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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 4, 2020 22:17:10 GMT 12
Thanks Zac.
That photo was actually in a pretty bad way, took lots of work to get it to a reasonable standard - but at least now it will be available forever.
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Post by davidd on Nov 5, 2020 10:55:28 GMT 12
I agree, a wonderful shot, showing New Zealand in the 1950s/60s the way it was, and in many cases still is. Can just hear that Lycoming O-320 giving its all to avoid a hill looming up ahead! Farming country like that holds most people enthralled, especially on a perfect weather day.
David D
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 5, 2020 21:49:31 GMT 12
Cub 150 c/n 18-4676 became ZK-BKI with Airwork on 5Jan1956. By March it was in the hands of Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd., Palmerston North. Along with other aircraft of the Aerial Farming fleet it was on display at the Milson agricultural aviation expo in November 1956 but less than two years later, on 15Feb1958, ZK-BKI crashed and was burnt out shortly after taking off from a farm airstrip at Wangaehu, near Masterton, after it stalled while making a steep climbing turn fully loaded. The pilot, Les Stott, died at the scene. ZK-BKI at Milson 9Nov1956 Resting, at an unknown airfield  A nice colour shot of ZK-BKI working off a farm strip late-1950s |
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Post by errolmartyn on Nov 5, 2020 23:41:30 GMT 12
on 15Feb1958, ZK-BKI crashed and was burnt out shortly after taking off from a farm airstrip at Wangaehu, near Masterton, after it stalled while making a steep climbing turn fully loaded. The pilot, Les Stott, died at the scene. Leslie Ernest STOTT, aged 29. Errol |
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gtw
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by gtw on Nov 6, 2020 8:47:19 GMT 12
What happened to ZK BTI. I flew it in 1964 for Wanganui Aero Work.
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Post by delticman on Nov 6, 2020 9:51:22 GMT 12
What happened to ZK BTI. I flew it in 1964 for Wanganui Aero Work. Still current in Nelson area. |
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Post by thomarse on Nov 6, 2020 20:20:25 GMT 12
Given the power pylon in the background, I think that magnificent colour shot of BKI is probably somewhere between Shannon and Paraparaumu.
The BKI accident was spectacularly (and tragically) filmed on an 8mm home movie and the movie (plus stills taken from it) were in wide circulation in the 60s
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 6, 2020 22:28:40 GMT 12
Given the power pylon in the background, I think that magnificent colour shot of BKI is probably somewhere between Shannon and Paraparaumu. The BKI accident was spectacularly (and tragically) filmed on an 8mm home movie and the movie (plus stills taken from it) were in wide circulation in the 60s Yes, I understand that the feeling was that was part of the problem - showing off for the camera. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 6, 2020 22:43:11 GMT 12
Also on 5Jan1956 Super Cub 150 c/n 18-4677 became ZK-BKJ. Again, it was quickly onsold to Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd., Palmerston North in March 1956, with ownership transferred to the holding company Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd. soon after. This Cub continued to work for Aerial Farming without apparently any major incidents until it was replaced by a Pawnee and sold into private ownership in late July 1966. After moving around a few times it finally came to roost as the Tauranga Gliding Club tow aircraft in late 1983, where it still serves today. ZK-BKJ shown kitted out as a sprayer at Milson, Palmerston North, 9Nov1956  As a dung-duster at Paraparaumu in April 1961.
Interestingly, this image shows the signage of the company ownership as 'Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd' on the port side but another photo taken at the same time (but of poorer quality) has the normal 'Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd' on the starboard side.
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Post by baz62 on Nov 7, 2020 8:51:58 GMT 12
Given the power pylon in the background, I think that magnificent colour shot of BKI is probably somewhere between Shannon and Paraparaumu. The BKI accident was spectacularly (and tragically) filmed on an 8mm home movie and the movie (plus stills taken from it) were in wide circulation in the 60s Yes, I understand that the feeling was that was part of the problem - showing off for the camera. Didnt the CAA take the film round Aero Clubs to show that the Cub wasn't always a docile aeroplane? |
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Post by madmax on Nov 7, 2020 13:16:18 GMT 12
I recall some CAA bods showing the film to members of the Wairarapa & Ruahine Aero Club around 1969 or 70
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Nov 7, 2020 17:20:25 GMT 12
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Post by baz62 on Nov 7, 2020 17:49:54 GMT 12
Thanks Johnny. I knew my memory was on to it.  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 7, 2020 22:29:10 GMT 12
ZK-BKK was another of the AgCubs that were registered to Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch, on 5Jan1956. This one was c/n 18-4683. ZK-BKK is listed as coming under Aerial Farming's ownership on 11Jun1956, but may actually have remained in the South for rather longer as there is a reported incident involving this aircraft at Balclutha on 27Sep1956. The pilot at the time of the incident was Alan Batcheler, employed by the Farmers Aerial Topdressing Company who were based at Invercargill, so possibly they had ZK-BKK on hire. This Cub then worked with Aerial Farming until June 1957, when ownership was transferred to Aerodress Ltd. at Dannevirke. Aerodress merged with Aerial Farming a month later but ZK-BKK remained registered in the Aerodress name. Another reported incident involving ZK-BKK occurred at Weber, Hawkes Bay, on 5Feb1958 with the damage reported as 'substantial'. The pilot, Jim Valentine, survived but appears to have given up ag flying as at that date. The end finally came on 8Mar1958 when ZK-BKK suffered an engine failure and was destroyed in the subsequent forced landing. This occurred at Wangaehu, south of Wanganui, and the pilot at the time was D'Arcy Perry. The registration of ZK-BKK was not cancelled until 6Apr1959, so again there may have been some intention of a rebuild. Undergoing maintenance at Rongotai July 1957 ZK-BKK when it was flying for Aerodress |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 8, 2020 22:25:42 GMT 12
