Sir Tim Wallis RIP

Sir Tim Wallis passed away peacefully at his home in Wanaka on 17 October 2023 aged 85.  Sir Tim was renowned in many different spheres of business and flying, both in New Zealand and worldwide, including aerial deer hunting and pioneering live deer recovery.  He built up one of the world's best collection of WW 2 aircraft and started the Wings Over Wanaka airshow in 1988 to showcase them.  And he was also instrumental in resurrecting the Russian Polikarpov I-16 Rata (six of them) and I-153 Chaika WW 2 fighters (three of them) from wrecks recovered in Russia where they were rebuilt in Novosibirsk and shipped to Wanaka.  He was badly injured in the crash of his Spitfire Mk XIV ZK-XIV2 in January 1996 which left him medically unfit to fly, but he kept up his passion for Warbirds Over Wanaka until his passing.

One of Tim Wallis's early ventures was Luggate Game Packers Ltd who flew venison out to their processing plant at Luggate, just down the road from Wanaka.  Here is their Cessna 180A ZK-BUQ at Invercargill in October 1968. 

Then followed Alpine Helicopters Ltd initially with leased machines.  The Bell 47G ZK-HBB was their first owned machine followed by the Hiller UH12E ZK-HAN and then the Bell 47G ZK-HAX. Their 4th helicopter was the Hiller UH-12E ZK-HBL which is photo'd here at Queenstown in April 1974.

Over the years Sir Tim's companies have owned and operated many helicopters.  Here is Hughes 500D ZK-HOT at Christchurch in April 1988 marked with Alpine Deer Group Ltd script.

Another passion of Sir Tim was his collection of WW 2 aircraft, the first of which was the North American P 51D Mustang ZK-TAF which was first registered in May 1986.  This photo is of it later, in February 2009 at Wigram where it was assembled and first flown on 24-01-1985 on its US registration.  It became the foundation aircraft of Sir Tim's Alpine Fighter Collection.

The Alpine Fighter Collection has owned some different and exotic aircraft over the years such as this Harvard based Mitsubishi Zero replica which arrived in NZ in late 1992 and flew as N15798 until becoming ZK-ZRO from April 1998. It went to Australia as VH-ZRO in 2001. 

One of Sir Tim's six Polikarpov I-16 Rata's that flew at Wanaka was ZK-JIN which is photo'd here in April 1998.

And one of his three Polikarpov I-153 Chaika's was ZK-JJN which is photo'd here in the Alpine Fighter Collection's hangar at Wanaka in September 2005.  You can see Sir Tim's Spitfire Mk XVI ZK-XVI in the background.

And finally here is Sir Tim's Hawker Hurricane 2A ZK-TPK photo'd at Wanaka on April 2006.  It was completed by Air New Zealand at Christchurch and registered here in August 1999 and was sold to a new owner in France in 2013.  

After Sir Tim's 1996 Spitfire crash the Alpine Fighter Collection was gradually sold off  but Warbirds Over Wanaka continues to be one of the most spectacular airshows in the Southern hemisphere.

Rest in Peace Sir Tim.  You wrote several chapters of the history of aviation in New Zealand.

Recent cancellations. Polikarpov I-16 ZK-JIO

And then there were none ! Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 "Rata" ZK-JIO c/n 2421234 was registered to the Alpine Fighter Collection at Wanaka on 09-10-1997. Probably better known to most as "Red 34" it was the last remaining of the six such aircraft in this collection. It was cancelled as exported on 23-07-2009.
Top pic shows it at Wanaka on 14-10-2000.
Below as seen at Wanaka on 16-08-2006 with a couple of interesting aircraft behind.
It was damaged at Wanaka on 01-03-2006 when a brake failure caused a ground loop with the left gear folding causing u/c, wing and prop damage.

These two lower shots taken at Wanaka on 11-10-2007

Anybody recognise the Hughes 369 in the background please ??

Polikarpov I-16 # 45 now with Kermit Weeks.

The Poliarpov I-16 Type 24 Rata ZK-JIP (c/n 2421645) was listed with the Alpine Fighter Collection at Wanaka on 09-10-1997 and first flew from Wanaka on 26-10-1997.

It was coded as number '45'.

I am sure you will have all observed that the c/n is displayed in white on the horizontal portions of the red star on the tail.

It is seen below at Wanaka on 16-01-1999.

