Progressive Aerodyne Seareys of New Zealand

The development roots of the Progressive Aerodyne Searey amphibian go back to the 1970s when Advanced Aviation produced a series of amphibian aircraft that culminated in the 2 seat Buccaneer (which looks somewhat like a Searey and which was also known as the Mallard in some of its versions).  In the early 1990s father and son Wayne and Kerry Richter along with Advanced Aviation employee Paige Lynette formed Progressive Aerodyne Inc and developed the Searey, which first flew on 13/11/92, surpassing its design goals.  It was sold as a kit for amatuer construction.  Over the years the Searey has been developed with increasingly stronger hulls which in the latest "C"version could be of either fibreglass or carbon fibre.  However the fibreglass hull has been redesigned with considerable weight savings so the carbon fibre version is no longer available.  The Searey is now also available as a factory built aircraft as well as an amatuer built kit and can be licensed in the Light Sport Aircraft category if required.  With around 500 Seareys flying worldwide, the Searey is one of the most successful amatuer built amphibians.

Construction is of structural aluminium with a fabric covered wing and flying surfaces mated to a fibreglass or carbon fibre semi monocoque hull and fuselage that is riveted together.  The fixed wingtip floats are plastic with aluminium struts.  The sliding canopy can be opened in flight.  The main wheels swivel up to allow water landings.  The Searey is 22 feet 5 inches (6.84 metres) long, the wingspan is 30 feet 10 inches (9.39 metres) and the wing area is 157 square feet.  Empty weight is around 820 pound (372 Kg)  and MAUW is 1,370 pounds (622 Kg).  Engines can range from the 2 stoke Rotax 582 of 64HP up to the 80 HP 4 stroke Rotax 912 and on up to the 115 HP Rotax 914.  With a Rotax 912 cruise speed is around 85 mph.

We have had five Seareys registered in New Zealand to date, as well as several US registered examples which have flown here.

ZK-REY3 (c/n IMK-177) was built by Gordon HL Swan of Auckland and was first registered to him on 4/12/01.  It has a Rotax 912 engine.  It is photo's above at the 2002 SAANZ flyin at Matamata.  It suffered an undercarriage collapse at Pikes Point on 18/2/02 but was repaired.  On 23/2/11 it was sold to Clevedon Aviation Ltd of  Papakura (Dave Phillips) with whom it is still current.

ZK-SRY (c/n 1MK-230) was built by Michael J Carlielle of Whangaparaoa and was first registered to him on 3/4/02.  It is photo'd above at its North Shore base on 26/2/11.

ZK-YAY (c/n 1DK-365C) was built at Kaitangata and was first registered to BR and JJS Eaton on 19/2/07.  The Eatons moved to Motueka where the aircraft is based and where the photos were taken.

As can be seen in the above photo, ZK-YAY is named "Genie".

ZK-WET2 (c/n N471) was built in Australia by Geoffrey J McKinnirey of Narooma NSW and was first registered as VH-AJB on 5/11/99.  It is powered by a Rotax 912.  After several owners in Australia it was cancelled on 16/12/09 and exported to New Zealand.  It was registered in New Zealand on 4/9/13 as ZK-WET2 to Craig J Buist of Dunedin.  It is photo'd above at its Taieri base on 9/2/14.

ZK-FSH2 (c/n 1DK-015), our most recent Searey to date is also an import.  It was owned by Josef J Friend of Daytona Beach, Florida who was the CEO of Progressive Aerodyne and was first registered as N93JF on 14/6/95 (which makes it our oldest Searey and it is a very early airframe).  It underwent a major upgrade in 2014 which included a new "C' hull and it has a Rotax 912 engine.  It was cancelled from the US register on 11/4/16 and exported to New Zealand.  It was registered ZK-FSH2 on 27/4/16 to Craig J Vickery of North Shore, where it will be based.  The above photo was taken outside Solo Wings at Tauranga on 13/7/16.

Mid Week Warbirds at Ardmore 13-7-2016

Ardmore surely is the place to catch up with the occasional warbird, even mid-week if you are fortunate, and last Wednesday didn't disappoint.

