Nine Days in Christchurch

[Peter Lewis]

Recently, Meredith was offered a nine day work contract in Christchurch. Accomodation and airfares included.

As the accomodation was in a motel unit, I could stay there as well at no charge. All it would cost me was the airfare. My Scottish grandmother would approve.

But could I find enough in the Christchurch and Canterbury aviation scene to keep myself amused while she worked?

Let me see:

Day 1, Monday - Canterbury Aero Club.

The aim today was to photograph their Alpha fleet. We don't see these ones up north.
CAC's upstairs balcony makes a fine viewing platform, and over the day I managed to capture all five.

These five aircraft started life on-line with CTC Aviation at Hamilton before moving south in 2010.

ZK-VCA started life with CTC as ZK-CTX/2



ZK-VCC is ex-ZK-CTY/2



ZK-CTQ/2 became ZK-VCD



ZK-VCE is ex-ZK-CTR



ZK-VCF was previously ZK-CTV/2



(in case you're wondering, ZK-VCB is a Quad City Challenger II)

Just around the corner from the aero club Taylorcraft 20 Ranchwagon ZK-BQM is parked.
Apparently this has not flown for some time, and is immenent danger of being 'removed'.



As I left to go and thaw out, I spotted the Guimbai Cabri G2 ZK-HVG at the helicopter school.

[Ian Warren]

A brilliant spot to plane spot, other than having a van with a roof top viewing platform.

[Peter Lewis]

Day 2, Tuesday - Air Force Museum.

I planned to be at Wigram soon after it opened at 10am on the basis that there would not be many people there at that hour and therefore I could get clear photos.

This was a mistake. At that hour the place was infested with hordes of teenagers. The Defence Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) were holding a recruiting session that morning.

I bolted into the main display hall, which was mercifully still fairly unpeopled. In addition to the usual long-term exhibits, there were two items that had appeared there since my last visit.

Curtiss P-40 41-14205 was built as a Merlin-engined P-40F-1-CU variant, and appeared in the pacfic war theatre with the USAAF. One of four aircraft that force-landed in a clearing atop Mount Santop on Erromango, Vanuatu, on 20Dec42.
The aircraft was recovered from that site in November 1989 and went to Australia. Eventually acquired by the RNZAF Museum in exchange for a F4U-5N Corsair.
It has been rebuilt as a Allison powered P-40E with the ficticious serial NZ3000 and was completed in May 2013.





The other newish arrival is Bell UH-1D IroquoisNZ3801.
This arrived in NZ back in 1966, and spent its entire active life with the RNZAF.



I indulged in the workshop tour while I waited for the recruiting scene to clear, and was able to see the progress on the restoration of the Airspeed Oxford. This arrived at the museum as a Consul G-AIKR in the early 2000s from Canada, and is being rebuilt as an Oxford Mk.I
Although the rebuild is progressing nicely, I doubt that it will be complete by the target date of December 2015.



At the conclusion of the tour, and after some time for lunch in the cafe, the crowds had cleared and I was able to view the jets that are on display in the Helen Clark Trophy extension.

A-4K Skyhawk NZ6205 was one of the original Skyhawk batch that came on strength in early 1970.
It first flew here on 26May1970, and was eventually withdrawn from service at Ohakea in 2002.
It's last flight was from Ohakea to Woodbourne on 30Jul2004 by which time it had clocked up 8079.3hrs. NZ6205 arrived at the Museum in Oct2012



Aermacchi MB339CB NZ6460 arrived in NZ as air cargo on 13Mar1991. Its first flight at Ohakea was on the 12th April.
It was retired from service 13 December 2001 when RNZAF strike force was disbanded and stored at Ohakea awaiting sale. Arrived at the Wigram museum 2013.



Long-term exhibit Douglas A-4L Skyhawk Bu149516/N402FS painted up as 'NZ6207' has also been moved into this area.



An appreciative note:
Good to see a sign posted in the museum 'Photography is encouraged'
Quite a change from so many museums that frown when a camera is produced and go into full ISIS-attack security meltdown panic mode if a tripod appears.
Well done.

[Ian Warren]

Crikey Peter, I never thought about it, I should have given you a nudge nudge wink wink - Oi over here, I'm only down the road and could have got in there at 8 o'clock this morning before the hoards of kids.

[Peter Lewis]

Day 3, Wednesday - Time to Head South

Departing Christchurch for a day in the countryside, first stop was West Melton airfield.

This is a depressing sight - many fences, locked gates, mandatory CAA 'Keep Out' 'No Entry' 'Highly Dangerous' 'Go away and Don't Come Back' notices and, unsurprisingly, nothing at all happening.
I wonder why they bother?

Moving on to Levels at Timaru, there is a small South Canterbury aviation museum at the airport.
Like most such enthusist-run places, this is only open betweeen 2 and 4 in the afternoons two days a week. Today was not one of them, but here is the Pearse aircraft interpretation ouside their front door.



Around at the hangars, Tecnam Sierra ZK-MVS was out enjoying the sun.
Registered to a Wanaka-based company, it does seems to be permanent resident here.



The Just Aircraft Highlander ZK-MVT was getting some engine upgrades



Inside the GA hangar, alongside RANS S4 Coyote ZK-JPZ and Rotorway Exec ZK-IGH, the Volmer Sportsman ZK-FGL looks to have not moved much since I was last here two years ago.



Around the corner, the Air Tractor AT-402B ZK-SAT of Skyfarmers Aviation was undergoing checks



After a diversion into Timaru townsip for lunch and to visit the Art Gallery (don't laugh - it is located in a large old house that was presented to the city by James Grant, who's mothers sister Jessie married Rodolph Wigley of Mount Cook aviation company fame -  so there is an aviation connection).

