Don's new Sportcruiser ZK-DEU

Don's CZAW SportCruiser ZK-DEU2 nearing the end  of its NZ certification at Solo Wing facility at Tauranga yesterday (10-08-2016). Photo from Hairy Mole Rat.

The first allocation of the ZK-DEU letters were applied to a Auster B.8 Agricola (c/n AF-001R) with Associated Farmers Aerial Work at Martinborough on 03-03-1971. Alas it crashed on 02-12-1971.

Over the fence at Christchurch today 10-08-2016

A quick peak over the fence at Christchurch International Airport this afternoon found the Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander ZK-EVO (c/n 785). It wears 'Fly My Sky' marks on its fuselage side and what looks like its old 'Aspiring Air' insignia near the top of its tail.

After Aspiring Air ceased operations it was noted at Invercargill in early 2013 with an ownership change to Commercial Helicopters Ltd (who trade as Fly My Sky) of Taumaranui on 19-12-2014.

For more on EVO's activities check out :-

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/12/christmas-present-for-fly-my-sky.html

 On the Western side of the field the Bell 206B JetRanger II ZK-HRS2 (c/n 877) of Christchurch Helicopters 2001 Ltd was just winding down. Note the spray tank and boom fitted.

 Just clearing the pad, and a helicopter that we don't often see in town, was the Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HXM3 (c/n 10637) as listed with Fiordland Enterprises Ltd of Te Anau.

 Back over on the 'Deep Freeze' pad was the NASA DC8-72 (NASA817)  N817NA on a special mission.

Check it out at :-

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/nasa-douglas-dc8-72-n817na-updated.html

Feilding is Cessna Country 4-8-2016

Carrying on up the island from Paraparaumu my next stop was at Feilding which is the opposite of Paraparaumu in that it has developed hugely since the 1990s with many new hangars and a new aircraft maintenance business in Avcraft which is going from strength to strength.

On a cold afternoon most of the hangars were closed, but there were a large number of aircraft outside - mainly Cessnas as can be seen below: (in descending model number order)

Cessna A185F ZK-WBL owned by Drake Aviation, up from Rangiora.  This was previously ZK-JNH3 and has been owned by Drake Aviation since its first registration on 15/9/08.  I am surprised that it has never appeared on the blog as ZK-WBL previously, as it is from Blue Bus's home patch.

Cessna 177B ZK-TEC has been around since 25/10/95 and has been owned by Avcraft Engineering NZ Ltd since 23/12/14.  It also has not been featured on the blog before.

Cessna 172P ZK-LGE has been in New Zealand since 12/4/85 and has been owned by Avcraft Engineering NZ Ltd since 20/9/12.

I thought it was great to see a colourful and distinctive Cessna for a change, although I can see it would not be to everyones taste!.  C 172M ZK-DRP has been around since October 1974 and surprisingly has had only one owner in all that time, being the MF and DM Robbie Syndicate of Eketahuna.

Then there were seven 152s parked and picketed, several of which have not featured on the blog before.  The first six are owned by the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy (NZICPA), which is shifting to Wanganui in the near future.  Their base is in the old Manawatu Aerial Topdressing hangar which is advertised as for sale.

ZK-NFO has been in New Zealand since 9/11/07.

ZK-FCQ has been here since 29/11/83 and has had 17 owners in that time!

ZK-FPH2 has been here since 24/3/96 and has previously been registered ZK-NSM2 and ZK-JGU.

 Aerobat model ZK-EJV has been in New Zealand since 20/10/86 and has had 15 owners in that time.

ZK-MDK is a relative newcomer and has been around since 23/7/09.

ZK-NEI was first registered on 17/5/91 and has had 12 owners in that time.

And the final model I photo'd was the oldest of the lot.  ZK-DPS is an Aerobat 150L model that was first registered in New Zealand on 17/9/74.  It is owned by M Callister of Masterton and was undergoing maintenance in the Aero Support Aircraft Engineering hangar (along with C U206G ZK-KVZ which has featured on the blog previously).

