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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 25, 2009 17:11:37 GMT 12
Airtourer 100 c/n 98 was delivered to the Southland AC, Invercargill as ZK-CHF on 2Mar1965. Colours were white with two-tone green trim. It served there uneventfully for several years until being transferred to Ivan T East, a well known Wellington aircraft engineer, in November 1972. The Waitemata AC at Ardmore took it over the same month and ZK-CHF was involved in an incident at Tauranga 29Mar1974, pilot Michael Rosser. The aircraft survived and went to Northland Districts AC, Whangarei 15Jun1975 and passed into private hands with R D Goodison, Auckland in June 1982. Allan Higgie, Wanganui bought ZK-CHF in February 1995 and the aircraft is still with him, apparently still as a 100hp model. At Ardmore is Southland colours 28Jan1966: ZK-CLC c/n 101 was a Airtourer 100 that was initially used by Victa (NZ) Ltd. as a demonstrator, then it went to the Rotorua AC. Coulours were white with two-tone blue trim. It did not survive very long, being destroyed when it hit power lines & cr Rotorua 2Oct65. Pilot John Murdoch.
At Ardmore, in the AAC hangar, 12Jun1965: Victa Airtourer 100 c/n 114 started life as ZK-CHD with the Auckland AC, delivered 11Jun1965 and painted white with two-tone blue trim. It was soon transferred to the Rotorua AC (possibly as a replacement for ZK-CLC) but again did not survive long, damaged beyond repair when it hit fence at Te Poi, near Matamata, 23Sep67. Pilot Ian Pullman. At Rukuhia 19Feb1966:   |
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Post by angelsonefive on Oct 25, 2009 17:52:16 GMT 12
Thanks for a great thread , Flyernzl.
It takes me back with some familiar regos.
In 1970 the Wgton Aero Club operated the Aircruiser prototype ZK- DAH for a brief period.
Some fading lines in my logbook tell me that I did 30 minutes dual familiarisation in DAH on August 7th, 1970 and a further 30 minutes circuits, solo, on October 7th, 1970.
I recall quite a pleasant aeroplane to fly, with yoke control columns instead of the centre stick of the two-seater Victas I had flown up until then.
We called DAH ' Inky Pinky ' on account of her colour scheme.
Do you have a picture of DAH ?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 25, 2009 19:05:03 GMT 12
Do you have a picture of DAH ? Yes. We will get there. |
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Post by angelsonefive on Oct 26, 2009 7:16:07 GMT 12
Thanks.
I look forward...
Cheers.
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Post by shamus on Oct 26, 2009 16:38:06 GMT 12
A short article in the Aviation Historical Society Journal, Vol.6 No.7, 5th.August 1963, regarding the first all-metal Victa Airtourer in NZ. ZK-CFB ex VH-MVT.  Also, a photo of the illusive ZK-COY.  |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Oct 27, 2009 10:00:08 GMT 12
If anyone is interested and can make the time, Auckland Aero CLub has a small library in which there were, from memory, some Victa Airtourer handling notes and flight manuals. And some photo albums containing their Victa fleet.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 27, 2009 19:57:24 GMT 12
Also, a photo of the illusive ZK-COY. Yeeha!! Where from? |
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Post by shamus on Oct 27, 2009 21:44:05 GMT 12
Peter, from the AHSNZ Journal (greatly enlarged) Vol 14, No. 11, 4th.Oct. 1971. Credit for photo,
is N.S.Drake. If you can find him, he probably has the original.
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Post by eieio on Oct 30, 2009 6:45:41 GMT 12
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Post by shamus on Oct 30, 2009 10:00:24 GMT 12
Hi eieio, can't get anything from the link you posted. Perhaps you could check it out for spelling or something.
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Post by lumpy on Oct 30, 2009 11:31:16 GMT 12
Link works on my computer ( but maybe eieio has fixed it )?
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Post by shamus on Oct 30, 2009 15:39:41 GMT 12
Ah yes. up and working now. Great shot CWA.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 31, 2009 6:35:01 GMT 12
Yes it is, but it's too new. An AESL not a Victa.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 1, 2009 9:12:11 GMT 12
The next stage of Victa development saw production of the Airtourer 115 model (115 hp Lycoming O-235 engine) established while the Airtourer 100 (100 hp Continental O-200 engine) continued to be produced. The next Airtourer 100, c/n 121, was registered as ZK-CLF in October 1965, initially to Victa (NZ) Ltd. and then to the Wellington AC, Rongotai. Colours were white with red trim and a dayglo top to the fin. From there it moved to the Pegasus School of Aviation Ltd., Tauranga in July 1968 and then to NZAI 7Oct1977. This is most likely to be the time ZK-CLF was converted to a 115hp version. K Bamford, Paraparaumu became ZK-CLF's first private owner 28Aug1978 before it went to the Wigram Aviation Sports Club 10Aug1989. G F Rhodes, Christchurch took possession 16Apr1991 but this aircraft was damaged in a forced landing at Craigieburn 23Feb1994 which lead to the registration being cancelled on 19May1998. It was then repaired and the registration renewed to the same owner at a Wanaka address 10Apr1999. Still currently registered and on display at Rhodes' Wanaka museum. At Rongotai 1966: At Wanaka September 2010 The first new Airtourer 115 to arrive in NZ was ZK-CLG c/n 123 which came on the register with Victa (NZ) Ltd. before going to the Waikato AC, Hamilton. Colours were white with blue trim. This aircraft transferred to the Wellington AC in December 1972 and then to R McKelvie, Napier 23Jun1977. Final owners were S R Monteith & G Eccles of Hastings from 