NZKF - NZDA 19-1-2019

Rob Fry in his Cesssna 180A ZK-FRY2 departing Kaipara Flats for Dargaville yesterday.  But what type of plane are we in?

A Dash of Splash at NAC Pancake Breakfast This Morning 19-1-2019

The Northern Aviators Club held their third flyin for the year, a slap up pancake breakfast with lots of yummy trimmings, at Kaipara Flats airfield this morning.  I got there early and met Rodger Coleclough who had flown up from North Shore in his Searey.  He had previously said he would take me for a water landing so this was a great time to do it, while the water was still calm and not too many boats were around.

 ZK-SRY at rest at NZKF this morning.

Overhead the Warkworth Satellite Station

 About to touch down on the Mahurangi Estuary

 A shower of spray!

 Lovely country to fly leisurely over

 Thanks Rodger!

And another amphibian not seen outside very often was Kevin Mills' Aero Gare Sea Hawk ZK-SEA which has not flown for several years. Kevin told me that he intends to get it flying this year.

Mosquito ZK-BCV Departing

Although there have been many photos published of the stunning DH 98 Mosquito ZK-BCV (especially on our sister blog MRC Aviation www.mrcaviation.blogspot.com), I chose this photo because it shows the Mosquito symbolically taxying away.

The Mosquito made its last flight in New Zealand yesterday with owner Rod Lewis aboard, and it will now be dis-assembled for transport to Texas.

Thanks for the ride Avspecs - it was short but very sweet!

A couple of strays at NZCH today.

 Nice to see back in the air is the Cessna 180 ZK-BJV (c/n 31452) of Darlington Drilling and Piling Ltd of Blenheim.

Until August this year this airframe had been hangared - unused - at Rangiora for quiet some years.

Nigel Griffiths took it over in August 2018 - did some checks etc on it at NZRT and then completed its SIDS and other requirements at Omaka. 

The Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II ZK-MBE (c/n 28-8516064) also at the tie downs. 

This was an import into NZ for Massey University School of Aviation at Palmerston in late 1993 and was sold to Noel Templeton Ltd with a Westport address from 27-09-2009.

ZK-EAA

After a quiet few days at the Pauanui airfield visitor numbers picked up today and included the striking blue Vans RV12UL ZK-EAA.    This was the 3rd RV12 completed at Whitianga by the Mercury Bay Student Trust,  being registered in October 2017 to an Auckland address,  but believed to be Whitianga based.

Sonex Tri Gear ZK-PDB at Ardmore 13-1-2019

I enjoy waiting around aerodromes as given time, something interesting usually turns up.  This was the case on Sunday when I was waiting for the Mosquito and Paul Blackmore turned up to fly his Sonex Tri Gear ZK-PDB

Paul has re-engined his Sonex with a Rotax 912 in place of the Aerovee (VW) engine he had in it for its first flights.  He has done a really tidy job of the new cowling and bigger spinner as can be seen in the above photo.  Paul later flew his Sonex before the Mosquito flew, and it looked to fly very well.

Lake LA-250 Renegade ZK-WAI

On a trip to Central Otago earlier this month I happened upon the recently registered Lake LA-250 Renegade ZK-WAI/3 parked at Wanaka. It wasn't until I returned home that it dawned on me this aircraft had flown across the Tasman in May 2018 as VH-WMW on delivery to an Albany/Auckland owner. 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2018/12/lake-la-250-renegade-vh-wmw-updated-28.html

Wanaka 03 January 2019

Hunting Percival P.56 Provost

Over the summer break I dropped in to see what was going on at Palmerston North airport. There was nothing to be seen anywhere so I decided to head over to nearby fielding. This proved to be very rewarding with lots of flying going on and to my amazement the P.56 made an appearance! Its early history is covered here.

The Information that I have been able to put together for this wonderful aircraft is as follows:

PAC/F/226 • T Mk. 1   WW397       RAF BOC 20.9.54: last airworthy RAF Provost       69

                                                          RAF Coltishall: inst. airframe                                   69

                                                          (last RAF Provost flight, Shawbury-Halton    30.10.69)

                                                          RAF Halton: inst. airframe:                          7.11.69/79

                                                          (del. to Halton ex RAF Shawbury                  30.10.69)

                                                          Flt Lt M. J. Crymble, RAF Lynham .                   78/79

                                                          (trucked to Lyneham 4.79 ex Halton for planned use as

                                                          gate guard but instead rest. to fly Lyneham, ff   28.5.83)

                                   G-BKHP        Flt Lt Michael J. Crymble, RAF Lyneham      26.8.82/93

                                                         (flew as RAF “WW397/N-E”)

                                                         op: Vintage Aircraft Team, Cranfield 91/92

                                                         Keith Clarke, Gosford NSW: shipped to Australia .93/94

                                   VH-OIL         Keith C. B. Clarke, Gosford NSW                    13.7.94/02

                                                         (rest. Sydney-Bankstown 94, flew as RAF “WW397/N-E”)

                                  ZK-SGN        James Slade/ Old Stick & Rudder Co, Omaka .        02/08

                                                         (shipped in container to NZ .02, ff Omaka            15.11.02,

                                                         flew as RAF “WW387/N-E”, flew in Japanese WW2

                                                         scheme for airshows 04 as “WW397”, repainted 04

                                                         as camouflaged Sultan of Oman AF “WW397”)

                                  ZK-PPP          Robert Young, Fielding NZ, later Las Vegas NV 6.6.11/15

                                                         (shipped from NZ to USA, to be based Boulder City NV)

                               N397WW          reg. res: Robert Young, Las Vegas NV                      2.2.12

                                                          I can not find any detail between 2011 and 2017!

                                  Zk-PPP           Back in New Zealand with MPJ Wilson                   3.12.17

Gisborne Wings and Wheels this Saturday.

Auckland Seaplanes Beaver All Hanging Out at Ardmore 13-1-2019

I got to Ardmore quite early on Sunday morning not knowing when the Mosquito would fly.   And while I was waiting the Auckland Seaplanes amphibian Beaver ZK-WKA was readied for a good days work downtown on the Waitemata Harbour.  Then it took off on Runway 03 and lumbered past.  After I had seen the Mosquito with its lovely lines I thought back to the poor old Beaver and thought that although they are both De Havilland, it was a case of the sublime to the ridiculous!

My apologies to Beaver afficionados.