Topdressing Super Cubs

[Peter Lewis]

Airwork registered Cub c/n 18-5064 as ZK-BKO on 12Jun1956.

Farmers Aviation Ltd. was formed by Bruce Aitken in April 1955, initially operating Tiger Moth ZK-BJO from a strip near Hawera. He then bought ZK-BKO from Airwork, registering it to his company in October 1956.

After participating with his 'new toy' at the International Agricultural Aviation Show held at Milson Airport, Palmerston North, 9 - 10th November, 1956 he then continued to operate ZK-BKO apparently without major incident until it crashed and
was burnt out after colliding with power lines at Tikorangi, nr Waitara, North Taranaki on 22Feb1967.
The pilot, presumably Bruce Aitken, was uninjured.

ZK-BKO at Milson 9Nov1956





ZK-BKO probably at Wanganui, carrying the 'Bruce Aitken' name just forward of the door

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-BKO was closely followed by ZK-BKP, registered to Airwork just one week later - on the 19th. This one was c/n 18-5066.

ZK-BKP went to the East Coast, arriving for the Hawkes Bay ATD Co.Ltd. based at Bridge Pa, Hastings. Within a month it also participated in the Agricultural Aviation Show at Milson.

Back on the farm, it suffered an incident on 10Feb1958 while being flown by Bob McDowell.
Repaired, it continued in service until it was destroyed at Waipawa, Central Hawkes Bay when it  crashed
while attempting a forced-landing due to engine failure caused by fuel starvation. Pilot not injured.

Major parts of this airframe were then used, along with parts from ZK-BPL and a new fuselage to construct a 'new' Cub which became ZK-CMQ in August 1965 with c/n AF-PA18-3.


In 1971 the fuselage of ZK-BKP was used by Southair in the construction of Cub ZK-DFO

ZK-BKO shiny and new at Milson 9Nov1956




At Bridge Pa, date unknown




ZK-BKP also operated in the aerial spray role

[Peter Lewis]

Super Cub 150 c/n 18-4938 became ZK-BKQ, registered to Airwork on 17May1956.

John Milne "Johnny" Checketts, DSO, DFC was a New Zealand flying ace of the Second World War, who was credited with the destruction of ​14 1⁄2 enemy aircraft, three probably destroyed and 11 damaged.

Born in Invercargill, Checketts worked as a mechanic before joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in October 1940. After completing his flight training he was sent to the United Kingdom to serve with the Royal Air Force. From January 1942, he flew with No. 485 (NZ) Squadron before being posted to No. 611 Squadron. He returned to No. 485 Squadron in August 1943 as its commander but two months later was shot down over occupied France. He was returned to the United Kingdom by the French Resistance. He later commanded a wing carrying out operations in support of the D-Day landings and escorting heavy bombers on raids into Germany.

Checketts remained in the RNZAF after the war, commanding air bases in New Zealand and Fiji. Returning to civilian life in 1954, he set up an aerial topdressing company, Checketts ATD Co.Ltd. based in Dunedin, going into partnership with Leonard Wright, the mayor of Dunedin, and Jack Manchester, a former captain of the All Blacks.

Starting out with Tiger Moths ZK-AKI, ZK-ANW, ZK-AYY and ZK-AZP Checketts took ownership of Cub ZK-BKQ on 28Aug1956.
It did not last long, being destroyed in a crash at Heriot, South Otago 14Sep1957 while topdressing when it was caught in a down-draught and collided with a line of trees.

Checketts was seriously injured in the crash. He survived, but did not fly again.

ZK-BKQ outside Airwork's hangar at Harewood

[hardyakka]

ZK-BTC restoration as of today. Looks a bit better that the last photo...

Wings are on. Engine to come.

[Dave Homewood]

Terrific!

[thomarse]

That's magnificent, I thought she was "a goner"

[gtw]

Looks really good, add engine and she is a goer again. My first ag aircraft (1963)

[planewriting]

As Thomarse says, 'I thought she was a "goner"'. It shows that with the right people, tools and finance these aircraft (including Avenger NZ2539) can be brought back from the brink. What hasn't been recorded though is the whereabouts of ZK-BTC's restoration. Is it Hamilton?