The final PA18A Super Cub 150 of the early batch going to Aerial Farming was c/n 18-4682 which became ZK-BKL with Airwork, also on 5Jan1956. It headed north to Palmerston North quite quickly, but also met its end with similar rapidity. ZK-BKL crashed at Aukopae, near Taumaranui, on 26Mar1956 thus giving it the distinction of having the shortest operational life of all the Cubs. Pilot Eric Adam survived. The speed with which all this happened outran the paperwork, and this Cub was not registered to Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd. until 11Jun1956, well after the incident. However, ZK-BKL was not rebuilt and the registration was cancelled on the 14th of the same month. Given the short life of ZK-BKL photographs seem to be pretty much non-existent, and inquiries to all the Usual Suspects have drawn a blank. However, if you really want to see something, here is work being carried out on the port wing, with Cubs ZK-BKI and ZK-BKK watching in the background:  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 9, 2020 21:02:07 GMT 12
After that run of Cubs heading north, the next one out of the box would head south. PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-4809 became ZK-BKM registered to Airwork on 1Mar1956. Although then taken on strength by Central Aviation Co.Ltd. of Roxburgh in May 1956 it seems to have briefly been used as a demonstrator by Airwork, as it is known to have visited Mangere at that time. There was a reported incident involving this Cub at Lauder on 11Jun1956, but few details are available. ZK-BKM operated as a sprayer from November 1962, and the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into a gully at Tuapeka West, Otago 29Jan1963 when it collided with a tree while flying from a farm airstrip to an area to be sprayed. The pilot, Peter Bevin, was killed in the accident. It was suspected that Bevin became preoccupied with priming the spray system as he approached the spraying area and flew into the tree 13 feet below its crest in a level flight attitude and at cruising speed. ZK-BKM wearing the original small registration lettering at Mangere May 1956  Now in a more standard Piper colour scheme at what looks to be Taieri In full Central Aviation colours at Milson 9Nov1956 |
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Post by errolmartyn on Nov 9, 2020 22:32:14 GMT 12
ZK-BKM operated as a sprayer from November 1962, and the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into a gully at Tuapeka West, Otago 19Jan1963 when it collided with a tree while flying from a farm airstrip to an area to be sprayed. The pilot, Peter Bevin, was killed in the accident. Charles Adrian Frederick BEVIN, aged 32 - killed on 29 Jan 63. Errol |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2020 23:38:06 GMT 12
The end finally came on 8Mar1958 when ZK-BKK suffered an engine failure and was destroyed in the subsequent forced landing. This occurred at Wangaehu, south of Wanganui, and the pilot at the time was D'Arcy Perry. Most mentions I've seen of this accident say it took place at Wangaehu in the Wairarapa. Was the crash there or at Whangaehu near Wanganui? |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 10, 2020 21:02:51 GMT 12
ZK-BKM operated as a sprayer from November 1962, and the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into a gully at Tuapeka West, Otago 19Jan1963 when it collided with a tree while flying from a farm airstrip to an area to be sprayed. The pilot, Peter Bevin, was killed in the accident. Charles Adrian Frederick BEVIN, aged 32 - killed on 29 Jan 63. Errol Yes Errol, date my typo - corrected. Nov 10, 2020 0:38:06 GMT 13 ZacYates said: "Most mentions I've seen of this accident say it took place at Wangaehu in the Wairarapa. Was the crash there or at Whangaehu near Wanganui?" Dont you hate it when two different places have the same names? No doubt someone will have proof either way and then we will know for certain. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 10, 2020 21:41:50 GMT 12
PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-4754 was registered as ZK-BKN to Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch, on 20Jan1956. On 1Oct1956 ownership moved to Messrs Gibson & McLean, Raetihi. Presumably Airwork made the Cub earn its living in the intervening months. Gibson and McLean were farmers and used the Cub to topdress their own farm. Such work was entirely legal within the rules laid down by the Aerial Work licensing regulations that were in force at that time. Alec Mclean, who had previously owned Auster J-1 ZK-AUO, was the pilot. In time they acquired a newer Cub ZK-BTH, and sold ZK-BKN to Aerodress Ltd. of Dannevirke in October 1957. Aerodress had very recently merged with Aerial Farming, and later the same month ZK-BKN came under the ownership of the Aerial Fertilising Co.Ltd. based at Masterton, another firm within the AF stable. By 1959 the interaction was sorted out and ZK-BKN was then owned directly by Aerial Farming (Holdings) Ltd., Palmerston North as from 1st January. In the 1960s the Aerial Farming company was moving from Cubs to Pawnees, and ZK-BKN once again became the property of Airwork in September 1963. At the time the Wanganui Aero Club ran an aerial spraying business (as spraying did not fall under the Aerial Work licensing regime) and the club acquired ZK-BKN from Airwork configured as a sprayer in November 1963, operating it as such on a commercial basis until its last agricultural flight on 28Jul1966. In March 1967 the Cub was sold to the Gore-based Otago Gliding Club and has operated in the club and private sphere ever since, being currently based at Blenheim. ZK-BKN at Rongotai early in its life Outside the Aerial Farming hangar at Milson. AF were the Ceres aircraft agents at that time Operating with the Wanganui Aero Club February 1964  Now fitted with a Swathemaster, Wanganui 1966 |
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