Airwork Flight Operations (In Receivership) Boeing 737s at NZAA Today 20-11-2025

It has been ages since I had a chance to have a look around Auckland International Airport but today a pick up from Domestic with some time to spare gave me the opportunity.  There were several Airwork Flight Operations Boeing 737s parked around plus another surprising one in the hangar:

Only just registered on the CAA website is the B 737-800 ZK-AWK3 (c/n 27988) which arrived in Auckland on 7 November and is ex VQ-BUZ. 

Parked out was the B 737-400 ZK-TLF (c/n 24709).  Surprisingly this has not been posted on the blog previously despite having been first registered here on 20/1/12 and being cancelled on 10/3/15.  It has since been registered YR-UEZ, F-GZTK and VQ-BMF, all while still owned by AFO Aircraft (NZ) Ltd / Airwork Flights Operations in Auckland.  It was re-registered back as ZK-TLF on 9/5/23.

And to complete the inactivity B 737-400s ZK-PAK and ZK-PAT3 were also parked up.

NZICPA Cessna 172R Skyhawk at Feilding: ZK-WUL

We are on a roll with ZK-WU registered aircraft!  The latest is the Cessna 172R ZK-WUL which was photo'd at Feilding recently by Tim Gorman.  Now all we need is ZK-WUK!

ZK-WUL (c/n 17281227) was one of a trio of Cessna 172s that were purchased by the NZICPA in September 2024 and flown across the Tasman to Wanganui.  It is ex VH-YUN and you can see details of its history HERE

Thanks for the use of the photo Tim.

Diamond DA 42NG Twin Star at Wanganui ZK-WUN

Prior to Bill Mannix's photo of the Cessna 172M Skyhawk ZK-WUM at Nelson a couple of days ago, I had been sent a photo by Jordan Elvy of its stable mate Diamond DA 42NG ZK-WUN at Wanganui back in September:

ZK-WUN (c/n 42 N244) was built in in the Diamond factory in Austria in 2017, becoming OE-UDL before being delivered to Australia becoming VH-YDZ in September 2017 with Medical Aviation Services Ltd of Beaumaris in Victoria.  It was flown direct across the Tasman from Sydney to Nelson on 28/2/25 and on 28/2/25 it was registered to the New Zealand International Commercial Pilots Academy (NZICPA) at Wanganui.  It is photo'd above at Wanganui on 8/9/25. 

This must surely be the last aircraft to be registered to the NZICPA as they are ceasing business next year, with their facilities being taken over by the Oamaru based New Zealand Airline Academy.  The NZAA operate a fleet of Tecnams at Oamaru and they will not take over NZICPA's fleet, so there will be a lot of aircraft for sale soon!  Here is a NZ Herald/Whanganui Chronicle article about the change:  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/new-zealand-airline-academy-setting-up-whanganui-base-after-deal-with-district-council/UCAVRBW7CNH3XPHHRC7VJLNXDA/

Thanks for the photo Jordan.

Nelson on afternoon of 17-11-2025. ZK-WUM.

 The Cessna 172R Skyhawk ZK-WUM c/n 17281235 from the New Zealand International Commercial Pilots Academy was tied town at Nelson Airport on Monday afternoon having flown in from its Whanganui base the previous day via the Wairau Valley and St Arnaud.

I am guessing that it will be looking for a new home shortly !This airframe was cranked out at the Wichita, Kansas, Cessna Aircraft Co plant, registered as N65963, and shunted off to Australia where it became VH-BZJ2 with the Singapore Flying College Ltd at Jandakot, West Australia.

For some reason it was re-registered as 9V-FCH in February of 2010 to the Singapore Flying College PTE Ltd and still operated from the same West Australian base.

It was transferred back to the Australian register as VH-YUS3 on 18-03-2016, still with the same operator.

Above is a photo of VH-YUS taken at Jandakot by Simon Coates on 24-09-2017.

It along with a couple of its hangar mates (VH-YUB and VH-YUN) were sold on to Airflite Pty Ltd of Perth from 06-04-2022. All three were then sold to Peter Hughes of Randwick, NSW and Bryan Bedwell of New Plymouth on 04-09-2024

They were ferried out of Jandakot (Perth) on 02-09-2024 and reached Wanganui on the 7th.

