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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 3, 2021 16:56:38 GMT 12
Registration ZK-BRQ was issued to PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5571 on 13Mar1957 owner Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch. In May Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. based at Blenheim took over the ownership of this aircraft, and they appear to have operated ZK-BRQ for the next eleven years without notable incident. Lance "Snow" Gatehouse was one of the three founding shareholders of Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. in 1950, and also became the company's manager. When he sold out his shareholding in 1968 he also took ownership of ZK-BRQ, the Cub being registered into his name on 21Aug1968. After changing hands many times over the years, ZK-BRQ is still active in the Marlborough area. ZK-BRQ in the hangar at Omaka and outside, in 1967 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 4, 2021 22:13:27 GMT 12
Also on the 13Mar1957 Cub 150 c/n 18-5581 became ZK-BRS with Airwork. Aerodress of Dannevirke became the owners of this Cub on 30th May. However, on 31Oct1957 ZK-BRS was destroyed at Waterfall Bridge, Weber, near Dannevirke, when it collided with some 11,000 volt power lines while topdressing and dived vertically into the ground. The pilot, Ken Wilde, was killed in the accident. The remains of ZK-BRS at the accident site |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 5, 2021 8:33:32 GMT 12
That is awfully sad.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 5, 2021 10:23:09 GMT 12
However, on 31Oct1957 ZK-BRS was destroyed at Waterfall Bridge, Weber, near Dannevirke, when it collided with some 11,000 volt power lines while topdressing and dived vertically into the ground. The pilot, Ken Wilde, was killed in the accident. Kenneth Albert George WILDE, aged 32 - date was 12 Jul 57. Errol |
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Post by planewriting on Jan 5, 2021 11:00:29 GMT 12
When looking at my register book I see I originally had the cancellation date as 12 July 1957 however at some later stage I changed that to the accident date and inserted 31 Oct 57 as the cancellation date. I'm just wondering if the AHSNZ records were initially wrong as Peter Lewis and I evidently had the same error. The revised dates were sourced direct from the CAA rego card.
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Post by thomarse on Jan 5, 2021 14:37:23 GMT 12
I have the Report which shows the date of the accident as 12 July 1957. The aircraft had therefore only been in use for about 6 weeks - it is recorded as having flown a mere 55 hours.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 5, 2021 22:25:01 GMT 12
Yes, I agree with the date 12Jul1967 as the accident date for BRS.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 5, 2021 22:37:23 GMT 12
The next Cub150 to be registered to Airwork on 13Mar1957 was c/n 18-5597, which became ZK-BRT on that day. Aerial Farming of NZ took ownership on 14May1957, and ZK-BRT then moved around some of their subsidiary companies - Aerodress on 24Jun1957, the Hawkes Bay Aerial Topdressing Company in September 1959, and back to Aerodress in early March 1960. On 18Mar1960 it was consolidated into Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd. ownership. ZK-BRT was destroyed at Te Awa, near Kimbolton, Manawatu on 9Feb1961 when it dived vertically into the ground due to engine failure caused by fuel starvation during a steep turn while on topdressing. operations. Pilot Mike Lucas killed. ZK-BRT loading, 1960 |
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 6, 2021 10:27:15 GMT 12
ZK-BRT was destroyed at Te Awa, near Kimbolton, Manawatu on 9Feb1961 when it dived vertically into the ground due to engine failure caused by fuel starvation during a steep turn while on topdressing. operations. Pilot Mike Lucas killed. Michael Roy LUCAS, aged 22. Errol |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 6, 2021 16:57:28 GMT 12
Another of the batch of Cubs registered to Airwork on 13Mar1957 was c/n 18-5614 which became ZK-BRU. This Cub then moved north to Aerodress of Dannevirke, becoming theirs on 30May1957. Ownership was later transferred to the holding company, Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd., Milson. I have the date of this transfer also listed as 30May1957, but this is obviously in error as the Whites Air Directory lists the ownership still as Aerodress as at 1Oct1962, but with Aerial Farming by 1Oct1963. It appears to have suffered no reported incidents during its aerial work career, and was sold off to R W King of Nelson in July 1966. After further use glider towing it departed these shores for the USA in 2001 and took up a new life as N4044G ZK-BRU with Aerodress (not the sharpest photo, unfortunately) and at Milson 28Aug1964 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 7, 2021 16:53:13 GMT 12
PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5615 became ZK-BRV with Airwork, also on 13Mar1957. In July 1957 it moved to Omaka to go online with Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. On 16Feb1961 ZK-BRV collided with high tension wires at Te Rou, 30 miles south-west of Blenheim, and was destroyed in the subsequent crash. The pilot, Ken Wills, was killed. ZK-BRV picketed out at Omaka May 1959 and at Harewood |
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 7, 2021 17:06:24 GMT 12
On 16Feb1961 ZK-BRV collided with high tension wires at Te Rou, 30 miles south-west of Blenheim, and was destroyed in the subsequent crash. The pilot, Ken Wills, was killed. Kenneth Rowland WILLS, aged 25. Errol |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jan 7, 2021 17:52:40 GMT 12
Errol, sobering statistics...