27Apr1978. ZK-CLG crashed on t/off Kawerau 3Feb79. At Rukuhia 19Feb1966:  At Ardmore 24Apr1977: The Auckland AC took delivery of Airtourer 100 ZK-CLE c/n 126 from Victa (NZ) Ltd. in October 1965 and operated it until May 1973. Colours were white with green trim. The registration was cancelled 21May1973 when it was withdrawn for rebuild to AESL T3A status as ZK-DNF. At Ardmore 12May1966: Next 115 to arrive was c/n 130 which became ZK-CLD with Victa (NZ) Ltd., Auckland and thence to the Waikato AC. Colours were white with two-tone blue trim. This aircraft went to W A Bennett Ltd., Papakura 13Feb1974 before transfer to the Wanganui AC 15Jul1975. P Ireland, Mt Maunganui became owners 13Jul1982 and then W J & A Powell, Auckland took over 25Mar1986. The aircraft currently operates out of the Warbirds hangar at Ardmore wearing the spurious RNZAF colours of NZ1941, a CT-4B Airtrainer that became ZK-JJV and VH-YCR. At Rukuhia 19Feb1966: At Parakai 18Nov2007: |
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Post by shamus on Nov 1, 2009 20:49:18 GMT 12
I first flew CLE in October 1966 and my logbook records it as a Victa 100. If you look at the photos you will see that the engine cowls have 2 fasteners whereas the 115 has 3. This distinguishes the Lycoming engined models from the Continental. The 130 hp T3 also had only 2 fasteners, and the 150 hp 3 fasteners. Also, a photo of CLF that i think was taken at Paraparaumu.  |
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Post by angelsonefive on Nov 1, 2009 21:14:25 GMT 12
My first flight in a Victa was on the 29th of November 1965, in Charlie Lima Foxtrot, and I have recorded it in my logbook as " Victa 100 " .
I clearly remember CLF as being the 100HP version .
The last flight I made in CLF was in March '67 and again I have recorded it as being a " Victa 100. "
The pic. of CLF with a Lycoming engine and a different paint scheme was taken at PP.
I can make out the words " Paraparaumu Branch " on the Dalhoff and King sign behind the aircraft.
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Post by shamus on Nov 1, 2009 21:41:49 GMT 12
angelsonefive, if you look at the photo Peter has posted of CLF it looks to me to have only two fasteners on the engine cowl. Also the 100s seem to have a shorter nose to the 115s.
I believe you are right it was a 100 but must have been upgraded to a 115 as the photo at PP shows it with 3 fasteners. Some of the 100s were converted to 115s which required a different engine mount and longer cowling. I would be pleased to hear if anyone has any information on which ones were converted.
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Post by angelsonefive on Nov 2, 2009 9:03:53 GMT 12
Thanks for the reply Shamus.
CLF was definitely a 100HP Victa during its time with the Wellington Aero Club.
The picture taken at PP is of course a 115HP engine version,so Lima Fox must have been upgraded after her sojourn in Wellington.
As you point out the recognition point of the 115HP Victa is the 3-fastener cowl.
Also the more pointed forward area of the cowl, and as well I think,
the spinner. I don't recall seeing a 100HP Victa with a spinner.
The first Victa 115 I flew was the ill-fated CWB. That was on the 8th of July, 1968.
The flying characteristics of the two versions were so similar that I did not need a dual check in CWB before flying it solo.
I do recall, however, the instructor telling me to be careful on the approach and landing as the more horizontal angle of the top decking of the cowl gave a slightly different view of the world in front.
A great little plane, the Victa.
I remember the odd arrangement for pre-flight checking of the fuel quantity . The dipstick was a right-angled affair made up of several segments. You placed the dipstick into the opening of the filler neck, and then pressed down on a button at the top, which made the dipstick flexible so that you could insert it the rest of the way into the tank. An operation to be carried out with even more than the usual care.
On one occasion somewhere a Victa ran out of fuel in flight despite the pre-flight check indicating that there was sufficient fuel for the intended trip.
Investigation showed that a bump had formed in the bottom of the rubber tank liner, lifting the fuel to an unreal level.
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Post by shamus on Nov 2, 2009 10:38:36 GMT 12
angelsonefive, go back through the photos flyernz has posted on this thread and you will be amazed at the number of 100s that had spinners, for instance, CLC, CHF, CHC, CGQ, CDQ, CGO, CRG, CDO, CGN, also, the original metal Airtourer, VH-MVT/CFB. Although being with the Auckland Aero Club I do not remember any of their Airtourer 100s having spinners.
I also remember well the fuel tank dipstick. An unusual but effective way of getting round the bend in the tank entry. I can also remember one Airtourer, but can't remember which one that dispensed with the butynol fuel tank and just had the metal surround as the tank and this seemed to work OK.
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Post by thomarse on Nov 2, 2009 14:39:10 GMT 12
CLF was absolutely positively a 100 in her early life when I first-soloed in her (Matamata - 1st Walsh) on January 24 1967. Also did my PPL flight test at WLG in her on October 31 that year with Bruce James.
I'd have lost a bet on this though........... the first production 115 in NZ appears to be CLD and thereafter for a while 100s and 115s both appeared, mixed in batches within the same serial number range.
Despite 100-odd hours in "Concrete Sparrows", I can only find one entry for a 115 - I ferried Rotorua's CMA RO - AP on January 4 1968.
I moved on from the Wellington Aero Club to PP about the time they got CWB and CXQ
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