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Gyrocopters

January 9, 2019, 5:45 pm
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A fly in to Pauanui by the Gordonton Microlight Club attracted not only a number of microlights and LSA aircraft,  but also two AutoGyro gyrocopters not noted here before,  being MTOSport ZK-RCC from Auckland 



And Calidus ZK-YGG from Hamilton


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Bellanca Super Viking 300 ZK-VIX at Parakai 9-1-2019

January 9, 2019, 11:44 pm
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Apart from the parachute dropping, weekdays at Parakai airfield (also known as West Auckland Airport) seem pretty quiet and so it was yesterday.  There are quite a lot of hangars however all but 2 of them were shut up.  One of the hangars that was open was that of Leading Edge Aviation Ltd who are the local maintenance facility.

And the other hangar that was open was George Richards' which housed his Falco ZK-SMR and his very nice Bellanca Super Viking 300 ZK-VIX, the first time I had seen it.  This has been mentioned on the blog previously when it was first imported in 2016 at https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2016/04/bellanca-super-viking-300-zk-vix-first.html


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Mosquito ZK-BCV Ready to Reach for the Sky

January 10, 2019, 6:06 pm
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A recent post on the Avspecs facebook page showed the "new" DH 98 Mosquito FB VI ZK-BCV outside in the sun on 9/1/19, and looking complete with the cowlings now fitted.  Thanks to Avspecs for the use of their photo.

If you are in the Ardmore area watch out for a test flight soon!




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Pauanui

January 10, 2019, 6:14 pm
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Amongst today's visitors to Pauanui were a couple of East Coast residents being Cessna 182Q ZK-CME up from Whakatane



And Robinson R22 ZK-HDT which was acquired by its Whitianga owner in November 2018.


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Question time # 203 resolved.

January 12, 2019, 2:57 pm
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Flyernzl takes the cake chocolate fish.

We have here our one and only registered Pterodactyl Ptiger ZK-MIH1 (c/n MAANZ/082) which was first listed with Murray Hagen of Tuatapere on 26-06-1982.
Eddie Harris had it from 1989.

It is seen above at Timaru in June of 1990.
It is seen above at Waitohi - I believe a Graeme Main photograph - at Easter of 1992.
I think it went back to Murray Hagen at Te Anau with its registration being cancelled towards the end of last century.
Two more views of it at Waitohi.
The Ptiger stemmed from the Pterodactyl 11 but has the fiberglass fuselage fairing and a wing span reduced to 9m and had three axis controls. The pitch was controlled by an all flying canard and roll by wing spoilers. Rudders were wing tip mounted and operated individually - pushing  both pedals at the same time actuated both rudders in opposite direction as airbrakes.
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Mosquito ZK-BCV Has Flown!

January 12, 2019, 5:20 pm
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This morning at 11.47 am Steve Hinton lifted Rod Lewis's DH 98 Mosquito FB VI ZK-BCV off from Runway 03 at Ardmore for its first flight in New Zealand since 1955.  The flight lasted around 20 minutes.

This is the third Avspecs Mosquito and as with the other two it looked an sounded magnificent.  Congratulations to Warren Denholm and Avspecs.

 Lined up throught the heat haze with power being applied.

 The take off was shallower than I expected.

And climb out.  It was a privilege to be there.

I will post some more photos later.
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Three Merlins at Ardmore Today 13-1-2019

January 12, 2019, 10:37 pm
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As the well known saying goes - what is better than the sound of two Rolls Royce Merlins? - the sound of three Merlins!

When I saw Avspecs previous Mosquito flying the chase plane was Doug Brooker's MXS and unfortunately the sound of its engine mostly drowned out that Mosquito's Merlins.  So this time the chase plane was Doug Brooker's Spitfire which produced a much more satisfying sound.  And they made a great sight together!

 Best of British taxying out.

 Spitfire Mk Tr 9 ZK-WDQ lifts off before the Mosquito.

 Air to air photography from the Spitfire - I will really look forward to the photos.

And a nice low pass down the runway looking and sounding great!


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Six Merlins Over the Years at Ardmore

January 13, 2019, 2:25 pm
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What a great day at Ardmore yesterday, and it is great to see the photos from many people, including the Air to Air from Gavin Conroy that is now the heading photo for the Avspecs facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Avspecs/

I thought back to two previous excellent days at Ardmore when together with yesterday, I was fortunate to have been able to see all of the three Avspecs DH 98 Mosquitos flying, so here is a reminder:

Jerry Yagen's ZK-MOS2/KA114 took around 8 years and was first registered in September 2012.  It now flies with the Military Aviation Museum at Virginia Beach.

Paul Allen's ZK-FHC2/NZ2337 (temporary markings) took around 4 years and was registered in August 2016.  It now flies with the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum at Everett, Washington State.

And the latest Mossie, Rod Lewis's ZK-BCV/PZ474 which took around 2 years and was (re) registered in October 2018.  It will be going to fly with Lewis Air Legends at San Antonio, Texas.

But wait!  There is more!  Without wishing to take anything away from the excitement of the latest Mosquito to fly, Avspecs are now well underway with their fourth Mosquito, a B IV version that was DZ542 in a previous life.  And so the excitement goes on!

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Cessna U206G ZK-KPM update.

