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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 9, 2013 21:06:17 GMT 12
In 1960 the Auckland-based Austin car dealers Seabrook Fowlds Ltd. obtained the agency for Morane-Saulnier aircraft. No doubt the interests of the company's Managing Director, ex-RFC pilot John Seabrook, was the driver behind that decision. At that time, Morane-Saulnier was manufacturing the Rallye line of all-metal light aircraft. The Rallye had been designed in response to a French government competition and the prototype first flew in June 1959. The first Rallye to arrive in New Zealand was a MS880B Rallye Club c/n 9, which had been test-flown in France as F-WKDI. This aircraft was shipped into Auckland and was assembled, I believe, by TEAL to become ZK-BZZ in March 1962. Initially registered to Seabrook Fowlds Ltd., Auckland as agents it then toured the country as a demonstrator. Brand new, ZK-BZZ lines up beside an Austin Princess, looks to be Ardmore. Possibly one of these two fellows is Lloyd Seabrook, who ran the S-F aviation section Photo via Allan Wooller Ownership passed to the Wairarapa & Ruahine AC, Masterton on 20th September 1962, but apparently it was still used occasionally as a demonstrator for some time after then. ZK-BZZ at Invercargill 12Mar1963 in a natural metal finish with red trim lines ZK-BZZ stayed with WRAC for some nine years before passing into the ownership of the oddly named Tumble-Flo (NZ) Ltd. also of Masterton in August 1971. By December it had gone to C K & E A Parsons and was based at Morrinsville. ZK-BZZ parked at Ardmore 28Feb1976 The aircraft passed through a few more private owners in Auckland and the Waikato before heading south in November 1995 into the hands of T D Gould, Christchurch. In May 2002 the Sullivan Family of Nelson took ownership, and the final change to the current owner was to D G Cairney of rural Nelson in July 2008. |
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Post by scrooge on Feb 9, 2013 22:27:22 GMT 12
This thread needs some attention: Attachments:
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Post by Bruce on Feb 10, 2013 8:21:04 GMT 12
Back in the early 1990s when I was working for Gulf Aeronautics, we went across to the Coromandel airstrip to dismantle BZZ which was resident there at the time. It had an unusual accident whereby the nosewheel and fork had broken off on takeoff without the pilot knowing, so that on return the landing was somewhat short and abrupt! The big nut holding the castoring fork has been sheared off - something that could only happen when the wheel was unloaded. At the Time Coromandel was a rough gravel strip so presumably it hit a bump of some sort. The landing caused a prop strike and therefore engine bulk strip, but surprisingly also damaged the front wing spar. We therefore had a reasonable rebuild job to do. The replacement parts came from Aerspatiale - it is worth noting that Morane Saunier / Sud Aviation had invested in a lot of heavy machine tools for the Caravelle and military programmes, so the spars etc were all solid machined items - none of the "bent tin " approach!
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 10, 2013 19:28:02 GMT 12
The demonstration tour by ZK-BZZ generated interest in the Rallye Club as a viable aero club trainer, so Seabrook-Fowlds imported a small batch of these aircraft in mid-1962. The first to come online was c/n 5198 (this c/n is a big step up from c/n 9, so presumably there is some Gaelic hidden meaning to that number) and this was initially registered to S-F as ZK-CBT. The Northland Districts AC based at Whangarei were the new owners, and the aircraft, quite different from Tigers and Pipers, generated much interest there at that time. ZK-CBT being preflighted at Onerahi 3Nov1962 before engaging in Boy Scout air experience flights - my second ever flight Apparently ZK-CBT was eventually considered unsuitable by NDAC, and was returned to Seabrooks within a short time. ZK-CBT in the AFS hangar at Ardmore 28Dec1965 T J Bindon of Hamilton was in the process of setting up a flying school at Hamilton, and he bought the aircraft off Seabrooks, transferring ownership to his company Waikato Flying School Ltd. At the opening of the new New Plymouth airport, 4Mar1967. Apparently WFS did not advertise ownership on their aircraft.  ZK-CBT passed into private ownership with D R Eban, Auckland in June 1968 and then to M Budimir, Raumati South in August 1968. The aircraft was destroyed in a fire in hangar at Nelson 4Aug1973 (Was this an aircraft fire or a hangar fire?) and the registration was cancelled on 10Oct1973. |
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Post by oj on Feb 10, 2013 20:06:53 GMT 12
I remember that an unmanned Rallye in Hamilton got away from someone during a flat-battery prop-swing start with the brakes not set or the throttle too wide.
Anyway, it raced eastwards across the main runway and went down into the gully where the bulk fuel tanks were/are situated, south of the terminal building.
Who is going to own up to that!
I also recall that the Rallye can do a "parasol" approach like a flat stall (if i may use that description in my ignorance).
