Billy T James flying !

The following link   here   will take you to a video showing Billy T James flying the ski equipped Piper PA-18A-180 Super Cub ZK-BFV (c/n 18-4135) from the Canal road between Tekapo and Twizel, over a bit of tiger country then along the Mount Cook ridge line.

I am sure you will excuse the odd bit of Cessna interior along  the way.

 Above and below we see ZK-BFV at Twizel with skis on 18-10-1981.

                    A view below of ZK-BFV with skis at Rangiora in the 1985 air show from Steve Lowe.

Previous posts on ZK-BFV can be seen here HERE

 Below.

ZK-BFV and Gavin are also well known for his water skiing show at Twizel back on 22-0-2012 on Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel.
In this view I would imagine his heart beat was on the rise.

 Below we see her at Alexandra on 14-11-1983 with its 180hp Lycoming, glider tow hook, disc brakes, ski mounts and under wing ski racks.

 

It actually began its career with Airwork (NZ) Ltd from 21-03-1955 in the agricultural role and after a couple of woopsies in 1957 and 1958 required a major rebuild and flew again in May of 1961.

A photo from its very early Ag days from the Ed Coates collection.
Below we have four photographs from the Des White collection as held by the Aviation Historical Society of NZ.

Above is another early shot showing her at Christchurch with the minuscule rudder registration.
It also has what looks like under wing attachment points and extra wing strut hanging down by the letter 'K' - for the spray bars ?
Interesting background of two DH89's and a Douglas DC-6 variant.

 Above in a new scheme and minus 'Airwork (NZ) Ltd' script.
I'm guessing this is after its rebuild - ie post May 1961.
Below two views of her outside Airwork in its three seat 'pregnant Cub' mode.
I don't have a date for this mod - but it was done pre 1964.

You can make out the wider fuselage stringers in the lower fuselage behind the rear wing strut.

Another interesting background with the PA-23 Apache in hangar and the PA-22-108 Milk Stool ZK-CEG on the right - so late 1963 !

Piper Cub ZK-BFV on the water.

We have all probably seen the South African Harvards water skiing on Utube.
On Saturday Gavin Wills in his Piper Cub ZK-BFV put on a very fine demonstration of this art.
It is thought to be the first public demonstration of this in NZ. It took place at the Wings Over Water Airshow at Lake Ruataniwha (Twizel) on Saturday the 22nd.

 Below is a short video clip of one of his several runs.

 

Very nicely done Gavin.

Bargeldo1's day trip

Bargeldo1 did a day run down to Omarama yesterday 08-01-2015 and here is a selection of his offerings.

 The 180hp three seat Piper PA-18 Super Cub ZK-BFV (c/n 18-4135) has been a tow plane with Gavin Wills since 1972.

 150hp Super Cub ZK-BNM (c/n 18-5178) has never been an Ag aircraft. In December of 1956 it joined the Canterbury Aero Club direct from Airwork. After a time with R R Palmer of Temuka it went to the South Canterbury Gliding Club in July of 1970.

 Bushby Mustang II ZK-CAR (c/n 1713) was a kit imported by Merv Parker. It joined the register after a six and a half year build with Trish and John Crawford on 09-12-2002.

 A regular Omarama visitor during the gliding season is Theo Newfield's Cessna A150L ZK-CZZ (c/n 1500447). This was once upon a time ZK-RKT.

 From over the hill at Alexandra comes the Cessna U206F Stationair ZK-DKB (c/n U20602170). This came new to NZ in late 1973 and has been with Q Meyer of Clyde since January 1986.

 An out of towner is this Pipistrel Sinus microlight class II ZK-GIM2 (c/n 129 S9120104). It is listed with Colin Alexander and Adrian Cable of Tauranga.

 A regular towplane at Omarama gliding competitions is this Cessna R172K Hawk XP ZK-MAV (c/n R172K-2153). This originally came in from Canada as a tailwheeler and was listed as ZK-JFS.
 It was rebuilt in the late 1990's, back to a nosewheeler, and re-registered to Michael Chilton on 04-12-2001. It is now operated under the Stella Syndicate name.

 Another out of towner is the Schempp-Hirth Arcus M N9UC (c/n 56). Registered to Keith Essex of Girdwood, Alaska. It is being flown in the current Ostler Wines National Multi-Class Gliding Competitions at Omarama by the owner and Gavin Wills. They are currently fourth in their class.

