|
|
Post by thomarse on Jan 17, 2021 8:05:29 GMT 12
John C Meredith, the owner of "Orui" Station on the Wairarapa coast, was also a Director of a firm Aircraft Hire Limited, along with Colin James of Air Contracts. I recall them at various stages owning C180 BZV, C185 CAU, the two 205s CEZ and CFF and others including the Tipsy Nipper CAP?
This would explain how BTE got to be on hire to Northern Air Services. IIRC the C180 BST was also owned by Aircraft Hire and operated by Northern at the time of its demise on November 22 1961
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 17, 2021 13:49:53 GMT 12
Thanks for the info on J C Meredith, all makes sense.
That photo of ZK-BTE 'at Gore' did raise a query in my mind when I first saw it. Certainly looks much like the Te Kuiti hangar in the background, so feedback solves that one as well.
|
|
nobody
Pilot Officer
Posts: 46
|
Post by nobody on Jan 17, 2021 16:52:30 GMT 12
Peter, I have more carefully studied your photograph and mine and ironically BTE is parked close to the same location in both. The tripod for the re-fuelling boom is the same, as is overhanging flashing on the shed to the left in your photo. It is a photo from the family collection, I'm absolutely certain it was taken at Te Kuiti.
|
|
|
|
Post by delticman on Jan 17, 2021 21:17:24 GMT 12
ZK-BTE was Cub 150 c/n 18-5895, registered to Airwork on 20Aug1957. This one went to Airspread Ltd, based at Tauranga. It was the only Cub ever operated by this company. Airspread kept this aircraft working until September 1959 when they sold it to J C Meredith of Masterton who also owned Proctor ZK-AQJ around that time. I'm not sure what he did with ZK-BTE as he does not seem to have been directly involved with agricultural aviation, but he onsold the Cub to Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd., Milson, in February 1961. ZK-BTE worked for Aerial Farming until December 1963 when it was returned to Airwork, no doubt in part exchange for a Pawnee. That same month Airwork moved it down country to Southern Aviation Ltd. of Gore. In October 1965 Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd., Blenheim, became the registered owners. I don't think they ever actually used ZK-BTE operationally, as apparently it was dismantled sometime in 1965. Possibly it was just bought as a christmas tree. By the end of 1968 ZK-BTE - or what remained of it - was in the hands of Wellington-based aircraft engineer Ivan East. It was not rebuilt to flying status by him, nor by subsequent owners located in Hamilton, Papakura or Whitford. Instead, the registration was finally cancelled on 14Oct1993. ZK-BTE at Christchurch 1962 At New Plymouth 30Jun1963 At Gore The bottom one is Te Kuiti. Jack told me a farmer that owed them for topdressing paid in rough sawn timber and that is why it's so unique. The other one, now a loader shed was built for the Waitomo Aero Club and then later used as the factory to build the first Airtruck. |
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 17, 2021 22:37:56 GMT 12
Airwork's next Cub 150 registration was c/n 18-5886, which became ZK-BTF also on 20Aug1957. This Cub also headed north, to Northern Air Services Ltd. at Te Kuiti, being registered to them on 15Oct1957. It first incident appears to be a forced landing short of Te Kuiti airfield on 8Aug1959, when the engine failed shortly after take-off. Jack Worthington was the pilot at the time. (Some sources say this incident took place on 12th August). Repaired, it continued to serve with Northern until March 1960, when it moved south to Dunedin to join the Southland & Otago Aerial Topdressing Company. SOAT ceased operations in April 1961, and ZK-BTF moved across to a newly formed offshoot, the Southland Aerial Topdressing Company now based at Gore. There is a reported incident at Tokanui, Southland on 6Apr1962 with ZK-BTF, Ivor Hagan flying. On 13Dec1962 ZK-BTF was involved in a fairly unusual accident while operating from an airstrip at Niagara, Southland: "The Piper had just taken off from the airstrip at the end of the day's operation when the pilot decided that he wished to continue a discussion he had been having with the farmer about a future contract. Returning to the airstrip he made a low run to warn the persons there that he was about to land. As the strip was a sloping one the loading area was not visible from the approach end, and the pilot lost sight of a car that was parked in the loading area. As the plane reached the top of the rise, just skimming the ground, it drifted off the line of the airstrip and the pilot was suddenly confronted with the Ford car, which had not moved, right in front of him. The pilot attempted to clear the car but the propeller struck the farmer, who was standing beside the vehicle, on the head killing him. Another man standing beside the car saw the plane at the last moment and threw himself to the ground, escaping with only a light injury. Both car and plane were badly damaged. Despite