Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-EBM.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-EBM is c/n 28-7625015

It was built as N9609N and shipped to NZ for registration here on 14-07-1976.

Assembled by Airwork (NZ) Ltd it was transferred to The Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club at Hastings on 16-09-1976.

It was returned to Airwork and was photographed there at Ardmore on 05-07-1979.

It was officially returned to Airwork  on 23-07-07-1979.

P F Dixon of Rangiora appears on the ownership papers from 30-09-1981.

It was then moved to the Canterbury Aero Club on 12-05-1982.

Photographed above at the old Cub site on 25-07-1989.

Above it is seen in the standard Club scheme above (apart from the rudder) on 12-09-1999.

And as seen on 22-02-2000.
Only one report of interest that I recall - It struck a security vehicle whilst taxying at Christchurch on 11-03-1992.

 

As at 13-08-2013 it is parked up with a mere 31405 flying hours.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-EBC.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-EBC c/n 28-7525108.

Built as N9516N.

Assembled and registered to Airwork (NZ) Ltd on 20-03-1975 and then to the Canterbury Aero Club on 21-04-1975.

 

 First photograph shows her outside the old Club hangar on 30-08-1978.

Below - as seen on 13-08-1990. Note the high viz "CAC" beneath the wing.

And then from the Club balcony on 17-04-1998.

 And again - but on 28-12-1998.

It had three interesting events during its time.

It swung on take off and collided with ZK-CUZ at West Melton on 05-09-1979.

A nose wheel collapse on take off at Eyrewell Forest on 20-01-1993.

It crashed on overshoot at West Melton on 17-03-2007 and as a result was cancelled from the register on 16-10-2007.

It has been stored since.

Below - at rest 13-08-2013 with in excess of 31000 flying hours.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-EBV.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-EBV c/n 28-7725098

Built as N9549N. First registered as ZK-EBV with Airwork (NZ) Ltd on 10-02-1977. It had three private owners from new. There was W S Rolston of Weedons from 24-08-1977; then M H van Steen of Hamilton from 11-01-1983 followed by E J Becconsall of Christchurch very briefly from 15-02-1986 until transferring to the Canterbury Aero Club (Inc)  on 10-03-1986.

 Just a few recent photographs of this one. Above as seen at Christchurch on 05-01-2012 and below on the same tie down on 11-07-2013.

 Below - also on 11-07-2013 just to show that it was the same on both sides.

 Above as seen on 13-08-2013 and below legless two days later.

25012 flying hours logged.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-DUW.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-DUW c/n 28-7525033.

This one was built and test flown in the US as N9603N.

It was shipped to Airwork (NZ) Ltd and registered to them on 10-01-1975 and then listed to the Canterbury Aero Club (Inc) on 12-02-1975.

Below is a photograph from RJD showing ZK-DUW not long out of the box at Christchurch on

16-02-1975.

 Next shot shows ZK-DUW at The AACA fly-in at Pudding Hill on 25-01-1981.

 Above at Christchurch on 29-05-08; and below near the fuel pumps on 29-12-2008.

 It had several interesting moments in its busy career.

A heavy landing at Ashburton on 28-07-1979.

Damage at Rangiora on 19-02-1984.

Another heavy at Christchurch on 22-02-1996.

Marker board prop strike at Christchurch 05-03-2005.

Above - as seen from the Club balcony on 08-03-2010.

Below : at rest on 13-08-2013 after 33804 flying hours.

Departure of ZK-XLF Explained

Reference was made in recent days of the departure of Reims/Cessna F406 ZK-XLF and the thought it may have been exported as it is listed for sale.

However an email from QW and a post across our resident airline expert reveals what it is doing and explains why there has been no record of it leaving Lord Howe Island for the Australian mainland.

Check out http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/xlfs-departure-explained.html

Piper PA-28-181 Archer II ZK-FJT

Piper PA-28-181 Archer II ZK-FJT c/n 28-8090255 was listed in the US as N8164C and served with Blue Aviation of Hayward, California from 28-03-1980. It was back at the Piper Acceptance Corporation at Lakeland, Florida from 23-03-1981 and was then sold to B R Enbon of Alma, California.

It was imported into NZ by John Shivas of Ashburton and registered  ZK-FJT on 14-11-1984 and listed to the Canterbury Aero Club on 13-12-1984.

I believe its first flight in NZ was on 22-03-1985.

The photo below shows her in the original colour scheme at Christchurch on 12-06-1986. 

Below on 06-02-1998 in the Club scheme.

 And below on 06-02-98 at the "Last" Wigram fly in.