I trust one of you pilots can flesh that out a bit for me?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 10, 2013 20:29:05 GMT 12
I remember that an unmanned Rallye in Hamilton got away from someone during a flat-battery prop-swing start with the brakes not set or the throttle too wide. Anyway, it raced eastwards across the main runway and went down into the gully where the bulk fuel tanks were/are situated, south of the terminal building. Who is going to own up to that! ZK-CDB |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 11, 2013 17:29:49 GMT 12
The Tauranga Aero Club took the next Rallye. This was ZK-CBU, c/n 5199. Registered new to S-F on 3Aug1962, it was transferred to the aero club on 24th October. New kid on the block, ZK-CBU gets a once-over at Tauranga on 10Nov1962 The club kept ZK-CBU for five years, and then sold it to the Pamerston North Flying School, Milson, on 18Aug1967. At Rotokawa, Rotorua, 25Nov1967, in white with red & black trim  M Cornick of Marton became the owner from 3Aug1970 and five other private owners in the Marton/Palmerston North area followed until Masterfix Ltd. at Palmerston North took ownership on 11Aug2005. This Rallye Club was finally damage beyond repair when it hit some trees on landing approach at Pahiatua 9Nov2008. The registration was cancelled on 7Sep2009. |
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 11, 2013 18:51:59 GMT 12
An early colour photo at Mechanics Bay. Signed by L Seabrook and dated 2 XII 62  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 11, 2013 19:24:58 GMT 12
That's nice.
Shows that they did arrive in different colour schemes.
Presumably they are departing from TEAL at Mechanics Bay after assembly?
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Post by thomarse on Feb 11, 2013 20:52:35 GMT 12
My whole 5 hours of MS880B time are all in CBU, from the Tararua Road strip, Levin, in 1968.
I loved her. Great fun!
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Feb 12, 2013 17:32:02 GMT 12
Dad, me and CBU did many hours out of Marton Flying Group's strip on Bredin's Line, all 990 feet of it (that's right kids, "feet") and did it at MAUW and ab initio - with aplomb (I've been wanting to use that word...)
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Post by thomarse on Feb 12, 2013 17:52:16 GMT 12
Where was the strip on Bredin's Line JF?
I remember the one on Calico Line where the old shed still stands - and there was an Auster at one stage?
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Feb 12, 2013 18:23:11 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 12, 2013 19:47:15 GMT 12
The next Rallye Club to come online was c/n 5200, registered as ZK-CBV to Seabrook Fowlds Ltd., Auckland in August 1962. Shortly afterwards, this was delivered to the Hokitika Aero Club, respendent in natural metal with blue trim. ZK-CBV at Invercargill 3Jun1963 Nine years ater ZK-CBT was sold to N G Bishop also of Hokitika on 14Sep1971. In January of 1973 ZK-CBV went to D R Davison, Culverden, to R B Allison, Rangiora on 5May1978, to T D Gould & J R Hutton, Christchurch on 30Mar1989 and finally to A F Preston, Alexandra on 11Jul1991. I have it noted that ZK-CBV was destroyed in a fire 30Sep93. I would like to know more about that event, if anybody can elaborate. The registration was cancelled on 18Jan1994. |
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Post by jthomso1 on Feb 12, 2013 19:58:15 GMT 12
Does anyone have photos of the MS880 at Rukuhia?
Waikato Aero Club, back in the late 60's, had a MS880 on the flight line, albeit not the 'pick' of the day for daily flight bookings.
My last MS880 flight was a ferry flight (long - Taumaranui - Rukuhia) from Te Kuiti to Rukuhia (short) late on a Sunday afternoon. Not having flown the Rallye for some time, I select the cockpit switches to what I remembered and pushed the "Start', "OOPS - zero reaction", reversed the switches 100%, pushed "START' engine burst into life !!!!!!!!
By that time the instructor (and with girl friend on board) had already headed off to Rukuhia in a C172.
Personally, I found the MS880 reasonably enjoyable to fly but not my 1st choice because of the automatic leading edge slats - guaranteed to float you up just on touch down. The Cub's were the real enjoyment, closely followed by the Airtourers'. At that time the Cubs were hangar Queens as being "old fashioned'.
As a self funded PPL in those days I tended to follow the economy flight opportunities - MS880, PA-18, Airtourer 100 / 115, Ardmore servicing & King Country Club positioning flights to gain my license hours.
I note the CLD is still flying out of Ardmore, which is totally nice to see, plus seeing an owner committed to keeping a nearly 50 years old aeroplane operational is top class.
Cheers
Jim
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 12, 2013 20:50:10 GMT 12
Waikato Aero Club, back in the late 60's, had a MS880 on the flight line ZK-CBW followed by ZK-CKL |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 12, 2013 21:31:53 GMT 12
Posting on ZK-BZZ updated.
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 13, 2013 2:30:49 GMT 12
Re the colour shot BZZ - Fairly sure the guy in the flying suit is Lloyd Seabrook. From memory he died during a demonstration flight?
Nash Tarau [spl] used to bring a Rallye down the West Coast from Hokitika in the mid '60s. Checked out in it and it was fun to fly :-)
Not sure if it was the Hokitika Club's CBV though as don't have my logbooks handy.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 13, 2013 9:03:44 GMT 12
I suspected as much.
The other chap (in shorts) might be John Seabrook himself. Assuming the photo was taken in 1962, John would have been 66 at that time, so that looks possible.
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Post by dakman on Feb 13, 2013 9:11:27 GMT 12
Yes. sorry Peter photo shot in 1962 at Ardmore ..as per the caption .
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