losing the port undercarriage leg and wheel in the impact the pilot of the plane was able to complete a circuit and land without further damage. The pilot was uninjured". Following the required repairs, the Cub rejoined Southland ATD for another two years of activity. In December 1964 Rural Aviation took ownership of ZK-BTF. This may have had something to do with the disposal of agricultural aviation licenses after SOAT closed down, as Rural took up the balance of the area licences that did not go to Southland ATD. In any event, the Wigram Gliding Club purchased this Cub in August 1966. After many years of glider towing it was sold to Craig Keenan and exported to the UK becoming G-BZHT in May 2000. ZK-BTF at Te Kuiti Looking quite clean at Airwork's hangar, Christchurch and now apperaring rather more used |
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Jan 17, 2021 23:03:24 GMT 12
On 13Dec1962 ZK-BTF was involved in a fairly unusual accident while operating from an airstrip at Niagara, Southland: "The Piper had just taken off from the airstrip at the end of the day's operation when the pilot decided that he wished to continue a discussion he had been having with the farmer about a future contract. Returning to the airstrip he made a low run to warn the persons there that he was about to land. As the strip was a sloping one the loading area was not visible from the approach end, and the pilot lost sight of a car that was parked in the loading area. As the plane reached the top of the rise, just skimming the ground, it drifted off the line of the airstrip and the pilot was suddenly confronted with the Ford car, which had not moved, right in front of him. The pilot attempted to clear the car but the propeller struck the farmer, who was standing beside the vehicle, on the head killing him. Another man standing beside the car saw the plane at the last moment and threw himself to the ground, escaping with only a light injury. Both car and plane were badly damaged. Despite losing the port undercarriage leg and wheel in the impact the pilot of the plane was able to complete a circuit and land without further damage. The pilot was uninjured". Ivar Charles HAGAN, aged ? Raymond Alexander STRONACH, aged ? Gregory YORKE, aged 63 (the farmer who was killed) Errol |
|
|
|
Post by baronbeeza on Jan 18, 2021 8:48:25 GMT 12
Airwork's next Cub 150 registration was c/n 18-5886, which became ZK-BTF also on 20Aug1957. On 13Dec1962 ZK-BTF was involved in a fairly unusual accident while operating from an airstrip at Niagara, Southland: "The Piper had just taken off from the airstrip at the end of the day's operation when the pilot decided that he wished to continue a discussion he had been having with the farmer about a future contract. Returning to the airstrip he made a low run to warn the persons there that he was about to land. As the strip was a sloping one the loading area was not visible from the approach end, and the pilot lost sight of a car that was parked in the loading area. As the plane reached the top of the rise, just skimming the ground, it drifted off the line of the airstrip and the pilot was suddenly confronted with the Ford car, which had not moved, right in front of him. The pilot attempted to clear the car but the propeller struck the farmer, who was standing beside the vehicle, on the head killing him. Another man standing beside the car saw the plane at the last moment and threw himself to the ground, escaping with only a light injury. Both car and plane were badly damaged. Despite losing the port undercarriage leg and wheel in the impact the pilot of the plane was able to complete a circuit and land without further damage. The pilot was uninjured". I flew BTF as a glider tug at Wigram and I was unaware of this. I also flew a Cessna 206, ZK-SKT, coincidentally at Wigram. It went on to strike a car or truck as well. aviation-safety.net/wikibase/73425Was there ever a book of excuses ? Then again I did see that video clip of a plane hitting the car in the States just a few years back, it would have been the car driver that would have had to be doing the thinking. She drove into a plane on approach.  |
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Jan 18, 2021 10:16:31 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 18, 2021 20:15:27 GMT 12
Another Cub 150 registered on 20Aug1957 to Airwork was c/n 18-5891 which became ZK-BTG. On 10Oct1957 ownership was transferred to Mt Cook Air Services Ltd. who were based at Timaru. ZK-BTG remained working for Mt Cook AS until 31Jan1961. On that day it was scheduled to be working off a farm strip at Nimrod Downs, Mt Neesing, in the Albury area of South Canterbury. On the first operational flight of the day it was unable to outclimb rising ground after an over-weight take-off and spun-in off the resultant avoidance turn. The aircraft was destroyed in the ensuring fire and the pilot, Terry Taylor, was killed. ZK-BPG at Queenstown airfield |
