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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 10, 2008 2:09:16 GMT 12
Of all the aircraft before the war in aero club and private hands in NZ the Moth seems to be the most popular, but these days they seem as rare as hens' teeth. I have never yet set eyes on a DH60 Moth in any state.
I understand there ar just two flying in NZ, I don't even know where they are based but I believe one's silver and painted as a racer?
Are there any others under restoration or in static collections in NZ? I'd love to see one someday at an airshow.
It would be nice if some replicas were built like the Fox Moths were, I'd like o see one in RNZAF colours too. Our first ever strike aircraft.
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Post by shorty on Sept 10, 2008 4:21:19 GMT 12
One of the Moths around is not only painted as a racer (ZK-AEJ)but actually is one that was built/modified as a racer, I'll check out the details as to what the changes from ordinary are.
I think Colin Smith has the remains of ZK-ACE and Keith Trillo might have ACH
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 10, 2008 8:17:59 GMT 12
Yes there are two said to be active in NZ - DH60M ZK-AEJ, which is the racing one 'Speed Model'. Built 1930, owned by A S Butler the DH Director at that time, 2nd place 1930 King's Cup @ 129.7mph. Came to NZ August 1933 as G-AAXG after a short period in France. Has been owned by Gerald Grocott from 1984, and has been seen around NZ in various tours/air races  DH60G ZK-ADT Built 1929, flown UK-Aust Sep-Nov34 by Fg.Off. S G White as G-AAJO. Underwent a long term rebuild by Lee Middleton over about 20 years. Reportedly currently active from a private strip in Northland, but seldom seen in public. Whenever I go to a Tiger Club flyin I have hopes, but so far no luck!  Confirming ACE and ACH as Shorty says. There are thoughts afoot in Australia to produce new DH60s as they are a fairly simple build as vintage aircraft go. |
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Post by amitch on Sept 10, 2008 13:58:12 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 10, 2008 14:36:16 GMT 12
Thanks everyone. AEJ looks so nice. Great shots Alex.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 10, 2008 21:46:38 GMT 12
A couple of old photos taken at the New Plymouth (Browns Road) airport opening 4March1967 show ZK-AEJ in its earlier red fuselage and silver wings colour scheme with the 'Racing' name. This was while it was owned by Gordon Reader, prior to the Temple Martin restoration.   Gordon Reader also owned Rearwin 9000KR ZK-AKF and Moth Minor ZK-BFP around the same time. Legend has it that the fleet was named 'Rugby' (ZK-AKF) 'Racing' and 'Beer" (ZK-BFP), though the 'Rugby' name is not evident on ZK-AKF photographed in the hangar at Milson in 1966 (I never saw the Moth Minor BFP until it turned up at North Shore in the late 1970s). Anyone know anything more about Gordon Reader or the company he set up - Early Bird Flying Ltd., Palmerston North? He seems to have been one of the earlier vintage aviation enthusiasts in the mid-1960s, and then faded away into obscurity.   |
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Post by Damon on Sept 10, 2008 21:52:28 GMT 12
Some great photos there Alex.The forth photo showing AEJ in flight is now as my desktop background on the computer. Thanks also Peter for your photos .I have only seen AEJ in silver colours.Quite a difference .
Damon
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Post by shorty on Sept 10, 2008 22:07:07 GMT 12
I've got colour slides of the three aircraft taken at a show in Wanganui in early 71 and the names are visible on all three.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 10, 2008 22:08:23 GMT 12
Great photos Peter. Do you recall what colour the Rearwin was? It's rather interesting.
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Post by Bruce on Sept 10, 2008 23:16:32 GMT 12
AKF was stored in the Gulf Aeronautics hangar when I was working there - owned by Wal Denholm I beleive. Colours were silver overall with green trim, and white and red triangular pattern. Black anti glare panel. "Rugby" was on the cowling
I would guess the location of the Rearwin photos is the Fieldair Hangar at Palmerston North, going by the DC3 Tailplane and Ailerons, and lodestar wings in the background.
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shane
Squadron Leader
Posts: 117
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Post by shane on Sept 11, 2008 11:53:46 GMT 12
You mentioned Foxmoth replicas, where were they built and are any airworthy.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 11, 2008 22:03:55 GMT 12
Great photos Peter. Do you recall what colour the Rearwin was? It's rather interesting. Unusually for me at that time, I did not record the colours. I'd go with what Bruce says. Ownership when he saw it recorded as Wal Denholm and Jim Pavitt. You mentioned Foxmoth replicas, where were they built and are any airworthy. Fox replicas (ex Myles Robertson): ZK-AEK airworthy, now in Canada as CF-YBM ZK-AEK display, at MoTAT ZK-APT under build to airworthy at North Shore ZK-AQB under build at Mandeville The 5th could be either ZK-AQM (Peter Taylor) or ZK-ARQ (Jim Lawson). |
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Sept 11, 2008 23:06:32 GMT 12
Just to clear some things up on the replica side of things, the fuselages are new build (I can only speak for AEK and AQB) but fittings, steel work etc etc are from actual aircraft.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 12, 2008 10:47:18 GMT 12
Yes I was waiting for that reaction, Ryan.  (In my defence it was not I who said 'Fox Moth replicas'). There is also the statement made here on another thread about the overseas sale of ZK-AEK: . . the aircraft was less than 5% original (which is part of the criteria) . . . It really comes down to an argument about how much of an original is required to class an aircraft as a rebuild or a replica. This seems to vary over time, and here is probably not the right place to argue it out. (Just in case anyone thinks I am being picky, I can also entertain the concept that if a person owns an item they probably have the right to sell that item for the best deal they can regardless about where that sale ends up). I am also informed that the Fox painted as ZK-AEK at MoTAT is actually the original fuselage of ZK-APT, not a new fuselage, so that removes one from the list. |
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Post by John L on Sept 12, 2008 14:51:45 GMT 12
Just to clear some things up on the replica side of things, the fuselages are new build (I can only speak for AEK and AQB) but fittings, steel work etc etc are from actual aircraft. They were all new build. Built at Dairy Flat c 1978-80. APT masquerading as AEK? APT was a Canadian Fox whereas AEK was a British "Speed" Fox - slightly different around the canopy area. |
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Post by stingray on Sept 12, 2008 16:03:03 GMT 12
MoTat's Fox is APT's fuse indeed, confirmed during some research not long ago.
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shane
Squadron Leader
Posts: 117
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Post by shane on Sept 13, 2008 13:25:54 GMT 12
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mikej
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by mikej on May 9, 2014 23:51:57 GMT 12
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