Aviat Pitts S 2C ZK-LDJ at Feilding Today 15-12-2020

After having been in New Zealand since February 2020 as VH-XSC, Aviat built Pitts S 2C ZK-LDJ was out in the sun at Feilding today as captured below by Simon Hills:

On delivery across the Tasman as VH-XSC on 24/2/20.

And at Feilding today, 15/12/20.  ZK-LDJ (c/n 6044) was registered to LDJ Peak Ltd of Palmerston North on 27/11/20.  I believe that LDJ are the owners initials.

Thanks for the photo Simon.

 

Helicopters at Ardmore 11-12-2020

 As usual at Ardmore last Friday there were quite a lot of helicopters about, and there were a couple that were new or different from the last time they were blogged:

MBB BK 117-B2 ZK-HES4 changed ownership to Search and Rescue Services Ltd on 2/10/19 and it now wears Bay of Plenty Coastal Region titles for the TECT Helicopter Rescue Service.

At Airbus Helicopters the H145 model M-PURE was outside briefly.  It is registered in the Isle of Man and I understand it comes from the superyacht "Air".

Also outside Airbus Helicopters was another black EC130 helicopter that looked unremarkable however I fired off a quick shot of it at the drop of a hat.  However it turned out to be the almost new EC130 T2 ZK-HAT3 (c/n 8867) that was registered on 2/10/20 to a Private Owner.  This is an example of how confusing New Zealand helicopters can be as I have previously photo'd a black EC 130 helicopter ZK-HAT - but that turned out to be ZK-HAT2 (c/n 4925) which was a EC130 B4 model ( and which was re-registered as ZK-HLG4 on 17/6/20, also to a Private Owner which only adds to the confusion).

Oh well!

Stacking up the hours. ZK-TKT.

                    Tecnam P2008 JC ZK-TKT (c/n 1163) was at Rangiora today for a service. 

                    It was registered to the New Zealand Airline Academy at Oamaru on 04-03-2020.

                                            To date it has accrued 1400 flight hours.

Tow planes at Springfield - Russell Flat.

There were four tow planes on duty during the Springfield Soaring Championships. Mike Oakley's Piper PA-18-150 ZK-BNJ (c/n 18-5063) about to line up in front of its next victim.

Under a lovely sky is the Canterbury Gliding Club's Aerospool Dynamic WT9 ZK-DYT2 (c/n DY502/2014).

Down from Taranaki was the privately owned Aeroprakt A-22 Aerovision ZK-JTA (c/n 123).

Up from Omarama was the Aerospool Dynamic WT9 ZK-XYX (c/n DY-706) of Southern Soaring Ltd.

This joined the register as recently as 28-09-2020.

Springfield Soaring Championships 25th November - 5th December. # 4

Another Schempp-Hirth product is the Ventus-2cT ZK-GRY (c/n  95) as flown by Edwin Vrielink of Christchurch. This was imported new by Gary Wakefield in late 2002.

Above and below we see the HPH Glasflugel 394 eS Shark ZK-GST2 (c/n 079-MS) as flown by Peter Taylor. It joined our register new on 19-04-2018. The nose close up below shows the folded propeller blade for the 'front electric sustainer motor'.

Another above and below view. The Schleicher ASH 25 Mi ZK-GZF (c/n 25202) as driven  by Terry Delore. 

Above - unloading the wing slightly over the fence and trees on short final. Below - holding off with the wings holding the weight.

Springfield Soaring Championships 28th November - 5th December. # 3

Joining our register on 10-09-2020 was this Schempp-Hirth Arcus M ZK-GMS2 (c/n 174) for Onslow Investments Ltd of Christchurch. This motorised soaring machine was being flown by Jerry O'Neil and Mark Aldridge.

My favourite glider (I've had many a numb butt sitting in the back of this) - the Schempp-Hirth Janus Ce ZK-GPB (c/n 304) which came new to the Canterbury Gliding Club from 09-11-1994. Flown this day I believe by Wal Bethwaite.

Rob Kerr's Rolladen-Schneider LS4A ZK-GPP2 (c/n 4581) is a late 1986 vintage and came into NZ for Rob in August of 2019.

The Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus XL ZK-GQQ (c/n 593) awaits it turn for the town plane. 

It  has been listed with Glider rentals Ltd of Omarama since new in November 2009. We have Gavn Wills in the back seat.

Spring field Soaring Championships 28th November - 5th December. # 2

 Not all the competitors have the latest and greatest equipment.

The Glasflugel H201B Libelle ZK-GIU (c/n 579) was a pretty mean machine in its day. 

This first flew in New Zealand on 10-01-1975 and has been with the GIU Syndicate out of Timaru since October of 1983. Flown on this occasion by long time syndicate member Rob Campbell.

The Schempp-Hirth HS-4 Standard Cirrus was also a class winner back in the 1970's.

ZK-GJJ is c/n 485G and was imported for Theo Newfield and first flew in NZ on 15-12-1974.

It is now with the JJ Syndicate of Wellington.

Another Standard Cirrus was ZK-GJK with c/n 484G also first flew in NZ on 15-12-1974 for John Trotter and flew out of the North Otago Gliding Club field on the McCaw's Hakataramea farm strip.

It has been with the JK Syndicate since July of 2015 and is being flown by John McCaw.

Very much more modern is Vaughan Ruddick's Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2cM ZK-GLA2 (c/n 223).

This was new to Ray Lynskey in November of 2008.

Springfield Soaring Championships 28th November - 5th December. # 1

 Following on from South Island Gliding Championships held at Omarama between the 14th and 21st of November the Canterbury Gliding Club held the Springfield Soaring Championships at the Club's Russell Flat airfield from November the 28th through to December 5th..

Above we see most of the competitors at the starting grid awaiting launching.

Fantastic plastic.

Follows is a selection of photos taken at Russell Flat on December the 3rd and 4th.

The HPH Glasflugel 304MS Shark ZK-GCV2 (c/n 035-MS) came in from the Czech Republic and is now listed to the Golf Charlie Victor Syndicate of Christchurch.

Derek Kraak awaits a towplane in his Schleicher ASW 27-18E ZK-GDK2 (c/n 29661).

The following gliders were noted

ZK-GBA, GBF, GCC, GCV, GDK, GGK, GIL, GIU, GIW, GJJ, GJK, GLA, GMJ, GMQ, GMS, GOP, GOR, GPB, GPP, GPR, GQQ, GRL, GRW, GRY, GST, GTC, GTF, GTK, GWD, GXL, GYH, GZF. GZW and N132UC.

Tow planes were ZK-BNJ, ZK-DYT, ZK-JTA and ZK-XYX.

Parked in the hangar was ZK-FOY.

A Couple of Other Warbirds at Ardmore 11-12-2020

 There were also another couple of "warbirds" at Ardmore yesterday:

A genuine warbird at Avspecs was the De Havilland DH 89B Dominie ZK-AKU which is owned by the NZ Historic Aircraft Trust of Papakura.  It is at Avspecs for refurbishment prior to its sale to America.  Blue Bus has posted a very complete history of this aircraft at https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2016/01/tawaka-grey-duck.html

And a wannabe warbird outside Pioneer Aero was the Titan Mustang ZK-MJD now named "Southern Belle" which we have recently reported is now based at Mercer and carries the titles Ivan and Sandy Campbell on the canopy.

A Couple of Real Warbirds at Ardmore Today 11-12-2020

I managed a visit to Ardmore today as I fought through traffic.  I could not make it there for the NZ Warbirds Open day and I was keen to see progress on a couple of real warbirds at Pioneer Aero and Avspecs:

First up, at Pioneer Aero, the Curtis P40E Kittyhawk #41-13570 has made good progress since I last saw it in June 2020.  It looks like it is not far off, and I understand it will be going to an owner in Italy.

Then at Avspecs the Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk XVI TB252/ ZK-NLJ is possibly closer to flying than the Kittyhawk.  The identification marks are NL-J and hence the registration.  I got there just in time as it was just being masked for a small spray job, hence the plastic covering the engine.  Warren Denholm told me that it would be outside in the afternoon but I could not stay.

Note the very shiny canopy on the left.