Toby Lakin photo'd the Northland Emergency Services Trust's Sikorsky S 76C ZK-HQC5 at Whangarei recently, working up for its entry into service.
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Thanks for the use of the photo Toby.
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NEXT NEST S 76
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MD Helicopters 600N ZK-HVH
Tussock Creek (north of Invercargill) based Southland Helicopters earlier this month registered three MD Helicopters 600N(otar), all imported from the UK. The first machine, ZK-HVH/4 MSN RN060, was rolled out of Oceania Aviation's Ardmore hangar 24 September 2019.
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| Ardmore 24 September 2019 |
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A couple from our travels
A couple of aircraft seen along the way in our travels back to Auckland were the Aerospread Cresco ZK-LTE at Napier, now repainted and heading out before the weather packed in
And a surprise at Taupo in the rain and wind the Cessna demonstrator Grand Caravan EX N522EX c/n 5522 which departed Lord Howe Island on September 21 en route NZ
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At the Kaikoura Hop
The annual 'Kaikoura Hop' took place last weekend at Kaikoura.
It is an annual event around a classic car show, with fun, food and entertainment for all.
CMM was on the spot and did his duty and offers these photos of the aeronautical portion of the weekend.
GCH Aviation had their Robbie R22 simulator on site.
South Pacific Helicopters (2016) Ltd were offering rides in their Bell 206B Jetranger ZK-HBO2 c/n 570. Note the flotation devices on the skids.
They also had their Eurocopter EC 120 B ZK-IFR2 (c/n 1312) on the job.
On static display was the 'First Light Retreats' Just Aircraft Highlander ZK-JKO2 (c/n JA312-08-13).
As was the Kaikoura Aero Club's Aeropro EuroFox 3K ZK-TUG2 (c/n 38213).
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Tuesday at Wanganui
A few days ago I was able to spend some time at Wanganui airport.
Currently, the most active organisation based there is the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
This is a local Council owned flying training school that has grown out of the Feilding-based Flight Training Manawatu, and which has inherited some of that organisation's aircraft plus a few later acquisitions.
While I was there, the following were out and about:
Cessna 152 II ZK-FCQ has had a long history since starting with the Napier AC in 1983.
This is an ex-Fielding aircraft
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Aerobat ZK-ELC dates from 1978, when it joined the Reefton AC.
It also was at Feilding
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Diamond DA20-C1 ZK-FIY/2 saw use in Canada prior to arriving in NZ
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Cessna 152 ZK-MDF/2 (no, not made of particleboard) came from Feilding to Wanganui via a few months with Air Hawkes Bay of Hastings
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ZK-MDK is another ex-Feilding Cessna 152
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Partenavia ZK-MYF is ex-ZK-ERA, and arrived in 1978 to spend a few years with the Auckland Aero Club
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Cessna 152 II ZK-NEI came to NZ via Canada in 1991
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Cessna 152 ZK-TOC flew in the USA for many years before arriving here in 2008 to become ZK-NPN for the New Plymouth AC. Blown over while parked New Plymouth 14Jul2013, it was rebuilt and became ZK-TOC in 2019
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Diamond DA42 TwinStar ZK-WUA arrived in NZ as ZK-YZX before joining the NZICPA fleet in October 2018
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Cessna 172R ZK-WUB saw previous service with L3 CTS at Hamilton as ZK-OEM
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Of the balance of the NZICPA fleet, Aerobat ZK-EJV was at Feilding under maintenance and
PA38 ZK-JBX is still parked out at Ardmore.
There was no sign of 152s ZK-MDO ZK-NFO and 172s ZK-WUC ZK-WUD at that time.
Currently, the most active organisation based there is the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
This is a local Council owned flying training school that has grown out of the Feilding-based Flight Training Manawatu, and which has inherited some of that organisation's aircraft plus a few later acquisitions.
While I was there, the following were out and about:
Cessna 152 II ZK-FCQ has had a long history since starting with the Napier AC in 1983.
This is an ex-Fielding aircraft
Aerobat ZK-ELC dates from 1978, when it joined the Reefton AC.
