AESL Airtourers

[Peter Lewis]

Following up on the previous thread on the Victa Airtourers, due to public demand (Hi Shamus) we'll go on to the AESL Airtourers.

These started with two Victa kitsets that were completed at Hamilton as c/ns 501 and 502 which became ZK-COZ and ZK-CPA and which were covered in the Victa listing.

AESL serviced overseas markets with Airtourers, several of which completed their test flights in NZ using their construction numbers as test flight registrations. These aircraft will not be included here.

AESL discontinued the 100hp model.

The first AESL example was therefore Airtourer 115 c/n 503 which was registered to the Southland AC, Invercargill as ZK-CPB on the 15th November 1967, performing its first flight at Hamilton on the 23rd.

It appears to have lead an uneventful life at Invercargill until ownership passed to the Motoring Centre (Alexandra) Ltd. of Alexandra, Central Otago on the 22nd April 1980.
It didn't last long there, being destroyed in a landing accident at Alexandra 6th June 1980. The registration was cancelled on the 28th November.

ZK-CPB seen here in Southland Aero Club colours at Ardmore sometime during the 1970s



C/ns 504 and 505 both went to the UK.

The NAC/ANZ Flying Club based at Auckland International (those were the days!) registered Airtourer 115 c/n 506 as ZK-CWA on the 16th January 1968, the aircraft first taking to the air on the same day and being delivered on the 22nd. It was painted up in a very nice scheme derived from the ANZ colours current at that time.

On the 15th March 1979 ownership passed to A C Thomson, Te Awamutu, to A B Williams, Te Awamutu 23Feb1992 and to O A Thomson, Te Awamutu 6Nov1992. The Wanganui Aero Club took ownership on 9Mar1993 until ZK-CWA moved north to Northland Aircraft Holdings Ltd., Whangarei from 14Apr1997. M K Dugmore, Kaitaia became owner on 25Oct2001 and the current owners are J F Managh Family Trust, Napier from 25Jul2009.

ZK-CWA when new at Mangere 2Mar1968





At Tauranga 17Feb2008



c/ns 507 and 508 went to the UK

c/n 509 first flew on 25th March 1968 as ZK-CWB Having been registered to the Wellington Aero Club on the 13th February and was delivered to Rongotai on the 4th April.

Just over five years later ZK-CWB crashed in the Tararua Ranges, near Featherston, 24Nov73. Pilot Gary Cooper. Registration cancelled 10Feb1974.

At Rongotai April 1968



The next AESL Airtourer 115 was c/n 510 which became ZK-CWC registered to Southern Districts AC, Gore 22Mar1968 and first flown 27th April.
Ownership of ZK-CWC passed to the Wanganui AC 16Apr1971, and the aircraft is seen here under their ownership at Wigram 10Sep1978



From 1983 the Airtourer had a succession of private and flying school owners in Cromwell, Christchurch and Frankton until passing to J D Cranstoun, Kirwee 9Apr2007.
ZK-CWC was cancelled as withdrawn as from 12Jul2007.
Any further information on it's demise?

(Shamus check your PMs).

[Dave Homewood]

I have only just realised that these civil Airtorers had different canopies from the RNZAF's T6/24 models, these ones having a sort of hood at the rear where the military version has a clear canopy. Did all civil versions have the hooded canopy?

The spinners on the T6/24 were also a lot more pointy. Any idea why?

[Bruce]

I dont think all the civil Airtourers had the sun shade canopy - I've seen them with both types. Probably handy to keep the sun off your back, and Civil machines wouldn't need fighter - type visibility.
These low power Airtourers had fixed pitch props, the T6/24 had constant speed units with much bulkier hubs, hence the spinners were re-shaped to accommodate them.

[shorty]

Re CWC, when I next see Jack Cranstoun I will check with him, I think it is still in his hangar at Loburn. He was on the same airframe mechs course as me, Rex Kenny and Geoff Cooper.

