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Post by isc on Dec 14, 2015 20:37:09 GMT 12
As well as, it was a bl***y disaster any way. isc
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Post by harrysone on Dec 15, 2015 14:25:55 GMT 12
Got a pic here of CKP "no.15" sitting on the ramp at Mt Cook, back in January 1977...can't quite work out the rego on the other 185.  |
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nobody
Pilot Officer
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Post by nobody on Dec 20, 2015 7:56:23 GMT 12
I see BFT is in the last batch. We rebuilt BFT at Gulf Aeronautics in the early 1990s for Jim Pavitt.  However its identity is not all that straight forward at this point! BFT was damaged in an accident at some stage in its past, and was rebuilt as CZW. CZW came to grief somewhere down south, Stewart Island I think, in the 1970s. This 1990s rebuild is actually using the BFT / CZW data plate, but a substantial portion of an early C182 Airframe (I dont know the rego) from an aircraft that was damaged beyond repair at Ardmore at some stage. Significant new components were also added, as were A188 bits (They are all the same part numbers!) to produce this aircraft which is somewhat of a hybrid! After BFT we repainted BJV, which at the time was owned by Tom McCready, in an identical colour scheme but with metallic Maroon and silver trim as opposed to the charcoal and silver of BFT. BJU and BUG also came through our shop from time to time. The donor 182 was ZK-BRI. It did not crash at Ardmore as stated but on a farm strip. BRI was a runaway aeroplane accident while being hand-propped. We were there about a week after the accident. The guy described the accident sequence and the most graphic detail was how the plane "took his thumb off" as it went past. It took a while for my young brain to process this, he was so casual and off-hand about this little detail, but I looked down at his bandaged hand to see indeed there was no bulge in bandage where his thumb should've been! All I could think was how close he must've been to having the plane chew up a bit more of him than that. BRI had been recently rebuilt or repainted or something and it looked really nice to my young eyes beyond the damage and beneath the splattered mud. It seemed a real shame to see it so badly bent. No doubt Peter Lewis will be able to tell us the year that this accident happened. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 20, 2015 8:08:44 GMT 12
ZK-CZW Hit by wave Ruggedy Beach, Stewart Island, 22Dec69.
ZK-BRI crashed on unpiloted run-away Waipaipai 10Feb79.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 3, 2017 21:54:56 GMT 12
Any photos of BUS when it was with the Wellington AC in the early '60s...purely sentimental as my dad parted with a hard earned five bob for a flight for me in it around 1960-61...they used to park it over at the domestic terminal to tout for business... All things come to those who wait . . . C180 ZK-BUS in Wellington Air Taxi colours  |
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Post by planewriting on Mar 4, 2017 7:06:29 GMT 12
Patience is a virtue but I wonder if someone had complained to the taxi company the bus would have come sooner... Very nice aeroplane that one eh Peter!
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Post by area51 on Mar 4, 2017 8:18:40 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 4, 2017 22:04:22 GMT 12
Frequent mention has been made in this thread of the Cessna 170B ZK-AZC that was the forerunner of the agricultural use of the C180 in New Zealand. ZK-AZC c/n 25372 was imported by Rural in June 1953 and had been registered to them on 26th March. It had been allotted the US registration N3130B, but this was a book exercise only. (ZK-AZC had originally been allotted to a Cessna 305, but this did not arrive). From the outset this aircraft had been intended for ag use, and a hopper was fitted locally from new. Phil Lightband tried it in the agricultural role, and did not like it - too light and under powered (and this from a fellow who had been topdressing in Tiger Moths!). Inexplicably the 170 was then passed on to the inexperienced Tony Murray, with the inevitable result that he crashed at Urenui on 27th September 1953 after hitting the fence on take-off from a farm strip. The accident was fatal. After a very short life, the registration ZK-AZC was cancelled on 25th May 1954. Looks to be at Ardmore, presumably under final assembly as the registration has not yet been applied. and this one at Mangere? |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 5, 2017 23:15:10 GMT 12
The last consecutive issue of the ZK-A register was ZK-AZZ issued to a Cessna 180 ordered by Garnham Aviation Ltd. of Taihape. This 180 had been allotted the US registration N2237C but was shipped new to the NZ agents Rural Aviation. The use of the registration letters ZK-AZZ on 11Aug1953 actually predated Garnham's existing Tiger Moth ZK-BAA. Fitted with a hopper, it was delivered to Rex Garnham at Taihape on 8th January 1954. Soon afterwards, in January 1954, the firm was reorganized as Rangitikei Air Services Ltd. and still operated from the Taihape base. ZK-AZZ did not last in service long, being destroyed in an accident near Taihape on 19th January 1955, fortunately non-fatal. A fairly well-known publicity photo of ZK-AZZ flying over typical mid-North Island country Don't know where, but judging by the hut at an established airfield |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 7, 2017 16:31:43 GMT 12
