Air Chathams Metroliner ZK-CID and its History

On one of my many taxi trips to Auckland International last year I photo'd Air Chathams Fairchild Metroliner SA 227AC ZK-CID3 (c/n AC692B) taxying for departure.

ZK-CID3 was registered to Air Chathams Ltd of Waitangi in the Chatham Islands on 27/4/16 as a re-registration of ZK-NSS.  ZK-NSS was purchased by Air Chathams from Airwork on 8/4/16.

ZK-NSS was previously N2707D and was first registered as such to the Fairchild Aircraft Corporation of San Antonio, TX in October 1987.  It later went to the UK where it was registered as G-BOJN for several owners and it was leased to Air Metro as in the photo below.,

It was first registered in New Zealand on 5/9/90 to Air Nelson.  It was never painted in the full Air Nelson colours but was painted as above in the photo from Wetland 831, taken at Nelson on 28/11/90.

It was sold to Airwork on 12/3/91 and was owned by various iterations of the company until it was sold to Air Chathams.  It is photo'd above in Air Post colours at Christchurch on 22/10/91.

In 1997 it was used by Airwork to set up Chatham Airlink in competition with Air Chathams but the service petered out in 1998.  It is photo'd above at the Chathams on 12/4/96 while on Charter from Airwork by Air Chathams.  Shades of what was to follow many years later...

In 1999 it was chartered from Airwork by Origin Pacific Airways on their passenger and freight services before the arrival of their BAE Jetstreams under a strategic alliance between the two companies.  It was not painted in Origin Pacific livery as seen in the above photo taken at Nelson on 25/6/99.

In 2003 ZK-NSS was configured as an air ambulance and painted in this very distinctive scheme for Life Flight, and was operated as "Life Flight 2" for the next 13 years.  It is photo'd above at Christchurch on 24/7/13.

Also at Christchurch, on 19/3/14, showing the large rear door for loading patients.

Thanks to Westland 831 of our sister blog 3rd Level New Zealand for a couple of the above photos.  There is a lot of further detail on ZK-NSS and Air Chathams on the 3rd Level New Zealand blog at:   http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2016/04/another-metroliner-bites-dust.html

Pauanui 0n th4 4th January 2017

Richard reports that it has been very quiet at Pauanui since New Year with only holiday residents doing circuits and short trips.  

Today there were only four aircraft movements all day but one was the first visit of GA8 ZK-FSS.

Stark Aviation visit daily usually with 172 ZK-CWD or the other GA8 ZK-FSR, or both,  so it was good to catch the latest addition to their fleet.

Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-FSS2 (c/n GA8-02-017) was built as VH-AAP6  and registered to Gippsland Aeronautics at Latrobe Valley in Victoria on 31-07-2002.

On 29-08-2002 it was listed to Gary J Wight of Traralgon, Victoria.

It was then flown from Latrobe Valley to Nelson on 08-10-2002 for a NZ demonstration tour.

 With its Australian registration cancelled on 10-11-2002 it became ZK-SAF2 with Air Safaris and Services (NZ) Ltd at Lake Tekapo on 14-11-2002.

It was sold to Stark Aviation Ltd of Hamilton in November and re-registered as ZK-FSS2 on 05-12-2016.

Weather looks good for the fly in on Saturday as long as the current SW winds ease.

The Leaning Tower of Wellington

As you can see - the construction of the 'Leaning Tower' is under way beside Wellington Airport.

Photo from Allan Wooller.

Another from the Navajo Tribe - ZK-LWN at NZAA

During a visit to Auckland International last year, I photo'd PA 31 Navajo ZK-LWN (c/n 8112056) in the maintenance hangar where the Skyline Aviation/New Zealand Air Ambulance Service air ambulance fleet is hangared.  It has not been covered on the blog previously.

It is registered to Skyline Aviation Ltd of Napier and it has been with them since 29/11/04.

The aircraft was originally N40938 and was first registered in New Zealand on 16/6/95, to Skyline Aviation Ltd .  It has spent all of its New Zealand life in the Hawke's Bay, probably in an air ambulance role as in this photo of it as the Lowes Air Ambulance on 20/2/01.