[shamus]

A not very good quality photo of ZK-CPB in flight.



Also a couple of colour shots of ZK-CWC showing its distinctive white with blue trim.

[Peter Lewis]

After the sad event of the weekend, life goes on.

The next Airtourer 115 off the AESL production line was #511 which was registered as ZK-CWD to the Mercury Bay AC, Whitianga 22nd March 1968. This aircraft first flew at Hamilton on the 13th May and was delivered to the aero club on the 19th.

Still under Mercury Bay ownership, ZK-CWD crashed at Whangamata 3Feb1973, pilot O A Whiting. The registration was cancelled 26Jun1973.

At Mangere 2Nov1968


c/n 512 and 513 went to the UK, 514 and 515 to Australia.

c/n 516 became ZK-CWE with the Middle Districts AC at Milson, being registered as such 12Aug1968. The aircraft first flew on the 2nd September and was delivered on the 4th.
The Waitemata AC at Ardmore took possession of ZK-CWE as from 13Jul1973 and sold it to private owners M J Johnstone & J Fenton of Takanini, South Auckland as from 13May1976.

The Airtourer did not last long under their ownership, being badly damaged on landing short of strip at Te Kowhai 23Jan77, pilot J Marshall. The aircraft was presumably stored from this time, and the registration was cancelled 21Dec1988.

ZK-CWE at Rukuhia 28Aug1976, white with blue trim


The project was rebuilt at a later stage, still as an Airtourer 115, and became ZK-VTR with M C & A C Thomson, Te Awamutu on 26Mar1996.
Leslie Aviation Ltd., Rotorua were the owners from 11Jun1996, McAlpine Aviation Training (NZ) Ltd., Ardmore from 22Jan2004, Flightshare Ltd., Te Awamutu from 11Mar2004 and John D Cranstoun, Kirwee from 25Aug2005

ZK-VTR was cancelled 22Sep2006 as withdrawn.
Anyone add further information on the reason why?

At Rotorua 1997


The Southern Districts AC, Gore took ownership of AESL Airtourer 115 ZK-CXP on the 6th September 1968. This was c/n 517. The aircraft was first flown on the 27th September and delivered on the 4th October.

ZK-CXP lasted in SDAC ownership until it crashed at Te Anau airfield 3Feb82, pilot R V Baker. There must have been some thoughts on rebuilding it as the registration was not cancelled until 7Aug1991.

At Dunedin 10Jan1974


Airtourer c/n 518 became ZK-CXQ with the Wellington AC on 6Sep1968. First flight was 15Oct1968 and delivery on the 17th.
R McKelvie, Napier became the owner on 23Jun1977, J W Black of Waikokowai, Huntly from 25Jul1978, B C Stimpson & D V Shannon, Reporoa on 24Apr1979 and B C Stimpson, Kawerau 1Aug1983.

Cliff Tait was giving a handling display in ZK-CXQ at an airshow at Tokoroa airfield when the aircraft crashed 18Nov83. Registration was cancelled 17Feb1984.

At Ardmore 9Oct1977

[shamus]

A black & white photo of ZK-CXQ in its early paint scheme.



Two photos o ZK-CXQ in its colour scheme that I think would be late 70s or early 1980s.

[Peter Lewis]

Since becoming involved in Airtourer construction, AESL had been investigating upgrading the power of the basic design.
Therefore c/n 519 was fitted with a 150 hp Lycoming O-320-E1A engine and registered to Aero Engine Services Ltd., Hamilton on the 6Sep1968, the first flight of this machine taking place on the 18th. It was initially used for RNZAF trials before going to the Auckland Aero Club on 17Feb1969.
It was involved in a minor crash at Great Barrier Island in April 1969. This could not have been too serious as it was repaired by AESL and was back in use the following month.
Just over a year later, while still being operated by AAC, ZK-CXS crashed at Opepe, Taupo, 16Jun70 @ 649hrs. Pilot J S Allan. Registration was cancelled on the 19th.