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Jan 18, 2021 21:28:04 GMT 12
ZK-BTG remained working for Mt Cook AS until 31Jan1961. On that day it was scheduled to be working off a farm strip at Nimrod Downs, Mt Neesing, in the Albury area of South Canterbury. On the first operational flight of the day it was unable to outclimb rising ground after an over-weight take-off and spun-in off in the resultant avoidance turn. The aircraft was destroyed in the ensuring fire and the pilot, Terry Taylor, was killed. Terence Alfred TAYLOR, aged 29. Errol |
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 19, 2021 22:21:15 GMT 12
On 27Aug1957 Airwork registered Cub 150 c/n 18-6002 as ZK-BTH. The Raetihi partnership of Gibson & MacLean had operated Cub ZK-BKN on aerial work around their own property since late 1956. A year later they sold that Cub and bought ZK-BTH, registering it in the name of their partnership on 1Nov1957. As well as carrying out topdressing operations, ZK-BTH was fitted with underwing 'bomb racks' which Alec MacLean used to drop hay bales and fencing materials into locations around the farm. The Gibson & MacLean operated ZK-BTH for many years without any reported incidents until mid 1974. Then the Cub was sold to I H Atkinson, Hanmer Springs, in July 1974. It is still active under private ownership in the Hawkes Bay area. ZK-BTH in the Aerial Farming company hangar at Milson. The underwing racks are evident. Looks like a bit of work going on around the hopper ZK-BTH undergoing maintenance. Cub ZK-AZJ is visible in the background, so this is probably at Harewood. |
|
nobody
Pilot Officer
Posts: 46
|
Post by nobody on Jan 20, 2021 5:35:09 GMT 12
On 27Aug1957 Airwork registered Cub 150 c/n 18-6002 as ZK-BTH. The Raetihi partnership of Gibson & MacLean had operated Cub ZK-BKN on aerial work around their own property since late 1956. A year later they sold that Cub and bought ZK-BTH, registering it in the name of their partnership on 1Nov1957. ZK-BTH undergoing maintenance. Cub ZK-AZJ is visible in the background, so this is probably at Harewood.That is almost certainly ZK-BTH undergoing initial assembly. It is all rather too clean and bright to have been in service. The Airwork hopper mod involved cutting out the tubing X under the hopper and replacing that with a square opening by welding in square section tubing. All the ones I have seen used the square tube used on Tiger Moth frames. This is Airwork Mod AW252. The oxyacetylene set alongside BTH suggests they are doing the welding for this mod. It would've been a wise precaution to put the aeroplane outside while welding alongside doped cotton fabric! Wet sacks were often put in place to protect the fabric. When I was familiar with BTH in the 90's it still had the original cotton on it and had never been rebuilt. It was very low time (around 2000 hrs at that time) due to the much lower utilisation of Gibson and MacLean than with the commercial operators. It was in this original cotton until it was crashed in the early 2000's. So the clean and bright state is unlikely to be due to a rebuild at Airwork in later years. It is certainly a fascinating photo. Love the Dominee/Rapide towering over the Cubs at that back of the hangar! |
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 20, 2021 19:33:24 GMT 12
Another Cub 150 registered on 27Aug1957 was c/n 18-6003 which beacme ZK-BTI with Airwork. On 8Feb1958 ownership of this aircraft was transferred to Aircraft Holdings Ltd., Wanganui. As the location indicates, this Cub was then leased to and operated by Wanganui Aero Work. At this time it carried the name 'Waiohine', continuing the tradition of the WAW aircraft being named. On 19Nov1964 ZK-BTI was involved in a reported incident at Waihaha, in the Taupo district, the pilot at that time being Ken Walker. In December 1965 Western Air Spray Ltd., also based at Wanganui, became the owners of ZK-BTI. This company had just been formed that year by ex-WAW pilot Dave Patterson. This Cub continued to operate in the spraying role until mid-1967 when it was sold to Dalcom Aviation Training, also a Wanganui based operation. Finally, in March 1969, ZK-BTI was bought by Dave Philpotts. It is still extant in the Nelson area. ZK-BTI as operated by Wanganui Aero Work, Wanganui March 1959 Now with Western Air Spray, Wanganui February 1967  and occupying the same parking spot in June 1967, with Dalcom |
|
|
|
Post by thomarse on Jan 20, 2021 20:00:08 GMT 12
Great history in these... note in the last two shots, that's the remains of AGD in the dilapidated hangar behind. It appears to have deteriorated considerably between the two shots.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2021 0:47:40 GMT 12
Saves me pointing it out! Some lovely photos there, Peter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 21, 2021 19:27:09 GMT 12
