Helicopters around Auckland

A visit to Heletranz's Albany heliport today revealed no less than 14 helicopters in residence, some being readied for the start of the America's Cup racing tomorrow.   Amongst these was EC130B-4 ZK-IGW,  which Heletranz reregistered from ZK-HLG in February 2021.

Registered to a Christchurch owner in September 2020 was the brand new Guimbal G2 Cabri ZK-HNN4

Heletranz/Inflite are contracted to operate 2 AS350BA for filming the America's Cup racing being ZK-IEQ as below, and ZK-HFZ.

Now carrying Heletranz titling is AS355F-1 ZK-IAV which was reregistered from ZK-IGO in October 2019.

Meantime over at Ardmore outside Airbus Helicopters was the new BK117D-3 ZK-ITF4 which is now labelled "Experimental".   Its tail scripting reveals it to be an "AC145" model which is a luxury version designed for Super Yacht usage.

 

SAANZ Flyin at Ashburton Revisited - Another Jodel Bebe Flyby

I have previously posted a flyby of two Jodel D 9 Bebes from the Saturday of the SAANZ Flyin at Ashburton, but the Sunday went one better with a flyby of three of the aircraft.  That is notable as it represents 60% of our currently airworthy Jodel D 9 fleet (of 5 Bebes although 7 are still registered).  I have cast around for a photo of the 3 aircraft flyby and it led me to Bernice Hintz who took the attached photos, exactly 4 weeks ago.

Evan Belworthy in ZK-CVN, Ross Brodie in ZK-CTW and Dave Kenny in ZK-FRK.

And here they are lined up on the ground.

Thanks very much for the photos Bernice.

Cessna 180F ZK-DXB

Noted at Thames Airfield early this morning was the 1963 model Cessna 180F ZK-DXB2 which was imported from the UK and since October 2020 has been registered to a Richmond owner.

 

Squirrels at Tauranga

A visit to a busy Tauranga Airport this morning revealed a lot of helicopter activity including the latest addition to the Oceania Helicopters Tauranga fleet AS350BA sprayer ZK-IZW.   This was imported from the USA in early 2020.

The entire Western Helicopters Te Kuiti fleet was in receiving attention being AS350B-2 ZK-HQB, which was imported from the USA in 2019 and acquired by the company in May 2020

And AS350B ZK-IZP which was imported from Japan in 2016 and acquired by Western Helicopters in September 2017.

 

Air Tractor AT 602 ZK-SXL at Feilding 28-2-2021

Mark Pattenden called into Feilding on his way back from the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow last weekend, where he photo'd this interesting new ag aircraft:

ZK-SXL (c/n 602-1147) is the larger 602 model that was registered to Super Air Ltd of Hamilton on 29/10/20.  It is ex N325BR.  It is a big aircraft with a wingspan of 56 feet and is the only AT 602 on the register (although I believe that one other 602 has been registered here some years ago).

Thanks for the photo Mark.

Jodel D 11 ZK-RSB at Springhill 27-2-2021

 I was delighted to see Jodel D 11 ZK-RSB at the NAC flyin at Springhill on Saturday:

It had pretty sprightly take off performance with one up.

ZK-RSB was built by Russell Scott of Balclutha (hence the RSB) and it dates back to 1982.  You can see some more about it along with other Jodel D 11s at:  https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2012/12/jodel-d-11s-of-new-zealand-10.html

Aero-Kros MP-02 Czajka ZK-PRO/2 at Springhill 27-2-2021

A new aircraft attending the NAC flyin at Springhill on Saturday was the Aero-Kros MP-02 Czajka ZK-PRO2 which is based at Parakai:

ZK-PRO2 was registered to Robert Prochownik of Auckland on 4/12/15.  This is the first time I have seen it out in the sun.

I have posted about this aircraft with details previously at:  https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2020/05/aero-kros-mp-02-czajkas-only-one-of-new.html

Wings Over Wairarapa 2021 - The Vintage Aviator (3)

As I have previously posted, The Vintage Aviator had a lot of their WW 1 aircraft on display at Masterton for Wings Over Wairarapa, and they also performed several flying displays.

TVAL has had a bit of a tough time since the previous Wings Over Wairarapa airshow in 2019 and they have only registered one new WW 1 aircraft since then, being the Fokker D VII replica ZK-TBI:

ZK-TBI (c/n 2372) has had a long gestation having been started by Achim Engels in Germany and then being completed by Fred Murrin in the USA before being shipped to New Zealand some years ago and undergoing a lot of final finishing by TVAL here, including the installation of a new build 180 HP Mercedes D IIIa engine.  It is painted in the colours of Vzfw Willi Gabriel's aircraft 268/18 from Jasta 11.

Thanks for the photo Jordan Elvy.

Wings Over Wairarapa 2021 - The Vintage Aviator (2)

 Six wings over Hood Aerodrome!

TVALs Sopwith Triplane (ZK-SOP) on the tail of one of their Fokker Triplanes (ZK-JOK).

The Sopwith Triplane was introduced in February 1917 and proved superior to the Albatros models, so Anthony Fokker worked with his designer Reinhold Platz to develop the Fokker Dr 1 Triplane which entered service in August 1917.  Although both are iconic only 147 Sopwith Triplanes and 320 Fokker Triplanes were built during WW 1.  I wonder how many Fokker Triplane replicas have been built since?

Wings Over Wairarapa 2021 - The Vintage Aviator (1)

One of the advantages that Wings Over Wairarapa has is that The Vintage Aviator is based at Hood Aerodrome and WOW provides the platform for what has recently been the only major public display of their amazing collection of WW 1 aircraft.  I am not sure how many of their aircraft were on display and flew this year but here are a couple of photos from their display:

A wonderful formation of Sopwith models - from left a Snipe, a Triplane, a Pup and a Camel.

And a tail chase of a DH 4 by two Fokker D VIIs.  The nearest D VII with the red nose is TVALs newest aircraft ZK-TBI which is a very accurate reproduction of Vzfw Willi Gabriel's 286/18 powered by a new build 180 HP Mercedes DIIIa engine. 

Thanks for the photos Jordan Elvy.