Post by Peter Lewis on May 30, 2010 16:48:24 GMT 12
By this time, AESLs push for overseas sales was gaining traction, and aircraft in the next batch were largely exported.
Some were sent off as kitsets while others carried out a brief test flight program before departing by air for their new homes. Those Airtourers destined for the Asian countries were largely part of New Zealand's Colombo Plan foreign aid program.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B557 was shipped to the UK to become G-AYMF
c/ns B558 and B559 went directly to Singapore as military trainers, becoming SDAC113 and 114.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B560 test flew as ZK-DDE for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 4Oct70 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCO. F/f 2Nov70. Left NZ 18Nov70, registration cancelled 8Dec70.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B561 test flew as ZK-DDI for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 13Nov70 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCN. F/f 24Nov70. Left NZ12Dec70, registration cancelled 9Dec70.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B562 test flew as ZK-DDJ for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 8Jan71 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCM. F/f 3Feb71. Left NZ 8Feb71, registration cancelled 19Feb71.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B563 test flew as ZK-DDK for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 27Jan71 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCL. F/f 25Feb71. Left NZ 6Mar71, registration cancelled 21Apr71.
ZK-DDK at Nelson 27Feb71, two days after its first flight at Hamilton.
T6/24 c/n B564 became ZK-DDL on 7Jan1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept., this was the first of a batch for the Indonesian Government. F/f 15Dec70. Left NZ 8Jan71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATS, NZ registration cancelled 19Jan1971.
Typical of Airtourers prior to the long overseas delivery flight, T/6/24 ZK-DDL at Hamilton
T6/24 c/n B565 became ZK-DDM on 11Jan1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept. F/f 15Jan71. Left NZ 19Jan71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATT, NZ registration cancelled 19Feb1971.
T6/24 c/n B566 became ZK-DDN on 15Mar1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept. F/f 30Mar71. Left NZ 3Apr71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATU, NZ registration cancelled 11Jun1971.
T6/24 c/n B567 became ZK-DDO on 15Mar1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept. F/f 16Apr71. Left NZ 27Apr71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATV, NZ registration cancelled 31May1971.
The home market took the next Airtourer, c/n 568, which was 115/T2 model that became ZK-DDP on 1March1971 initially for Aero Engine Services Ltd., Hamilton where it first flew on 19Mar1971. It was destined for the Airline Flying Club Inc., Ardmore who took ownership on 24Mar1972. They traded it to Dalhoff & King Aviation Ltd., Ardmore (the Cessna agents) on 15Jan1979 and C M McGregor, Te Awamutu became the next owner 2May1979. W G McGregor, Te Awamutu took over on 1Jul1999 prior to sale to the Kaitaia Aero Club 8Sep1999.
ZK-DDP crashed 6nm NE Kaitaia 1May00 during low-level aerobatics. Pilot Julian Metcalfe. Registration was cancelled 22May2000.
At Ardmore 1972
c/n B569 was a T6/24 that first flew as '569' at Hamilton 4Oct1971. It went to the UK as G-AZPD in March 1972, and then returned to NZ to become ZK-DKU with NZ Aerospace Industries Ltd. 5Jul1973. Dalcom Aviation Training Ltd., Wanganui operated ZK-DKU from 12Jul1974 under contract to train Bangladesh pilots on Airtourer operations. It returned to NZAI on 16Sep1974 and then departed to Bangladesh where it became S2-AAJ. NZ registration cancelled 6Jan1975. (Alternatively, I have this aircraft operating in Bangladesh as 'B569' 1973-74, so G-AZPD may only have been an book entry. Which history is correct?).
ZK-DKU in Bangladesh colours while at Wanganui 1974
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B570 became ZK-DDQ 24May71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDQ. F/f 7Jul71. Left NZ 23Jul71, NZ registration cancelled 4Aug1971.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B571 became ZK-DDU 2Jun71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDR. F/f 06/08/71. Left NZ 26Aug71, NZ registration cancelled 6Sep1971.
