Topdressing Super Cubs

[johnm]

Thanks for the thread Peter

Never realised how extensively the Cub was used

I read that a tiger moth carried 330 lbs ? of the magic white powder - how much did the Cub carry ?

[thomarse]

"Officially" 7cwt = 784 lbs. Lots of stories about them staggering around the sky with half a ton of lime aboard though

[Peter Lewis]

The next two Super Cub 150  - ZK-BNL and ZK-BNM - went directly from Airwork, the Piper agents, to the Canterbury Aero Club with no agricultural use.

Cub 150 c/n 18-5204 was registered ZK-BNN to Airwork on 13Sept1956.

Assembly and test flying completed, it then moved up to Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. at Blenheim in December.

However, it did not last long in there service as it was involved in a fatal crash at Kaihoka, near Collingwood, on 25Feb1957.

The Accident Report indicates that "The aircraft took of on a topdressing sortie. After initial takeoff, at a height of 50 ft, it was observed to make a steep left turn and dive towards a shepherd standing 200 yards to the left of the strip.

The port wingtip narrowly missed the shepherd before striking the ground. In the ensuing crash the pilot was killed and the aircraft totally destroyed by fire. " The pilot was Richard Foreman.

ZK-BNN outside Airwork's hangar at Harewood



Now carrying the Aerial Work logo, presumably in the hangar at Omaka

[errolmartyn]

Nov 23, 2020 15:29:49 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

ZK-BNN . . . The port wingtip narrowly missed the shepherd before striking the ground. In the ensuing crash the pilot was killed and the aircraft totally destroyed by fire. " The pilot was Richard Foreman.

Richard George FOREMAN, aged 25 - date of 25 Feb 57 confirmed!

Errol

[Peter Lewis]

Cub 150 ZK-BNO went directly from Airwork to a private owner, so the next one to go into agricultural work was ZK-BNP.

ZK-BNP, c/n 18-5254, was registered to Airwork on 10Oct1956 and then moved up to Cookson Airspread Ltd., Wairoa, in December.
It was substantially damaged operating at Wairoa on 12Apr1957 while being flown by Russell Howell, but repaired.

This Cub continued to fly with Cooksons until it crashed on take-off at Kahika, Tutira 9Feb60 while being flown by Jack McCurdy.

The remains were taken to Milson where it was rebuilt by Aerial Farming of NZ and rolled out with a new c/n, AF-PA-18-1 and was registered as such on 8Jun1960.

Kitted out for the spray role, the aircraft was sold just a week later to Mike Alexander's Aerial Applicators Ltd. based at Wanganui.
ZK-BNP remained at Wanganui when Aerial Applicators was reformed as Alexander Helicopters Ltd. in October 1962.

By the mid-1960s it had been replaced by Hiller helicopters in the spray role, and was sold to the Wairarapa & Ruahine Aero Club in February 1964. It was destroyed in a fatal crash near Masterton in January 1987.

ZK-BNP at Wairoa in 1958, with C180 ZK-BVQ in the background



Wanganui March 1961



and Wanganui again, early February 1964

[errolmartyn]

Nov 24, 2020 21:39:07 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

ZK-BNP remained at Wanganui when Aerial Applicators was reformed as Alexander Helicopters Ltd. in October 1962.

By the mid-1960s it had been replaced by Hiller helicopters in the spray role, and was sold to the Wairarapa & Ruahine Aero Club in February 1964. It was destroyed in a fatal crash near Masterton in January 1987.

Nicola Gaye MACDONALD, aged 21, died on 11 Jan 87.

Errol

[madmax]

I spent many enjoyable hours in the late 60s early 70s glider towing with BNP from Hood aerodrome and Whitemans Valley. When this Cub was operated by Alexander Helicopters it was painted black and white.

[Peter Lewis]

Cub 150 ZK-BNQ was registered to Airwork on 10Oct1956. This one was c/n 18-5255.

It too headed north, this time to Palmerston North for Aerial Farming of NZ Ltd., being registered in their name on the 10th December.

