A couple of stays at Rangiora today 16-08-2024

 I came across two unexpected visitors at Rangiora today.

Cessna 180A ZK-BVG c/n 50056 popped in briefly.

It is not long off a major magnificent rebuild by West Aero Engineering at Mercer.

I fear my photos do not do justice to its finish. 

On the fin is the WestAero motif.

 ZK-BVG was thought to have been allocated N9700B but was test flown as N11B (a well used Cessna test registration) and became a Rural Aviation Ltd of New Plymouth import in late 1957.

 It was granted its NZ CofA on 21-03-1958 and was listed to James Aviation (RO) Ltd from 28-03-1958. It had an altercation with the Ercoupe ZK-AQX at Rotorua on 20-12-1964. It was transferred to the Rotorua Aero Club from 30-08-1966 and was damaged at Rotorua on 30-06-1968. 

After repair it went to Guyserland Airways Ltd on 21-01-1969 and was fitted with floats. 

Title changed to General Acceptance Finance on 03-11-1969 and it was leased back to Guyserland Airways only to be damaged on Lake Rotorua on 12-12-1969.

 It also broke away from its mooring at least twice - on 17-09-1970 and again on 15-05-1973.

It was cancelled on 29-08-1973 and went to L W Sutherland and E S Martin of Pukekohe

who put it back together again for it to be re-registered to them on 19-11-1976.

On 27-07-1987 it was listed to Frank Pike of Auckland and I believe it was set up for night sky advertising.

Its next listed owner was Bill Innes of Coromandel who took it on from 12-11-2015. 

The BVG syndicate of Waiuku took the title from 25-06-2018 and it has been a long term restoration by West Aero Engineering at Mercer.

The R& B Bearhawk ZK-ADZ c/n 1441B was a real surprise.

This was built by Simon Nicholson of Hamilton and was originally registered as ZK-MGO3 on 05-07-2021 to the Nicholson Syndicate and first flew as such at Rotorua on 17-11-2021.

It had a change of registration to ZK-ADZ2 on 15-03-2024 - still listed with the Nicholson Syndicate.

And still carries the name 'Aidan'.

Cessna 172C ZK-CCF

I am sorry to have to tell you - but I like the earlier Cessna 172's.

The ones with the real engines - Continental O-300 poking out 145hp on a good day.

Also with the 'Johnson Bar' flaps arrangement.

******

This post is about the Cessna 172C Skyhawk ZK-CCF (c/n 49536) which had been allocated the US registration of N2036Y by Cessna Aircraft Company.

A useless piece of info for you - which I've probably mentioned previously - is that in the Cessna's of this period the last two numbers of the c/n were usually the last two numbers of its US registration.

Anyway - It came to NZ thanks to Rural Aviation Ltd of New Plymouth for registration as ZK-CCF on 20-08-1962 before ferry up to the Auckland Aero Club at Ardmore.

Below we see it at Paraparaumu on 17-01-1971

It passed on to F E Pike of Auckland from 23-04-1971, and it was noted below at Dairy Flat on 15-10-1972.

Below we have it in colour at Dairy Flat on 11-06-1973.

Frank sold it on to W K Allen of Tuatapere from 22-01-1976
(after which Frank operated the Cessna 172L ZK-DFX, the 180A ZK-BVG, the 150H ZK-CTD, the unusual Yeoman-Hanes Cropmaster ZK-CDI and from January 1997 the Hughes 269A ZK-HAP2. Still got it I think.

W K Allen also operated a varied collection of aircraft over the years.

R G Horrell of Te Tua, Riverton, was listed from 13-03-1979 and it got a new coat of paint not long afterwards - as seen below at Momona on 19-03-1980 -

                     before ownership passed to Dalhoff and King Ltd on 30-04-1980.
                       They sold it on to Hugh Gilbertson of Gore from 14-09-1981.
                          Hugh purchased the Mooney ZK-CKF in July 1982 and sold ZK-CCF 
                                             to L S Stretter of Christchurch as from 04-10-1982.
Somewhere about this time (late 80's - early 90's) it was converted to Lycoming power - as can be    seen by the single exhaust stack on starboard side, the two air intakes in the cowling either side of the spinner shape. 

It was relisted on 24-01-1991 to Stockbuilt Manufacturing Co Ltd of Christchurch and is seen below (from both sides) near the CAA hangar on 15-01-1991.

It moved up to Napier with John Finlay Motors Ltd from late January of 1995 and then on to C R Bowden of Mangonui from February 1996 and then quickly moved to Quantum learning NZ Ltd of Kerikeri from 23-04-1996. Then followed a transfer over to the Bay of Islands Aero Club at Kerikeri on 24-05-2005.