The Champs are due to finish on January the 16th. Also on the field are the two new Jonkers sailplanes.

 Two locally based towplanes are the Gippsland GA20 ZK-OMA2 (c/n 2009413) of Glider Rentals Ltd (previously ZK-CMC2 and ZK-PGH3) and their Piper PA-25-235D ZK-PPA (c/n 25-7656063).

 Down from Rangiora was the Tim Wards Europe Classic ZK-TIM2 (c/n 292).

A regular phenomena seen from Lake Tekapo is this cloud pouring down through the pass from the Fairlie Basin. This is the moist southerly that has come in from the east coast. It dissipates as it descends into the Mackenzie basin.

Wings over Water. Saturday 22nd.

Four pics from the Saturday Wings Over Water airshow at Lake Ruataniwha.

 Above is Gavin Wills in the Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus XL ZK-GQQ (c/n 593). He did two flights in this glider during the day - towed aloft by the Gippsland GA200 ZK-OMA (c/n 2009413). He also supplied the Piper Cub ZK-BFV for the water ski demo.

Awaiting its time slot for  its fire bucket demo is the Aerospatiale AS 355F1 Twin Star ZK-HKF2 (c/n 5200) of The Helicopter Line.

 Evan Belworthy's, Belworthy Moa ZK-MQA (c/n MEL 6) did a nice sedate fly past.

And three DHC-1 Chipmunks also cruised quietly back and forth. Leading is ZK-XUK (c/n C1-0087), with ZK-ARL (c/n 61) in the centre, and ZK-CPY2 (c/n C1-0389) bringing up the rear.

Wanaka # 4

Now a selection of visiting aircraft.

I leave the military aircraft and the airshow to more qualified persons. See MRC Here

The Gavin Wills Piper PA-18A-180 Super Cub ZK-BFV (c/n 18-4135).

It appears to have new engine, engine cowls and prop. Not to mention other touch ups.

It has been mentioned before Here

 The Hugh Ross Cessna 182B Skylane ZK-BHP2 (c/n 52323) was down from Hastings.

 An earlier mention Here

Cessna 172M Skyhawk II ZK-DXQ (c/n 17266074) was one of the RNZAF Base Auckland Aviation Sports Club Inc's aircraft on site.

It rated an earlier mention Here

Down from the Christchurch area was Harry Devonish and his Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Archer ZK-EBF (c/n 28-7505218).

New into the country for the Southern Districts Aero Club of Gore in late 1975 it was damaged near Clinton in November 1976 and cancelled. Dalhoff and King of Dunedin sorted it out and it later served owners at Karamea, Nelson, Auckland and Tauranga - joining Harry in February of 2016.

I remember The good old Gliding Days.

Getting aloft could sometimes be a bit of a drag (so to speak). In a triple tow behind a 150hp Cub - if the rate of climb was less than the curvature of the earth - then things were going good.

In this shot taken at Invercargill on 06-03-1968 we have the Cub ZK-BNS doing a trial tow with the Slingsby T51 Dart ZK-GEA,  Schleicher Ka6 ZK-GEY,  and the Schleicher Ka4 Rhonlerche ZK-GBO along for the ride.

Sniffer flight heading out from Omarama.  On some occasions we would wait for some other brave aviator to go forth and suss out the conditions. If they didn't beat the towplane back then the sky was "working" and the race to get airborne would be on. Above is the 180hp Cub ZK-BFV "over the Golf Course" with the sniffer - probably heading toward St Cuthbert, although, by the look of that sky, they would have bunged off before then.

17th January 1999 and looking down on the Omarama starting grid for the National Champs.
The first of the "new" hangars is completed. A view from the sniffer.

From the ground looking up this time. A big fat thermal between the airfield and St Cuthbert with the rising dust and at least 15 gliders orbiting within it. The date was 20-01-1995 The World Gliding Championships.

Not so serious, but infinitely more fun was the Sunday potter around on the Port Hills out East of Wigram. In the pic above, Wigram is to the center left of the photograph - starting just off the end of that long stretch of road and extending and extending off the left of the pic. The gliders are - ZK-GNW turning, with GDZ, GDV and my share of GMF bringing up the rear (as usual) and GHI out to the right.

Above, same day 04-08-1990 and it appears that "Mike Fox" has gained a place."
Now what say we go down and beat up the car park" - oops - who said that !