Yet another Cub 150 that came on to the register for Airwork on 27Aug1957 was ZK-BTJ, c/n 18-6004. This one was sold south, becoming the property of Checketts ATD Co.Ltd., Dunedin, in October 1957. On 1Feb1958 pilot Murray Taylor suffered a reported incident in ZK-BTJ at Waitahuna, near Lawrence in Otago. Apparently this occurred on Taylor's fourth job for the company. The Cub was restored to health, and when in 1958 Johnny Checketts sold out to Central Aviation based at Roxburgh, the Cub also moved across. It was registered to Central on 23Dec1958. ZK-BTJ was destroyed on 22Jul1965 when James Ferguson was operating it off a strip at Island Block, Central Otago. After a balked landing on this strip, the Cub stalled during the subsequent steep climb while attempting to avoid the adjacent HT power lines and dived into the ground. Feguson was killed in the crash. ZK-BTJ at Harewood July 1958 and back at Harewood a bit later |
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Jan 21, 2021 20:09:27 GMT 12
ZK-BTJ was destroyed on 22Jul1965 when James Ferguson was operating it off a strip at Island Block, Central Otago. After a balked landing on this strip, the Cub stalled during the subsequent steep climb while attempting to avoid the adjacent HT power lines and dived into the ground. Feguson was killed in the crash. James Henry FERGUSON, aged 25 Errol |
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 22, 2021 17:01:03 GMT 12
Cub ZK-BTK was not an 'A' model, so we move on to PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-6148 which appeared with Airwork on 21Nov1957 as ZK-BTL. G P Buglar of Picton took ownership on 14Feb1958. I understand that Mr Buglar was applying for an aerial work licence at that time, but his application was unsuccessful. After that, ZK-BTL went north to Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd. based at Milson in April 1958, no doubt with Airwork acting as a sales agent. In due course that company was reorganized as Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd. While with AirFarm this Cub carried the name 'Miss Tai Happie' and appears to have led an incident-free life. According to the records, ownership passed to the Palmerston North Flying School on 26Apr1969. However, I suspect they operated it for some time prior to that date as I have photographs taken by myself of ZK-BTL in non-ag configuration at Ardmore dated 5Aug1966 and at Milson carrying Palmerston North Flying School signage dated 5Feb1967. Perhaps they leased the Cub from Aerial Farming for some time before actually taking ownership. After spending time in later years glider and banner towing ZK-BTL was exported to Canada in 1999 where it became C-GGYV in 2001. ZK-BTL at Wanganui January 1959 and again in May 1961 ZK-BTL at Milson 5Feb1967, obviously non-ag |
|
|
|
Post by delticman on Jan 22, 2021 18:15:36 GMT 12
Cub ZK-BTK was not an 'A' model, so we move on to PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-6148 which appeared with Airwork on 21Nov1957 as ZK-BTL. G P Buglar of Picton took ownership on 14Feb1958. I understand that Mr Buglar was applying for an aerial work licence at that time, but his application was unsuccessful. After that, ZK-BTL went north to Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd. based at Milson in April 1958, no doubt with Airwork acting as a sales agent. In due course that company was reorganized as Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd. While with AirFarm this Cub carried the name 'Miss Tai Happie' and appears to have led an incident-free life. According to the records, ownership passed to the Palmerston North Flying School on 26Apr1969. However, I suspect they operated it for some time prior to that date as I have photographs taken by myself of ZK-BTL in non-ag configuration at Ardmore dated 5Aug1966 and at Milson carrying Palmerston North Flying School signage dated 5Feb1967. Perhaps they leased the Cub from Aerial Farming for some time before actually taking ownership. After spending time in later years glider and banner towing ZK-BTL was exported to Canada in 1999 where it became C-GGYV in 2001. ZK-BTL at Wanganui January 1959and again in May 1961ZK-BTL at Milson 5Feb1967, obviously non-agZK-BTL was painted blue and was flown by Buzz Spillman all the time it was at Wanganui. Once the Pawnee 235's arrived in 1963 the Cub moved on. |
|
|
|
Post by thomarse on Jan 22, 2021 20:43:05 GMT 12
Now the question (who's older than me?): in the early 60s there were two topdressing Cubs at Wanganui, both of which were the only examples I've seen. They were both in the traditional "1957 Cub paint scheme" but one - BNP, then of Aerial Applicators, later Alexander Helicopters- was black and white, and the other, which I guess was Aerial Farmings, was blue and white. What was her rego? So after over 11 years, we have the answer - thanks Ray. Just shows that the knowledge is out there and very thankfully is being recorded! Looking at the black and white photos, it is quite apparent that BTL was not the standard red Aerial Farming had two blue Cubs, so part of the mystery remains... |
|
