Morane-Saulnier Rallye

[The Red Baron]

Lloyd Seabrook. From memory he died during a demonstration flight?

[Dave Homewood]

I have always wondered this, as John Seabrook and his family were well known for owning garages and car dealerships in Auckalnd i wonder if there is any family connection to the Seabrooks Garage that used to be here in Cambridge in the 1950's and 60's or so. It's such an unusual name and being in the same business, there must ne a connection I'd think.

[The Red Baron]

Seabrook-Fowlds were the Austin,Morris dealers for NZ,they had garages/car sales all over the country.
We used to live in Matamata they were in operation there until the late 1970's.

[Peter Lewis]

Feb 13, 2013 11:26:45 GMT 12 The Red Baron said:

Seabrook-Fowlds were the Austin,Morris dealers for NZ

Austin only. The Morris dealers were Dominion Motors - the Norwood family.
I think Seabrooks only had the North Island franchise, Croziers had the Christchurch/South Island licence. David Crozier was involved with the Canterbury Aero Club.

When Austin & Morris merged in the UK, S-F and DMs merged here to form the New Zealand Motor Corporation and they ended up as the Honda car dealers.

[chinapilot]

Flyernzl forgot to mention that I'm fairly sure that's Seabrook senior also...
Used to refuel them when they passed through Wellington. They seemed to do a lot of demonstration flying at the time which is borne out by Lloyd Seabrook's 400 hours in Rallyes.

The Red Baron Thanks for the report...recall there was a rear CofG problem culminating in the difficulty of recovering from the spin.

[shamus]

Seabrook- Fowlds were also Nash Rambler agents.

[Peter Lewis]

Rallye Club c/n 5201 became ZK-CBW with Seabrook Fowlds in August 1962, and was the sold to Taumarunui Aero Club. It was delivered to them on the 29th October.

ZK-CBW at the Fenton Street field, Rotorua, February 1963



Ownership later passed to the Hamilton-based Waikato Aero Club, and they retained the same natural metal and red colours

At the Bell Block, New Plymouth, airfield, 4Mar1967

No, it hasn't rammed the fence. Tied down early in the AM



A bit later the same day



ZK-CBW crashed into a gully at the Lichfield strip 12Oct1968, the registration being cancelled 31Jan1969.

However, this was not the end. ZK-CBW was rebuilt, apparently incorporating some parts from Rallye Club ZK-CDB and was issued with the new registration ZK-CDE.

ZK-CDE had been already been allotted to S-F for a MS885 Rallye but this had not been imported, so the registration had remained unused.

The new ZK-CDE was registered to H N C Monskton, Hamilton on 29Oct1969 and passed on to D F Barker, Frankton on 30Apr1970.

ZK-CDE at Hamilton 24Mar1978 in a rather unfortunate colour scheme



The Rallye then had a couple more owners, including time with aircraft sales agents Dennis Thompson in 1980

At Ardmore, presumably after a repaint



Traveling to the South Island for P J Butt, Seddon in 1987, the registration lapsed in April 2002.
On 11Jul2005 it was restored back to active service with W H F Butt, Seddon and remains current.

[kevsmith]

Re the colour photo of BZZ on page 1, the gent in the shorts on the left is definately Lloyd Seabrook and I think the gent in overalls is Bryan Gault who was the CFI of the Auckland Aero Club at that time.

[Peter Lewis]

Rallye Club c/n 5202 became ZK-CBX with Seabrook Fowlds in early October 1962.
Ownership then passed to the Piako Aero Club based at Matamata, being delivered there on the 28th October. Initially at least, this aircraft was finish in natural metal with blue trim

ZK-CBX visiting Onerahi airport, Whangarei, in 1964





Ownership passed to K J & S D W Henderson of Balclutha 5Aug1968, then to J M Young, Wanaka on 9Jul1971.
C W Bristed of Seddon, North Canterbury became the owner from 12Nov1973, and the aircraft has remained there since that time.

ZK-CBX seems to have lead an incident-free life. Most of the surviving Rallyes are operated from their rural owners private strips and these days are seldom seen at major airfields.

As Bruce has already commented, the Rallyes was stoutly built and, as can be seen from the photos, were fitted with wing leading edge slots which gave good short field performance. Thus they are popular with rural owners, presumably those who cannot aspire to own an Auster.

[FlyingKiwi]

They seem to have a remarkably large amount of elevator travel.

Here's CKM at Taupo a few years ago, I suppose you were getting to this one Peter.

[Peter Lewis]

Thanks Leo

[Peter Lewis]

The last of the batch of six Rallye Club aircraft imported by Seabrook Fowlds in 1962 was c/n 5230 which became ZK-CCS in October.

Initially, this Rallye went to the Rotorua Aero Club, being delivered on 11Dec1962

ZK-CCS parked up at Whangarei in 1964



A few years later, the Rallye moved to the Tokoroa Aero Club.

At the new New Plymouth airfield opening, 4Mar1967.





From early 1970 the Pegasus School of Aviation based at Tauranga operated this Rallye, and the final owner was A E Boyd of Thames from 23May1972.

