Photos of ZK-ACL?

[ZacYates]

Hi all!

May be a long shot, but does anyone have photos of Cierva C.19 ZK-ACL? This bird was sadly damaged by wind at Wanganui in 17/4/31, and sent back to the UK. I'd love so see any pics of the Kiwi Autogiro.

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-ACL
Cierva C.19 Mk.III Autogiro c/n 5140
G-ABCK 14/10/1930 Cierva Autogiro Co.Ltd., London
S.Abd
ZK-ACL 14/2/1931 Safety Flying (N.I.) Ltd., Wellington
Built 1930. Imported by Garland & Grant Ltd. Left UK 5Oct30.F/f NZ 31Dec30 CofA #99 valid to 10Oct31
Blown over by wind gust at Wanganui 17Apr31. Parts returned to UK May31.

Your terminology is exact, Zac. All Autogiros are autogyros, but not vice-versa!
In order to be a Autogiro it has to be a Cierva or a Cierva licensee build.

[ZacYates]

Superb, Peter! Thank you so very much! I see a model company will release a C.19 kit in the near future, so I plan to get one and built it thusly. Again, a million thanks!

I'm only too glad to have gotten the Autogiro part correct, as its the sort of thing I hate seeing incorrect - I become more educated every day on the various types of gyros.

[ZacYates]

Also found a picture of ACL in the excellent book Rotary Wings by Janic Geelen and Ross MacPherson, however as its listed as a WINGS Collection photo I'm unsure if I can post it. Love front-three-quarter shot though

[ZacYates]

Is anyone aware if NZ Wings ever published an article on ZK-ACL and its brief life in New Zealand? I'd be interested to hear more about it.

[ZacYates]

What colour would you blokes say the turtledeck is? I'm working on a profile to aid in my eventual model of ZK-ACL, and it would kinda help!
ZK-ACL profile Zac Yates modifications by Zac Yates, on Flickr

Thanks in advance

[ZacYates]

The Alexander Turnbull Library has a superb shot of ZK-ACL taken at Rongotai, surrounded by a throng of admirers . Have just printed out a copy, will help immensely in my future model build. Still totally fazed as the the upper decking colour, though.

You may view the image here (link).

[ZacYates]

Hi guys
Based on various sources I have the following info:
Built by Cierva Autogiro Company Limited (London, United Kingdom), constructor’s number 5140. Registered to Cierva as G-ABCK 8/7/30. Certificate of Airworthiness (#99 valid through 10/10/31) granted 14/10/30. Sold to Garland & Grant Limited (Wellington, New Zealand) ?/10/30. Shipped to NZ, left UK 5/10/30. First flight in NZ 31/12/30. Crashed Invercargill 15/01/31. Rebuilt by ?. Registered to Safety Flying (North Island) Limited (Wanganui, NZ) as ZK-ACL 14/2/31. Blown over by wind gust at Wanganui 17/4/31. Crashed Oamaru ?/5/31. Remains shipped to UK.

One question bugging me is a specific date for the Oamaru crash...anyone have one??

[Peter Lewis]

An update with some further info:

To bring this long-dead thread back to life - I have recently received more information about this particular Cierva C.19 Mk.III Autogiro.

G-ABCK reg 08/07/1930 to Cierva Autogiro Co Ltd, Hamble, England
16/12/1930 Arrived Wellington, New Zealand
Shipped/railed to Wigram airfield, near Christchurch for assembly
31/12/1930 Test flown Wigram following assembly
14/01/1931 Completed Christchurch to Invercargill flight with a stop at Gore, Southland to refuel
15/01/1931 Broke a rotor blade at Gore during takeoff (presumably on the return flight)
12/1930 UK registration cancelled

14/02/1931 registered as ZK-ACL to Safety Flying (North Island) Ltd, Wanganui
17/04/1931 Damaged Wanganui, when blown over by a gust of wind
presumably not repaired
10/10/1931 Registration cancelled & shipped back to England.

Not a very successful career.

[errolmartyn]

Some account of the autogyro's time in Invercargill courtesy of The Southland Times:

Gyroplane Over City.
Attracting much interest in Invercargill last evening was a gyroplane from Christchurch which arrived at 7 o'clock. The machine, which is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, belongs to the Safety Flying Company, Wellington, and is piloted by Mr Matheson, with Mr McKenzie, of Christchurch, as passenger. Mr Matheson intends to commence passenger flights over the city tomorrow morning, and will depart for Auckland in the near future. The gyroplane is claimed to be the last thing in safety for air transport. The machine, by the action of centrifugal force from the rotary, is able to descend vertically, having a great advantage over other types of aircraft in being able to alight on practically any site. As yet the gyroplane is only in its infancy, but tests have proved its efficiency and the machine now marks a new era in aviation. The gyroplane also has the added advantage of being able to hover over any particular spot. It remained almost stationary at times over Invercargill last evening. This particular machine has been in New Zealand only a few weeks, having been flying in Christchurch since the New Year. On the journey down, the pilot descended at Gore to re-fuel. Mr Matheson has no definite idea as to the date of his departure, but it is understood that he will go straight through to Auckland when he leaves Invercargill. (The Southland Times, Thu 15 Jan 31)

