BK117 ZK-HQI

Spotted on 3 March arriving by air and departing by boat from Auckland's Jellicoe Wharf was Helilink's BK117 ZK-HQI.  This helicopter was registered to Helilink as recently as 17 February having arrived from Japan however the airframe is no stranger to NZ having flown as ZK-HHV before heading across the Tasman in 2007 for operations with Australian Customs.

It is understood ZK-HQI is headed for Brisbane by sea then will be flown to PNG.


Mike Cornwall photo



At Coolangatta during April 2007, via Terry Magee

Flight test day.

Two aircraft in at Rangiora on Monday the 7th with nervous pilots awaiting flight tests.

Above is the Cessna 172N Skyhawk ZK-EOI , c/n 172N-71937 , of the North Otago Aero Club.

And below is the Hawarden based Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub ZK-COG , c/n 18-5771 , of G B & M A Evans. It still carries the "Lil Sister" tag that it had during its Rowley Aviation spraying days.

Hagley Park helicopters.

A couple of shots from Andy Heap showing some of the helicopters gathered at Hagley Park, near the Christchurch Hospital. Date uncertain.

The Karatoo

We have three Karatoo J-6 aircraft currently on the register.
All three have been constructed at Rangiora.
The first was the Norman Karatoo J6 ZK-KTO , c/n J6 673P , registered to Mike Small on 28-08-2001.
It was re-designated as an Australian Av Works Karatoo J6C on 15-04-2003.

The two photos above show ZK-KTO. Top one with its original motor, and lower view with its Rotax 912 and new cowling.

ZK-KTP is c/n J6 675P and was registered to David McPherson of Oxford on 19-04-2005.
These two views show it (above) with its Original Sabaru EA81engine and two bladed prop and below with its Rotax, longer nose and three bladed prop.

ZK-KTN , c/n J6 661P , is the third one completed, being listed to Nigel Forrester of Dunedin on 01-11-2010. I believe it was built mainly by Paul Woodley at Rangiora. KTN has longer undercarriage legs, giving it an increase angle of attack on the ground.

There is a another partially completed (in limbo) airframe on the Rangiora airfield. C/n unknown.

Dismantled hangar at Thames !

I have received the following message.

Maybe you can help

**********************************************

Hi All

A message from Geoff Furkert via Brian Wigley.


On Thames Airfield there is the remains (demolished kit?) of a hangar, believed to be ex Pikes Point.
 If you want more please email me direct as I have another half dozen.The locals would very much like to contact the owner.
 If you are the owner or you know him/her please contact Geoff Furkert geoff.furket@xtra.co.nz.
 If contact is not made with the owner the local Council will probably take appropriate action.
Also if you could be interested in acquiring the hangar in the event that the owner is not located, I suggest registering your interest with Geoff Furkert.Regards


Gordon Sanders

 

A couple of odd balls.

 

Above:  One for the kids to play in. This WACO lookalike was noted at Swannanoa back in February of 2007.
I last spied it parked under the trees at the far end of the airfield.

Below: Lurking among a collection of aircraft hoppers and Travel Air wings at Kairanga in March last year was this rather detailed little biplane.

Somebody has put a lot of work into them !

Robins ZK-TZA and F-ODAN

 Two slightly better pics of ZK-TZA3 as seen at Christchurch on 04-11-2001 whilst with Izard Pacific Aviation Ltd.

Mention was made of ZK-TZB2 as having previously being F-ODAN. This is a pic of F-ODAN at Oamaru on 04-12-1979. It was one of seven French and one Swiss light aircraft that were touring NZ. It returned to NZ arriving at Auckland from Norfolk Island on 18-11-2003. The Swiss aircraft was the Jodel DR1051 Sicile HB-EBX which became ZK-JOD.

Robin DR 400's/500's of New Zealand

The North Shore Airfield Open Day last Saturday boasted a nice feature where the large North Shore Aero Club hangar had many aircraft on display that could be walked around and looked inside of, without being behind barriers.

One of the aircraft on display was the locally based Robin DR 500 President ZK-VAX which has been owned by J H Smith of North Shore since it was first registered in New Zealand on 11/8/05. It was previously G-LISE and first registered in New Zealand as ZK-LIS for about 3 months, but I it ever flew as such. The DR 400/500 series is the latest decendent of the Jodel series of aircraft, and features the Jodel bent wing. The DR 500 first appeared in 1997 with a 200 HP Continental IO 360 motor and constant speed propellor. It has a larger cabin than the DR 400.

This got me thinking as I had photo'd the DR 400/180 Regent ZK-TZB at Parakai the previous weekend (it was also at North Shore on Saturday). ZK-TZB is ex F-ODAN and it was first registered to Izard Pacific on 20/1/04. After a brief spell with I B Communication Ltd in Palmerston North it was sold back to Izard Pacific and the on to its current owners D & C Fletcher of Wellsford on 5/12/07.

And to round out the total of DR 400's in New Zealand, here is a rather poor photo of DR 500 President ZK-TZA taken at an airshow at Warkworth in late 2001 (Can anyone supply a better photo?). ZK-TZA was first registered in New Zealand to Izard Pacific on 30/1/01 and it has been owned by C H Johnstone of Te Kowhai since 26/8/04, where it lives in a hangar off to the side of Te Kowhai airfield.

The DR 400 series of aircraft was first introduced in 1972 and more than 1700 have been produced.

Question time # 122 resolved

 Told you it was easy.

Josh-Ace gets it correct with:-
Maurice Paton (Special) Monoswift. ZK-MPS , c/n MPS001. V8 4L Rover Discovery engine.

Question time # 122

 ?

An easy one from the archives !

All we need to know is :

What aircraft type ?

What engine type ?

What registration would you expect to find on it ?

To what address do I send the chocolate fish ?