Ownership was transferred to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum from 25-10-2001.

This is now known as the Commemorative Air Power Museum or just plain old CAF. 

It remained on the ZK register until 12-03-2002 and was then entered onto the US civil register as N30425 on 26-03-2002.

It was uplifted by Kermit Weeks of Fantasy of Flights of Polk City Florida and listed to him in 10-07-2019.

Check out this clip of the arrival of '45' at Kermit's man cave.

youtube.com/watch?v=WnxJwLmAtBA

Wanaka kitsets !

A month ago (08-10-08) I passed through Wanaka and these two Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 Rata's lay in a dismantled state on the hangar floor.

Nearest is White 9 (ZK-JIN) and beyond is Red 34 (ZK-JIO). On the left of the top pic and right on the lower pic is the Polikarpov I-153 Chiaka Red 10 (ZK-JJB).

Anybody any idea whats happening here ?

And a pic of Red 10 (ZK-JJC) on 08-10-08.

A year earlier (11-10-07) Red 34 was in much the same state - but note in the background the I-153 White 75 (ZK-JKM) with wings crated alongside. This is still on our register listed to Parc Aeronautic De Catalunya c/- Carlos Martini, Alpine Fighter Collection.

Have a look at the site below to see John Lanham flying it in Spain on Oct 2nd.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thundershead/sets/72157607729695419/

Homegrown Single Seat Homebuilt Aircraft of New Zealand (8) - Heydecke H 16

Volker Heydecke constructed his Heydecke H 16 at the Sailplane Services hangar at Drury. It is a two thirds scale carbon fibre replica of a Polikarpov I 16 with a Rotec 3600 3.6 litre radial engine.

ZK-VVV (c/n V16001) was first registered on 3/11/08.  The above photo, taken on 15/11/08, was supplied by Volker and shows the aircraft at Drury where taxying tests were carried out.  Unfortunately it suffered an undercarriage collapse while taxying at Ardmore in late 2008, but it was rebuilt by mid 2009.

It was test flown at Ardmore on 15 June 2009 and this photo by Mike Condon shows it on take off on 17 June.  You can just make out the ballistic parachute deployment equipment around the cockpit.  There is a lot of information on ZK-VVV including video footage and photos, on the Rotec Radial website www.rotecradialengines.com/customers/VolkerHeydecke.htm

Sadly, it came to grief on 29 August 2009 while carrying out spin recovery tests South of Ardmore.  However, it was saved from a worse catastrophe by the deployment of the ballistic recovery parachute which certainly saved the pilot.  This is detailed in Mike Condon's post ZK-VVV Has Come to Grief! at www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2009/08/zk-vvv-has-come-to-grief.html   I think this was the first aircraft to be saved by BRS in New Zealand.

I am not sure of the current state of this aircraft but it is still currently registered to Volker Heydecke.

Rata ZK-JIQ update

Polikarpov I-16 (tip 24) no 2421014 was built in 1940 at zavod (state aircraft plant) 21 in Gor'ky (Nizhny Novgorod).

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, its remains were discovered near Lake Yaglyayarvi (Ягляярви or, in Finnish, Ägläjärvi), Republic of Karelia, in July 1991.

The wreck was one of six remanufactured by Sir Tim Wallis and his Alpine Fighter Collection at plant no 153 at Novisibirsk.

First flown in 1997, it was crated and arrived at Wanaka in March 1998 having been registered to the AFC as ZK-JIQ on October 9, 1997.

Marked as 'red 4', it was displayed at the 1998 Warbirds over Wanaka show by Mark Hanna with the Cyrillic inscription 'For Valery'.

On November 25, 1998, the registration was cancelled when the aircraft was sold to the USA, and the aircraft was shipped from Wanaka early in 1999.

Registered as N7459 on March 4, 1999, more than a decade later, it remains part of Microsoft co-founder and Vulcan Ventures founder Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection at Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), Everett, Washington (home of the Boeing wide-bodies). Registered to Vulcan Warbirds, and marked as NX7459, the I-16 flies regularly, as does most of his impressive collection.

Details and photograph supplied by Jean210.

Gone offshore.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-JIF c/n 153, registered to PAC on 04-02-09, pictured here under construction at Hamilton on 23-02-09 was cancelled from the NZ register on 27-03-09 to become VH-YIF with Australian Air Ferry.