It underwent a major refurbishment during 2012 and was the Clubs fully IFR Cherokee. It is seen above during the work in progress stage on 27-03-2012.

It was re-painted in the Clubs latest "Northwest Wave" paint scheme.

(The 140's were not repainted as they were due to be replaced by the Alpha's.)

Alas it had an engine failure out of Foxpine on 05-04-2013 and ended as below.

It was returned to Christchurch where it was stripped of useful parts and pensioned off.

Note the tree in the firewall and the wing leading edge modification.

Below- during the parting out process on 19-07-2013.

Below on 13-08-2013 with around 16500 hours.

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-DQZ.

Piper PA-24-140 Cherokee Cruiser ZK-DQZ c/n 28-7425335.

Built and flown under the US registration of N9609N.

Arrived in Auckland 18-09-1974.

Assembled by, and registered to Airwork (NZ) Ltd at Ardmore on 27-09-1974.

NZ CofA issued the same day.

I then have the name of E R Monkton as its first operator followed closely by lease to Eagle Aviation Ltd of Hamilton from 22-11-1974.

 These first two photos were taken at Hamilton on 19-03-1975 in its Eagle Flying Academy markings.

 To those with an enthusiasts leaning - the manufacturers data plate can be seen on the fuselage just forward of the leading edge of the horizontal tailplane.

The next operators were U-Fly Services Ltd from 27-05-1980; L T Hewlett from 24-02-1981 and then Paul Harrington from 03-10-1986 - All of Auckland.

It then went on line (hired) to with the Waitemata Aero Club.

The above photo, taken  at Ardmore on 02-12-1993, shows it in a new colour scheme and with a false extra fuselage side window - to make it look like its bigger brothers - before returning to Paul Harrington (Agencies) Ltd of Manurewa on 01-05-1994.

From 01-09-1996 it went to Flight Safety (NZ) Ltd of Ardmore until being returned to Paul Harrington Agencies Ltd on 23-12-1999.

Canterbury Aero Club (Inc) took it over from 27-03-2000 and it is seen below in the Club hangar on 21-04-2000 with the Club name on the engine cowling.

 Photograph below was taken at Rangiora on 27-05-2007 in the colour scheme it retained for the remainder of its Club service.

 The Club had a "Last" fly-in at Wigram (before its closure) on 20-09-2008 - as seen below.

 Below is a typical line up outside the Canterbury Club as seen on 08-12-2011 with ZK-DQZ wearing a stray rudder for the occasion. (Compare it with the Archer in the background).

The Alpha ZK-VCF was one of five purchased in 2010 with the intention of them replacing the Cherokee 140's.

Above - as seen at Christchurch on 20-05-12.

 

It has now been withdrawn from use with an airframe time of 15229 hours.

This is by far the lowest houred 140 airframe in this collection.

At rest 16-08-2013.

Seven + One continued.

 The Canterbury Aero Club Piper PA-28-140 Cherokees recently withdrawn and dismantled were intended to be replaced by the Five Alpha aircraft purchased back in 2010.

See post at http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/seven-one.html

 However some major engineering and maintenance matters with the Alpha's meant that the 140's got continued use and instead of selling them with useful engine hours they have now run out .. and have been retired.

They are for sale with some interest being shown. Meanwhile they are stored dismantled to prevent corrosion.

The two pics show the Clubs colours and insignia as used at one period.
 

Individual aircraft postings to follow !
 

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However (by request) I will first explain a little about the Piper PA-28 Cherokee c/n (construction number) system as I see it.

 

Firstly:

Each aircraft is allocated c/n during manufacture - similar to a motor vehicles VIN or chassis number.

This is stamped on a plate along with other details and in the case of Cherokees this plate is attached to the rear fuselage just near the leading edge of the left horizontal tailplane.

The aircraft is also given a local authorities Registration allocation for a civil aircraft (or a Serial Number for a military aircraft). These can change during the life of the aircraft.

BUT the c/n plate remains the same and is the main identifying feature.

 

So lets look at a simple Cherokee c/n number.

 

eg Piper PA-28-140 with the c/n on 28-7625261

 

Now we know that the smaller Cherokees were given the Piper model number of 28.

 

The first two number of the main group are the fiscal year of manufacture.

In this case 76 equals 1976. (Prior to 1971 no year indictor was given, and it ceased later).

 

The US fiscal year runs from 1st of October of the previous year

to the 30th of September of the current year.

 

So a 1976 airframe could have been built between 01-10-1975 and 30-09-1976.

This explains how you can have a 1976 model built in 1975.

 

The 3rd and 4th number actually tell the model.

In this case the "25" tells us we are looking at a Cherokee 140.

