n 750-0060) of Monte Cristalana SA was an interesting find.

Windy Christchurch.

What to do on a windy day at Christchurch ?

Park alongside 29 and watch the approaches.

Here are a few non embarrassing pics from early this afternoon.

 Raytheon 1900D ZK-EAD2 (c/n UE-427) nicely set up. The landing wasn't quiet so pretty.

 Now three ATR's. ZK-MVC is c/n 1084.

 ZK-MVF is c/n 1228.

 And ZK-MVG is c/n 1264.

 Bombardier DHC-8-311 ZK-NEG is c/n 621 and has been on line since 14-05-2006.

 Sneaking out from behind the trees is Airbus A320-232 ZK-OAB c/n 4553.

 With ZK-OJA c/n 2085 over the fence.

Airbus A320-232 ZK-OXA (c/n 5629) lining up to roll.

Beck UH-1 Take Two

 

Just as a follow up to the previous blog, here is UH-1B VH-NYJ on the pad at Eltham the day before it was actually registered. I understand it will operate on the Australian register for a while before joining the NZ register.

 

While on the subject of rotary wing agricultural machines, Rotor Work's extensive fleet doesn't feature too often. Jason Dellow was working R44 ZK-HJD at Opiki on 7 January. 

 

 

Completing a trio of ag-themed machines is Ravensdown Aerowork's Cresco ZK-LTH at Stratford, looking particularly sharp after a good clean, and with the grass neatly mown!

 

 



Another New Zealand Cessna 120

Blue Bus has reminded me that we have another Cessna 120 registered in New Zealand, and has sent the photo below, taken at Rangiora on 17/5/14.  I have therefore altered my previous post.

ZK-XTX (c/n 11759) was registered on 13/1/09 to FG Vernon of Queensland and ownership transferred to Kevin Langford of Rakaia on 22/11/13.  It is easy to see that it is ex N77317, and before that it was NC77317.  I believe it is currently inactive.

Vintage Cessna 120 at Solo Wings, Tauranga

Hairy Mole Rat has sent a photo of the newly restored Cessna 120 ZK-BFK2 (c/n 11102) taken outside Solo Wings at Tauranga yesterday.  This aircraft was damaged in a landing accident at Rotorua on 17/11/99 when a gust of wind caught it and it overturned.  It has been through several sets of hands until Colin Alexander of Solo Wings took it on as a hangar project, and after many years it is now finished and looking very tidy.

This Cessna 120, one of only two registered in New Zealand, was re-registered ZK-BFK2 on 10/2/10, and it has been owned by the Vintage C 120 Syndicate of Whangaparaoa since 11/1/94.

Prior to its re-registration it was ZK-FFK as photo'd above at the 1998 SAANZ flyin at Matamata.  It was imported by Parker Mudge of Queenstown and Nick Oppergard of Seattle and was first registered on 21/2/84.  It then had several owners including the Wakatipu Aero Club before being purchased by The Vintage Aero Club of New Zealand.

The aircraft was manufactured in 1946 and first flew in the US as NC76662, later being registered N76662 before its export to New Zealand.

It will be a welcome addition to the local vintage aircraft ranks.

Another UH-1 for Beck Helicopters.

Beck Helicopters at Eltham add another Bell UH-1 to their fleet.

Bell UH-1B-BF c/n 652 was built in 1963 for the US Military and carried the serial number 62-4592.

It later joined the US civil register (in about August of 1982) as N1386L and in recent times has been working in Australia as 'Helitak 723'.

It has now been purchased by Beck Helicopters and was placed on the Australian civil register as VH-NYJ as from 08-01-2016 with Thomas Osborne of Stanley, Tasmania.

It was shipped into Auckland on 26-12-2015 and will eventually be placed on the NZ register.

See newspaper story at :-

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/75697368/Taranaki-helicopter-company-buys-4th-heavy-hitting-Huey-to-fight-big-bushfires?cid=app-iPad

See also the links withing this www.stuff story.

Cessna 185C ZK-CHL

The twenty ninth Cessna 185 to enter the NZ register was the 185C model with the construction number of 185-0757. This was allocated N5857T on the manufactures assembly line before being transported to New Plymouth for Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd. 

It entered our register as ZK-CHL listed to Rex Aviation on 21-01-1965 for fitting out as an agricultural aircraft for Central Aviation Ltd of Roxburgh

The photo below was taken at Bell Block, New Plymouth before ZK-CHL was delivered down south. So the date would would most likely be February of 1965.

Then below we see her at Taieri on an unrecorded date - but knowing my activities it would have been early 1966.

 Ownership details moved to N Z Tourist Air Travel Ltd of Queenstown on 29-06-1966.

 The paint scheme was modified more in line with TAT's norm.

Below I caught it at Hokitika some time in 1967.

 The pic below was taken at Queenstown and shows the TAT titles on the fuselage side.and

Pic comes from the Des White collection. Date unknown.

Then I took this photo below at Queenstown in December 1972 showing it in the Mount Cook Airlines blue and white scheme and with TAT underwing.

Ownership changed to Mount Cook Airlines and Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd on 18-07-1973

 Then below CMM caught it at Queenstown in July of 1973

 Followed by another view thanks again to Des White.

Below - Caught at Queenstown in May of 1975 by CMM we note that it now has the coloured band around its rear fuselage and also has the hopper re-installed.

Company changes generated a name change to the Mount Cook Group Ltd from 07-02-1978.

 In September of 1978 I caught her, now as fleet number '11', still doing its ag work.

An ownership change on 16-02-1988 saw it transferred to A C S Richards (Chris) of Blenheim, followed by a move to Mile High Partnership of Darfield from 06-02-1994.

It is seen below at Wardells Strip near Omarama on 05-01-1995.

 On 19-01-1995 I took this pic of its modified door at the main Omarama strip.

Peter Williams of Christchurch listed it under his name on 29-10-1999 and spent a lot of time on her culminating in a repaint to this all yellow scheme - as captured in these two shots in the hangar at Wigram on 23-01-2000.

By 22-02-2000 it was almost ready to go now with its full "ZK' registration marks and bearing the 'Melanie Elizabeth' name on its engine cowling in memory of Peter's sister.

Peter advertised it for sale in September of 2004 with 13,324 airframe hours and it was purchased by Guy Laver of Dannevirke as from 15-11-2004. It is still with Guy today.

Above is a pic of her at Rangiora on 29-03-12 as captured by Allan Bowman.

At Omarama on 30-03-13.

And at Wellington.Pic from the Allan Wooller collection.

Not the Answer to Question Time 183

Further to Question Time 183, Thomarse suggested it might be this craft that was photo'd recently by his cousin at Tauranga.  However I reckon this is the Sea and Sky Cygnet ZK-PWG that is owned by Derek Holmes of Papamoa.

So I again pose Question Time 183- Anyone Know What This Is below?

Question Time 183 - Anyone Know What This Is?

This photo comes from the Sport Flying archives.  It shows a Rogallo wing on floats off the East Coast of Auckland I think.  It must have taken quite a bit of planning to get the shot.

Can anyone shed any light on what it is and who was flying it?  

Although I have posted it as QT 183 I do not have the answer.