It also was at Feilding
Diamond DA20-C1 ZK-FIY/2 saw use in Canada prior to arriving in NZ
Cessna 152 ZK-MDF/2 (no, not made of particleboard) came from Feilding to Wanganui via a few months with Air Hawkes Bay of Hastings
ZK-MDK is another ex-Feilding Cessna 152
Partenavia ZK-MYF is ex-ZK-ERA, and arrived in 1978 to spend a few years with the Auckland Aero Club
Cessna 152 II ZK-NEI came to NZ via Canada in 1991
Cessna 152 ZK-TOC flew in the USA for many years before arriving here in 2008 to become ZK-NPN for the New Plymouth AC. Blown over while parked New Plymouth 14Jul2013, it was rebuilt and became ZK-TOC in 2019
Diamond DA42 TwinStar ZK-WUA arrived in NZ as ZK-YZX before joining the NZICPA fleet in October 2018
Cessna 172R ZK-WUB saw previous service with L3 CTS at Hamilton as ZK-OEM
Of the balance of the NZICPA fleet, Aerobat ZK-EJV was at Feilding under maintenance and
PA38 ZK-JBX is still parked out at Ardmore.
There was no sign of 152s ZK-MDO ZK-NFO and 172s ZK-WUC ZK-WUD at that time.
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Christchurch with the long lens today
A quick whiz around the the perimeter of NZCH today (all 14 km of it) trying out the long lens.
The Vans RV 6A ZK-VIA (c/n 23401) visiting again and at the western tie downs.
Pilatus PC-12/45 ZK-PLT (c/n 379) doing todays run.
Three Canterbury Aero Club Piper PA-38 Tomahawks and an Airbus.
Todays A380-861 was A6-EUL (c/n 224) with a few sheep in the foreground and the incomplete Novotel building behind and the Memorial Avenue overbridge 'welcome to Christchurch' arch on the left.
Hercules 83-0491 (c/n 382-5010) has been lurking outside the ANZ hangar for a few days.
Note the unusual under wing attachment ?
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Dyn Aero MCR 4S (Only One) of New Zealand
I have posted the history of our only Dyn Aero MCR 4S as an addendum to the Dyn Aero MCR 01 of which it is a direct descendent. However I will post it again in date order as it was first registered here on 17/6/11.
The four seat MCR 4S features an increased fuselage length over the two seat MCR 01 and also has large slotted slats rather than the flaperons of the MCR 01. It is a quite remarkable aircraft that can carry its own empty weight. Construction is of a carbon fibre monococque fuselage and the wing has a carbon fibre spar and ribs with pre-formed aluminium skins glued on. The prototype first flew on 14/6/00.
The specifications for the MCR 4S are: length 6.72 metres (22 feet), wingspan 8.66 metres (28 feet 5 inches) and the wing area is 87.7 square feet. Empty weight is around 350 Kg (771 pounds) with another 20 Kg (44 pounds) for a ballistic recovery parachute, and MAUW is 750 Kg (1,653 pounds). With a 100 HP Rotax the performance is impressive with a cruise speed of around 140 mph, and the stall speed with the big slotted flaps down, is around 52 mph. And this peformance is achieved on around 20 litres per hour, giving a range of around 1,400 miles.
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Our only MCR 4S to date is ZK-PSA (c/n 104) which was built by Peter Armstrong from an advanced kit that he initially built over several trips to the Dyn Aero factory in France. The aircraft was shipped to New Zealand arriving in July 2008 and it was registered to Pestar Holdings of Auckland on 17/6/11. Its first flight was from Ardmore on 27/7/11, flown by Norm Bartlett. It is powered by a 120 HP turbocharged Rotax 914 and has a very advanced (for its time) avionics fit out with an all glass cockpit.
It is photo'd above arriving at the 2013 Black Sands flyin at Raglan on 2/11/13.
It had a forced landing adjacent to Alexandra airport on 6/3/16 but it was repaired.
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It is photo'd here at Kaipara Flats airfield on 19/1/19 after Peter Armstrong dropped me off from a trip to Dargaville for the Saturday lunch.
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In the above photo you can see the large flaps and quite small ailerons.
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Peter Armstrong has written a good article on his MCR 4S for Sport Flying magazine, and a link to this is: http://www.saa.org.nz/magazine_pdfs/SpFly%20Spr11%20pgs%2020%2021%2022.pdf
The four seat MCR 4S features an increased fuselage length over the two seat MCR 01 and also has large slotted slats rather than the flaperons of the MCR 01. It is a quite remarkable aircraft that can carry its own empty weight. Construction is of a carbon fibre monococque fuselage and the wing has a carbon fibre spar and ribs with pre-formed aluminium skins glued on. The prototype first flew on 14/6/00.
