Nelson on Monday

On a rather dull day at Nelson yesterday (Monday the 14th) I managed to capture the Fisher Dakota Hawk ZK-LAF (c/n 054) of Richard Rayne which was first registered in December of 2016.

That is the wing of the Tim Bygate Tiger Hawk ZK-THK in the foreground.

Departing was the Cessna 172S ZK-WUD (c/n 172S8516) of NZICPA of Whanganui.

This was previously ZK-FTM2  which has been mentioned several time previously  HERE.

It changed to WUD on 3 April 2019.

Medivac BK 117 B-2 ZK-HGW at Whangarei 9-10-2019

Also parked out at Whangarei last Wednesday was Inflight's Kawasaki BK 117 B-2 ZK-HGW4.

I do not quite understand where this Rescue helicopter fits into the scheme of things, as the Northland Emergency Services Trust has several Sikorsky S 76s and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust now has its two AW 169s in operation.

Vans RV 6 ZK-VNZ Flies at Ardmore 13-10-2019

Ian Chapman has been working on his RV 6 for 25 years but good things take time!  It reached a momentous milestone on Saturday 13 October when David Wilkinson successfully carried out its first flight at Ardmore - David is getting very experienced at test flying RV aircraft.  And Gavin Magill was there to capture the proceedings - thanks for the photo Gavin.

Ian in his nice looking RV 6 ZK-VNZ after its first flight.  

Congratulations Ian for the successful completion of your RV 6.

ZK-SMH update

I have just received the following update on the status of the Avid Heavy Hauler UL ZK-SMH c/n 745

I see that ZK-SMH  is still showing being owned by Bill Irwin on your awesome site.

My partner and I purchased it in July 2018 from Bill up in Cromwell  where It had been sitting for approx 12 years in a darkened shed. 

The hour clock at the time of purchase showed a mere 19.4 Hours.

Once back at Taieri and over the next 12 Months, SMH's original 582 Silver top and gearbox were replaced with a brand new Blue top 582, new gearbox and starter and other work done to get her back in the air. 

She first flew again on the 18th August 2019.

Regards

ZK-SMH  Syndicate.

Earlier reference to ZK-SMH can be seen HERE

Seen at Motueka today

I spotted these two good oldies at Motueka this afternoon during a cuppa tea stop over.

 Craig Anderson's Piper PA-22-150/180 taildragger ZK-BSH c/n 22-7321 taxiing in at the far end of the field.

The Bolkow Bo208C Junior ZK-CJK c/n 618 as listed with Alistair Matthews of Blenheim.

Both have featured previously. ZK-BSH  Here.

and ZK-CJK HERE.

Whangarei on 9-10-2019

At Whangarei for lunch on our cross country exercise, there were a few interesting sport aircraft around, including the following:

Steven Stokes' new Pipstrel Virus SW ZK-DWZ2 (c/n 771SW100) was outside the Northland Aviation hangar.  It was registered here on 30/8/19 and is ex 27AHH (from France I am lead to believe).

The Whangarei Flying Club now has the ex Alan Nelson Tecnam P 92 Echo ZK-KFP on line alongside their later P 92 Eaglet ZK-WCF.  (Alan now has the very nice Bristell NG 5 ZK-NGB).

In another hangar was Baz Norgrove's Titan Mustang ZK-DGM2 which has recently migrated North from Rangiora and is now Whangarei based.

And our cross country machine was the Dargaville Aero Club's Fly Synthesis Storch ZK-DAQ2.

Omaka's remodeled 'Dangerous Skies' opened.

Recently revealed during the opening of the newly remodelled 'Dangerous Skies' hall at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (OHAC) is Noel Kruse's immaculate Ryan STM ZK-ABC accompanied by Lyndall Edwards' equally pristine SS Jaguar. 

The unusual pairing, both from the drawing boards of 1934, have made their first public appearance together with the opening of the new hall at the AHC, along with the trio of WW-II Luftwaffe combatants, Spitfire Mk.XIVe, Yak-3, Hurricane and the remarkable Hudson Jungle diorama. A 'must-see' if in Blenheim. 

Cutting the ribbon on the new exhibition took place on the evening of September 12th.

Helinorth at Dargaville 9-10-2019

As we were getting our aircraft ready for our cross country excercise yesterday there was a flurry of activity down the way at Helinorth.  It was around midday so maybe they were in for lunch?

 First back was their Robinson R 66 sprayer ZK-HUA3 which was fuelled up,

Then their Eurocopter AS 350B2 ZK-HOP3 sprayer arrived from the opposite direction

And they did a short repositioning dance.

Although both wear Helinorth titles they are owned by Helisika Agricultural Ltd of Manakau.

A Nice Flight in a Jodel Today

Today was a great day for flying in the Far North and I managed to achieve a cross country flight from Dargaville to Kaikohe for a touch and go, the on to Whanagarei for lunch with Rusty and Penny Russell, then back to Dargaville over the Tangihua Ranges.

But probably more exciting for me was to fly with my instructor Brian Taylor from his excellent home base near Whangarei to Dargaville in his Jodel D 11 ZK-DJQ.  Brian's large hangar/workshop is just across from his house and you taxy a short distance up the concrete drive to the top of his ex-topdressing airstrip.  It was great to get some more Jodel time.

Take off downhill is quite steep but so easy!

Climbing around we got a real nice view of the Whangarei Harbour with some remaining fog hanging around.

Brian's 20% airstrip from the air.

We headed across the Tangihuas and on to Dargaville.

Then after our cross country excercise it was back to Brian's home airstrip, landing uphill (obviously!)

Thanks for a great day Brian!

Druine Turbulent ZK-CBN Addendum Addendum

This Turbulent is a survivor!  The original ZK-CBN was built by Merv Meredith of Waipukurau and registered to him on 7/12/64.  After a long and successful history it was withdrawn and reduced to spares, and was cancelled on 29/8/75.

However it rose from the ashes being rebuilt by the Williams/Thompson/Knox Syndicate of Drury and was re-registered on 29/9/95.  After a less successful history it was cancelled on 15/8/12.

But it rose from the ashes again! and was re-registered to Bill Izard of Kihikihi on 30/7/13.

I picked up its story on the blog previously at https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2014/02/druine-turbulent-zk-cbn-addendum.html  I finished this post with the following:  "Sadly this 50 year long story does not have a happy ending, as ZK-CBN crashed at Kihikihi on 5/2/14, injuring the pilot.  From photos of the wreckage, I do not think it will be flying again."   And in fact it was cancelled from the register on 4/3/14.

But it rose from the ashes yet again! and was re-re-registered to Pan Tam Holdings of Manakau (Wess Ruijne) on 27/11/18 and it has flown again from a private airstrip near Mercer.

In these photos from Jon Farmer it can be seen that ZK-CBN has re-emerged as a very different Turbulent with a canopy.

It is powered by a 80 HP Jabiru 2200 engine which is unique in New Zealand Turbulents, and which gives power for very good performance.

And it has a really nicely done cockpit with a different type of double windscreen.

Wess Ruijne has advised that the aircraft is now for sale on Trade Me.