C/n 572 did not fly, and was used as a static test airframe for future developments.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B573 became ZK-DDS 17Jun71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDU. F/f 14/09/71. Left NZ 28Octl71, NZ registration cancelled 8Nov1971.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B574 became ZK-DDT 20Jul71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDV. F/f 17/09/71. Left NZ 28Oct71., NZ registration cancelled 8Nov1971.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B575 was allocated to G-BAFO, but this was not taken up and it became ZK-DKT 5Jul1973 to AESL prior to departure for Bangladesh where it became S2-AAH. F/f 26Oct/71. NZ registration cancelled 12Nov1974.
c/n C576 was the Airtourer T3 prototype with the 130hp engine first flown 28Jan1972 and became ZK-DGX to AESL 10Feb1972.
This aircraft was evaluated by the Auckland, Kaitaia and Northland Districts aero clubs over the next year but remained under AESL ownership during that time.
It finally crashed Mt Bledisloe, Waitangi, 29Jul73, pilot D Field.
A rebuild must have been considered, as the registration was not cancelled until 23Sep1977.
At Whangarei 15Oct1972
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B577 became ZK-DHH in March 1972 and went to Thailand as '1909'
T6/24 c/n B578 became ZK-DKO on 8Feb1973 for AESL. Left NZ for Indonesia to become PK-ATY, NZ registration cancelled 19Apr1973.
T6/24 c/n B579 became ZK-DKP on 13Mar1973 for AESL. Left NZ for Indonesia to become PK-ATZ, NZ registration cancelled 26Jun1973.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B580 became ZK-DKV 5Jul1973 to NZAI prior to departure for Bangladesh where it became S2-AAK. NZ registration cancelled 26May1975.
This was end of Airtourer production with NZAI now turning to the military market with the Airtrainer.
However, this is not the end of the Airtourer story, a few more rebuilds to come yet.
Some were sent off as kitsets while others carried out a brief test flight program before departing by air for their new homes. Those Airtourers destined for the Asian countries were largely part of New Zealand's Colombo Plan foreign aid program.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B557 was shipped to the UK to become G-AYMF
c/ns B558 and B559 went directly to Singapore as military trainers, becoming SDAC113 and 114.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B560 test flew as ZK-DDE for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 4Oct70 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCO. F/f 2Nov70. Left NZ 18Nov70, registration cancelled 8Dec70.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B561 test flew as ZK-DDI for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 13Nov70 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCN. F/f 24Nov70. Left NZ12Dec70, registration cancelled 9Dec70.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B562 test flew as ZK-DDJ for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 8Jan71 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCM. F/f 3Feb71. Left NZ 8Feb71, registration cancelled 19Feb71.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B563 test flew as ZK-DDK for Foreign Affairs Dept., NZ Govt, Wellington on 27Jan71 before departing for Thailand to become HS-TCL. F/f 25Feb71. Left NZ 6Mar71, registration cancelled 21Apr71.
ZK-DDK at Nelson 27Feb71, two days after its first flight at Hamilton.
T6/24 c/n B564 became ZK-DDL on 7Jan1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept., this was the first of a batch for the Indonesian Government. F/f 15Dec70. Left NZ 8Jan71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATS, NZ registration cancelled 19Jan1971.
Typical of Airtourers prior to the long overseas delivery flight, T/6/24 ZK-DDL at Hamilton
T6/24 c/n B565 became ZK-DDM on 11Jan1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept. F/f 15Jan71. Left NZ 19Jan71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATT, NZ registration cancelled 19Feb1971.
T6/24 c/n B566 became ZK-DDN on 15Mar1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept. F/f 30Mar71. Left NZ 3Apr71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATU, NZ registration cancelled 11Jun1971.
T6/24 c/n B567 became ZK-DDO on 15Mar1971 for the Foreign Affairs Dept. F/f 16Apr71. Left NZ 27Apr71 for Indonesia to become PK-ATV, NZ registration cancelled 31May1971.
