It's Coming Up to Monarch Butterfly (Gyrocopter) Season

In a previous post on yet another gyrocopter at Tauranga, I posted that according to CAA records there are 68 gyrocopters registered in New Zealand.  While this is true it only reflects those gyrocopters that are registered under the category of "Gyroplane"., such as the Calidus, Cavalon and MTO Sport models - these are all 2 seaters.

However, I realised there are other single seat gyrocopters that are registered as Class 1 microlights.

Originally the ZK-RAA to ZK-RDZ block of registrations were reserved for gyrocopters, but now they can be registered with any registration.

And this brings us to the Butterfly Aircraft Monarch Butterfly ZK-YZM (c/n B208) that was built by WP Terry at Stratford and was first registered on 14/10/11.  However it was not completed for some years as it is photo'd above by Nick Furmage during test flying at Stratford in January 2015.  ZK-YZM is registered as a Class 1 microlight and is now registered to a Queenstown address.

I did a quick check of our registered aircraft types, and I reckon we have around 106 gyrocopters registered here, so around 40 must be Class1 microlights.
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Three Helicopters at Ardmore 20-11-16

Caught Kawasaki BK117 B2 ZK-IPT msn 1080 of Search & Rescue Services Ltd Taupo at the fuel pumps just before 07.15 yesterday. It has been at Airwork undergoing work but after taking on fuel it departed to the south.

Just over 12 hours later I photographed what I assume to be ZK-HMR a MBB-BK117 B2 msn 7173 operated by Helilink but marked as BK-HMR at the same fuel pumps. I believe this is appearing in a film being made in the area.

Just before 20.20 I caught Eurocopter AS 355 F2 ZK-HFS msn 5388 of Albany based Heletranz Ltd returning to Airwork and at around 20.43 taking on fuel . I assume by the extra items attached to it that it is involved in film work.

Another Gyrocopter at Gyro Central

It seems as if Tauranga is gyro central these days as gyrocopters are registered in increasing numbers.

Another type is the Magni M 16 ZK-RPA2 which was registered to Peter Avery of Taupo on 29/9/16, and in which he was receiving some further training at Solo Wings in October.  The above photo is from the Solo Wings Facebook page.

According to CAA records we have 68 gyrocopters currently registered in New Zealand (with another 4 still to be registered at Tauranga).

Agusta AW139

A quick visit to Wellington airport this morning resulted in my first sighting of Helicopters New Zealand LTD's Agusta Westland AW139, ZK-HNZ. I have no idea where it came from but the passengers were wearing survival suits so it could have been an oil platform or ship of some sort. It was soon put away in Execujet's hangar.

Agusta Westland AW139, ZK-HNZ, c/n 31103

Kallithea ZK-KTH

Captured today at Tauranga Airport by Hairy Mole Rat was the Niki Rotor Aviation Kallithea ZK-KTH (c/n 0007) as registered to Gyrate NZ Ltd Ltd of Mount Maunganui on 03-11-2016.

It featured previously on thse pages HERE

A Couple of Odds and Sods at Auckland International 12-11-2016

One week ago down at the Eastern end of Auckland International:

I managed a more complete (although pretty wide angled) photo of Israeli Aircraft Industries 1124A Westwind ZK-PJA tucked into the front of the Air Chathams hangar.  As noted previously it is registered to Aviation Services and Consultancy Ltd of Nelson and is ex ZK-RML.

Ronan Harvey's Wanaka based Beech D 18S N43927 was parked up, having returned from two and a half months flying around the Pacific. 

Motueka

Last of the Summer Wine = ZK-LSW.

Ready for final inspection at Motueka is the John Richards Rans S-6ES Coyote II ZK-LSW (c/n 06111942ES).

John has been around aeroplanes for a few years now - having owned the Austers ZK-AZU, ZK-AOB and ZK-AUH; plus the Volmer Sportsman ZK-EDB and the Cessna 180 ZK-BKG. 

He also currently has his Titan T51 Mustang ZK-WUH.

On the line as required for taildragger experience with the Nelson Aviation College is the Don Grant Piper PA-20-135 Pacer ZK-PEE (c/n 20-962).

Also very active at Motueka is the Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Porter ZK-XIT (c/n 653) of Skydive Abel Tasman Ltd. 

See previous posts at :-  ZK-XIT One.   and   ZK-XIT on job

Thanks to Chris for the walk around and trip down memory lane.

Inside a Couple of Hangars at Ardmore - 13-11-2016

While all the action was going on outside at the Warbirds Armistice Day Airshow, I managed a look into a couple of hangars where there were some interesting aircraft.

In the old Warbirds hangar, tucked off to the side, were DHC-1 Chipmunk ZK-SAX undergoing some engine work, and the Super Trojan ZK-TGN being repaired.  It seemed to my untrained-in-aeronautical-engineering eye that the damage to the Trojan was quite minor.

And in another hangar were the Miles Messenger ZK-CMM2, also undergoing engine work, and the Isaacs Fury ZK-DMN which has recently changed ownership to NZ Warbirds.

MDHC 600N ZK-IJD

Snapped today at Heli-Works at Tauranga Airport by Hairy Mole Rat was the MDHC 600N ZK-IJD (c/n RN029) of Amalgamated Helicopters NZ Ltd, to be based near Masterton.

As can be seen it still carries the 'Sherriff' and its fleet number '4' marks.

NZ Warbirds BE 2e ZK-PXA

One of the main drawcards for me going to the NZ Warbirds Armistice Day Airshow at Ardmore last Sunday was to see their "new" BE 2e ZK-PXA

It is painted as RFC aircraft 687 which was the aircraft flown by Lt William Rhodes-Moorhouse in France in 1915.  Se my previous post at http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/11/nz-warbirds-armistice-day-open-day-at.html

As usual with TVAL built aircraft, the workmanship and finish are amazing.

Roll on Masterton on the 26th!