The unmistakeable silhouette of Doug Brooker's Spitfire ZK-WDQ on take off.  Doug told me that he tries to give the Spitfire a flight about once a week to keep it on song.

Harvard ZK-WAR was doing some engine runs.  It looked good with its engine shown off to good effect..

And the Avspecs hangar fixture Cessna 150H ZK-CXG has been repainted into this sharp scheme.  But what has this got to do with warbirds I hear you ask!  Well, I included this because of what is tantalisingly in the hangar behind that must not be posted.  I was told that it is still on track for a first flight at the end of August.

Finally, at Pioneer Aero the Airacobra is making steady progress.  Talk about interesting aircraft!

Gippsland GA200C ZK-DPC

The Gippsland GA200C VH-SZV (c/n 200C9831) hit the Australian register on 13-11-1998 with Anceps Pty Ltd of Naracoorte, South Australia. Title changed to the Westpac Banking Corporation of Concord West, NSW on 11-09-2006 but returned to Anceps on 12-11-2012.

It was ferried into Kerikeri from Lord Howe Island on the second of the month having departed from Merimbula Airport ACT the previous day.

It carried on down to Omaka on the third with its Australian registration being cancelled on the 6th for it to become ZK-DPC2 with Patchett Ag-Air 2015 Ltd from 11-07-2016.

And after some speedy work by Sounds Aero Maintenance and CAA it gained its NZ CofA yesterday.

It Joins their GA200 ZK-MAW and their Pawnee 235 ZK-JWW.

Photo above shows VH-SZC thanks to Southern Aerial Ag.
Below as ZK-DPC in its hangar at Omaka on 12-07-2016. Thanks to Nigel Griffith.

Two newies at Tauranga.

 Hairy Mole Rat shot these two recent addition to our register outside Solo Wings Ltd at Tauranga yesterday (13-07-2016).

 ZK-FSH2 (c/n 1DK015) is a Progressive Aerodyne Sea Rey amphibian.

It joined our register on 27-04-2016 for Craig Vickery of Campbells Bay, Auckland.

It was built in the united States as N93JF and certified to Joseph J Friend of Daytona Beach, Florida on 14-06-1995.

Above we have the unmarked Fly Synthesis Storch S 450 ZK-KAD2 (c/n 359A-415) as listed to Aero Australasia Ltd of Hamilton on 13-04-2016.

This has previously been listed on the Australian Ultrilght Federation register as 24-5068 back on 17-05-2007.

The Tecnam Hangar at Ardmore 13-7-2016

A trip to Ardmore yesterday with No 2 grandson (who is the one who is most interested in aircraft and is a member of the No 1 ATC Squadron in Wellington), turned out well when the Tecnam Hangar was open.

Piper J3 Cub ZK-YLO (c/n 19046) had just been pushed back into the hangar but the owner graciously pushed it back out again for a photo.  It is in pristine condition and even has white quilted cabin lining!  It is owned by Ardmore Aviation Services Ltd with a Hong Kong address.  Said grandson is in the background trying to get out of the photo.

Carbon Cub floatplane N47MV is being hangared in the Tecnam hangar for a few months while maintenance is completed on the superyacht M5 which is currently at Westhaven marina.  It will be interesting to see if it is flown back to the superyacht.  I have posted details of the aircraft and the M5 at http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=carbon+cub+floatplane (and there is another link you can go back to).

And another Falco will be registered soon as this aircraft is well advanced.  Giovanni Nustrini told me that there is another Falco being worked on in another hangar.

Thanks to Giovanni for allowing the photos.  And just as we left, the hangar was being shut up agin.

Last weekend at Matamata.

Richard Currie has kindly submitted these three photographs as taken at Matamata last weekend.

Above is the De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk 22 ZK-SKH (c/n C1-0547).

This entered service with the Royal Air Force with the military serial of WK511 on 29-01-1952 with the No 5 Basic Flying Training School at Desford. It served with eight further units before being transferred to the Admiralty on 17-06-1966 to serve with the Royal Navy College and carried the '905' code.

Its final military flight took place on 23-09-1992 and was sold at auction on 08-07-1993 and joined the UK civil register as G-BVBT with Tim Manna on 04-08-1993 and then with James Slade and Tracey Curtiss-Taylor from 21-01-2002 remaining in its military markings.