C180 ZK-BDB was imported in 1953, converted to ag use and registered to the Manawatu ATD Co.Ltd. based at Feilding on 9th October 1953. MAT operated the aircraft until March 1962, when it was passed on to Rangitikei Air Services Ltd. of Taihape. They didn't keep it very long, and it went to Northern Air Services Ltd., Te Kuiti in July 1964. Under their ownership it crashed at Te Anga on 27th October 1966 when piloted by Doug Skelnars. The damaged aircraft went to Cessna agents Rural Aviation and was rebuilt at New Plymouth, reappearing in 1968 with the new registration ZK-CWL. After many years of use it eventually reverted to the ZK-BDB registration in 2003. ZK-BDB being loaded by a MAT loader at Paraparaumu 10Feb1954. The super looks to be bagged not bulk. ZK-BDB as operated by Northern Air Services at Thames August 1963. |
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gtw
Flight Lieutenant
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Post by gtw on Mar 7, 2017 18:34:56 GMT 12
You have missed ZKCAS, very nice to fly.
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Post by delticman on Mar 7, 2017 21:39:31 GMT 12
C180 ZK-BDB was imported in 1953, converted to ag use and registered to the Manawatu ATD Co.Ltd. based at Feilding on 9th October 1953. MAT operated the aircraft until March 1963, when it was passed on to Rangitikei Air Services Ltd. of Taihape. They didn't keep it very long, and it went to Northern Air Services Ltd., Te Kuiti in 1964. Under their ownership it crashed at Te Anga on 27th October 1966 when piloted by Doug Skelnars. The damaged aircraft went to Cessna agents Rural Aviation and was rebuilt at New Plymouth, reappearing in 1968 with the new registration ZK-CWL. After many years of use it eventually reverted to the ZK-BDB registration in 2003. ZK-BDB being loaded by a MAT loader at Paraparaumu 10Feb1954. The super looks to be bagged not bulk.ZK-BDB as operated by Northern Air Services at Thames August 1963.The second shot of ZK-BDB must have been when it was operated by Rangitikei Air Services. In 1962 their base strip was on the straights south of the Taihape High School. The planes were parked up against the fence beside the railway line. The hill on the right is the wrong place but it certainly looks like the Ruahine Ranges on the left hand side. Perhaps a little closer to Utiku. What do you think GTW? If it was Northern Air Services, it would have been at Te Kuiti. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the pictures. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 8:32:47 GMT 12
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gtw
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by gtw on Mar 8, 2017 11:58:26 GMT 12
Hi Delticman, I think you are right, but the photo is taken looking south. The last time I drove past there was 1988, and flew there 1969,
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Post by Bruce on Mar 8, 2017 11:59:37 GMT 12
It is nicely rebuilt (although we did a nice job of it in the 1990s at Gulf too...) I have to say that although the colour scheme is the accurate factory scheme, I dont think its particularly attractive. Much prefer the silver and charcoal scheme we put it in... (my own taste of course...) |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 8, 2017 15:49:24 GMT 12
The second shot of ZK-BDB must have been when it was operated by Rangitikei Air Services. In 1962 their base strip was on the straights south of the Taihape High School. The planes were parked up against the fence beside the railway line. The hill on the right is the wrong place but it certainly looks like the Ruahine Ranges on the left hand side. Perhaps a little closer to Utiku. What do you think GTW? Yes, I thought it looked a bit odd to be Thames, but I could only repeat what was written on the label. Thanks for the clarification. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 8, 2017 16:09:08 GMT 12
C180 ZK-BDC followed ZK-BDB to the Manawatu ATD Company at Feilding in August 1953. At around that time it carried the fleet number 1, so it may have preceded BDB into the working environment. After just over 10 years of hard work, ZK-BDC crashed near Hunterville on 7th April 1964, Graeme Millward was the pilot. The registration was eventually cancelled on 10th April 1970. ZK-BDC resting at Feilding in December 1954 Also at Feilding, date not noted. ZK-BDC at Paraparaumu March 1958. Note the DC3 in the background. |
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Post by davidd on Mar 9, 2017 10:41:55 GMT 12
A few notes on the history of registration ZK-AZZ, from Civil Aviation file on that registration. This letter group had first been allocated to a Tiger Moth in about 1950. Earliest correspondence on this file (dated 27/5/53, and letter repeated 8/6/53) was from Air Department to Mr. J C Worthington, of 2 Manners St, Hamilton, asking him if he still intended to use these letters on "his Tiger Moth, as they could be used on another aircraft". A not so subtle hint that a reply would be welcome to free up this letter group, as nothing had eventuated regarding the original request from Mr Worthington for registration letters for this seemingly phantom aircraft. Fortunately a reply (dated 16/6/53) was received from Mr W E Christopherson on behalf of Mr Worthington, saying that "no further registration letters were needed." Thus the group AZZ was free to be allocated once again.