The specifications for the MCR 4S are: length 6.72 metres (22 feet), wingspan 8.66 metres (28 feet 5 inches) and the wing area is 87.7 square feet. Empty weight is around 350 Kg (771 pounds) with another 20 Kg (44 pounds) for a ballistic recovery parachute, and MAUW is 750 Kg (1,653 pounds). With a 100 HP Rotax the performance is impressive with a cruise speed of around 140 mph, and the stall speed with the big slotted flaps down, is around 52 mph. And this peformance is achieved on around 20 litres per hour, giving a range of around 1,400 miles.
It is photo'd above arriving at the 2013 Black Sands flyin at Raglan on 2/11/13.
It had a forced landing adjacent to Alexandra airport on 6/3/16 but it was repaired.
And below Peter heads for home at Ardmore.
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RV6 ZK-VGS
The very smart RV6 ZK-VGS was noted at Pauanui for the first time today. Based at Ardmore it was originally registered back in 1999 before departing to Australia as VH-VGS in mid 2003. It returned as ZK-VGS in January this year.
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A Couple from Galatea
The Hairy Mole Rat travelled down to Galatea on 31 August to a mainly gyro gathering, and photo'd a couple of old school 2 seat microlights in the hangar:
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Our one and only Indy Aircraft T Bird II ZK-BRD2 is registered to a Murupara owner. The first ZK-BRD was NAC's first Viscount.
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and Quicksilver MX II Sprint ZK-UMC is registered to a Raglan owner. There are 10 Quicksilver microlights of various models still registered.
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Auckland Aero Club at Mangere
Departing for the south yesterday, nice to see that the Auckland Aero Club has now been commemorated in the Auckland airport domestic terminal.
The three Moths mentioned would have been ZK-AAE ZK-AAT and ZK-AAU
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The three Moths mentioned would have been ZK-AAE ZK-AAT and ZK-AAU
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Hamilton
A visit to Hamilton Airport on a stunning spring morning revealed a hive of activity including the privately owned R44 ZK-ILC from Te Awamutu, which was imported from Taiwan back in 1998
Up from Gisborne, Ashworth Helicopters' Bell 206L-3 ZK-IWA, which has been with the company since importation from Japan in 2013
With the liquidation of the Matamata based NZ Aviation their training fleet has been sold on to other flying schools including the Ardmore Flying School and the Waikato Aero Club, with the latter adding 172R's ZK-NPA and ZK-NUC to their fleet
Up from Whanganui was NZICPA's 172R ZK-WUE, which was reregistered from ZK-NUU in August 2019
Also present at Central Aero Engineering awaiting NZ certification was the PZL 101A Gawron HA-SBM c/n 119295, which was exported new to Hungary from Poland back in 1969. This will be the first of its type to enter the ZK register.
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ZK-NNF
Parked outside the ANZES hangar at Christchurch today was the Airbus A321-271NX ZK-NNF c/n 8839.
First flown out of Hamburg as D-AVYR on 2 July 2019 it ferried in to Christchurch on 18 July and carried out its first revenue earning flight on the 25th from Christchurch to Auckland.
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Ibis Magic GS 700s of New Zealand
The next type of sport aircraft to arrive here was the Ibis Magic GS 700. Ibis Aircraft S A was formed in Santiago de Cali in Colombia in 1990 and has produced around 8 models since that time.
The Ibis Magic GS 700 was designed to comply with FAI microlight and US LSA rules and first appeared in 2003. It is constructed mainly from 6061-T6 aluminium sheet and it was designed to use unimproved airstrips. It looks a lot like a Cessna 150. Its LSA specifications are: Length 6.85 metres (22 feet 8 inches), wingspan 8.55 metres (28 feet 1 inch) with a wing area of 134 square feet. Its empty weight is around 320 Kg (705 pounds) with a MAUW of 600 Kg (1,323 pounds). With the standard 100 HP Rotax 912ULS engine the cruise speed is around 115 mph and the stall speed is around 35 mph.