Kapiti Aero Club Aircraft at Paraparaumu 4-8-2016

Paraparaumu airport is very different these days to what it was when it passed into private ownership in 1995.  There is now major non-aviation commercial development along the Northern boundary and more development is being undertaken on the Eastern boundary now that the gliding club has relocated to Greytown.

However aviation is still being committed with the Kapiti Aero Club in their new premises with two fairly new hangars housing their aircraft and several private aircraft.  The old CAA hangar is still in use and the Air New Zealand check in is adjacent (although I believe the service has been reduced), and the Wellington Chapter SAANZ hangar is still over in the sandhills.

The Aero Club aircraft were in evidence when I visited on a cold day last week.

 Cessna 172S ZK-KAL3.  This was re-registered from ZK-JRE.

 Cessna 172S ZK-KAZ2.  This was re-registered from ZK-XPS.

And a line up of the club's Cessna 152s ZK-ELA, ZK-ELS and ZK-FLC.

Question time # 189 resolved.

And the winner is - Mit again.

And the answer is:-

1.  Air deflection thingi just ahead of and below the leading edge of the horizontal tail plain.

2.  On a Piper Cub.

3.  I had in mind ZK-PSC - but as Mit pointed out - ZK-BRO has the same.

Another mod on a Cub that I have not seen for many a year is the cable across the undercarriage.

Again on ZK-PSC.

Question time # 189

I thought it about time for another Question Time.

All we need to know is :-

1:      What is this for ?

2:      What aircraft type is it on ?

3:      If you know what type it is on -  can you tell me the registration of this particular aircraft ?

4:      Then I will need to know your snail mail address so that I can mail you the chocolate fish.

An(other!) Air New Zealand Selection from Wellington

A fine Tuesday morning with a light Southerly is always worth a visit to the Northern end of Wellington International where the planes just keep on coming and going.  However, at the risk of becoming boring, here are a few that came and went, and a couple of them haven't been featured on the blog before.

 ATR 72-500 ZK-MCB3 coming,

 ATR 72-500 ZK-MCC4 going.

 DHC Dash 8/Q 300 ZK-NEA2 coming,

And Nek Minnit ZK-NEK was going!

SoundsAir's Latest PC 12 at Wellington 2-8-2016

Last Tuesday was a pleasant day at Wellington International with a light Southerly.

I was delighted to be able to photo SoundsAir's latest Pilatus PC 12 ZK-PLX (c/n 396) which was first registered on 29/4/16.  It was previously VH-NWO and before that HB-FQQ.

I was also told that their other PC 12 ZK-PLZ is currently in Australia being painted in a spectacular new colour scheme, so watch this space.

Antarctica 1958 # 5

Globemasters

Five more photographs from the Bob Henderson collection taken during 1958.

Below C124C 52-1017 approaching its parking spot.

52-1017 refueling below.

Disgorging cargo below - part of which was the RNZAF DHC-2 Beaver NZ6001. 

The Beaver wings still in their transport cradles are lying on the ice in the foreground with the horizontal tail plane nearest.

Two C124's parked - with the Beaver on the left now with its tail plane fitted.

Auckland International to Wellington 1-8-2016

Another trip to Wellington to catch up with family.  This time the weather was decidedly wintery but as ever there were some aircraft to photograph.

 Air Chathams newly acquired SAAB SF340A ZK-KRA departing for Wanganui.

 The FlyMySky fleet of Islanders ZK-SKF, ZK-PIY and ZK-PIZ.

And Airwork Flight Operations Boeing B737-400 ZK-PAK now has Parcelair titles.

 Old and new A 320 wingtips.

Down out of the murk...

Looking down the coast with the inland and seaward Kaikouras dusted with snow.  There would be a lot more snow on the Kaikouras now!

Pretty uninviting sea off the Wellington South coast.

Just as well there was a nice warm meal waiting.