Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 6, 2009 21:17:01 GMT 12
For our next run of NZ Civil aircraft, we will look at the Victas (we might do the AESL and NZAI models at a later time).
Forget the jokes about lawnmowers - Poms always come up with that one.
You will already know the genesis of the design for the Airtourer, intended as a replacement for the Tiger Moth in Australian aero clubs. The wooden prototype was first flown in 1959, with a metal version taking to the air in 1961.
The first production Airtourer in NZ was c/n 17 which arrived at Ardmore as VH-MVT and was assembled in the workshops of the Auckland Aero Club in June 1963. Early flights were made under the Australian registration. Colours are reported as white with two-tone brown trim.
At Ardmore 7Jul1963
Later that month this Airtourer 100 was registered as ZK-CFB to the local agents Victa (NZ) Ltd., Auckland and undertook some demonstration flights before its sale to the North Otago AC of Oamaru where it was delivered 30Aug1963.
Their name was painted on the cowling as seen on this photo, date/place unknown:
and at Oamaru 9Feb1964
This aircraft did not survive long under their ownership, it crashed & DBF near Mt Ida 15Feb64, pilot Kelvin L P Wakelin.
This aircraft must have generated interest among NZ aero clubs, who were then largely using Piper Cubs as their training aircraft. Strangely the Cessna 150, a few of which were already in the country by that time, was much slower to gain sales. Maybe the Victa advertising helped:
The next Airtourer 100 to arrive was c/n 27, a new aircraft which became ZK-CFJ with the Auckland AC. This was delivered to them 27Sept1963 and seems to have lead an uneventful life until it was WFU in September 1973 for a rebuild as a Airtourer T3A by AESL at Hamilton to become ZK-DQP. The registration ZK-CFJ was canceled 3Oct1973. Colours on this one were white and red.
Proof that NZ markings were applied at the Australian factory, ZK-CFJ at Bankstown Sep1963 (Note the Ansons in the background:
At Fenton Street airfield, Rotorua, 3Oct1964:
Next Airtourer 100 off the blocks was c/n 30 which, after assembly at Ardmore, was delivered to the Southern Districts AC, Gore, 24Sep1963 as ZK-CDM. This aircraft later passed to the Otago AC at Dunedin but while on hire to South Canterbury AC of Timaru it hit power lines & crashed at Levels, Timaru, 14Jul68.
The remains were rebuilt at Hamilton by AESL as an Airtourer Super 150 with c/n A30R and was placed online with the Aero Engine Services Ltd. Flying Club from 20Nov1974.
This organization changed its name to the NZ Aerospace Industries FC 6Nov1975.
ZK-CDM stayed with them until it was sold to Australian owner H D Knox, Roseville, NSW leaving NZ 18Dec1981 and becoming VH-MWR 11Feb1982.
At Hamilton 19Mar1975:
The last of the 1963 batch was c/n 38 which was delivered to the Wanganui Aero Club 26Dec1963 (just missed Christmas!) as ZK-CDN. They retained this Airtourer for almost twenty years, passing ownership to local Wanganui resident C Woodriffe 2Jun1982.
He kept it for 10 years then ZK-CDN moved north to R W Lawrence, Auckland 2Sep1992 and L A Busby, Hikurangi 6Jul1993. Northland Aviation Ltd., Whangarei took ownership on 26Apr1994 and then D F R McMillan, Kaikohe on 3Jun1998.
Final owner of ZK-CDN were S R & R A Brodie, Geraldine from 22Sep1998. The aircraft hit a fence on t/off Rangitata strip 3May01 and was written off, with the registration canceled 0n 4Sep2001.
At Wanganui during aero club ownership:
We will work our way through the rest of the Victas, so if you have any memories or other photographs of these aircraft as they appear, feel free to contribute.
Forget the jokes about lawnmowers - Poms always come up with that one.
You will already know the genesis of the design for the Airtourer, intended as a replacement for the Tiger Moth in Australian aero clubs. The wooden prototype was first flown in 1959, with a metal version taking to the air in 1961.
The first production Airtourer in NZ was c/n 17 which arrived at Ardmore as VH-MVT and was assembled in the workshops of the Auckland Aero Club in June 1963. Early flights were made under the Australian registration. Colours are reported as white with two-tone brown trim.
At Ardmore 7Jul1963
Later that month this Airtourer 100 was registered as ZK-CFB to the local agents Victa (NZ) Ltd., Auckland and undertook some demonstration flights before its sale to the North Otago AC of Oamaru where it was delivered 30Aug1963.
Their name was painted on the cowling as seen on this photo, date/place unknown:
and at Oamaru 9Feb1964
This aircraft did not survive long under their ownership, it crashed & DBF near Mt Ida 15Feb64, pilot Kelvin L P Wakelin.
This aircraft must have generated interest among NZ aero clubs, who were then largely using Piper Cubs as their training aircraft. Strangely the Cessna 150, a few of which were already in the country by that time, was much slower to gain sales. Maybe the Victa advertising helped:
The next Airtourer 100 to arrive was c/n 27, a new aircraft which became ZK-CFJ with the Auckland AC. This was delivered to them 27Sept1963 and seems to have lead an uneventful life until it was WFU in September 1973 for a rebuild as a Airtourer T3A by AESL at Hamilton to become ZK-DQP. The registration ZK-CFJ was canceled 3Oct1973. Colours on this one were white and red.
Proof that NZ markings were applied at the Australian factory, ZK-CFJ at Bankstown Sep1963 (Note the Ansons in the background:
At Fenton Street airfield, Rotorua, 3Oct1964:
Next Airtourer 100 off the blocks was c/n 30 which, after assembly at Ardmore, was delivered to the Southern Districts AC, Gore, 24Sep1963 as ZK-CDM. This aircraft later passed to the Otago AC at Dunedin but while on hire to South Canterbury AC of Timaru it hit power lines & crashed at Levels, Timaru, 14Jul68.
The remains were rebuilt at Hamilton by AESL as an Airtourer Super 150 with c/n A30R and was placed online with the Aero Engine Services Ltd. Flying Club from 20Nov1974.
This organization changed its name to the NZ Aerospace Industries FC 6Nov1975.
ZK-CDM stayed with them until it was sold to Australian owner H D Knox, Roseville, NSW leaving NZ 18Dec1981 and becoming VH-MWR 11Feb1982.
At Hamilton 19Mar1975:
The last of the 1963 batch was c/n 38 which was delivered to the Wanganui Aero Club 26Dec1963 (just missed Christmas!) as ZK-CDN. They retained this Airtourer for almost twenty years, passing ownership to local Wanganui resident C Woodriffe 2Jun1982.
He kept it for 10 years then ZK-CDN moved north to R W Lawrence, Auckland 2Sep1992 and L A Busby, Hikurangi 6Jul1993. Northland Aviation Ltd., Whangarei took ownership on 26Apr1994 and then D F R McMillan, Kaikohe on 3Jun1998.
Final owner of ZK-CDN were S R & R A Brodie, Geraldine from 22Sep1998. The aircraft hit a fence on t/off Rangitata strip 3May01 and was written off, with the registration canceled 0n 4Sep2001.
At Wanganui during aero club ownership:
We will work our way through the rest of the Victas, so if you have any memories or other photographs of these aircraft as they appear, feel free to contribute.
