Stratford on 24-1-2018

Making my way North from Wanganui I drove past Hawera Aerodrome but all the hangars were locked up.  I did get a glimpse trough the rear window of the Aero Club's hangar of their new Aeroprakt A 32 Vixxen LSA ZK-VHC and the newly completed local R & B Bearhawk ZK-PBH.

Then up the road to Stratford where there was some sport aircraft action and a couple of hangars were open:

Alan Warner returned from a local flight around the mountain in his nice B & F Technik FK 14B Polaris ZK-RFD.  That's Mr Stratford Aerodrome Blog (and Jodel afficionado) Nick Furmage capturing the action from the other side of the runway.  Thanks for your help at Stratford Nick.

Because the silver rego reflects in some light, here is a shot of Alan taxying in that shows the rego better.

In one of the open hangars Luton LA 4A Minor ZK-FSU sat rather forlornly.  It has not flown for a long time although it is still registered to Tony Rawlinson of Inglewood.  It is now fitted with a Rotax 582 engine.  I had not seen this aircraft for a long time and back then it had a Continental engine I think.  You can see more of its history HERE

And finally from Stratford, there is often a photo board in the Aero Club building and this Kamov KA 32 co-axial rotor helicopter took my eye as something quite a bit different.  So I took a photo of the photo.  It was not dated but this helicopter RA31029 was used by Aerolift New Zealand for helilogging from the mid to late 1990s.  You can see more info about it on our sister blog MRC Aviation by clicking HERE

Surely - A tail to tell !

 Noted installed at the ANZES facility on Orchard Road yesterday (26-01-2018).

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My pics for the week

Below are my pick of my pics taken this week.

 Above we have Cessna 180A ZK-BUQ (c/n 32995) trundling up to the pumps at Ashburton on Monday the 23rd.

 No apologies for posting yet another shot of BUQ - its just because I like it.

 I got into Christchurch International yesterday (26th) and at the olde Heli Centre I caught up with the  blue blade Guimbal Cabri G2 ZK-HPP3 (c/n 1082) of Clencora Jersey Stud Ltd of Karamea.

Also over from 'The Coast' was the Robinson R44 Clipper II ZK-ICH (c/n 10196) of Ahaura Helicopters Ltd. Also at Heli Maintenance was their Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HUF2 (c/n 10754).

The Mount Cook Airlines Ltd ATR 72-212A ZK-MCY2 (c/n 703) was between missions.

The Pilatus PC12/45 ZK-PLX (c/n 396) was Sounds Air Travel and Tourism Ltd's choice of aircraft for today's early afternoon service through Christchurch.

Percival Provost ZK-JOT

An interesting early evening arrival at Pauanui was the Percival Provost ZK-JOT which joined Yak 52s ZK-YAC and ZAH, and Stearman ZK-XAF,  heading for the Great Northern Air Race 2018 starting from North Shore airfield on Saturday.  The Provost was last featured on this blog in May 2016 when its restoration was nearing completion.

W(h)anganui on 24-1-2018

Wanganui is another domestic airport with those security fences, and it was pretty much a dead loss.  I took a couple of photos over the fence:

Massey University School of Aviation's Diamond DA 40 ZK-MTI was parked, no doubt on a cross country.

A couple of ex Feilding planes of NZICPA (New Zealand International Commercial Pilots Academy), of Whanganui were on the field.  Cessna 172S ZK-FTM2 has the company's logo on the tail.

And here is their new hangar and training facility on the airport, again featuring the fern logo.

There were other interesting aircraft on the field, for example a 400 HP Fletcher still in Wanganui Aero Work's colours, but there was no way that I could get near them.  Quite frustrating really but hey I wouldn't want to go against the all pervasive Health and Safety policy!

THAMES Wings and Wheels.

Three Visitors at Ardmore on 26-1-18 and an export on 25-1-18

Smart looking Cessna 172RG ZK-ETG msn 172RG0192 of Control Services Ltd of Te Kowhai doing engine runs.

Cessna 182N ZK-SBB msn 18260630 of GoSkydive New Zealand Ltd of Prebbleton taxing for departure.
Wonder what brings this aircraft north.

Another smart looking aircraft and also from the South Island is Cessna T182T  ZK-ZZR msn T18209013 which is registered to a Hanmer Springs owner.

MBB BO105 CBS-4 ZK-IBO msn S-801 seen in the Oceania Aviation Ltd Ardmore compound on 25-1-18 secured to a pallet and in front of a container. This is listed as being owned by Enora Holdings Ltd of Male in the Seychelles so I'm assuming it is being exported. I t was registered to Oceania Aviation on 17-4-13 and has been at Ardmore ever since I believe. It still wears the livery of it's former operator the Jordanian Police Air Wing.

Of Microlights and Others at Pauanui

A stunning 29deg day brought a group of 5 aircraft over from Te Kowhai  to Pauanui for lunch comprising Super Cub ZK-BQV,  Flight Design CTLS ZK-FDB,  Autogyro MT03 ZK-MTO,  Remos G3NZ ZK-REM and the B22J Bantam ZK-ZAF

Down from Northland was the Tecnam P92 ZK-KFP

And up from Dannevirke the Cessna 150G ZK-DAL

Cessnas at Paraparaumu 24-1-2018

I'm just back home after a road trip relocating a nice Toyota Highlander SUV from Wellington to Auckland.  My first aeronautical stop was at Paraparaumu Airport:

After the family was scattered from Tauranga Cessna A152 ZK-KID2 has been on-line with the Kapiti Districts Aero Club since 10/11/16.

As Paraparaumu is a domestic airport, there are security fences so you can't poke into hangars that you might like to, but I was granted access to the Aero Club hangar where several club and club members planes were parked.

Cessna 182T ZK-JLR2 is registered to Pelorus Air of Blenhiem and is ex VH-JSQ.  It has only been registered here since 23/8/17.  I was told that it frequently flies to D'Urville Island.

Cessna 182R ZK-NML is registered to the Kapiti Districts Aero Club and has only recently been in their ownership, since 21/12/17.

And Cessna 172M ZK-DRN has been with a Wellington owner since 6/10/14.

Thanks for your help with these photos Daniel.

Tony up North last weekend.

Tony McFarlin was up North last weekend and has sent me these photographs.

 Looks like an event at Pauanui on Saturday the 20th with the RNZAF (Kiwi Blue) parachute team arriving by air.

Over at Hamilton on the Sunday was the Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KED (c/n 215).