[Dave Homewood]

It's at Te Kowhai. Neroli and Bill Henwood have been restoring it for a couple of years, and I have been visiting it occasionally for a catch up. It's a superb restoration, I had a close look at it this morning.

[planewriting]

Dave
Perhaps the recent posts on ZK-BTC should be transferred to rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/11262/missing-cub-zk-btc?page=2 which was a thread dedicated to this one aircraft. In this way it keeps Peter Lewis' alphabetical recording of Cubs on this thread as intended and when BTC's turn comes, up he record it on this thread for continuity.

[Peter Lewis]

Having somewhat satisfied customer demand, Airwork registered the next Cub 150, c/n 18-5052, as ZK-BKS  on 12Jun1956 and added it to their own operational fleet.

In November 1959 ZK-BKS was moved on to the Dunedin-based Southland & Otago ATD Co.Ltd. who then sold it to West Coast Airways Ltd. of Hokitika in July 1961. Despite their name, West Coast Airways had a topdressing license for the West Coast covering Inangahua to Haast issued in 1957, and ZK-BKS worked under this licence.

In April 1963 the Cub moved north to Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. operating out of Omaka before making its final move as an agricultural aircraft to Farmers ATD Co.Ltd., Invercargill, on 20Jan1965.

Aircraft engineer Ivan East bought ZK-BKS in April 1967 and it continued life as a private aircraft and as a glider tug with the Tauranga Gliding Club until it was exported to Canada in July 1999 where it became C-GFTB.

ZK-BKS outside Airwork's Harewood hangar



At Harewood in 1957, with fellow Cub ZK-BNJ behind and, in the distance, Trans-Island Airways L-10A Electra ZK-BUT



ZK-BKS looks to be a display piece at some A&P show?



At Harewood, April 1961

[Peter Lewis]

PA18A Super Cub 150 ZK-BKT was built as c/n 18-5054 and registered to Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch, on 12May1956.

After the formalities were completed it moved on to Cookson Airspread Ltd. at Wairoa on 11Sep1956.

This Cub experienced just six years of active life as it was damaged at Morere, Northern Hawkes Bay, on 21Jun62. It made a long landing on an airstrip and collided with the superphosphate bin in the subsequent groundloop that was needed to avoid hitting another aircraft that was parked at the end of the strip.  The pilot of ZK-BKT at the time was Chris Pask.

Following this incident the damaged aircraft was stored in a hangar at Feilding. Unfortunately the hangar caught fire on 7April1969, incinerating ZK-BKT along with C185 ZK-COO and Agwagons ZK-CQG CQH and CQW.

ZK-BKT while with Cooksons

[Peter Lewis]

The balance of the ZK-BKx registrations were allocated to Club Cubs - the 90hp non-flap version.

Thus the next PA18A Super Cub 150, c/n 18-4359, became ZK-BNH. This came on the register for Airwork on 1Mar1956.

Mt Cook Air Services Ltd. based at Timaru took ownership of ZK-BNH on 7May1956 but a very short time later, on the 2nd August, this Cub crashed at Albury in the Mackenzie Country and was substantially damaged.

Both the pilot, Struan Robertson, and the Cub recovered. ZK-BNH continued to fly with Mt Cook after the repair until it was sold to R E J Goulden, Christchurch, in July 1967.

The aircraft is still current, with a South Island owner.

ZK-BNH at Harewood, possibly prior to delivery to Mt Cook Air Services



At Timaru, carrying company titles

[Peter Lewis]

Cub 150 ZK-BNI was also registered to Airwork on 1Mar1956, being c/n 18-4360.

This one then went a bit further south, to Invercargill with the Farmers Aerial Topdressing Company in April.

On the 12Sep1958 pilot Merv Harper was involved in an incident with this aircraft at Orawia, 14km north-east of Tuatapere.