It would seem that ZK-BNQ was actually operated by the Aerial Fertilising Company as it bore their signage, but it remained registered to Aerial Farming.

The end came fairly quickly, as on 4Dec1957 ZK-BNQ was damaged beyond repair at Alfredton, Northern Wairarapa when it was blown sideways by a gust of wind on taking off and thus crashed down a steep gully.
The pilot, Les Stott, suffered minor injuries but the passenger (presumably the loader-driver) was unhurt.

Photos of ZK-BNQ showing the "Aerial Fertilising Company" name

[Peter Lewis]

With the registration ZK-BNR not being used, the next PA18A Super Cub 150 out of the box, c/n 18-5290, became ZK-BNS. This aircraft was registered to Airwork on 11Oct1956.

Again, it went straight up to Aerial Farming at Milson and into revenue-earning service. It was involved in a reported incident at Rangitumau, near Masterton, on 17Jul1959 with Frank Perry flying it, but was repaired and returned to service.

The Hawkes Bay Aerial Topdressing Company had been formed by Johnny Johnstone (Axel Neil Johnstone) at Hastings in 1950, and ZK-BNS moved into their fleet in March 1960. This company had become closely associated with the Aerial Farming company, and merged with them that same month.
However, ZK-BNS remained registered to the Hastings company until it was eventually sold off to a gliding club in October 1966.

In February 2000, while owned by an Auckland syndicate, ZK-BNS was re-registered as ZK-ERB and is still current.

ZK-BNS at Masterton in January 1959, parked with C180 ZK-BJD and another



At Feilding in May 1959

[Deleted]

ZK-ERB is (so far) the only member of the Cub family I've had the pleasure of flying in, so it's neat to learn about her early years. Thank you, Peter.

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-BNT was registered to Airwork on 11Oct1956, being c/n 18-5282.

Moving to Timaru to join the fleet operated by Auster Air Services in January 1957, it flew with them until moving across to Aerial Sowing (Canterbury) Ltd. in May 1958.

At that time Auster Air Services Ltd. and Aerial Sowing had some joint shareholders, so this did not represent a great change in the life of the aircraft.

On 4May1959 Denny Atkinson had an incident with ZK-BNT at Wakefield, south-west of Nelson.

In July 1965 this Cub was sold to the Nelson Gliding Club, however its career as a glider tug was short-lived as it was destroyed at Motueka in what sounds like a ground-loop on 17Oct1965.

ZK-BNT at Christchurch on 8Feb1957



and a bit later, now carrying 'Aerial Sowing' signage

[Peter Lewis]

PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5419 was registered to Airwork on 16Nov1956 as ZK-BNU.

By March 1957 it had joined the operation fleet of Farmers Aerial Topdressing based at Invercargill.

On 28Jan1959 is suffered substantial damage in an incident at Glenomaru, in the Catlins, while being flown by Dave Wilson.

Repaired, ZK-BNU continued to work until 1Aug1964.
On that date it was destroyed when it failed to become airborne on take-off while topdressing from a strip at Tokanui, Southland, while being flown by Ian Pettit and although an attempt was made to jettison the load, the aircraft struck a fence post and crashed into a paddock.

ZK-BNU in original Piper colours





and a bit later, in a non-standard scheme

[johnm]

where did the poor old loader driver sit ? - were they lucky enough to have a seat (shirley not the bin (bun if pronounced the other way))

[delticman]

ZK-BYV was on a slow rebuild from 1961 to 1967. It was completed and delivered to FH Desborough in Noveember 1967. It was never fitted with a hopper.

[delticman]

Nov 29, 2020 8:27:22 GMT 12 johnm said:

where did the poor old loader driver sit ? - were they lucky enough to have a seat (shirley not the bin (bun if pronounced the other way))

Behind the hopper, under the hatch, facing rear.

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-BNV was Cub 150 c/n 18-5289 registered to Airwork on 11Oct1956. 
Initially, this Cub moved north to Cookson Airspread Ltd. operating out of Wairoa. It came under Cookson ownership on 9Jan1957.

