A Follow Up on Pereira GP 3 Osprey 2 ZK-RJT

I have posted about Pereira Osprey 2s of New Zealand back in July 2013 and the link is here: https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2013/07/pereira-gp-3-osprey-2s-of-new-zealand.html

As I detailed ZK-RJT was sold to Italy by Dennis Thompson International and its registration was cancelled on 16/7/98.  It is photo'd above at Dennis Thompson's at Ardmore.  However we never knew where it went in Italy.

Now I understand that it became I-PREY in Italy, and it has recently been advertised for sale.  What a great registration for an Osprey!  Can anyone confirm that this is the same aircraft as our ZK-RJT?

UPDATE ON THE FOLLOW UP!

Richard Currie has come up with confirmation on an Italian register website that I-PREY is in fact ZK-RJT as it has the c/n AACA/57/2 (click to enlarge).

And here is another photo of it in illustrious company.

Thanks for the confirmation Richard.

Over in the West

 At Reefton Bert Waghorn has this pole mounted NZ-DPG representation of the Cessna 185 ZK-DPG which he operated from late 1982 through to February 1989 as part of his Westland Air / Coast Air Charter operation.

Up at Westport Nigel Cleine had his Cessna 172M ZK-DKH c/n 17261709 out in the sunshine.

Does anybody have a photo of this with a cargo pod fitted ?

A Couple from the Tokoroa Flyin Today 8-10-2023

The Tokoroa and Districts Aero Club hosted a flyin at Tokoroa today but numbers were down due to the rather threatening weather forecast.  Mark Pattenden made it and here are a couple of visiting aircraft of interest that also made it:

It was nice to see the Fly Synthesis Storch ZK-JES2 attending.  It has obviously been repaired after its 9th April 2022 landing accident at Pauanui.  It is now under the new ownership of S D V Mickleburgh of Te Puke, since 9/11/22.

And another sport aircraft under new ownership was the Thatcher CX 4 ZK-TCX, that has been owned by D G Rainey of Papamoa since 5/7/22. 

Thanks for the photos Mark. 

Heli Sika

A visit to the Heli Sika base at Poronui Station east of Taupo today found their AS350BA ZK-HIU4 in residence.  Based there with Hughes 369E ZK-HWB3,  both helicopters are used to transport hunters into the Kaimanawa Ranges.

HIU was originally imported from Japan in 2008 and has recently been completely refurbished and painted in a new scheme.

 

A Couple of Helicopters

Noted at Hamilton Airport this morning was the EC120B ZK-IZO2 which was operated by Heliview at Cromwell until they ceased operations in 2022.  Originally imported from Canada in 2018 it has now been sold to a Hamilton private owner.

Down the road at Taupo and in a new paint scheme was the Bell 206B ZK-HFS5.  This was imported from Japan in 2020 and joined the Alabaster Helicopters fleet based near Taihape in 2022.

 

"RNZAF" Tiger Moths in New Zealand

In New Zealand we have several DH 82A Tiger Moths that are painted in RNZAF yellow training schemes.  They have registered colour schemes. as below:

ZK-AIE (c/n 83492) is owned by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and is marked as NZ 662 - which it wore during its WW 2 service.

ZK-ASV (c/n DHNZ 36) was most recently restored by Colin Smith of the Croydon Aircraft Company at Mandeville.  It is marked as NZ 786 which was its serial during its WW 2 service.  Recently (23/3/23) ownership transferred to Wayne Thomas and Craig Wing of Drury and I expect we will see it more often.

And ZK-BRL2 (c/n DHNZ 123) is registered to East Canterbury Aviation Ltd (Russell Brodie) of Rangitata Island.  It is marked as NZ 1443 which again is the serial it wore during its WW 2 service.

And there will soon be another yellow Tiger Moth as NZ Warbirds are restoring one at Ardmore for a projected 2024 completion date (is this ZK-ALM?)