An application for a registration group dated 28/7/53 was received by the Department from Garnham Aviation Ltd, Taihape, for Cessna 180 c/n 30537, manufactured July 1953, and fitted with a topdressing hopper. Its United States Export C of A (No. E. 25585) was issued on 21/8/53, which noted that installed engine was a Continental O-470-A.
The Department issued survey instructions on 11/8/53, aircraft to be inspected at Palmerston North. Its Certificate of Registration (No. 987) was also issued on 11/8/53, and was finally cancelled on 11/7/55, following its premature demise. However it is worth noting that six Cessna 180s were added to the NZ register at this time, all imported by Rural Aviation - AZZ, BDB (30462), BDC, BDD (30463), BDE & BDF. So there was nothing unusual about AZZ's arrival in New Zealand, just one of a bunch, but it just happened to be the one chosen to take up a formerly allocated but unused registration letter group. Incidentally the NZ C of R's for BDB was No. 988, and BDD was 990.
ZK-AZZ's NZ C of A (No. 1172) was issued on 6/1/54, change of ownership to Rangitikei Air Services, P O Box 46, Taihape, was dated 14/6/55, and as already stated, it was damaged beyond repair on 19/1/55.
What is unclear from the file is exactly when this aircraft was test flown in NZ, and put to commercial work. The survey instructions being issued in mid-August 1953 suggests that the aircraft may already have been in New Zealand at this time, but this may not be so. Perhaps the date of the C of A actually means exactly that. Unfortunately there is no information on the shipping date ex USA (one presumes this would be AFTER the US Export C of A date) nor the ship in question, let alone the date of arrival in NZ. Perhaps the hold up was partially caused by the time required to outfit the aircraft with its NZ-made hopper (remembering that presumably the other five aircraft all required one), and then we have to take into account the topdressing season, which was, so far as I recall, traditionally in autumn in New Zealand. The Cessna 180 I knew best (the rebuild, BWK) always turned up in the Autumn (1960 to 1963 approx.) at my late Dad's airstrip overlooking Akaroa harbour, but only on nice, still days!
David D
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 9, 2017 16:42:07 GMT 12
Thanks David.
Looks like ZK-AZZ spent some months at New Plymouth being fitted out, and then gained its CofA just two days prior to delivery to Rex Garnham.
The date of change to the second owner is after its crash date, so looks like there was some sort of thoughts mid-1955 on the feasibility of a rebuild, this reached a negative outcome, so out she goes.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 9, 2017 16:55:09 GMT 12
The next 180 was ZK-BDD. This was allotted to Derek Turnbull's Wings Fertilisers Ltd. based in Hawkes Bay in August 1953, but I am not sure that it ever reached there. The second owners are listed as Rural Aviation in January 1954, and then this 180 went south to Hewett Aviation Ltd. of Invercargill in March 1956. Hewett's were then taken over by Rural Aviation in the mid-60s and ZK-BDD was again registered to them on 21Dec1965 before Bill Hewett took it into private ownership at Mossburn in October 1967. He sold it the same month into the deer recovery trade with Graham Stewart & Company, and in January 1968 ZK-BDD was substantially damaged when it hit a boulder while carrying out a forced landing in the Turnbull Riverbed in South Westland. The damaged aircraft was later rebuilt by Southair and passed into private ownership. ZK-BDD in topdressing configuration at Invercargill in March 1961. The (blue?) colourscheme does not show up well on B&W film. A bit closer to the Invercargill hangar at around the same date. |
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