At Ardmore, 1970



c/n 520 was a standard AESL Airtourer 115 which was registered to C J Hayward, New Plymouth on 16Oct1968 as ZK-CXT. This Airtourer first flew on the 24th and was delivered to New Plymouth on the 30th.
Hayward operated as the Taranaki Flying School, and ZK-CXT was used in this operation until it crashed at Stratford 28Feb71. The registration was cancelled on the 22nd September but the remains lingered on at New Plymouth for some years before being taken to Hamilton.

At New Plymouth 12Dec1968



At Hamilton 27Sep1972



Cliff Tait of Hamilton had been involved with AESL for some time, and had conceived the idea of a solo flight around the world in an Airtourer. To this end be bought c/n 521 and it was registered as ZK-CXU in his name 20Nov1968 and delivered to him on the 5th December. He christened ZK-CXU 'Miss Jacy'.
Cliff departed on the flight on the 12th May1969, and returned to NZ on the 1st August having traveled 53,097km in 288 flying hours. (Although promoted as a circumnavigation, the aircraft and pilot traveled the Tokyo-Vancouver leg by ship).
While Cliff was the registered owner until a sale to Eagle Aviation Ltd., Hamilton on 27Nov1969, ZK-CXU was used by the Waikato Aero Club for some of the time under his ownership.
The Airtourer then clocked up a succession of owners in the Waikato area during the next few years until it arrived at Eagle Flight Training Ltd., Papakura on the 16Mar2005.
Around this time the historical significance of the aircraft was recognized, and to this end the Miss Jacy Partnership, Orewa bought the aircraft on 7Sep2005 and presented it to MoTAT at Auckland who took ownership on 3Nov2006. The aircraft was then shifted to their Meola Road, Western Springs site and is now on display under cover there.

At the AESL factory, Rukuhia, shortly after assembly



At Eagle Flight Training, Ardmore, 2005



In outside storage at MoTAT 16Jan2008



On display at MoTAT 1May2010



c/n 522 was the AESL Airtourer Super 150/T4 military prototype and went to the UK

c/n A523 was the second Airtourer Super 150 (after ZK-CXS) and was the first to have the A prefix on the c/n, denoting the 'Super' name-tag. It was registered to Aero Engine Services Ltd., Hamilton as ZK-CYW 11Dec1968 and took its first flight on the 30Jan1969.
ZK-CYW left NZ for Australia on the 26Mar1969 where it became VH-EQA with the Tamworth AC. Its NZ registration was cancelled on the 24th July.

At Rukuhia 5Mar1969

[thomarse]

For many years, much of the rear fuselage and centre-section of CXS remained at the accident site just off SH5 at Opepe.

It's probably still there.

[Peter Lewis]

Some mention of the location as 'Opepe Memorial', but I can't find that on Google Earth.


I have mentioned the first T4, c/n 522 as going to the UK. This became G-AXAJ.

As an interesting aside, here is a flight test and a comparison test between the Airtourer 115 and 150hp/T4 as published in Flight magazine in 1969.
Quite an interesting comparison.

[thomarse]

The Opepe Reserve is about the only patch of native bush remaining on the Rangitaiki Plains. Only a few km East of Taupo, the highway now climbs quite steeply and directly through it, the monument being on the left (heading East) near the crest of the climb.

Just opposite the monument the old road formation can be found, and the accident site is immediately adjacent to and above this road a couple of hundred metres down it. The swathe cut through the bush above the road gave the location away, but that's 40 years ago!

[shamus]

It just occurred to me, but I think that I am probably the last pilot alive to have flown CXS. I flew it late on the Friday afternoon before Spencer Alan took it on the Saturday morning on a trip to the South Island that resulted in his crash on the way back one week later.