There are quite a few other Tiger Moths out there wearing NZ xxx serial numbers but most of them also have the registration letters painted on as well, so they won't have registered colour schemes (ZK-BLI as NZ 1448, ZK-AKC as NZ 847, ZK-ALM as NZ 841, and a couple of silver Tigers from Masterton ZK-ANQ as NZ 892 and the inaccurate ZK-ANL as NZ 861).  Have I missed any?

There is one more Tiger with a registered colour scheme, being ZK-BJR as NZ 1425 based at North Shore, but this has a grey upper fuselage with yellow below like an RAF Tiger Moth - is this a genuine WW 2 RNZAF scheme?

Three from Christchurch today 03-10-2023

 A flying visit to Christchurch Innternational early this afternoon found two Hughes 369's on the Western side.

The Hughes 369HS ZK-IOZ c/n 6406608S is of 1974 vintage and served in the USA, Canada and back to the US to became ZK-IOZ on 28-08-2020 with Stephen Robertson of Oamaru and carries 'L J Hooker Rural' titles.

Previously noted at the Hanmer Hughes 369 fly in HERE.

The Hughes 369D ZK-HUT3 c/n 510970D built in 1982 becoming ZK-HBA4 in August of 1997 and re-registered as ZK-HUT3 on 18-06-2019 and was listed with Tim Hutchinson from 11-08-2021.

A long distant phone shot of the wingtip of the Boeing 737 Max DQ-FAF of Fiji Airways. 

NZ2423 | John Smith's P-51D Mustang Moving Day

With Brendon Deere's P-51D-30NT Mustang, NZ2423 (serial no. 45-11513, now registered ZK-BHT) nearing the end of it's restoration at the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre at Ohakea and Keith's recent blog post. I thought it would be an appropriate time to share my photos from the 19th of August 2020, where I was fortunate enough to watch NZ2423's final time on the ground at John Smith's Mapua property. Before it began it's journey north to RNZAF Base Ohakea.

This week, NZ2423 is due to reach a major milestone of the complete restoration, where it will hopefully undergo an engine run, and a compass swing, weather dependant. This will mark the first time NZ2423 has been out on the airfeild at Ohakea since 1957.

NZ2423 in the air for the first time since it's last flight in 1958.

NZ2423 can be seen above being position onto the trailer at an angle after a few attempt. During the prior attempts it was discovered that the wheelbase of the main gear was too long for the trailer, leaving the wheels overhanging off the side. On the trailer, you can see the premade chocks for the journey which ended up being unused.

NZ2423 ended up on the trailer securely by use of some wooden blocks placed below the landing gear shocks where it's main weight was being held. 

Pictured above is NZ2423 leaving Seaton Valley Road, Mapua where John Smith's historic military aircraft haven property was.

Darfield today 01-10-2023

 Tony McFarlin popped out to Darfield today and offers these three photos.

The Cessna U206F Stationair ZK-VQU c/n U20602136 was created in early 1973 as N71294 by Cessna at Wichita, Kansas and was exported to Australia to become VH-IQU from 08-11-1973 with Schutt Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd. By April of 2013 it was with C206 Pty Ltd of Gayndah, Queensland.

It was ferried from Archerfield through Norfolk Island and into Kerikeri on 16-09-2018.

It became ZK-VQU with Paul Jones of Picton from 09-10-2018. 

ICP Savannah S ZK-RDY2  c/n 19-10-54-0694 was new with Lionel Green of Forest Field where it lives with his Auster ZK-ASL2, Cessna 172S ZK-TZR2 and Tiger Moth ZK-SSA.

"Live The Adventure" and "Charlie" ZK-CCL3 is Ryan Humpherys Rangiora based Ibis Magic GS700 c/n GS-02-10-7-098.

Great Progress on the Biggin Hill Trust's P 51D Mustang

We have posted on the Biggin Hill Trust's P 51D Mustang back when it was registered ZK-BHT2 back on 10/8/23.  This of course is the ex John Smith machine NZ2423 that John rescued from the wrecker yard in the late 1950s.

And now we can see the great progress that has been made in the last couple of months.  The aircraft has had fuel in its tanks for the first time since the restoration and next week ground running is planned.

Congratulations to Brendon Deere and his team at the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre.  The Mustang looks amazing!