Unfortunately, ZK-CCS hit power cable near Hanmer 26Feb73 and was destroyed. The registration was not cancelled until 5Dec1988.

[Kereru]

Any photos or info on the one that did a forced landing in a paddock near Pukekohe Peter? I had a distant pic of it somewhere but not sure I still have it.

Cheers,

Colin

[Peter Lewis]

Not sure which Rallye that was, Colin.

There are plenty of NZ Rallye incident reports on Aviation Safety Network, but very little detail.

Update:

Rallye Club ZK-CGY carried out a forced landing at Pukekohe 9Jan1971.
Obviously not too bad, it survived for another 20 years.

[Peter Lewis]

Encouraged by the relative success of the 100hp Rallye Club sales, Seabrook Fowlds imported a further batch of Rallye aircraft in late 1962.

These included examples of the higher spec models, including a MS892 Rallye Commodore. This was a four-seat version of the Rallye powered by a 150hp Lycoming.

Thais aircraft, c/n 10.464, became ZK-CDA with Seabrook Fowlds Ltd. in January 1963 and remained in their hands. Extensive demonstration flying was carried out with this aircraft throughout New Zealand over the next 15 months, mainly in the hands of Lloyd Seabrook.

ZK-CDA at what looks to be Ardmore during a demonstration tour



Apparently, maintenance on this Rallye was still carried out by TEAL staff at their Whenuapai hangar

ZK-CDA heading into the TEAL hangar, Whenuapai, 7Mar1965



During an air display at Waharoa airfield, Matamata, on 17Mar1965 Lloyd Seabrook took up three other pilots to show them the capabilities of the Rallye Commodore. Although not occupying the left-hand seat during this flight, as an approved instructor, he was legally PIC during this flight.

While flying at 1500ft about 4 miles away from the airfield, the aircraft entered a stall, then spun. There was insufficient height for the aircraft to recover from the spin and resultant dive, and all four occupants died in the crash.

This accident hit the Seabrook family hard, and signally the end of their interest in promoting aviation and Rallye sales.

[Peter Lewis]

Rallye Club c/n 5302 became ZK-CDB with Seabrook Fowlds in January 1963.

ZK-CDB at Fenton Street, Rotorua, 9Mar1963 still under S-F ownership.



It then went to Whangarei with the Northland Districts Aero Club

Parked outside the NDAC hangar when it was at the eastern side of Onerahai airfield, 1964



Weekend afternoon scene at NDAC, 1964.
Arriving pilot shutting down the Rallye, while the next man awaits his turn.
Fletcher ZK-BIU of Aircraft Service Ltd parked up in the background.
Not a red Honda RAV in sight!



By 1965, ZK-CDB had moved on to the Mercury Bay aero club at Whitianga

ZK-CDB at an air show at Ardmore, 13Mar1965



Still on the move, ZK-CDB went to R P J Poole, Auckland in June 1968 and to H N C Monkton, Hamilton in September.

An attempt at hand-starting went awry at Hamilton airfield at 6.15pm on 18Dec1968, and ZK-CDB was damaged beyond repair in the ensuring unpiloted run into a ditch.

However, parts of this aircraft were subsequently employed in the rebuild of the damaged ZK-CBW to become ZK-CDE.

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-CDC was allotted to Rallye Club c/n 5317 when it was registered to Seabrook Fowlds in January 1963.
This Rallye also traveled north, to the Northern Wairoa AC at Dargaville.
They kept the aircraft for a relatively short time before passing it on to the NZ Aerosales Flying School of Paraparaumu.
By early 1966 it was back in the hangar at Ardmore

ZK-CDC at Ardmore 11Feb1966, white with two-tone blue trim



Ownership reverted to Seabrooks, and the Rallye stayed at Ardmore for some time awaiting a buyer

At Ardmore, sans titles, 5Aug1966



Eventually the Motueka aero club bought the aircraft, taking title on 29May1967.
Further transfers saw it move to the Whenua-Rangi Land Co.Ltd., Taupo on 22Jul1967 and then the Glenmore Flying Group, Auckland 9Jan1974.

I have the aircraft recorded as being badly damaged in a gale in May 1975 (date? where?) and the registration finally cancelled on 11May1990.

[Peter Lewis]

Rallye ZK-CDE is a rebuild of ZK-CBW (with parts of ZK-CDB) as covered above.

[Peter Lewis]

The first MS885 Super Rallye to be imported was c/n 5248 which became ZK-CDF with Seabrook Fowlds in February 1963.

Brand new, ZK-CDF at Invercargill 2Feb1963



This aircraft stayed in the south, initially with the South Otago AC based at Balclutha.

In SOAC colours, unknown location (photo via Allan Wooller)



Passing into private hands with R W Skurr, Sheffield, in March 1969, this aircraft seems to have lurked in the remote areas of the South Island ever since. Ownership passed to A A Innes, Black Forrest Station, August 1972, to D R Davison, Culverden, March 1978 and finally to Lowry Peaks Trust, Culverden in June 1992.

It is still current, but I have not seen it at a civilized airfield for many, many years.

[pjw4118]

Phil & Jack Seabrook with W Fowlds inspect a Nene Jet engine.
Whites Oct 47