Boffin Coffin

I have a shoe box with a large question mark on the lid.
This box contains numerous aircraft of unknown parentage.
This is just one of them.
Not a brilliant photo, but the only one I have remaining. I sent a better one to the Wings Magazine at the time, but it has disappeared into the ether.

I believe it is a amateur built, own design, man powered flying machine which I noticed in one of the Wigram hangars on 06-01-1987. From memory I seem to recall that it was marked as the "Boffin Coffin".

Does anybody know any more about it.
Who built it ?
Did it fly ?
Where is it now ? etc.

Other Siroccos in New Zealand

Following from Blue Bus's post on Sirocco ZK-FNQ, and seeing that it is the middle of winter and I haven't been to an aerodrome for yonks - I though I would post the history of other Siroccos in New Zealand. The first Sirocco to be completed was Ron Keyte's ZK-DAF (c/n AACA18) which was first registered in January 1975 and first flew in January 1976. It is photographed here at the AACA fly-in at Kaikohe in 1976 I think. This was the second aircraft built by Ron Keyte, the first being Turbulent ZK-CDD. In the 1970's Ron Keyte was a padre in the RNZAF at Ohakea, where the aircraft was completed. Tragically ZK-DAF broke up in mid-air at Masterton on 11 March 1978 killing Ron Keyte and also Manfred Schaeffer who had just finished building Taylor Monoplane ZK-EDZ at Lower Hutt. This Sirocco was painted orange and white.

The second Sirocco to be registered was Neville Stronach's ZK-ECW which was registered in February 1975. I recall that this aircraft was built in a very short time. It had the optional lower tail and rudder and also had a fixed undercarriage. It was painted red and white and is photographed here at Manpouri early on in its life. It is still currently registered but may have been damaged in a hangar collapse at some point. Does anyone know if it is still operational?

The third Sirocco to be completed was Rex Krammer's ZK-EDQ (c/n AACA 141), which was first registered in January 1976. This was the first Sirocco with a retractable undercarriage and I think it probably was the first New Zealand homebuilt aircraft with a retracting undercarriage. This aircraft was built at Motueka where I think this photograph was taken. I do not have a record of the photographers of ECW and EDQ. This aircraft was quite heavy and was withdrawn from use and cancelled at Christchurch on 21/2/03.

The fourth Sirocco to fly was ZK-FNQ as covered in Blue Bus's post, and the fifth and so far latest to fly is Lindsay Wheelers ZK-PTR (c/n AACA 148/1) which was first registered in December 1999, and is currently based at Kerikeri. I think this is the aircraft that was built by Steve Rankin over many years at Whangarei. Thanks to Lindsay Wheeler for the photo

Coming or Going?

The Pitts S-1 ZK-EEU was built by Keith Trillo and registered to him in October 1975. It has remained in his ownership ever since.
Seen here at Max Clear's strip, Te Kowhai, January 1980:



I have not seen this aircraft around for the last few years, but last week it appeared outside Keith Trillo's hangar at Ardmore.



The question is, given that the wings were stacked inside the adjacent shipping container, is it coming back from elsewhere or is it going?

Taylor Monoplane ZK-DKQ.

Wayne Thompson of Gore listed his Taylor JT-1 Monoplane as ZK-DKQ with a c/n of AACA/125/1 on 06-03-1975.

The two shots above show it in all its radiant beauty in its Gore hangar on 26-04-1974 (ie before it was registered).

Unfortunately it suffered an engine fail on 15-02-1976 and was damaged at Fosbender Park, Invercargill in the ensuing landing.

I came across it again at Taieri on 19-10-2002 during its rebuild.

Wonder where it has been for the last 25 years or so ?

It was re-registered on 26-01-2007 to the More Fit & Proper People Syndicate.

I noted it at Rangiora on 13-06-09 having some maintenance taken care of & now with an enclosed cockpit.

Jurca MJ-5 Sirocco ZK-FNQ.

Marcel Jurca model MJ-5 Sirocco ZK-FNQ c/n AACA/601 was a ten year project that was listed to Owen Wylie Evans of Hawarden on 13-03-1987. Its first flight was on 05-07-1991 behind a 74 X 64 Sensenich prop onto an O-320 engine.
Pic below shows it at Rangiora on 19-02-1993.
It was sold and listed to Philip H Meredith of Christchurch on 01-08-2007.
(Phil also has the Bolkow Bo208C Junior ZK-CJG).
Since about that date the Sirocco has been undergoing a major refurbishment.
Pic below at Rangiora shows serious work in progress on 17-01-2009.
Yesterday (13-06-09) it was out in the air fresh at Rangiora getting very close to flying again.

Note the total lack of dihedral and the new canopy.

Meteorologically speaking a Sirocco (and an Auster for that matter) is a wind in the Mediterranean region. The Sirocco is a hot dusty wind which comes off Libya that becomes a cold damp and often very strong wind over Malta, Italy and Greece.

