Hunter back in the sky

Tauranga based Hawker Hunter ZK-JIL has returned to the skies of NZ following a lengthy stint as a museum piece.  Thanks to Wings Over New Zealand http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=experimental&action=display&thread=15237&page=1 for the coverage of this fantastic event.

Wanaka 2006, MRC photo

A Blunt Energy Drink?

Spied at Ardmore 26 January in this somewhat interesting scheme was locally based BAC Strikemaster ZK-STR, no doubt in anticipation of action at this weekends Tauranga Air Show.

Skycatchers coming together

Further to a previous post, Flightline at Ardmore are actually preparing three Cessna 162 Skycatchers and not just two originally observed with the Napier bound machine also on location.  All three had their ZK markings applied 26 January and are seen here continuing to have work carried out before first flights in NZ.

Arundel (Rangitata Terrace) Simla Airstrip visit

Bargeld01 has us on final for the Arundel Simla airstrip alongside the Rangitata Terrace Road today.
The Simla homestead is to the right at this end of the strip, across the irrigation canal which seems to be running at full noise.

The hangar is the residence of the Cessna U206G Stationair 6 ZK-JDV (c/n U206-04775).
See previous JDV blogs at:-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2011/02/cessna-u206g-zk-jdv.html

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2011/11/further-up-rangitata-river.html

Cessna P206E Stationair 6 11 ZK-FJH (c/n P206E-00634) of Wilderness Wings rests on the pad.
Previous FJH blogs at:-

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2011/11/further-up-rangitata-river.html

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2010/12/change-of-hats-for-zk-fjh.html

The Dave Horsburgh (Barnstormer Enterprises) Piper PA28-181 Archer 11 ZK-FIX (c/n 28-7990559) was in from Ashburton.

Homebuilt Aircraft at MOTAT

In my final post on civil aircraft from the MOTAT display collection, I will focus on homebuilt aircraft, as follows:

The Tui Sport ZK-ADV displayed is a replica built by MOTAT volunteers. It does however feature its original Szekely SR-3 engine. The original Tui Sport was built by Fred North during the early 1930's and it was based on the Lincoln Sportsplane. It first flew in January 1934 and it proved to have good speed and maneuverability. It was not impressed into RNZAF service during WW 2 but was operated by Auckland aero Club. It crashed at Ohope beach in August 1941.

The HM 14 Flying Flea (French: Pou du Ciel, literally "Louse of the Sky"!) was developed by Frenchman Henri Mignet in the 1930's and he published plans to construct the aircraft in 1934. The plans were translated into English and were published in Popular Mechanics magazine in 1935, which resulted in many Flying Fleas being built around the world. It featured a tandem wing design which unfortunately suffered from wing interference problems when powered by more powerful engines than the prototype. This problem resulted in an inability to be able to pull out of a dive and led to many fatalities including one in New Zealand. This problem was solved but the reputation of the Flying Flea never fully recovered.

In New Zealand, Flying Fleas were allocated registrations in the ZM series, and at least 12 Flying Flea projects were commenced, with several achieving flight. 3 Fleas were registered as ZM-AAA, ZM-AAB and ZM-AAC. A partly built Flea project was donated to the Asburton Aviation Museum and was completed by a team of volunteers for static display in the early 2000's, and is painted as ZM-AAM.

The MOTAT example ZM-AAA was built by Eric Perkins and Leonard Hawke at Waipukurau, and was completed in 1936. There is no record of it having flown, but it did make several "hops".

The unregistered Everson gyroplane was built by brothers Ron and Ernie Everson at Auckland in 1962. It was initially tested as a gyroglider and was towed behind a car at Muriwai Beach. It was later fitted with a motor and although never officially certified it did apparently achieve successful flight.

Interestingly, there is reference at MOTAT to the Everson Brothers having built several aircraft and "most of their aircraft did achieve flight". I would be interested to find out more about their aircraft - can anyone add anything?

Flaglor Sky Scooter ZK-EYL (c/n AACA/367/1) is an example of a more modern homebuilt aircraft. It was built by Les Zimmerman of Auckland and was first registered on 18/4/87. It was donated to MOTAT in 1991 and was cancelled on 27/2/92.

And finally, an unmarked Gere Sport biplane is displayed. I cannot find any New Zealand connection for this aircraft and I am not sure why it is on display - again, can anyone add anything here? There is now a Gere Sport aircraft registered in New Zealand being ZK-EFZ which was built by Alan Belworthy at Cust and was first registered on 24/11/10.

A blast from the past.

I have been very fortunate to get my sticky mitts on the slide collection belonging to CMM.
From time to time I will blog a few of these to stimulate your phagocytes.
Maybe even get some comments as I have no dates or place names for these photos.
This is Fletcher Fu24 ZK-BIO (c/n 42) listed to Cable Price Corporation Ltd on 12-12-1955. It first flew on 10-03-1956 and gained its c of a on 11-07-1956. As is fairly obvious it went to Robertson Air Services Ltd and carried fleet number 6 from 24-09-1956.
From memory this was the first FU24 re-engined with the 240hp motor, which would have been about mid 1957. In the above shot CMM advises that it hase the 300hp engine.
It was flown by such illustrious characters as Len Holden and Peter Sylvia.
On 22-11-1980 it first flew as a Fu24-950M but was involved in a fatal crash at Arohena on 29-06-1982.

Two more views of ZK-BIO, probably taken either side of the CMM pic.
Above as seen at Te Kuiti on 05-03-1969.
Below is at Hamilton on 03-09-1979. With the larger registration as mentioned in the comments below.

Question time # 146

Tell me all !

Yak 52TW ZK-YTW loss.

I am sorry to have to report that the Yak 52TW ZK-YTW (c/n 0312502) was destroyed in a fatal accident at Timona Park on the eastern outskirts of Feilding yesterday (23-01-2012) with the loss of its well respected owner and friend.

This aircraft was built by Aerostar in 2003, serving on the US register as N190TH from October 2003. It then became N52JC and finally N222XS in July of 2007.

It was imported into NZ and became ZK-YTW on 13-10-2008.

It was listed to the Chipleigh Trust of Palmerston North on 12-11-2010.

Hughes 269C ZK-HYQ is in town

The Hughes 269C ZK-HYQ (c/n 39-0777) has been at Pacific Aircraft Services for several days now. It is currently registered to Cornwall Farms of Longbeach, Ashburton. Photo above was taken on 20-01-2012 and long lens shot below was taken today (23-01-2012) by BARGELD01

This was imported from Japan for Rick Lucas Helicopters and first listed on 28-01-2005. In late 2006 it moved to Harry Devonish and then to Conifer Grove Trustees Ltd in November of 2010.

Pik 30 ZK-GST

I am saddened to report that the glider that crashed with fatal results at Snowy Top in the Diadem Range, about 20km west north west of Omarama on the 18th of January was the Pik 30 ZK-GST (c/n 717).

This motorised self launching glider joined our register on 21-11-1985 listed to C D Drummond, A F Moss, C A Rennie and D Budge of Nelson.

Ownership changed to Chris Richards and J N Greene of Blenheim on 01-11-1988.

It was transferred to Michael John (Jo) McKellow of Darfield on 24-09-2008.