The home market took the next Airtourer, c/n 568, which was 115/T2 model that became ZK-DDP on 1March1971 initially for Aero Engine Services Ltd., Hamilton where it first flew on 19Mar1971. It was destined for the Airline Flying Club Inc., Ardmore who took ownership on 24Mar1972. They traded it to Dalhoff & King Aviation Ltd., Ardmore (the Cessna agents) on 15Jan1979 and C M McGregor, Te Awamutu became the next owner 2May1979. W G McGregor, Te Awamutu took over on 1Jul1999 prior to sale to the Kaitaia Aero Club 8Sep1999.
ZK-DDP crashed 6nm NE Kaitaia 1May00 during low-level aerobatics. Pilot Julian Metcalfe. Registration was cancelled 22May2000.
At Ardmore 1972
c/n B569 was a T6/24 that first flew as '569' at Hamilton 4Oct1971. It went to the UK as G-AZPD in March 1972, and then returned to NZ to become ZK-DKU with NZ Aerospace Industries Ltd. 5Jul1973. Dalcom Aviation Training Ltd., Wanganui operated ZK-DKU from 12Jul1974 under contract to train Bangladesh pilots on Airtourer operations. It returned to NZAI on 16Sep1974 and then departed to Bangladesh where it became S2-AAJ. NZ registration cancelled 6Jan1975. (Alternatively, I have this aircraft operating in Bangladesh as 'B569' 1973-74, so G-AZPD may only have been an book entry. Which history is correct?).
ZK-DKU in Bangladesh colours while at Wanganui 1974
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B570 became ZK-DDQ 24May71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDQ. F/f 7Jul71. Left NZ 23Jul71, NZ registration cancelled 4Aug1971.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B571 became ZK-DDU 2Jun71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDR. F/f 06/08/71. Left NZ 26Aug71, NZ registration cancelled 6Sep1971.
C/n 572 did not fly, and was used as a static test airframe for future developments.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B573 became ZK-DDS 17Jun71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDU. F/f 14/09/71. Left NZ 28Octl71, NZ registration cancelled 8Nov1971.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B574 became ZK-DDT 20Jul71 to AESL prior to departure for Singapore where it became 9V-BDV. F/f 17/09/71. Left NZ 28Oct71., NZ registration cancelled 8Nov1971.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B575 was allocated to G-BAFO, but this was not taken up and it became ZK-DKT 5Jul1973 to AESL prior to departure for Bangladesh where it became S2-AAH. F/f 26Oct/71. NZ registration cancelled 12Nov1974.
c/n C576 was the Airtourer T3 prototype with the 130hp engine first flown 28Jan1972 and became ZK-DGX to AESL 10Feb1972.
This aircraft was evaluated by the Auckland, Kaitaia and Northland Districts aero clubs over the next year but remained under AESL ownership during that time.
It finally crashed Mt Bledisloe, Waitangi, 29Jul73, pilot D Field.
A rebuild must have been considered, as the registration was not cancelled until 23Sep1977.
At Whangarei 15Oct1972
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B577 became ZK-DHH in March 1972 and went to Thailand as '1909'
T6/24 c/n B578 became ZK-DKO on 8Feb1973 for AESL. Left NZ for Indonesia to become PK-ATY, NZ registration cancelled 19Apr1973.
T6/24 c/n B579 became ZK-DKP on 13Mar1973 for AESL. Left NZ for Indonesia to become PK-ATZ, NZ registration cancelled 26Jun1973.
Airtourer T6/24 c/n B580 became ZK-DKV 5Jul1973 to NZAI prior to departure for Bangladesh where it became S2-AAK. NZ registration cancelled 26May1975.
This was end of Airtourer production with NZAI now turning to the military market with the Airtrainer.
However, this is not the end of the Airtourer story, a few more rebuilds to come yet.