Finals for Rnwy 16 Wellington

One from the bottom of the olde shoe box (especially for Rodney - eat your heart out !).
August 1963 the Wellington Aero Club had three Piper Cubs ZK-BTV, BQN and BSK (Red, blue and green if I remember correctly) plus the lovely Cessna 172 ZK-BWW. Oh & don't forget the little Cessna 150 ZK-BWI.
Here I am in the back seat of one of the Cubs about to take some serious interest in the proceedings (right hand near stick, left hand close to the noise generating lever: and feet not too far away from the pedals) [& probably sitting higher in the seat].
More from the dreaded shoe box soon.

Auster ZK-AVU on Country Calender June 20th 2009

Taylorcraft Auster V Series J, three seater ZK-AVU c/n 889 got a mention in the latest issue of NZ Aviation News magazine (on page 21). We also get a heads up call that it is to appear on next Saturdays Country Calendar on channel one at 7pm.

Built for the RAF with serial number MT118 it is reputed to have served over the Normandy Beaches with 658 Squadron.

Post war it went back to Auster for conversion for the civil market and emerged registered as G-AIKA on 24-10-1946. It went to M & H Mining Contractors Ltd from 16-01-47 until sold abroad via T Shipside on 12-07-1950.

It entered our register as ZK-AVU for Ron M Fechney of Omaha in 1950 and remained with him until sold to the North Otago Gliding Club on 24-06-1975.

In 1966 it was converted to J1Y standard by replacing the O-290 engine with a O-320.

The NOGC kept it for some nine years, sometime hangared at Oamaru and also just out of Kurow.

On 19-09-1984 ownership passed to A D Stott of Christchurch followed by Ross Saunders on 09-05-1985.

Nick Kagan of Lowburn (the one near Cromwell) took legal possession on 26-06-1986 only to damage it near Tarras on 08-10-86; followed by a more serious incident on 27-12-86 on take off from the Gorge River strip.

Gibson Aero Ltd at Te Anau are listed from 05-02-88 (so I assume that they repaired it !) and on 16-06-1989 it returned to its initial NZ owner, Ron Fechney of Aylesbury.

Top Pic show ZK-AVU at Wellington on 10-06-1971.

Middle pic is at Oamaru on 09-10-1977

Bottom view on 07-02-1994 at West Melton.

Thruster ZK-FJF c/n MAANZ/268 first appeared with Jack Wilson of Timaru mid 1984. In November of 2004 it was listed to Bevan Scott of Rangiora. I caught it today committing aviation.
But the newest machine on the patch is the Pober Pixie.

This Pober Pixie was a project up in the Russell area back in about 1999 but I believe medical issues resulted in the project being sold to Nick Key of Rangiora. Nick operated the Mirage ZK-EYN between 2003 and 2005 before flogging it off to Craig Pilcher of Timaru. Nick in turn sold it to Mike Sheffield of Kaiapoi (previously operated CGS Hawk ZK-TTB) who has produced this lovely little aircraft which was registered as ZK-PXI on 08-06-2009. It had its engine running back in April. Now after finishing off a few remaining items should reach for the sky very soon.

Pic below was its status on 29-09-2006.

A world first. Robinson R22 Beta Plus

Hidden among the May CAA register amendments is the initial registration of Robinson R22 Beta c/n 0944 as ZK-HFR2 for CHL Investments Ltd at Christchurch.
Just another R22 (yawn, yawn, boring, boring). WRONG.

This is a world first from Pacific Aircraft Services.

Pic below shows it as JA7755 at Christchurch on 07-11-2007 not long after removal from its container.

"Once Were Kiwis"

Based on the island of Malolo Lailai, about a 15min flight from Nadi, is once long time NZ resident Cessna U206F ZK-DXD now on the local register as DQ-DXD. It has been in Fiji with its owner, Dick Smith (Musket Cove Resort), for a number of years now however only transferred to the DQ register in April 2008. The aircraft was listed for sale since it has been in Fiji as the owner was looking to purchase a light twin however these plans have since been shelved.

The aircraft spent a good part of its life on floats while in NZ operating from Te Anau and Picton.

Malolo Lailai May 2009

And going back a year or three!

Wanaka Easter 1988

Picton 14 Aug 1990

Nelson 20 Nov 1991

North Shore 28 Nov 1998

North Shore 26 July 2001

AS350FX Squirrel DQ-HFX also has a NZ history arriving from Japan as JA6039 during November 2005 and undergoing a rebuild with Oceania at Ardmore (where it was still just a B model). It was then moved to Queenstown with the Helicopter Line as ZK-HNG in March 2006 and at some point was modified to a "FX" and its registration changed to ZK-IFX effective 03Aug 2007. It was noted at the Oceania hanger September 2008 and subsequently cancelled that same month on export to Fiji where it now flies with Island Hoppers.

Malolo Lailai May 2009

As ZK-HNG at Ardmore May 2007

As ZK-IFX at Ardmore Sep 2008