See previous mention HERE

Build Your Dreams - the ICP Savannah S ZK-BYD /2

 The latest ICP Savannah S off the Rangiora production line is ZK-BYD2 c/n 22-10-54-0897.

Built by Doug Anderson and Ray Corbett with help from its owner - 91year old - Wayne Wilson.

Wayne chose the BYD registration and the colour scheme from his motor vehicle which is a BYD "Build Your Dreams" of the same colour.

Wayne also currently lists the Skyranger Swift ZK-SRS and the Ibis Magic GS 700 ZK-MGC.

The original ZK-BYD was a Douglas C-47A which was converted to 'Viewmaster' standard for South Pacific Airline of New Zealand (SPANZ) and operated here between late 1960 and 1966.

DHC 2 Beaver ZK-AZB Soldiers On!

What is that old saying? - You can't keep a good Beaver down?  Well this really applies to the venerable Beaver ZK-AZB which is now owned by Patchett Ag-Air and is flying in their colours:

I have previously posted the history of ZK-AZB and you can find that HERE.  I think it entered service for Patchett Ag-Air on 8 November 2025 making it very nearly 74 years old and after 8 owners it is still earning a living as a topdresser!

Luftwaffe Airbus A321 15+10 over Christchurch today.

An approach and overshoot at Christchurch today by the Luftwaffe Airbus A321-251NX LR) 15+10 c/n 10613.

Captured by Tony McFarlin.

It flew from Wellington to Christchurch to Ohakea, Auckland and back to Wellington.

This airframe first flew on the German test registration of D-AVXU for Airbus Deutschland at Hamburg on 26-10-2021.

It then became D-APLB and was delivered to Lufthansa Technik AG on 08-12-2021 for cabin fit out for final delivery to the German Air Force as 15+10 on 06-07-2022.

Question time. Who nose ?

 

At last weekends RAANZ fly in at Ashburton we had a selection of noses. 

All belonging to the Rangiora Squadron.

All I ask is for you to name the aircraft types - from front to rear.

Once you have got that sorted out. 

Give me the aircraft registrations.

Virtual 🐟to the winner.

Boeing 767 G-DHLK into Auckland on November 7th.

 This Boeing 767-3JHF G-DHLK c/n 37810 flew Brisbane to Auckland and return to Brisbane on     07-11-2025. It is currently operating across Asia and Australasia for Tasman Cargo and supporting their three other Boeing 767-300's.

The photo above shows G-DHLK at East Midland in the UK in October 2023.

G-DHLK joined DHL in November 2012 but became N644GT in January of 2013 with Polar Air before returning to G-DHLK with DHL in February 2013.

A Couple from the RAANZ Flyin at Ashburton

The Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand (RAANZ) held their annual flyin early this season, at Ashburton over the weekend of 7/8/9 November.  Tony McFarlin was there and noted a total of 59 attending aircraft, and Dave Paull was also there.  Here is a selection of the aircraft they photographed that were there:

Rans S 6ES Coyote II ZK-SBW2 of Sam and Asti Boal from Leeston was likely a first time attender at a RAANZ flyin, but it probably was at previous at flyins under its original registration of ZK-AJB2.

Another possible new attendee at a RAANZ flyin was Lyall Hopcroft in his Bristell ZK-WLH2.

A local out in the sun was Michael Chaffey's Auster Mk 5 ZK-AVH.  This was first registered in New Zealand in August 1950 so it has now been here for 75 years!

The Alpi Pioneer 300 ZK-LPT2 of Gary Montagu came from Dunedin.  This was imported from Australia in early 2020 and was previously registered ZK-YAN.

Murray Bowes' Zlin Aviation Cub ZK-ZAX flew over to Ashburton from Hokitika.  This was ZK-ZAC in a previous life.

And another aircraft probably attending its first RAANZ flyin was Paul Brydon's Rans S 21 ZK-YAW from Rangiora, still awaiting it colour scheme.

Thanks for the photos Dave and Tony.