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Post by kevsmith on Jun 13, 2022 16:49:16 GMT 12
Was this C180 an amphibian? No rego so it may be hard to find out. Amphibs have a habit of the pilots landing on the water with the gear down from time to time and it’s a recipe for an instant disaster. Once is an accident but twice in the same year - well!!!!!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 13, 2022 22:43:39 GMT 12
I wondered exactly that Kev. If it was coming from Milford Sound, had it taken off from the airstrip on amphibious wheels, or the water?
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Post by mit on Jun 14, 2022 20:06:19 GMT 12
Was this C180 an amphibian? No rego so it may be hard to find out. Amphibs have a habit of the pilots landing on the water with the gear down from time to time and it’s a recipe for an instant disaster. Once is an accident but twice in the same year - well!!!!!! ZK-BJY I think you will find. Don’t think it ever had amphib’s but someone might know otherwise aviation-safety.net/wikibase/168352 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 14, 2022 22:28:40 GMT 12
I have ZK-BJY listed as being on amphibian floats while with SSAS. However, this does not mean that it had those particular floats all the time. The following photo of ZK-BJY is not good, but confirms the installation.  |
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Post by kevsmith on Jun 15, 2022 1:30:42 GMT 12
Thanks for that photo Peter. That pretty well confirms the statement (flipped over on its back as soon as it struck the water) in the news report. There are a number of videos around showing exactly that when an amphibian float plane touches down on water with the gear down!
Was this the same C180 that Fred Ladd operated about 1958/59?
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Post by planewriting on Jun 15, 2022 9:09:53 GMT 12
Thanks for that photo Peter. That pretty well confirms the statement (flipped over on its back as soon as it struck the water) in the news report. There are a number of videos around showing exactly that when an amphibian float plane touches down on water with the gear down! Was this the same C180 that Fred Ladd operated about 1958/59? Funnily enough, my co-authored book Taking Off - Pioneering Small Airlines of New Zealand 1945 - 1970 is right beside me having just looked up something else. On page 75 there is a photo, caption and text. It states, "In the first four and a half years of operation, TAT used only one Widgeon but it became increasingly evident that a second aircraft would be required. Brand new Cessna 180 floatplane ZK-BVD, sporting the floats from ZK-BLL, was hired from Rural Aviation from January to April 1958. George Bolt once observed Ladd struggling during a take off to Great Barrier Island in ZK-BVD and on its return to Mechanics Bay he inspected the floats. He grounded the aircraft having detected lose rivets and cracks in the floats which allowed in much water thereby increasing the weight and the drag. Ladd was always grateful that Bolt was so willing and able to help." As it happens, our family was on holiday at Paihia late January / early February 1958 and Fred Ladd spent a day there doing his traditional local scenics in ZK-BVD. |
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Post by thomarse on Jun 15, 2022 20:59:15 GMT 12
Something tells me BJY went on her head twice for the same reason... I'm sure I read it in someone's book? Maybe Don Nairn's "Golden Wings and Webbed Feet"?
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Post by planewriting on Jun 15, 2022 22:15:31 GMT 12
Something tells me BJY went on her head twice for the same reason... I'm sure I read it in someone's book? Maybe Don Nairn's "Golden Wings and Webbed Feet"? is right beside me still. On page 26, in the Southern Scenic Airways chapter, it states "Unfortunately ZK-BJY had two such incidents in quick succession; with Rex Dovey on 23 January 1962 at Frankton Arm and with Dave Cowan on 14 July 1962 at Queenstown Bay. In both incidents the aircraft turned over and need major renovation work before being returned to service". |
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Post by kevsmith on Jun 16, 2022 1:25:28 GMT 12
Thanks for that insight from your book Peter re BVD. Fred Ladd was operating the C180 off Red Beach and I was able to spend some of my Herald Boy money on my first ever flight, with him, in that aircraft, probably early 1958. Never forgotten!
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Post by thomarse on Jun 16, 2022 7:19:14 GMT 12
Somewhat embarrassed to say I haven't read "Taking Off" Peter - is it still available? None on TradeMe at present
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2022 8:06:01 GMT 12
Somewhat embarrassed to say I haven't read "Taking Off" Peter - is it still available? None on TradeMe at present Check your local library too - ours has a well-thumbed copy! |
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Post by camtech on Jun 17, 2022 22:30:59 GMT 12
I guess that means you have borrowed it regularly, Zac?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2022 22:11:21 GMT 12
I guess that means you have borrowed it regularly, Zac? Once or five times! |
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Post by gooneybird47 on Sept 1, 2022 10:02:42 GMT 12
I can remember a Cessna being assembled in a shed at New Plymouth harbour. The aircraft had floats and was craned over to the wharf and lowered into the harbour. It was possibly a 206. Now we have a good kit of the 180/185 aircraft hopefully we will get an issue with floats and skis. Some New Zealand markings would be nice. One of the first aircraft I ever flew in was the Rex Aviation 180, ZK-BYI. While out a Christchurch Airport recently I was pleased to see it is still flying. I would like to build a model or this and any of the top dressing 180/185 aircraft Rural Aviation used.
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Post by craibeep on Sept 27, 2022 8:52:21 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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Post by craibeep on Sept 27, 2022 8:53:52 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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Post by craibeep on Sept 27, 2022 8:54:29 GMT 12
ZK-BUF was a lovely aircraft to fly! My memories of her go back to between '57 and '63 on the scheduled Claris run in the main. What days of informality and innocence. To pass the time waiting for the tardy islanders to show up, we would break into the old wooden hut at the end of the grass strip and play a few rounds of ping pong, furiously winding up the hand-cranked magneto-powered phone on the wall, from time to time, to ask Mrs Medland if she knew what had happened to the passengers, or the return freight.
There was one particularly hair-raising event that took place at about 8 feet AGL at the western perimeter of the strip on one occasion. But, perhaps that's not for here.
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Post by madmax on Oct 3, 2022 22:38:07 GMT 12
I have an idea ZK-BUF was aroumd 1970 owned by Tom Hullena,Masterton but stand to be corrected
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Post by dakman on Oct 7, 2022 16:02:48 GMT 12
Yes madmax . It carried T H Hullena company titles at Masterton for many years .Traded for a later model C180 . .
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Post by madmax on Oct 7, 2022 17:21:08 GMT 12
Thanks for confirming that Allan. I am currently a long way from home, my laptop has given up on me and i'm relant on a degrading memory and cell phone
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