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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 11, 2017 20:11:59 GMT 12
Would I be right in thinking that the licensing system often had a lot to do with this sort of behaviour? Dave D Yes, indeed. Prime example - James Aviation, who ran Fletchers under the umbrella of Advance, Aircraft Service, Sherwood, Aerial Farming and Farmers ATD in order to cover all the licences they had acquired. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 11, 2017 20:18:34 GMT 12
The factory-fresh Cessna 180C N9319T arrived to become ZK-BWY with Rural Aviation on 31May1960. Added to the company's operational fleet, ZK-BWY only lasted until it overshot a farm airstrip on landing and crashed into a ravine at Raetihi, Taihape, on 19Jun1963. ZK-BWY at Bell Block in February 1963 In spray mode ZK-BWY's colours were fairly standard for the time |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 12, 2017 12:34:37 GMT 12
Cessna 180C N9359T arrived from the factory to be assembled as ZK-BXU and was registered to Rural Aviation on 22Jul1960. In July 1962 it moved north to Taihape for Rangitikei Air Services, and early in 1964 was bought by Keith Christie. Christie (along with his brother Vic) was a well-know personality in agricultural aviation, having started working with Aerodress in September 1953. He took ZK-BXU and subcontracted to some topdressing firms during their busy periods. His attempts at obtaining an operating licence for himself were unsuccessful so he formed Christie's Aerial Spraying Ltd. as spray work did not require a licensed area. By August 1965 he gave that up and went to work for Barr Brothers. ZK-BXU was sold to Airwork in June 1966 and then moved into private operations. ZK-BXU was eventually sold back into the USA as N55V in early 2000, moving to Hawaii. ZK-BXU at Bell Block Bell Block, November 1960
and at Taihape in August 1963, with Swathemaster
As operated by Christie |
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Post by thomarse on Jun 12, 2017 17:32:09 GMT 12
Any idea where the last shot is taken Peter? I don't recognise the backdrop
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 13, 2017 12:37:30 GMT 12
Great thread enhanced by Peter. We owe a lot of thanks to Neville Drake who not only was a avid aviation enthusiast, but also encouraged the younger 'aviation mad' generation back in the '60s. Tell me more about Neville, Ian - not a name I know ND was a really early member of AHSNZ. He was an avid aircraft photographer from the mid-1940s through to the mid-70s, so his collection give really good coverage of the 'golden years' of the 1950s-60s. He was obviously also in contact with other enthusiasts of the day, such as Ken Meehan and Des White, and some of the photos are obviously taken by them. He was initially Wellington based, then moved to Auckland later, becoming eventually a stalwart of the Auckland Gliding Club. He donated the collection to Keith Morris, who has now given it to me so that we can all enjoy. His family are really happy that this is now happening. Neville died earlier this year. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 13, 2017 12:39:08 GMT 12
Any idea where the last shot is taken Peter? I don't recognise the backdrop Neither do I, given the peripatetic nature of Christie's operations. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 13, 2017 15:15:30 GMT 12
N9355T was the next Cessna 180C to arrive, and this became ZK-BXV with Rural in July 1960. It was then delivered directly to Mt Cook Air Services of Timaru in October, and I believe that it did not operate in an agricultural configuration. Still current, based in the North Canterbury area. ZK-BXV of Mt Cook Air Services at Timaru |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 14, 2017 12:11:51 GMT 12
Cessna 180C N6409X arrived new to become ZK-BYI with Rural Aviation on 24Nov1960. Although ZK-BYI remained in Rural ownership, it was not used for operational agwork. Instead, it was kitted out with advanced (for the day) avionics and operated as Rural's staff transport and demonstrator. As NZ's first single-engined fully IFR aircraft it was a showpiece, with nifty wheel spats and a black & pink colour scheme. After a short-term hire to the New Plymouth Aero Club it was sold to Ray Verrity of Te Awamutu in March 1966. ZK-BYI is still current and based in the Queenstown area. Rural's C180 showpiece, shining in the sun |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 15, 2017 17:12:09 GMT 12
N6408X was allotted to a Cessna 180C at the factory before the aircraft was exported directly to NZ and registered as ZK-BYJ to Rural Aviation on 24Nov1960. The aircraft was then moved on to the Thames Aerial Topdressing Company in February 1961 and operated with them, both in the Waikato and in Northland, until it was sold to Aviation Contracts Ltd., Gore, in July 1968. After surviving some time in the venison recovery trade, ZK-BYJ is still current and based in North Otago. ZK-BJY featuring a Swathemaster at Hamilton in December 1964  ZK-BYJ appears to have retained standard C180 colours for the first few years of its TATCo service By 27Aug1965 it had been repainted into company livery, as seen here at the TATCo Dargaville base |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 16, 2017 15:33:19 GMT 12
The first Cessna 180D to arrive was N6435X, which arrived straight from the factory to become ZK-BZV with Rural Aviation on 16Feb1961. After assembly it went directly to Aircraft Hire Ltd. of Masterton. They leased it out to Northern Air Services at Te Kuiti from November 1961, and to Air Contracts at Masterton from January the following year. In November 1963 ZK-BZV passed into the ownership of Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd. at Omaka and stayed with them until passing into private ownership in November 1966. Still current and based in the Mackenzie country. ZK-BZV at Te Kuiti in late 1961 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 17, 2017 18:07:22 GMT 12
By March 1961 the Cessna factory was producing the C185 Skywagon, basically a heavier more powerful C180. The first C185 destined for the agricultural role arrived here in mid 1961 and became ZK-CAN. This signaled the end for new agwork C180s. However, the powers-that-be decided to build another C180 in-house from the remains of ZK-BUW, ZK-BWY, ZK-BUP and ZK-BSZ. This bitsa appeared in July1964 as ZK-CGJ with the c/n RA.5/64. Initially registered to the dealer arm of the Rural/Rex combine on 28Jul1064, ZK-CGJ seems to have been kitted out for agwork from its first appearance - possibly as a promotional exercise. In March 1965 ownership moved to Rural Aviation (1963) Ltd. for operational use. In July 1965 Rural bought Te Kuiti-based Northern Air Services, and ZK-CGJ flew with that company at some stage. On 30Mar1967 ZK-CGJ was sold to the Middle Districts Aero Club of Palmerston North, and several private owners later was finally destroyed in a strip landing February 2012. ZK-CGJ under Rex Aviation ownership at Feilding 15Aug1964 Now operating with Rural, Bell Block 4Mar1967  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 17, 2017 18:10:18 GMT 12
So that's the end of the agwork Cessna 180s - or at least all I have.