ZK-MJF at NZCH 01-01-2017

Noted on the Western Grass at Christchurch International Airport on New Years Day was the Piper PA-31-310C Navajo C ZK-MJF.

It had ferried into Auckland from Pago Pago on 29-05-1994.

It began life as N325CF and spent time with Offerman and Co Inc at Minneapolis from August of 1979. It headed up to Canada and became C-GVEV with Kanata Aviation Ltd at Charlotte Town, Prince Edward Island in July of 1985 until joining Aerocharter Inc at Moncton, New Brunswick from October of 1993.

ZK-MJF (c/n 31-7912089) got its registration letters from its first NZ owner M John Funnell of Taupo on 16-06-1994.

It transferred to Helicopter Services (BOP) Ltd of Taupo on 27-02-2001 and spent time as the Waikato Air Ambulance; with a move to the New Plymouth Aero Club on 01-09-2011 as the Taranaki Air Ambulance. 

Later in 2012 it was listed to the Taranaki Air Ambulance Trust (Taranaki Flight for Life).

From 27-02-2015 it has been listed with Skywest Aviation Ltd of New Plymouth and wears their titles on the lower engine cowlings.

Pauanui Flyin Saturday 7 January

The popular New Years flyin at Pauanui is on again this year. 

Robinson R 22 ZK-ALE at Te Kowhai

Seldom seen outside is Pilot Brewery's Robinson R 22 ZK-ALE3 (not sure of the c/n), seen here in the Pilot Brewery warehouse at Te Kowhai.

The first ZK-ALE was a Miles Whitney Straight that was originally ZK-AGB and was impressed into the RNZAF as NZ577 during the war.  It was written off after crashing in the Mamakus in September 1953.  And the second ZK-ALE was the intriguing Colt AS105 HAAirship that was withdrawn at Auckland in December 1997.  Does anyone have a photo of it?

Pilot Brewery is a Te Kowhai based microbrewery that came to be after a big days local flying.  Its brews such iconic beers as Avgas Pilsner, Low Viz Pale Ale and Microlight Pale Ale.

Well I thought it was interesting.

Pauanui on New Years Day

Happy New Year ! 

A quiet airfield at Pauanui today.

 Cessna 172R Skyhawk ZK-TAD2 (c/n 17281546) has been with the Auckland Flying School since 26-03-2009.

 The Cessna 172D Skyhawk ZK-CDS (c/n 17250524) has been around a little longer. 

Imported new into NZ by Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd and registered here on 11-09-1963 and first flying on the 26th for listing to the Piako Aero Club at Matamata on 11-10-1963.

Dave Lewer of Marton listed it from May of 1997 until selling to current owner Doug McMullin of Cambridge from 09-11-2015.

 From Tuakau came the Aeroprakt A-22LS Foxbat ZK-JGT2 (c/n 079) as registered to S  T Growers from 05-12-2012.

This Piper PA-44-180 Seminole (C/n 44-7995156) was previously VH-MBV from September of 1988. It ferried in from West Australia on 13-11-2004 and became ZK-MBV with CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Ltd at Hamilton on the 22nd. 

Its current operator since 21-06-2012 is the RNZAF Base Auckland Aviation Sports Club Inc.

New Monnett Sonerai 1 ZK-SNG at Stratford

As 2016 drew to a close another Sonerai emerged from Wayne Richmond's Sonerai works at Stratford.  "White Knight" is the spectacular Sonerai 1 ZK-SNG U/L (c/n 06571) of Gary Marsh, which was first registered on 19/10/16.

First flight was on 31/12/16 in the hands of Wayne Richmond and later in the day Gary Marsh also flew the aircraft.

I understand that ZK-SNG is a lengthened model, but is configured as a single seater, so it has a real long nose and great lines. It is also a low wing model which is different to our other Sonerai 1 ZK-EEV2 which has the shoulder mounted wing.

ZK-SNG joins the growing stable of Sonerais at Stratford which now includes ZK-SND, ZK-SNJ and ZK-SNW.

All feature the Stratford Sport Flyers crest on their tails.  Thanks very much to Nick Furmage for the photos.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2017