January 13, 2019, 4:19 pm
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Cessna U206G Stationair ZK-KPM (c/n U20606210) was first listed to the Cessna Aircraft Company in April of  1981 as N6273Z with a transfer to Asian Aviation Services Ltd of Bedford Texas in June that year.
It flew into Auckland on 14-01-1983 and was registered to Motor Holdings (Aviation) Ltd of Dunedin on 19-01-1983 as ZK-KPM for listing to B L Fulton of Air Picton on 30-03-1983 with whom it was operated as a floatplane.
It was damaged later in 1983 and sunk at its mooring with its registration being cancelled on 18-01-1984.
It came back on the register for Brent Ferguson of Nelson (better known for the Malibu ZK-MBU) on 04-03-1985. 
Above is  ZK-KPM at Nelson on 21-07-1985. Photo by Dave Bates.
Below. On 16-11-1985 Dave Bates caught it at Waiau/Te Anau in its Air Fiordland scheme and amphibious floats mounted.
It was listed to Air Flite Fiordland from 30-01-1986 and then transferred to the Fiordland Experience Group Ltd at Te Anau on 07-11-1986.
And below it was noted at Queenstown on 17-07-1987 back on wheels and wearing the name 'Turi' just below the cockpit. another Dave Bate photo.

It is seen above in this Steve Lowe image at Queenstown on 01-04-1988.
Seen below in a new scheme at Manapouri on 15-04-1994.
Below at Wanaka on 30-03-2002.
It was re-listed to Air Fiordland Ltd on 29-05-2009.
Tongariro Aviation of Turangi took it over from 17-09-2010 until selling to A R Burns of Christchurch in May of 2014.
The above image was snapped at Taupo by Henry McIntyre on 03-09-2011.
It was noted undergoing its SIDS inspection and a major rework at West Melton in August 2014 ----

 ---- with the intent of placing it back on amphibious float
and utilising some parts from Cessna U206F (c/n U20602051) which was N60856, (VH-DWC), P2-DWC, P2-CMA from 22-12-1980, P2-MAA in 1991, and VH-UBI3 from 24-06-1999.
VH-UBI was damaged at Corio in Victoria on 22-01-2013 and ultimately containered to West Melton.

The project was moved up to Norfolk Road (Taranaki) -
 - and the big job was completed by Gareth Semenoff and crew at Flight Fix NZ Ltd.
At time of this blog it was fully assembled on its amphibious float and nearing departure back to Australia.
These two photos taken at New Plymouth on 11-10-2018 prior to having its 'KPM' marks applied.

 Two photos from Flight Fix NZ Ltd  showing ZK-KPM at New Plymouth on 31-10-2018 with 'KPM" registration marks applied.
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Auckland Seaplanes Beaver All Hanging Out at Ardmore 13-1-2019

January 14, 2019, 12:20 pm
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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.

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Gisborne Wings and Wheels this Saturday.

January 14, 2019, 4:28 pm
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Hunting Percival P.56 Provost

January 14, 2019, 9:19 pm
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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





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Lake LA-250 Renegade ZK-WAI

January 15, 2019, 9:00 am
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Sonex Tri Gear ZK-PDB at Ardmore 13-1-2019

January 15, 2019, 2:29 pm
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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.

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ZK-EAA

January 16, 2019, 5:03 pm
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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 and now based in Auckland.



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A couple of strays at NZCH today.

January 16, 2019, 10:16 pm
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 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.
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Mosquito ZK-BCV Departing

January 17, 2019, 11:25 am
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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!

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

January 18, 2019, 10:28 pm
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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.



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NZKF - NZDA 19-1-2019

January 19, 2019, 10:20 am
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Rob Fry in his Cesssna 180A ZK-FRY2 departing Kaipara Flats for Dargaville yesterday.  But what type of plane are we in?

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Another Dargaville Lunch Run 19-1-2019

January 19, 2019, 6:24 pm
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Following the great pancake breakfast at Kaipara Flats, quite a few of the guys headed on up to Dargaville for lunch.

Peter Armstrong came up for breakfast from Ardmore in his Dyn Aero MCR 4S ZK-PSA.  he had a spare seat and so I went along for the ride.

 Lovely vistas over the Kaipara Harbour.

The Dyn Aero is a very slick machine with a Rotax 914, and we cruised at 125 knots while burning 16 litres per hour.  That is VERY economical!  On the way we flew past the Dargaville Aero Club's Fly Synthesis Texan ZK-TXN2

At Dargaville a new plane for me was Allan Jessop's Savannah ZK-SAV, although he has owned it since 2011.

Murray Parkinson has now flown his Corby Starlet ZK-LDI, and he flew it across from Whangarei for lunch.

While Alan Coubray flew his Robinson R 22 ZK-HDT5  up from Whitianga via the Kaipara Flats breakfast.

 Waikato Aviation's Cessna 172M ZK-JGP also flew in for lunch after carrying out DOC surveys of various fauna in the North.  The pilot told me that JGP stood for Jolly Good Pilot! and also that the aircraft will have a repaint in the near future.

 Then back to our steed for the return flight.

The distinctive wingtip with North Head behind and South Head in the front.  (Click the photo to enlarge).

And on take off from Kaipara Flats after dropping me off.  Thanks very much Peter.

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