We have had five Ibis Magics in New Zealand to date, as follows:
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The first Ibis Magic GS 700 to be registered here came from Australia where it was registered 24-7125. It was registered here on 30/8/11 as ZK-PLC (c/n GS 05-08-700-68) to Peter L Collins of Rangiora. It is photo'd above at Rangiora very early on in its life, on 14/9/11.
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It was re-registered as ZK-KAC2 on 12/3/14, and then sold on 21/3/14 to the Skippen and Middleton Partnership of Richmond (and later Upper Moutere), with whom it is still current. It is photo'd above at Rangiora on 21/3/14.
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Next up was ZK-MGC (c/n 05-08-700-69) which was registered to Jet Boat Com Ltd of Gore (Neil Ross) on 16/9/11. On 21/10/12 ownership changed to Brian Nimmo of Wanaka, and on 30/11/16 to the TJ Duncan and JC Templeton Syndicate of Wanaka. It is photo'd above at Rangiora on 12/10/11.
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Then followed a couple of later models that have revised cabin windows. ZK-DUH2 (c/n 10-11-700-114) was registered to Douglas C Anderson of Christchurch on 24/4/12. It is photo'd above at Rangiora on 30/6/12. On 15/11/18 ownership transferred to Colin F Hay of Waimate, and the aircraft is based at his hangar at Oamaru.
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Arriving in the same container was ZK-PLC2 (c/n 10-11-700-115) which was the second Ibis Magic for Peter L Collins of Rangiora. It was registered on 17/3/14 and is photo'd above at Rangiora on 7/4/17, thanks to Blue Bus who has captured all of our Ibis Magics (until another one was imported from South Africa).
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Our final Ibis Magic GS 700 to be registered to date was ZK-CCL2 (c/n 02-10-700-98), which is ex ZS-FJK and was imported to New Zealand by Juan-Pierre Schulze of Pukekohe and was registered to him on 7/11/18. It is photo'd above at Mercer - thanks for the photo JP.
The Ibis Magic GS 700 was designed to comply with FAI microlight and US LSA rules and first appeared in 2003. It is constructed mainly from 6061-T6 aluminium sheet and it was designed to use unimproved airstrips. It looks a lot like a Cessna 150. Its LSA specifications are: Length 6.85 metres (22 feet 8 inches), wingspan 8.55 metres (28 feet 1 inch) with a wing area of 134 square feet. Its empty weight is around 320 Kg (705 pounds) with a MAUW of 600 Kg (1,323 pounds). With the standard 100 HP Rotax 912ULS engine the cruise speed is around 115 mph and the stall speed is around 35 mph.
We have had five Ibis Magics in New Zealand to date, as follows:
And again at Rangiora on 4/5/12.
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Pauanui
A recent arrival in NZ is Air Centre One's appropriately registered Beech A36 Bonanza ZK-ACO, which arrived in NZ from Australia in September 2019. The registration "ACO" was last used on a DH89 Dragon Rapide in 1935.
Despite the demise of the Middle Earth Flying School the Cessna 172S ZK-KOL still carries their NZ Aviation titling, its new operator is not yet known
Not noted here before is the Auckland based Cirrus SR22 ZK-WHL which was imported from Australia back in 2014
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ZK-WOS at Paraparaumu 4-10-2019
Jordan Elvy was at Paraparaumu today to catch the recently imported Vans RV 7 ZK-WOS2:
The first ZK-WOS was a Cessna A185F which was re-registered ZK-WSB in June 2006 and is still current.
Thanks for the photos Jordan.
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Canterbury Aero Club's new Cessna 172's
Matt Hayes has provided a couple of nice photographs of the Canterbury Aero Club's recently acquired Cessna 172 Skyhawk SP's
Cessna 172R ZK-JNE3 (c/n 1720899) was listed to the Club on 29 March 2019 having begun its NZ career as ZK-JLY with Flightline Aviation Ltd on 13 June 2000.
Massey University School of Aviation at Palmerston North took it on from 4 December of 2000 until moving on to Premi-Air Aviation Ltd of Auckland from 14 July 2003. It was quickly on sold to JLY Ltd of Auckland and then to CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Ltd of Hamilton from 6 March 2009.
It was transferred to the Nelson Aviation College Ltd at Motueka on 16 January 2012.