Next listed owner was Errin Hallen of Whangamata from 27-12-2007.

Below we see it at Thames on 08-02-2008 still carrying 'Quantum College of Aviation' signage on its fuselage.

Then - below - as seen at Thames on 15-03-2009 without the signage.

And at Whitianga on 28-01-2012.

Jack Mounsey of Picton took it over from 13-04-2016 and we see it below at Tauranga on 07-06-2017 in a new paint scheme.

Oxford 'Wings With Wheels' last Sunday. #2

 The annual Lions Club Oxford Wheels With Wings fly in on a private airstrip on the outskirts of town took place last Sunday January the 18th.

Over twenty aircraft arrived in less than perfect weather.

The old familiar MacDonald Syndicate Auster 5D ZK-BGU c/n 1757 attracted a good number of viewers, which required a certain amount of patients to get a people free photograph.

It has been briefly mentioned several times previously Here

Karl West of West Aero Engineering with his Cessna 180A ZK-BVG c/n 50068 was center stage and received much attention from the locals.

Mentioned previously HERE

The only Piper PA-14 Family Cruiser on the NZ aircraft register is ZK-BZL c/n 14-132 - previously mentioned HERE

It joined its current listed owner CNC Aviation of Eyrewell in December of 2023.

Roy Hill's real tidy Fletcher FU24-950 ZK-EGS c/n 241 has been based nearby since late 2024.

Prior to this it has been North Island based since its creation. 

It has received multi mentions previously HERE

The average age of these four aircraft is knocking on 69 years.

With ZK-EGS being the pup at a young 49 years.

Pauanui fly in January 7th 2017 # 1

An excellent fly in day at Pauanui today with a total of 103 aircraft counted on the field,  including summer visitors... 

Here are just a few of them from Richard Currie.

 Cessna 180A ZK-BVG (c/n 50068) was a Rural Aviation Ltd import in late 1957 and was delivered to James Aviation (RO) Ltd the following March and transferred to the Rotorua Aero Club from 30-08-1966 and then to Guyserland Airways Ltd on 21-01-1969. 

It was fitted with floats but was badly damaged when it broke away from its mooring on 15-05-1973.

Its registration was cancelled on 29-08-1973.

L W Sutherland and E S Martin put it back together again and it was re-registered to them on 19-11-1976.

On 27-07-1987 it was listed to Frank Pike of Auckland and I believe it was set up for night sky advertising.

Its current owner, Bill Innes of Coromandel took it on from 12-11-2015.

 The Czech Aircraft Works SportCruiser ZK-CSC2 (c/n 08Sc110) was registered to Lindsay Brown of Waihi Beach on 14-04-2008.

 Cessna 172M Skyhawk II ZK-DRQ (c/n 17263507) first flew in NZ on 25-10-1974 and took up service with the Auckland Aero Club from 27-11-1974.

It joined its current listed owners - the DRQ Partnership of Hamilton - on 15-07-1994.

 ZK-EKO2 is Tecnam P92S Echo with the c/n 465 which was first registered to the NZ agent Giovanni Nustrini on 27-06-2000 and  was also the first of the "S" models to arrive. Current owners are EKO Aviation Ltd of  Taupo.

Zenair CH701SP ZK-ESY2  (c/n 7-9844) was placed on the register on 06-07-2006 by David Clews of Hamilton only to be on sold a year later (12-07-2007) to Elani Nikoli, also of Hamilton.

Current owner since 10-06-2008 is A G van der Hulst of Te Awamutu.

Two Cessna's on Friday.

 Captured snorting out of Rangiora yesterday (Friday the 14th) was the Cessna 172 ZK-BSU c/n 29604 of Horizon Adventures. 

For more on this aircraft See here.

A pleasant surprise over at Christchurch International Airport was the Cessna 180 ZK-BVG c/n 50068 of the BVG Syndicate with its West Aero Engineering motif on its fin.

The above shot was taken before remembering to switch on the 'fence removing' camera app.

This aircraft has also been mentioned previously on these pages. See here.

Question time # 100 resolved

Posting number 1100 !

Westland831 sent in the following two photos of Erco 415-D Ercoupe ZK-AQX taken at North Shore on 04-06-2010. (see his blog site at http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com ).

I was intrigued by the nose wheel and the attachment which seems to move with extension of the oleo. (I hadn't noticed that before).
Hence the rather easy Question time.

ZK-AQX was flown to NZ from Antwerp by Harry Newton, arriving here on 09-10-1947. It was damaged at Rotorua by Cessna 180 ZK-BVG on 28-12-1964. It eventually passed to Peter Beck in early 1972. Since rebuilt it re-appeared on our register on 21-08-2009.