By December 1960 it was back on Airwork's books, probably traded in on a Pawnee.

In February 1961 they moved it south to the Dunedin-based Southland & Otago Aerial Topdressing Company, and when this company ceased operations in April 1961 ZK-BNV moved across to the newly formed Southland Aerial Topdressing Company which operated out of Gore.

This Cub was destroyed at Waimumu, Southland, on 3Oct 1963 when crashed due to a severe downdraught in hilly country after take-off from a farm airstrip in strong gusty winds.
Pilot Glen Speden seriously injured but recovered.

ZK-BNV at what looks to be Christchurch



and at Invercargill under Southland ownership

[thomarse]

Nov 29, 2020 11:31:42 GMT 12 delticman said:

Nov 29, 2020 8:27:22 GMT 12 johnm said:

where did the poor old loader driver sit ? - were they lucky enough to have a seat (shirley not the bin (bun if pronounced the other way))

Behind the hopper, under the hatch, facing rear.

In Peter's photo of BNQ a bit earlier, the hatch cover over where the driver sat is missing.

[Peter Lewis]

Cun 150 c/n 18-5429 became ZK-BNW with Airwork on 13Dec1956 - just in time for Christmas!

In March 1957 it moved south to join the Farmers Aerial Topdressing Company fleet.

ZK-BNW seems to have lead an uneventful life until it crashed into the Balclutha River on 19Sep1962 after colliding with some power cables that were strung across the river.
Des Pirie, the pilot, was reportedly not injured.

ZK-BNW nose-first into the Airwork hangar at Christchurch



At Taieri airfield in 1959

[Peter Lewis]

PA18A Super Cub 150 c/n 18-5453 became ZK-BNX with Airwork on 22Jan1957.

Central Aviation operated out of Roxburgh and had started out in 1955 with Tiger Moths ZK-BFL and ZK-BJN.
They took delivery of ZK-BNX in June 1957 and operated it without any reported incidents until December 1967 when it was sold to Dave Philpotts of Rangiora.

This Cub is still active in private ownership.

ZK-BNX tied down at Taieri in 1958



and at Airwork, Christchurch. Could that be a new rudder fitted?



After a repaint into 'company colours'

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-BNY was registered to Airwork on 22Jan1956, being Cub 150 c/n 18-5454.

The following July it moved to Timaru to join the operational fleet of Auster Air Services Ltd. Auster Air Services grew out of Auster Air Views, which had been founded in 1950 as an aerial photography business utilising J-1 Autocrat ZK-AUL.  It soon became apparent that there was more work and profit in aerial topdressing.

The adjacent Timaru operator Willmott's ATD Company had been bought by AAS in June 1954, and the ownership of ZK-BNY was transferred to into that name on 19Jul1957 in order to operate under Willmott's aerial work licence.

By mid-1960 the licences had been amalgamated, and the Cub was then transferred back into Auster Air Services name on the 9th June.

Southern Aviation of Gore were the next operators of ZK-BNY as from 9Jul1963. Sean Fitzgerald, the manager of Southern, then took personal ownership of the aircraft for a short time before it was sold to the Nelson Gliding Club in March 1966.

However, this was not the end of this particular Cub's agricultural aviation activities.
In the mid-1980s Peter Rowley set up an aerial spraying operation within his Amberley-based Rowley Aviation company and ZK-BNY was one of the four PA18As acquired. Purchased in August 1984 and fitted with a 180hp engine, belly tank and spray gear it carried the name "Lil Sarah".

The aircraft was eventually sold to J B & B S Murray of Fairlie in November 1990 and was destroyed ten years later at Albury, South Canterbury when it crashed in the Te Ngawai Riverbed.


ZK-BNY looking like a brand new aircraft, outside Airwork's Christchurch hangar



Inside at Airwork, 1958. Note the underwing cargo hook fittings.



At Nelson, March 1961, those wing fittings still evident



Operating as Rowley's "Lil Sarah"