The Cessna 180A ZK-CGJ was a hybrid being built up from parts of four other Cessna 180's by Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd.
The other four 180's are said to have been :-
Rural Aviation Ltd's ZK-BUW (c/n 50018) which crashed at Porangahau on 24-03-1963.
Rural Aviations ZK-BWY (c/n 50819) which crashed at Raetihhi on 19-06-1963.
Rural Aviation ZK-BSZ (c/n 32999) which crashed at Morrinsvile on 28-01-1962.
And Rural Aviations ZK-BUP (c/n 32968) which crashed at Mt Curl on 03-12-1962.
The rebuild gained its CofA on 28-07-1964 and was registered as ZK-CGJ on 31-07-1964 with the c/n of RA/5/1964. (Rural Aviation rebuild number five in 1964).
It then continued in the agricultural role with Rural Aviation (1963) Ltd from 02-03-1965 with a lease to Northern Air Services Ltd of Te Kuiti in 1966.
As a four seater it went to the Middle Districts Aero Club at Palmerston North dated 30-03-1967.
It is seen below at Palmerston North on 26-06-1968.
It had some sort of an incident at Feilding on 06-09-1969 and ended up with Dargaville Finance Ltd from 10-07-1970 and went out on lease to John Willis Enterprises of Ardmore where it gave the Cherokee 140 ZK-CEQ a bit of a nudge on 13-09-1970.
Stark Aviation Ltd got it shortly there after, (and it is seen below at Ardmore on 11-06-1973)
before passing it on to Paraflite Aviation Ltd of Otara from 04-09-1973.
Above in a new scheme at Ardmore in September of 1976 with 'Paraflite' title on fin.
They moved it on to Dalhoff and King Aviation Ltd at Momona from 20-10-1977 who on sold it to D F and J A Ward of Rangiora from 07-11-1977.
Seen at Momona on 01-04-1979 with Continental Caterers, Rangiora titles on fin just prior to its sale to K J Maher.
From 14-05-1979 K J Maher of Taieri had it (as seen below at Taieri on 13-05-1981).
And noted below at Makarora on 29-12-1979.
It was sold to Mike Thomas of Killermont Station (at the Northern end of the Lindis Pass) from 24-11-1982.
Above Mike is refueling CGJ at Oamaru on 17-05-1984
I spotted it at Christchurch on 17-09-1987
Mike had the Cessna 180 ZK-BJU from mid-1989 until September of 1992 (so was CGJ out of the air during this period).
Then we see it at Christchurch on 20-10-2000, below.
And below at Timaru on 29-12-2007 with its new spinner.
And then again at Timaru below on 20-10-2008.
Seen below at Omarama on 10-12-2009.
It turned up at the Cessna 180/185 Club gathering at the fly in (below) at Masterton on 21-01-2011
It c/n was relisted as 50018 (that of ZK-BUW) on 15-07-2011.
Below it does not look any different with its new c/n - parked out at Omarama on 11-11-2011
It struck a rock whilst landing in the Upper Dingle on 11-02-2012 - tearing out the undercarriage and a wing strut.
Its registration was cancelled on 13-08-2013 with Frank Wright handling the rebuild at Tauranga.
It was re-registered to Frank R Wright on 22-11-2017 and carried out its first flight today (15-12-2017.
These two photos from Hairy Mole Rat show the 'new' ZK-CGJ in Frank Wright's signature colour scheme. Taken at Tauranga 15-12-2017.