A second 750XL was cancelled during March. ZK-JDQ2 c/n 139 first listed to PAC on 12-02-08 and transferred to GoSky AG on 18-04-2008. It trundled off across the ditch from Hamilton to Auckland to Lord Howe Island on 22-04-2008. To the Gold Coast on the 23rd and to Darwin on the 24th. Its ZK registration was cancelled on 18-03-09. From this I assume that the European certification has come to pass. Anybody know what its new registration is ?

Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 Rata ZK-JIN c/n 2421319 (the one coded "Red 9") was cancelled on March 12th as exported having joined the Alpine Fighter Collection on 09-10-1997. Anyone know where it's gone ? The above pic at Wanaka on 08-10-08.

Built by Brian Horne from a kit obtained in 1993, this Lycoming IO-360 powered Stoddard-Hamilton SH-2 Glasair Super 11 FT ZK-REH c/n 2138 was registered on 26-02-2002 and first flew that September.

It ferried out of Kerikeri for Norfolk Island on 23-02-09, to Lord Howe Island on the 24th and from Coolangatta to Perth on the 25th. Cancelled on 06-03-09 it became VH-PND on 16-03-09 and is listed to Famdenz Pty Ltd and operated by Alfred Tucker

With the personalised registration of ZK-RFN this Mooney M2oC Mk21 , c/n M20C-2184, was registered to Richard F Neave of Auckland on 06-03-1987. After a rebuild it first flew here on 24-04-1988. Wellington Aero Club took it on from 16-09-1997. It was flown from Wellington to Kaitaia, to Norfolk Island and Coolangatta on 03-03-2007. Ownership passed to Stephen Ritchie of Lower Hutt on 13-03-08. It has been parked up aat Murwillumbah for some time. Its ZK registration was cancelled on 18-03-2009.

A departure ZK-JKM aka "75"

Not yet cancelled but dearly departed is the Polikarpov I-153 Chaika ZK-JKM with c/n 7027. It is away to Spain to join the Parc Aeronautic de Catalunya Foundation Museum near Barcelona.
For more details see the latest edition of NZ Aviaton News Magazine (September page 2).

Familiar to all Wanaka Air Show visitors and also seen at Masterton not too long ago. It was trailered up and back.

It had a bird (duck) strike on 21-04-00 and for a period afterwards carried a Duck Kill sign. It also wore a Chinese Nationalist Air Force scheme at about the same time.

I know I have a pic of it in that scheme, but do you think I can find it ???.

Top pic taken at Wanaka on 16-08-2006.

Lower pic also at Wanaka but on 16-12-2003.

What Might Have Been at Wanaka This Weekend

Great weather across most of the country this Easter weekend has proved bitter sweet for many aircraft enthusiasts who had planned to be at Warbirds Over Wanaka 2022.  Sadly it was cancelled back in January for the second time in a row (even though the country is now in Orange which means the crowds would not have been limited).  I thought this photo would provide a poignant reminder of what might have been:

Polikarpov I 16 Ishak ZK-JIP at Wanaka in 1998.  It is now with Kermit Weeks in Florida.

If you want a further reminder of the glory days of Warbirds Over Wanaka have a look HERE

And so we look forward to local 2023 airshows...

Polikarpov 'Red 9"

Twenety24 Ltd at Wanaka has re-assembled the Polikarpov I-16 'Red 9' (c/n 2421319) for the upcoming Warbirds Over Wanaka at Easter.

This aircraft was exported from NZ in early 2009 and went to a German collector and become D-EPRN but is better known to us as ZK-JIN.

 Photo above from CMM shows it at Twenty24 Ltd prior to its first start on 01-03-2020.

Click  HERE for a more in depth article from the 'Warbird Digest'.

Below is a photo taken at Wanaka on 10-04-1998.

Question time # 79 resolved

Yes indeed it is the tail end of the Polikarpov I-16 ZK-JIO (Red 34).

As seen at Wanaka on 11-10-2007.

Chocky fish won on the first very first response: By Anonymous.

Question time # 27 resolved.

Matt has cracked it. Well done.
First view was of the starboard cockpit door of Polikarpov I-153 Chaika ZK-JJB, better known as "Red 10", shot at Wanaka on 08-10-2008.

The give away clue was that of Chaika I-153 ZK-JKM, "White 75" on 16-08-2006. This is now flying in Spain, although it is still on the ZK register.