At the end of the day, with the Anti Crepuscular Rays shining over the Port Hills - Tim Harrison sits on the wing of the Trolly (ZK-GOR) watching the rest of us put the other gliders away. Well done Timbo !
But technically he is sitting there to stop the glider being moved around by the wind.

Sitting outside the hut at the Wardells strip (just around the corner from Omarama) and sipping a cuppa tea and waiting for the last one to come home.

Yes I remember when !

More Omarama towplanes

Now that QT # 33 has ben resolved I can show you some of the other tow planes I found during a quick visit to Omarama on 02-01-2009.

ZK-OMA2 which is a Gippsland GA200 with a c/n of 2009413. It started life as VH-AWI4 before changing to VH-IWI and being listed to Ray Patchett of Blenheim on 21-09-94. It ferried from Norfolk Island into New Plymouth, Wanganui and Omaka on 12-10-94. It joined the NZ register as ZK-CMC2 on 20-10-94 with RL & LA Patchett of Blenheim. Keith R Baillie of Seddon feature from 20-07-2000 and then Hogan Ag-Air from out the back of Amberley from 10-04-2001. It was re-registered as ZK-PGH3 on 07-05-2001. We next see it with Chris Donovan Ag-Air at Taihape from 15-04-2003. I then noted it being for sale at Dennis Thompson's at Ardmore in September of 2006. Glider Rentals Ltd of Omarama (Glide Omarama) picked it up from 18-06-2007 and its registration was changed again on 29-08-2008 to the more apt ZK-OMA. Pic of ZK-PGH3 above at AVTEK Timaru on 01-11-2007.

Pic below of it at Southair at Taieri with the OMA letters being applied on 17-10-2008.

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Also on the field was the Piper PA-25-250 Pawnee B ZK-CNG, down from Hororata for the Canterbury Gliding Clubs Xmas camp and for the gliding champs. This is c/n 25-3624 which was with Airwork from 07-06-1966 until moved to Aerial Sowing (Canty) Ltd of Amberley from 31-03-1969. It was listed to the Canterbury Gliding Club on 16-08-1974. It is now back to its two bladed constant speed prop having had a four bladed wooden version fitted for a few years.

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Piper PA-18A Super Cub ZK-BFV has been resident at Omarama now for some years with Gavin Wills. This started as a 150hp ag machine with Airwork from 21-03-1955. It had a serious prang in early 1958 but was repaired and continued with Airwork until a D R Fraser of Harwarden appears on the paperwork. Gavin Wills (then of Alpine Guides Ltd) acquired it from 10-05-1972. Some time in 1979 it was re-powered with a 180hp Lycoming and to a three seater by Bruce Drake.

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Cessna 172M Skyhawk II ZK-DNS c/n 62269 is now used by Youth Glide Omarama as a towplane.

A product of 1973 it was imported by Rex Aviation and registered on 14-11-1973 before delivery to the Tauranga Aero Club on 01-02-1974. It went back to Airwork on 15-12-80 and then to Stewart Logging of Rotorua from 30-09-81. The DNS syndicate of Levin feature from 03-05-1991 with DNS Leasing of Dunedin taking over from 14-08-2007.

Tandem Taildraggers from the South at Hawera on 9-3-2025

Jordan Elvy produced a good effort to head up to Hawera pre-dawn last Sunday 9/3/25.  The reason for such dedication was to catch the aircraft whose pilots had attended the AOPA. AGM the previous day before they departed for Centennial Park at Taupo.  There were 30 visiting aircraft on the airfield, but a few sport aircraft took my eye:

Steve Lyttle's new Cub Crafters Carbon Cub CC11-160 ZK-SCH2 is now flying and is getting around the country, having been at Mandeville and Highlands Motorsport Park recently

And for a comparison, here is a real Piper Cub - Gavin Wills ZK-BFV up from Omarama.  This Cub started out as a topdresser for Airwork in March 1955 and on 24/5/58 was involved in a fatal accident near Hawarden.  It was obviously rebuilt and was converted into a 3 seater  "pregnant Cub" and has been owned by Gavin Wills since 10/5/72.  You can see its history HERE

And rounding out the trio of Tandem Taildraggers was Graham Johnson's R&B Bearhawk Patrol ZK-MAY2 up from Christchurch.

Thanks as always for the photos Jordan.