Over to you guys to play from here - I'm off to Canada in 72 hours.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 17, 2017 18:18:54 GMT 12
Excellent thread Peter, and an absolute mine of very interesting information.
However, after you get back from Canada, how about adding the purely civil (non-ag) Cessna 180 examples to the thread? While this is an agricultural board, it could be great to have a complete reference to Cessna 180 aeroplanes in New Zealand. I'm sure you've probably got photographs and info about all of them.
Enjoy your trip to Canada. I'm sure you'll post lots of aviation-related photographs to the group from your travels.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jun 17, 2017 18:43:19 GMT 12
Peter you have the mark of a master - making it look easy...thanks for all your effort and generosity in sharing this pictorial history. I echo KTJ's comments above and add a request for a continuation of this thread with the C185, pretty please? (no pressure, just as soon as you get back will suffice)
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Post by kiwiduster1 on Jun 17, 2017 19:39:34 GMT 12
What KTJ and JF have said. A marvelous record of a great Ag aircraft. I have enjoyed your efforts and look forward to JFs request with interest. Cheers. ( PS Have a great trip. )
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Post by mit on Jun 18, 2017 16:18:08 GMT 12
By March 1961 the Cessna factory was producing the C185 Skywagon, basically a heavier more powerful C180. The first C185 arrived here in mid 1961 and became ZK-CAN. This signaled the end for new agwork C180s. However, the powers-that-be decided to build another C180 in-house from the remains of ZK-BUW, ZK-BWY, ZK-BUP and ZK-BSZ. This bitsa appeared in July1964 as ZK-CGJ with the c/n RA.5/64. Initially registered to the dealer arm of the Rural/Rex combine on 28Jul1064, ZK-CGJ seems to have been kitted out for agwork from its first appearance - possibly as a promotional exercise. In March 1965 ownership moved to Rural Aviation (1963) Ltd. for operational use. In July 1965 Rural bought Te Kuiti-based Northern Air Services, and ZK-CGJ flew with that company at some stage. On 30Mar1967 ZK-CGJ was sold to the Middle Districts Aero Club of Palmerston North, and several private owners later was finally destroyed in a strip landing February 2012. ZK-CGJ under Rex Aviation ownership at Feilding 15Aug1964Now operating with Rural, Bell Block 4Mar1967I'm pretty sure the first 185 in nz was zk-cak 185-00017 a late starter to ag but first flew in nz 2/7/1962 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 18, 2017 19:34:52 GMT 12
True. First 185 was ZK-CAK as a demonstrator, first flight 2Jul1961 and then to Golden Coast Airways in August 1961.
But we are talking agricultural here - first ag185 was ZK-CAN.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 18, 2017 19:38:53 GMT 12
. . how about adding the purely civil (non-ag) Cessna 180 examples to the thread? Probably not. I'll leave that part to others. Most likely I'll do the agricultural Piper Cubs, who history now seems to be pretty much forgotten. I'm still working on the Miles aircraft project, which has turned out to be much much more difficult than the Percival one that I did previously. |
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Post by mit on Jun 18, 2017 22:33:55 GMT 12
True. First 185 was ZK-CAK as a demonstrator, first flight 2Jul 1961 and then to Golden Coast Airways in August 1961. But we are talking agricultural here - first ag185 was ZK-CAN. That's just a little misleading statement to say the first 185 to arrive in New Zealand was CAN, when it was CAK, the first ag 185 to arrive may have been CAN doesn't make it the 185 to arrive. CAK also went on to be an ag plane. |
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Post by craigbeep on Jun 22, 2017 21:27:59 GMT 12
The next new Cessna 180 to arrive was N9663B. This became ZK-BUF on 13May1957, but went directly to the Auckland Aero Club in September. Despite the next owner, in 1963, being James Aviation (Rotorua) Ltd., it operated purely in their charter division and thus has no agricultural involvement. Still current in the Canterbury area. ZK-BUF when part of the James charter fleet, Rongotai December 1963 |
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