It came to NZ with James Slade and became ZK-SKH on 03-12-2002 listed with Bohica Co Ltd of Blenheim. It was re-listed to the Owlco Trust of Blenheim on 18-02-2003 and then to the Airtight Trust of Masterton from 25-03-2010. It was listed to its current owners M V Ryan and J S Wilkins of Taupiri on 15-02-2011. As you can see it still wears its Royal Navy marks.

 Above we have the Czech Aircraft Works SportCruiser ZK-LED (c/n 09SC265) as recently registered to J W and I P Leadbeater Syndicate of Matamata.

This aircraft was initially registered here as ZK-SXY5 with the NZ agents Aerosport Aviation Ltd of Cambridge on 23-12-2009.
In 2010 it briefly became listed as a PiperSport but quickly reverted to SportCruiser when the Czech Works and the Piper Aircraft deal went sour.
As a demonstrator it was distinctively marked  as can be seen in the link below.

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=pipersport

It was sold to the Leadbeater's on 31-03-2016 and was re-registered as ZK-LED on 05-04-2016.

The AutoGyro Europe MTO3 Eagle ZK-TCG is c/n NZ010 is from Gyrate NZ Ltd of Mount Maunganui.

Zenair CH 701SP ZK-ZST

Grant Ellery has sent in a photo of his Zenair CH 701SP ZK-ZST, now with a tasteful orange trim that I think fits the lines of the aircraft very well.

Grant has previously advised that he built the CH 701 wing as the version without slats, which increases the cruise speed to 80 knots ( compared with 72 knots for the slatted wing) but still gives good STOL performance.  I have gone back and inserted the photo in my previous post at http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/zenithzenair-ch-701s-of-new-zealand-4.html

Lunch at Taupo

Above we have the line up of the Tauranga gang parked up at Taupo for todays lunch break.

All have been mentioned on these pages previously.

Nearest is the Quickie Q200 ZK-FWF (c/n AACA/646) of Tacan NZ Ltd as navigated by Grayson Ottaway - who supplied the photograph.

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/tauranga-sampler.html

Next in line is the L M Harris CASH Aviation Model 3 ZK-LHC (c/n 003) as built up by Harry Harris.

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/lm-harris-cash-aviation-mk-3-zk-lhc-at.html

Then there is the Pazmany PL2 ZK-TLP (c/n AACA/247) of Trevor Parker.

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2010/02/ubiquitous-pazmany-pl-2-at-saanz.html

Next is the Steven Carr Vans RV7A ZK-ECE2 (c/n 73638).

http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/new-sport-aircraft-at-2016-saanz-flyin.html

At the far end are the Pulsar ZK-KFC and the Tecnam ZK-WBF.

Others at North Shore 11-7-2016

Apart from the NEST Sikorsky S 76A helicopter, there were some other avian craft on the ramp:

A quartet of Robins - The North Shore Aero Club's ZK-TZK, ZK-TZL2, ZK-TZH and ZK-UWZ which has been in NSAC ownership since August 2015.

 And a trio of Skyhawks - the NSAC's C 172S ZK-DMW2, C 172N ZK-EOF and C 172R ZK-NPJ.

ZK-EOF departing for points South.  It is based at Ohaupo.  It has been in NZ since June 1979 but has not been posted on the blog before.

And ZK-NPJ now with FlyStark.com on the cowling.  It was originally a New Plymouth Aero Club plane.and has been owned by Stark Airlines of Hamilton since 11/12/15.  Stark Airlines describe themselves as "a little boutique airline operating in paradise" and they offer packages to destinations around the Coromandel Peninsula and to Great Barrier Island from Tauranga, Hamilton, Ardmore and North Shore.

Sikorsky S 76A ZK-IKM at North Shore Today 11-7-2016

The Northland Emergency Services Trust's Sikorsky S 76A ZK-IKM (c/n 760106) was parked outside the North Shore Aero Club today.

This helo has been in New Zealand since April 2011.  Previously it was VH-XHA, B-7305, N9046U and 10-730 with the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

It is a big bird!