Solo Wings Aircraft at Tauranga 3-9-2017

While visiting The Aviator Experience in the Solo Wings Aviation Centre, several of the Solo Wings fleet were in attendance, mostly painted in their distinctive colour scheme.

Cessna 150M ZK-SWC2 (c/n 15078198) has previously been ZK-TAE and ZK-EFC (that is the first ZK-EFC, not to be confused with the Cessna 150H ZK-EFC2,which is also based at Tauranga).  It was first registered here in July 1976 and was registered to Solo Wings on 12/6/17.

Pipistrel Alpha Trainer ZK-JAT2 (c/n 448 AT912) was first registered here in November 2012 and was registered to Solo Wings on 17/8/15.

MTO Sport gyrocopter ZK-SWR2 (c/n MO 11385) was fist registered to Solo Wings on 24/5/17.

Progressive Aerodyne Searey LSA ZK-SWM (c/n 1018) flew here for a time as N415TA before being registered to Solo Wings on 16/2/17.

Black Q300

Air Nelson's Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEM as been transformed from its old teal and white to an all black livery.  I got lucky and caught it arriving into Wellington from Gisborn as NZ8285 and departing a while later to Nelson as NZ8321.

Tecnam Astore ZK-RGH at Tauranga 4-9-2017

Also out in the sun outside Solo Wings maintenance hangar yesterday was Tecnam Astore ZK-RGH.  This weather makes you feel as though spring is here. (but back to the rain over the weekend!).

Tecnam Astore UL ZK-RGH (c/n 041) was first registered to Cambridge Bee Products Ltd on 07-09-2015 and uses the initials of its owner Richard G Haddrell for its registration.

It was transferred to Benn Road Ltd of Cambridge on 12-05-2016.

Vans RV 7A ZK-MEL at Tauranga 4-9-2017

As previously posted, Vans RV 7A VH-SDG has become ZK-MEL2, for Martin E Lobb of Tauranga.

ZK-MEL2 (c/n 71724) was registered on 26/9/17 and is photo'd today, 4/10/17 undergoing an engine run outside Solo Wings' maintenance hangar at Tauranga airport.  Nice plane.

Blog comments.

As I am sure you are all aware that comments can be added to any blog posts on this site.

Normally they will appear within a minute or so of your submitting them.

I do however have the ability to 'moderate' these comments and delete if I consider them inappropriate. 

Last week I had the site on 'comment moderation' for a few days after a series of non aviation connected comments were added. 

This means that comments will not appear on the individual post until such times as I have individually approved them. This can take some hours as I do have a life outside of this blog site.

If by chance you drill down through the site - say to 2013 - and add a comment to a post - then this comment appears on that particular post on that date. I am the only person that receives a life copy. Otherwise you will not find the comment unless you happen to go to that particular site in 2013.

This brings me to two recent comments to old posts which I think need to be promulgated.

The first concerns the Glasair ZK-ADY 

Bailey Scheidel has left a new comment on your post :- 

See the original post Here.

Hello, I have the opportunity to purchase the Glasair N361V, what used to be ZK-ADY. 

Is there any information regarding the build process/handling characteristics of this glasair I should know about before moving forward?

Thanks. 

Posted by Bailey Scheidel to NZ Civil Aircraft at 1 October 2017 at 11:44

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The second is regarding a Turbulent cowling.

Liam Wedlake has left a new comment on your post :- 

See original post HERE.

Does anyone know where I might be able to find a cowl for my Turbulent? Having a hard time sorting it out, surely someone has the moulds 


Posted by Liam Wedlake to NZ Civil Aircraft at 27 September 2017 at 18:05

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Can anybody help these two gentlemen please ?

Two 172's

We have today two Cessna 172's photographed a few days back now.

 Above is Cessna 172R Skyhawk ZK-TAQ (c/n 17280754) as listed to the Ardmore Flying School Ltd since 13-08-1999. It was captured at Pauanui by Richard Currie on 19-09-2017.

Some will know and some will notice that it is powered with a Continental TC diesel Silentium 155 engine.

Check out the Oceania Aviation Silentium link HERE.

How many other conversion do we have in NZ ? 

I know of ZK-VAT - see earlier post Here.

And just for interest I include this pic of the engine cowling of ZK-VAT - nice eh !

Above is the Cessna 172R Skyhawk ZK-RQZ (c/n 17280980) as registered to L3 CTS Airline Academy (NZ) Ltd of Hamilton (This is a re-name of CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Ltd).

This 172 is one of the batch recently imported, ex Royal Queensland Aero Club. by Aeromotive Ltd of Hamilton.

It is seen above at Tauranga on 28-09-2017 by Grayson Ottaway.

A Couple of New Magnis

No doubt encouraged by the experience of flying the Dargaville Aero Club's MTO Sport gyrocopter ZK-RDM that has been on line with the club since April 2016, a couple of club members purchased Magni M 24 gyrocopters that were shipped to New Zealand in the same container, and were recently assembled at Parakai.

John Weissing's M 24 (c/n 24170714) is registered ZK-MGI

And Peter Randall's M 24 (c/n 24170724) is registered ZK-RGO.

Both John and Peter already own aircraft - John's is Foxbat ZK-FBT and Peter's is the Alpi Pioneer 200 ZK-LPI2.

There is a lot of interest in gyrocopter flying in the North.

Recent shootings

Here we have a few photographs as snapped during the last week or so.

 At Ashburton we have this Aero L29 "26" - I believe recently arrived from Australia.

Ex Romania ?

Above - rescued from the long grass at Rangiora and being prepped for transport after a lengthy period parked out at Swannanoa and then Rangiora is the Piper  PA-28-140/160 ZK-CNQ (c/n 28-22287).

It has been moved to Ashburton (below) for refurbishment. 

Its registration was revoked back on 11-04-2014.

Also shifted from its long time park - at Christchurch - is the Piper PA-28-140D Cherokee ZK-DEH (c/n 28-7125556).

Now in the capable hands of Kevin Langford.

 Nearing the end of a major rework is the Hughes 369D ZK-HNT (c/n 580514D).

This was initially registered to Dalhoff and King Aviation Ltd on 02-07-1979 and shifted over to Helicopters (NZ) Ltd of Nelson on the 24th.

On 17-11-1980 Keith McKenzie of Taumaranui took it over and it has remained with him until transferred over to Bill Hales of Alpine Springs Helicopters on 08-02-2017.

It is seen outside the Heli Maintenance facility at Christchurch International on the 27th of last month.

 Up at Rangiora I caught the Aeropro EuroFox 3K ZK-TUG2 (c/n 38213) of the Kaikoura Aero Club (as operated by Air Kaikoura) about to depart back home after some TLC at Rangiora Aircraft Engineering.

Corby Starlet ZK-LDI Flying at Whangarei

Murray Parkinson's Corby Starlet UL ZK-LDI (c/n 303) was registered on 25/9/17 and first flew from Whangarei on 28/9/17.

ZK-LDI is the 9th Starlet to fly in New Zealand (plus the metal Corby Kestrel ZK-SJM).  The photo is from the Whangarei Flying Club Facebook page.

A visitor from Hawke's Bay at Ardmore 30-9-17

Calling in for fuel just after 17.15 was smart looking Robinson R66, ZK-IOA msn 0188 of Dannevirke based Heliworx Aotearoa Ltd. This is the second livery that I know of that this helicopter has appeared in.