[shamus]

CXU had quite a few colour schemes in its time (flying). Here is another well known one, the one in which Cliff Tait flew it around the world. This shot appeared on the cover of his Book,
'Flight Of The Kiwi'

[Bruce]

May 3, 2010 20:18:22 GMT 12 thomarse said:

The Opepe Reserve is about the only patch of native bush remaining on the Rangitaiki Plains. Only a few km East of Taupo, the highway now climbs quite steeply and directly through it, the monument being on the left (heading East) near the crest of the climb.

Just opposite the monument the old road formation can be found, and the accident site is immediately adjacent to and above this road a couple of hundred metres down it. The swathe cut through the bush above the road gave the location away, but that's 40 years ago!

Found that on Google earth 38°46'3.85"S 176°12'56.78"E
There appears to be something in the clearing between the old road formation and the new, but I cant make out what it is - perhaps just some beehives or something.
The old road seems to have meandered about a lot!

[Peter Lewis]

Perhaps we need to explore that area on foot.

Airtourers c/n 524 and 525 went directly to the UK.

AESL registered Airtourer 150 c/n 526 as ZK-CYS 10Feb1969, and this machine first took to the air on the 6th March. ZK-CYS was then sold to H C Sowerby, Temuka who ran a contracting firm, and the Airtourer was transferred to Sowerby Construction Co.Ltd. 8Sept1971.
Ownership reverted back to H C Sowerby 19Nov1976 prior to a sale to M H Nathan, Wellington 2Feb1977.
P K Jackson & N R Brown, Blenheim took ownership of ZK-CYS 13Feb1985, and the aircraft is currently airworthy based at Omaka having apparently led an accident-free life.

At Omaka 1Jan2010



Airtourers c/n 527 to 531 were exported directly to the UK.

Airtourer Super 150 c/n A532 first flew at Hamilton 13May1969, and the following day was registered as ZK-CZJ to N J Richardson, Papakura and delivered to Ardmore. Colours were white with brown and green trim.
Ownership was transferred to Richardson Aviation Ltd., Auckland 11Jul1969, and Kelvin Stark took ZK-CZJ over on the 16Oct1970 as Stark Aviation Ltd., Ardmore,
J M L Dillon, Blenheim became the next owner on 24Apr1972, and this Airtourer was exported to Australia in early 1978 to become VH-CRK with D A Taylor, Newtown, Vic. as from 8Jun1978.

At Ardmore 11Jun1969



c/ns 533, 534 and 535 went to the UK.

c/n A536 was an Airtourer Super 150 registered first to AESL as ZK-CZY 17Jul1969. This aircraft was delivered to the New Plymouth AC in February 1970. It remained at New Plymouth until transferred up the road to W G McGregor, Te Awamutu 19Sep1979 and then back to New Plymouth with owner R C Pinfold 13Jul1982.
It's final move was to the RNZAF Base Auckland Aviation Sports Club Inc., Whenuapai on 15May1989.
ZK-CZY met its end near Kumeu 22Apr1995 when a practice forced-landing exercise became very real after the engine failed to pick up. Both occupants were very lucky to escape alive. The rear fuselage of ZK-CZY was extant in the GA hangar at Whenuapai until quite recently.

ZK-CZY at Pukekohe Racecourse 13Mar1977



After Victa Airtourer 115 ZK-CMA (c/n 145) crashed at Turangi 17Aug68, the remains of this aircraft were taken to the AESL factory.
Components of this airframe were then incorporated in the next AESL Airtourer Super 150 off the production line, c/n A537. This became ZK-CZP with Aero Engine Services Ltd., Hamilton 30May1969, with its initial flight taking place on the 9th June. After a short period of hire to the Waikato AC, ZK-CZP went to Taupo Flying School & Air Service Ltd. on 5Sep1969 where it forced-landed & overturned at Matamata 25Jan74, pilot Michael Sewell. The registration was cancelled on 8Mar74.
The damaged aircraft then went to Central Aircraft Maintenance Ltd., Hamilton who rebuilt it and restored it as ZK-CZP on 5Aug1974.
J M L Dillon, Blenheim took ownership on 8Sep1975 and exported the aircraft to Australia where it became VH-COI with P W Coy, Woorndoo, Vic 29Apr1976. The aircraft actually left NZ on the 4th April 1976, and ZK-CZP was cancelled on the 9th.