Mishap to Gyroplane.
The Christchurch gyroplane, at present at the Invercargill [Myross Bush] aerodrome, met with a mishap on Thursday afternoon, one of the rotorvanes breaking, through striking the propeller. Such an accident could never occur in the air, it being thought that the rough nature of the ground caused a jolt while the gyroplane was moving along prior to taking off. The breaking of the rotorvane will prevent the machine from flying in the meantime, but as soon as spare parts have been secured, Mr Matheson will resume his passenger trips. (The Southland Times, Sat 17 Jan 31)

. . . Here in Invercargill the Auto-giro created quite a sensation when it flew over the city on a recent Wednesday evening, hundreds coming out of doors to view the peculiar and uncanny creature in the air. (The Southland Times, Sat 31 Jan 31)

Interest In Autogyro.
Great interest was shown in the autogyro which appeared over the city yesterday afternoon. The machine was flying very low and many people requisitioned field glasses to catch a closer glimpse of the unusual contrivance. Rumours of its landing on reserves were frequent and an army of small boys was kept cycling from one part of the city to the other in expectation of such an event. (The Southland Times, Mon 23 Mar 31)

. . . to a Times reporter yesterday by Mr McCale, manager of Safety Flying Ltd . . .
Referring to the slight mishap which incapacitated the autogiro for a time, Mr. McCale said that it was of a trivial nature. It occurred through the machine striking a big bump while taxi-ing along the ground at the aerodrome. . . .
Mr McCale stated that several members of the executive of the Southland Aero Club had been up in the autogiro and had been amazed at its performance. Flights will be made daily from Adamson's field, which Was used by Mr Oscar Garden. (The Southland Times, Wed 25 Mar 31)

Lieutenant Matheson, of Christchurch, pilot of the autogiro, who has been conducting a series of flights over Invercargill, left in the machine for the north yesterday morning with Mrs W. B. Franklin, of Wellington, as passenger. During his stay here Lieutenant Matheson was a guest at the Grand Hotel. (The Southland Times, Sat 28 Mar 31)

Errol

[ZacYates]

Thank you Peter, that all matches up with what I had.

Thanks for sharing the articles Errol, a great read!

[davidd]

In case anybody was wondering, the photograph of this aircraft was taken at Wigram (presumably post-assembly). Background is a bit of a giveaway!
David D

[ZacYates]

Is there any chance more photos of this machine have shown up? Unfortunately the Whanganui District Library's copy of Rotary Wings by Janic Geelen and Ross MacPherson is no longer there and my scan was lost in PC moves.

[Antonio]

If I remember correctly there was an old AHSNZ calendar from the late '60's that had a pencil artwork of ACL.

I'm sure I saw this at a rellies home 

[errolmartyn]

Feb 26, 2022 7:34:00 GMT 12 ZacYates said:

Is there any chance more photos of this machine have shown up? Unfortunately the Whanganui District Library's copy of Rotary Wings by Janic Geelen and Ross MacPherson is no longer there and my scan was lost in PC moves.

See parts 3 and 4 of my bio article Bob Matheson: Forgotten bomber, glider and autogiro pilot in the April and March issues of NZ Aviation News for a revised history of ZK-ACL and photos.

Errol

[davidd]

The calendar that Zac mentions above was NOT produced by AHSNZ, in fact I have a copy of it somewhere in my office (which almost guarantees I won't find it for at least another 10 years!) And the artist for this calendar was the one and only Ron Alexander of Blenheim, killed in a Tiger crash if my memory is correct many years ago (1970s?) I think the calendar was published by NAC in the 1960s, they must have printed quite a few of them.

[shorty]

As Ron did the drawing it will also be in the book he did (High Adventure?) which was drawings of all aircraft that came to New Zealand. Ron's crash was at Motueka, he was one of the founders of the Golden Age Flying Society along with the late Jack Moon (another SAFE AIR Pilot).I often flew with them in their displays where I was rear gunner in a Tiger Moth flown by Jack. If it was a different routine I was part of the Keystone Cops squad

[planewriting]

Feb 26, 2022 13:57:02 GMT 12 davidd said:

The calendar that Zac mentions above was NOT produced by AHSNZ, in fact I have a copy of it somewhere in my office (which almost guarantees I won't find it for at least another 10 years!) And the artist for this calendar was the one and only Ron Alexander of Blenheim, killed in a Tiger crash if my memory is correct many years ago (1970s?) I think the calendar was published by NAC in the 1960s, they must have printed quite a few of them.

I know that calendar too and I'm pretty certain it was NAC's calendar however I also remember it hanging up in my bedroom when our family lived in Milford and we left there in December 1958. I have an idea there is a month with a Heron depicted. Predominantly, the colours were black , white and grey. As an aside, I have Ron Alexander's accident date in Tiger Moth ZK-BDH at Motueka as 25 October 1976 however this report has 24 October 1976. aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=61697 

[ZacYates]

Thanks David, good incentive for me to buy them!

Feb 26, 2022 14:49:11 GMT 12 shorty said:

As Ron did the drawing it will also be in the book he did (High Adventure?) which was drawings of all aircraft that came to New Zealand.

I have a copy, I'll track it down. Thanks for the heads up Shorty!

[madmac]

A troll through the online archives found these

Airforce Museum



Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 89, 16 April 1931, Page 12
The bending of the rotor blades of the autogiro during a sudden gust of wind at Wanganui will necessitate the laying up of the machine for several months. The blades have been removed and will be sent to England for repair. The above photograph was taken when the autogiro was at Rongotai Aerodrome last week.