Restored to health, ZK-BNI continued to work until it was destroyed in a take-off crash at Waitahuna West, South Otago, on 10Sep1964. It failed to become airborne and crashed into a gully, seriously injuring pilot Rex Lynch.

ZK-BNI undergoing maintenance at Invercargill February 1957



A bit later, rigged as a sprayer



ZK-BNI outside the Farmer's ATD hangar in early 1963

[Peter Lewis]

A few months later, on 12Jun1956, PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5063 was registered as ZK-BNJ to Airwork (NZ) Ltd.

This aircraft went into the Airwork operational fleet, and seems to have worked without any reported major incidents until 1960.

After it had been replaced by Pawnees ZK-BNJ was converted into a three-seater Super Cruiser 150 and sold to the Canterbury Aero Club on 7Jul1960.
It is still current in the mid-South Island.


ZK-BNJ parked outside Airwork's Harewood base in July 1958



and a year or two later, needing a wash

[Peter Lewis]

Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5078 was registered as ZK-BNK to Airwork on 19Jun1956.

It was then rapidly moved to Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd. based at Milson and the ownership changed to them on 1Oct156.
In March 1960 the AF-related company Aerodress  took ownership, basing ZK-BNI at Dannevirke.

The aircraft then moved south to Blenheim when it was sold to Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. in February 1962.
Soon afterwards, on the 19th March, this Cub was involved in an incident at Waihopai while being flown by Gerry Fissenden.

Repaired, it continued to operate in the Marlborough area until 6Jun1965.
On that date it was destroyed while operating on Middlehurst Station in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough when it crashed
while on rabbit poisoning operations, presumably in a stall/spin accident. The wreckage was located from the air after the aircraft failed to return to the airstrip.
Pilot Jean Rytzell killed.

ZK-BNK at the Agricultural Aviation Expo at Milson 9Nov1956

[errolmartyn]

Nov 22, 2020 19:06:33 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5078 was registered as ZK-BNK . . .
Repaired, it continued to operate in the Marlborough area until 6Jun1962.
On that date it was destroyed while operating on Middlehurst Station in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough when it crashed
while on rabbit poisoning operations, presumably in a stall/spin accident. The wreckage was located from the air after the aircraft failed to return to the airstrip.
Pilot Jean Rytzell killed.

Jean-Gerard RYTZELL, aged 35

On the same day Laurence Andrew McLAREN, aged 46, died in the crash of Grunau Baby ZK-GDH. This was, I believe, only the second occasion on which two fatal air accidents had taken place in New Zealand on the same day.

Errol

[planewriting]

I cannot be sure about there never being two fatalities on the same day until ZK-BNK and ZK-GDH as I don't have all the military accidents readily accessible but what I can tell you is that the year for these two aircraft is wrong. Their accidents were on 9 June 1965. 143.95.41.247/wikibase/62910 and 143.95.41.247/wikibase/122534. A double nearly happened a few months earlier on 27 March 1965 when TEAL Electra ZK-TEC crashed at Whenuapai followed a few hours later by Rallye Commodore ZK-CDA.

[Peter Lewis]

Year corrected from 1962 to 1965 for BNK's accident.

[errolmartyn]

Nov 22, 2020 22:50:02 GMT 12 planewriting said:

I cannot be sure about there never being two fatalities on the same day until ZK-BNK and ZK-GDH as I don't have all the military accidents readily accessible but what I can tell you is that the year for these two aircraft is wrong. Their accidents were on 9 June 1965. 143.95.41.247/wikibase/62910 and 143.95.41.247/wikibase/122534. A double nearly happened a few months earlier on 27 March 1965 when TEAL Electra ZK-TEC crashed at Whenuapai followed a few hours later by Rallye Commodore ZK-CDA.

Thanks for correction of year. I should have made clear that my observation was in the civil, not military, context. Earlier, on 27 Sep 53, there were the loss of Fox Moth ZK-AQM (1 dead) and Cessna 170 ZK-AZC (2 dead).

Errol