They re-registered it as ZK-NAD4 on 24 January 2012.
It was re-registered once again on 05-03-2019 to ZK-JNE3 prior to its move to Christchurch.
The photo above by Matt shows it in the Clubs Northwest Arch scheme on the hard at Lake Haupiri / Gloriavale on 19 September 2019.
Below is my take of it at Christchurch on 30th of September.
The second is ZK-ZAN a Cessna 172S with c/n 17210101.
This appeared on the US register as N553DW in December of 2005 before becoming ZK-NAV2 with the Nelson Aviation College Ltd at Motueka on 24 May of 2012.
It was re-registered as ZK-ZAN on 8 March 2019 before being listed to the Canterbury AeroClub on 29 March 2019.
Matt's photo above shows it on the lower Mount White strip on 22 August 2019.
My offering below at Christchurch on the 30th September.
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Around Auckland
A trip around Auckland's airports and heliports today offered a number of aircraft of interest, including at Auckland International the latest addition to the Airwork freighter fleet 737-36E ZK-FXJ. This was originally built in 1992 for the Spanish airline VIVA Air and laterly has been a freighter with Icelandic registered carrier Bluebird Cargo as TF-BBF
At HeleTranz Albany heliport AS350BA ZK-HFZ was outside wearing the company's titling
And up at North Shore airfield Barrier Air's Cessna 208B ZK-SDB departed on a scheduled Great Barrier trip
The North Shore Aero Club have refurbished the Robin HR200-120B ZK-UWZ, repainted it in the Club's colours and reregistered it as ZK-TZI to match the rest of the Robin fleet which are all "TZ" registered.
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Druine Turbulent ZK-WPT
We have featured the Turbulent ZK-WPT in a couple of posts on the blog, originally by Allan Brizell of Westport (hence the registration?) at: https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2010/11/one-more-turbulent.html Allan completed the Turbulent after he had purchased it from Dennis Niles of New Plymouth.
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It flew from Greymouth to Rangiora in 2014 but it has not flown since. Blue Bus photo'd it above at Rangiora on 15/6/14.
Then I posted about it a few weeks ago after I had seen it in a hangar at Rangiora HERE In that post I noted that it had a few matters that need sorting out before it could fly again.
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Well it has transpired that the said matters were not able to be sorted out and the aircraft has since been parted out, as can be seen in this photo, also by Blue Bus, taken on 12/9/19.
So I reckon that the photo at the top above is probably the best photo we are going to get of ZK-WPT. A sad end.
Then I posted about it a few weeks ago after I had seen it in a hangar at Rangiora HERE In that post I noted that it had a few matters that need sorting out before it could fly again.
So I reckon that the photo at the top above is probably the best photo we are going to get of ZK-WPT. A sad end.
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Murchison Heli Tours Ltd Sunday 6th
I was driving through Murchison on Sunday (as you do) and found both of the Murchison Heli Tours Ltd's Squirrels out in the sunshine.
Eurocopter AS 350 B3 ZK-IKA2 (c/n 3409) is a recent addition to the fleet having transferred over from Action Helicopters Ltd of Queenstown on 20 September 2019.
This helicopter has served time in Italy, Indonesia and Australia before coming to NZ to become ZK-IGY with Action on 26 January 2017. It was re-registered to ZK-IKA on 6 September.
A photo of it as ZK-IGY can be seen Here.
Aerospatiale AS 350 BA ZK-ILW (c/n 2459) started in Japan in 1991 followed by time in the Philippines and then Australia. It was registered as ZK-ILW and to Murchison Heli-Tours on 9 November 2017.
An earlier pic of ZK-ILW can be seen Here.
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Motueka Sunday afternoon October 6th
A belated report from Motueka for Sunday
De Havilland DHC-1A-1 Chipmunk ZK-CVM2 (c/n 34) as listed to M Woodhouse of Richmond was out and about.
Mentioned previously Here
Thorp T-18 ZK-EDF (c/n AACA/680) of Kevin Foster of Upper Moutere.
More on EDF can be found Here
Another Kevin Foster machine is the Lancair Lancair ES ZK-EDZ2 (c/n LES-254).
This has also been mentioned previously Here
Another surprise was the Titan T51 Mustang ZK-TCV2. (c/n 0081) of Alan Caudwell.
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