Air Contracts / Rural Aviation (Pre 1963)

[grgrimmer]

Does anyone know anything about Air Contracts?
I think, but could be wrong, that they were based in Masterton in the 50's.
In particular, I'd like to know if anyone has a photo of Cessna 180 ZK-BEK (later became missing as ZK-BMP), what colour it was painted, and what font style "Air Contracts" was painted on her.
I need this information to possibly identify wreckage that was found at a river mouth.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Gavin
www.findlostaircraft.co.nz

[grgrimmer]

I've since found out that ZK-BEK was sign written as "Rural Aviation" on the fuselage and that was red writing on a white fuselage.
It is possible that the wings were painted red with "Rural Aviation" painted underneath them.
The wreckage found is painted red with part of an unusual "A" font painted on it.
It had a brand new fuselage when it first flew as ZK-BMP in 1959, so it is not likely to have come from that.
Does anyone know?

Gavin

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-BEK
Cessna 180 c/n 30603
allotted N2303C with Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, KS (test reg?)
Sold abroad ZK--BEK
Jan1954 Rural Aviation Ltd., New Plymouth
Incident at Uruti, northern Taranaki 25Jan1955.
Repaired.
Jul1957 Air Contracts Ltd., Masterton
Incident at Mauriceville 8Sep1958
Repaired
? Rural Aviation Ltd.
Cr Rongomai , Eketahuna 12Mar59
Rebuilt as ZK-BMP with new c/n RA/1/59

ZK-BMP at Timaru 11Mar1966, Oakair Aviation Ltd.



John Pheasant worked at Rural during those years and may know more.

[The Red Baron]

In the '50s Air Contracts logo was a capital A & C interlinked with a wing.In the '60s they appeared to just use Air Contracts in arial script on the fuselage.