At Ardmore 28Nov1973

[shamus]

An early photo of CZJ from the AHSNZ Journal.



Also two photos of CZY taken at Dairy Flat airfield, I think during the 1980s? showing it very much
needing a paint job.

[shamus]

A photo from the Herald and a transcript of the accident that wrote off CZY.

[Peter Lewis]

Thats the one. I was told that when they applied power after a practice forced-landing approach down to 500'AGL the engine quit.

Colin recovered, continued to operate as CFI of WASC until the end of his RNZAF service and then moved to become instructor at the Thames aero club. Still carried that facial scars from the incident.
While there he restored the damaged Airtourer T6/24 ZK-JBZ to make it airworthy again as ZK-CPG.

CPG is now with the Warbirds at Ardmore, and Colin is I think working at CAA. Not sure about Flatt.

[Peter Lewis]

AESL had their sights firmly set on developing the Airtourer as a military trainer, particularly for the RNZAF and RAAF.

The RAAF were interested, and therefore the next Airtourer Super 150, c/n A538 registered to AESL 18Aug69 as ZK-CJN and first flown at Hamilton 11Sep1969, departed New Zealand on the 20th September for RAAF evaluation.
At the conclusion of these trials, ZK-CJN stayed in Australia, becoming VH-EQG with the Latrobe Valley AC.

ZK-CJN as VH-EQG



c/ns A539 and A540 went directly to the UK.

Airtourer c/n 541 was built as a 115 model, and was registered as ZK-CJX to the Middle Districts AC of Palmerston North 27Aug1969. Date of the first flight of this aircraft was 17th September, and it was delivered to Milson on the 20th.
The club operated this aircraft until it was destroyed in a crash at Dannevirke 27Dec73, pilot Desmond Jones. The remains of this aircraft were located at New Plymouth for some years after the accident.

At Paraparaumu 15Jan1971



At New Plymouth 2Sep1981. I could be mean and say that my ex-wife has just reduced an airworthy aircraft to this condition in a few minutes, but that could be a tiny bit of an exaggeration!



The first military operator to confirm an order for Airtourers was the RNZAF, with the Air Department placing an order for four of the T6/24 version.
The first of these, c/n A542, was initially allotted the RNZAF serial NZ1751 but this was changed to NZ1760 prior to delivery.
This aircraft took its initial flight 14May70, was taken on strength on the 22nd and delivered to RNZAF Base Wigram on the 25th.
In RNZAF service the Airtourers were were used for basic training of army pilots in the helicopter programme, and as general runabouts. In later years, after the arrival of the Airtrainers, they were used for University Cadet air experience flights, and the Air Training Corp annual Flying Scholarship training.
Finally declared surplus in 1993, NZ1760 was sold by tender to R Ekinci, Christchurch and became ZK-JBX 1Apr1993.
This registration was very short-term, as ZK-JBX left NZ on the 7th April where is became VH-AMX with the same owner at a Raby, NSW address 7May1993.
Registration ZK-JBX was cancelled late April 1993.

NZ1760 at Rukuhuia 27Mar1978





c/n A543 was a AESL Airtourer Super 150 which became ZK-DAB to Aero Engine Services Ltd., Hamilton 23Oct1969.
Destined for the Australian market, this aircraft left NZ on the 19th December to become VH-AHW with the Australian arm of AESL, Aero Engine Services (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. The NZ registration was cancelled 13Feb1970.
VH-AHW is recorded as having crashed at Grafton, NSW, 3Sep89.

ZK-DAB, grey overall, location unknown but probably Hamilton

[shamus]

A colour photo of ZK-CJX at New Plymouth. This was after it was blown against the fence by a gust
during a storm.