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 8, 2021 21:43:51 GMT 12
ZK-BRW, Cub 150 c/n 18-5601, was also registered to Airwork on 13Mar1957. This was yet another one for Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. and, like ZK-BRV, moved up to Omaka in early July 1957. However, it had a shorter life. On 11Apr1958 while working at Redwood Pass, near Blenheim, it crashed and was burnt out. The pilot, Frank Darbyshire, survived the accident and continued to fly with the company until mid-1961. ZK-BRW at Harewood in June 1957 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 9, 2021 18:29:13 GMT 12
There was now a couple of months before Airwork registered the next Cub 150. This was c/n 18-5686 which became ZK-BRX on 7May1957. Airwork retained this aircraft, and operated it as part of their own fleet until December 1961. They then converted it to the three-seat configuration colloquially known as 'pregnant Cub' and sold it to the Mercury Bay Aero Club based at Whitianga. That club traded ZK-BRX back to Airwork in early 1965. It was then onsold to A B Craig of Balclutha in April 1965 and remains in his hands today. This must be getting near the record for the longest term private ownership of any aircraft in NZ! ZK-BRX outside the Airwork hangar at Harewood and now recording their ownership, July 1960 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 10, 2021 16:38:59 GMT 12
PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5687 became ZK-BRY with Airwork on 7May1957. This one moved a bit further north to go on-line with Cookson Airspread Ltd., Wairoa in July 1957. There was a reported incident at Tikitiki, in the Waiapu Valley near Gisborne, on 12Jun1964 with Noel Kinvig flying. Repaired, it continued with Cookson until being sold to J A Chesswass of Wanganui on 11Jul1972. ZK-BRY then moved around through the usual venison recovery and glider towing. After a rebuild by Frank Wright in 2002/2003 it flew in the Fielding area until being badly damaged at Fielding in 2019. Currently under rebuild at Taieri with the intention of restoring back to its original 1958 configuration and livery. ZK-BRY at Wairoa in 1958
 a change of colour scheme later and at Feilding 17Feb1966 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 11, 2021 22:33:57 GMT 12
Also registered to Airwork on 7May 1957 was Cub c/n 18-5767 which became ZK-BRZ. Taranaki Aerial Services had been formed at New Plymouth in late 1954. Initially operating Tiger Moths ZK-AUP and ZK-AZH, they bought ZK-BRZ in August 1957. Peter Hobart, the owner of the company, sold out to Rural Aviation in late 1959. As Cessna agents and operators, Rural had no use for the Cub and sold it to Wakeman Aviation Ltd. of Christchurch in February 1960. However, in April 1960 Airwork bought out Wakeman, and so ZK-BRZ returned to Airwork ownership that same month. Meanwhile up north Fieldair were looking at a replacement for their Auster J1B ZK-ATO, which had been employed on spraying and seeding work in the East Coat region since 1950. A Cub fitted the bill, so they took ownership of ZK-BRZ on 4Jul1960. By November 1968 this aircraft had become surplus to Fieldair's needs and was sold to Tony Hawker. After a few years in the venison trade it crashed into the sea at the mouth of the Gorge River, Fiordland, on 1Jun1971 and was destroyed. ZK-BRZ at an 'event' at Bell Block airfield, New Plymouth, 1Mar1958 at Harewood June 1960, still branded as Wakeman Aviation a not-so-good image of ZK-BRZ in Fieldair colours flinched from the internet |
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nobody
Pilot Officer
Posts: 46
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Post by nobody on Jan 12, 2021 4:52:10 GMT 12
Also registered to Airwork on 7May 1957 was Cub c/n 18-5767 which became ZK-BRZ. By November 1968 this aircraft had become surplus to Fieldair's needs and was sold to Tony Hawker. After a few years in the venison trade it crashed into the sea at the mouth of the Gorge River, Fiordland, on 1Jun1971 and was destroyed. Wasn't BRZ swept out to sea, never to be seen again, after this accident? |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 12, 2021 7:20:54 GMT 12
So I understand.
He dipped a wingtip into the water, and it all went sour from there.
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Post by johnm on Jan 12, 2021 9:32:27 GMT 12
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