 

The last three numbers indicates the place on the assembly line for that particular years production. In our case the "261" tell that this was the 261st Cherokee 140 built during the 1976 fiscal year.

 

The end result is ZK-EBP.

 

The original certifying authority in the US had allocated the registration of N9622N to this c/n plate.

So in each different country the Plate remains the same but the visible identity markings change.

In this case "N" indicate US territory followed by a number letter combination.

In New Zealand "ZK" is the registration prefix for all civil aircraft, followed by three letters.

 

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

 

Other Cherokee models had different model designation numbers on their c/n plate.

eg. Piper PA-28-180's carried the number "05" following the year.

 PA-28-180 is "05" eg 28-7305206 was ZK-DGL.

PA-28-181 is "90"  eg 28-7890046 was ZK-ESK.

PA-28-151 is "15"  eg 28-7515426 was ZK-EBH.

PA-28R  is "35"      eg 28-7535019 was ZK-DUY.

PA-28-235 is "10"  eg  28-7310003 was ZK-DGK.

PA-236 is "11"        eg 28-8011104 was ZK-DQQ.

I could go on :-

 

Having got all that -  I can say that the designation system changed when production re-started post the US public liability fiasco - but we won't go there today.

 

Sisler SF-2A Cygnets of New Zealand

For many years after our first Cygnet appeared, I would have thought that the Cygnet would have been another of New Zealand's  unique homebuilt aircraft with only one aircraft extant.  However, as if to remind us that there are all sorts of aircraft being beavered away at across the country, 25 years later our second Cygnet was hatched.

The SF-2A Cygnet was designed by retired airline captain Bert Sisler, and won the EAA outstanding new design award at the EAA flyin at Oshkosh in 1973.  It was originally marketed by Sisler Aircraft of Bloomington, Minnesota.  It is a side by side shoulder wing STOL aircraft constructed with a steel frame fuselage and wooden wings, all fabric covered.  The wings are a little different with the few ribs overlaid with geodesic lattice strips, and they are swept forward to allow the cockpit to be placed as far forward as possible for better visibility.

The Cygnet's length is 5.80 metres (19 feet), its wingspan is a long 9.10 metres (30 feet 9 inches) and its wing area is 125 square feet.  Empty weight in 265 Kg (585 pounds) and MAUW is 500 Kg (1,100 pounds).  With an 1835 cc HAPI (upgraded VW) engine cruise speed is 100 mph

Our first Cygnet was ZK-LXB (c/n AACA/361/1) which was built by Alex Armstrong on Dunedin, and was registered to the Armstrong Family Trust on 27/6/88.  It is photo'd above in 1989 at Tairei.  (Alex Armstrong has built 3 aircraft which are all still owned by the Armstrong Family Trust at Dunedin - the Cutton Tabernor FRED ZK-LXA (originally ZK-ELJ), Cygnet ZK-LXB and RV 4 ZK-LXC).

25 years on it is still owned by the Armstrong Family Trust, although it has been repainted as in the above rather cluttered photo in its hangar at Tairei, taken in 2012 by Derek Heley of Air Britain.  Thanks to Derek for use of the photo.

And our surprise second Cygnet is Melvyn Jones' ZK-CYG (c/n 313) which he built at Hikurangi.  ZK-CYG was first registered on 10/5/13 and is registered as a Class 2 microlight.  Mel told me that he had purchased the project from an airline pilot in a partly built state.  It is currently based at Whangarei awaiting test flying.

Thanks very much to Mel Jones and his wife for the above photos.

More Outbound.......

Continuing the theme of "outbound", a comment was made on our recent post to indicate the imminent departure of another twin, this time Piper PA44 Seminole ZK-NNN.  As anticipated by "anon", this aircraft flew from Hamilton to Kerikeri on the afternoon of 16 August and this morning has made its way to Norfolk Island and no doubt onto Lord Howe Island and all stops to its reportedly new home of Perth/Jandakot.

A post on the delivery of ZK-NNN in July 2011 can be found here

At Auckland on 03 July 2011

Also soon to make its way across the Tasman is Cessna 404 Titan ZK-NDY.  It was cancelled from the register during the week as "exported" and sources indicate it is headed across the pond.  

Earlier posts :
http://galonghaulnews.blogspot.co.nz/2011/09/cessna-404-titan-n6764d-to-zk-ndy.html
http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2009/04/coast-air-zk-ndy.html
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2009/12/30-dec-2009-air-new-zealand-announce.html
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/04/coastair-tried-to-find-niche.html

Can anyone advise where this ex third level "airliner" is currently located?

At Ardmore 17 September 2007

At Ardmore 20 October 2009