Heading back north out of Timaru, I paused to finally locate the original 1920 Washdyke aerodrome that was set up by the NZ Aero Transport Company. I have been trying to locate this site for some years, but eventually found that it was ". . .at Washdyke. The aerodrome has a frontage to the Main North road and the lower Seadown Road, and covers area of about 80 acres, exactly opposite the Washdyke Racecourse"

Armed with this additional information, I think I have found the exact sport. It is underneath a commercial development now, of course. It's easy to find now, exactly over the road from the racecourse Phar Lap statue.
At the time, there were only three actual airfields in NZ- the waterfront at Kohimarama, Sockburn (now Wigram) and at Washdyke.
The Timaru airfield moved to Saltwater Creek in 1932 and finally to Levels, the current site, in 1953.
Maybe someone should erect a memorial here.



Moving a bit further back in time, I then called on the Pearse Memorial on the Main Waitohi Road.
Still there, but looking a bit weatherworn.





To round off the day, The Geraldine Motor Museum still has Spartan ZK-ABZ hung up in the rafters.
Last time I saw it, many years ago, it still had its wheels!
(Notes were taken to prepare for Saturday).



While there, I also found this RNZAF relic.
No doubt someone knows more that what it says on the label.





All in all, a fascinating trip back through time today.

[weheka]

Ashburton airfield would probably be worth a visit Peter if you had time. I called in there today and there was a bit going on.

[Deleted]

Nice photos and diary entries so far Peter. The P-40 looks great and the Oxford is coming along nicely. From memory Wigram got two Skyhawks (as well as the A-4L), where's the other one?

[Ian Warren]

Ole Wiggy has three Skyhawks, the TA-4K is in the back hangar and two on display in the new shed, one being an ex-USN done up to look like the 1970s camel/humpy.

[Peter Lewis]

Sept 30, 2015 19:40:08 GMT 12 weheka said:

Ashburton airfield would probably be worth a visit Peter if you had time.

Patience.

There is a Grand Plan.

[baronbeeza]

Is this a happening thing or is it all over ?

I can't remember having the drinks in the bar...

[Peter Lewis]

Two weeks ago. Exactly.

[Peter Lewis]

Day 4, Thursday - Points Near North

After fulfilling some domestic duties, first port of call midmorning was the Garden City heliport at Christchurch International.

Just pushed out of their hangar was their MBB-BK117 B-2 ZK-HGU.
This is a fairly recent addition to their fleet, have moved south from Airwork in February this year.



Getting ready to commit aviation was Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-IGC



Heading back out into the countryside, target for today was to locate Forest Field, the Collings airfield somewhere north-west of Christchurch in the Waimakariri area. A new one for me.

Once tracked down, it is quite well signposted from the adjacent road.
Just a few closed hangars visible at the time of the visit.



Recovering, after a ggod lunch, then off to Rangiora.
I'd arranged with Baz to visit the Auster factory here, must be one of the few such enterprises left in the world.

As I arrived, the Turbo Arrow ZK-TFD was seen on short finals. He'd arrived back from somewhere, and taxiied across to resume residence in one of the many local hangars.



Beech Bonanza ZK-EDJ from Blenheim was parked, apparently it had been there for a few days.



Pleasant surprise was the arrival of Aerobat ZK-FSL. The property of the Air New Zealand Sports & Social Club, this was an aircraft I'd never seen before.



Lurking in a hangar around the back was Cub 150 ZK-COG.
This aircraft dates way back to 1957 when it arrived in the country as ZK-BTB. A hard life in the ag industry saw it rebuilt some years later as ZK-COG, and it has spent its entire life in the South Island.



After meeting Baz (and dog) I checked out the many Auster bits-and-pieces. Progress is being made, and it all met my approval.

Then just time to head up to the western end of the field and photograph Rans S-6ES Coyote II ZK-LVE which was visiting in from Cheviot.



Running out of daylight - and energy - by now, time to head back to the not-so-big smoke.

[suthg]

Really enjoying your journey Peter - thanks.

[Dave Homewood]

How do those V-tail Bonanzas steer without a rudder?

[gtw]

with the nose wheel

[Dave Homewood]

But doesn't the nose wheel retract during flight?

[Bruce]

Oct 1, 2015 19:02:23 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

How do those V-tail Bonanzas steer without a rudder?

The "ruddervators" have a mechanical mixing mechanism that operates them differentially for yaw control but at the same time mixes in up and down motion for pitch. its a complex arrangement of bellcranks, but one which works surprisingly well.

[Dave Homewood]

OK. Thanks Bruce. It was something that never occurred to me before. Is there any benefit to this style of tail or was the designer just trying to be different from everyone else for the sake of it?

[sqwark2k]

Nice trip Peter. I assume you have more to come, but wonder if you made it to the Ferrymead Museum?

Re: ZK-BQM at CHC, this was/is owned (??) by the estate of the Canterbury Gliding Club Tow Pilot who unfortunately lost his life to a towing upset Jan 2014. He used BQM to tow banners as a side line operation. It was previously hangared in the AirNZ Flying Club hangar on CHC Airport til they were evicted to make way for a new Maintenance facility that was built on their site.

Re: ZK-FSL. Recent arrival at Rangiora since the AirNZ Flying club were relocated as mentioned above. Unfortunately they don't have their own hangar and the club fleet of 3 are spread through various hangars on the field.

Re: West Melton, depressing as it was, it is 100% owned by the Canterbury Aero Club as a satellite airfield and only use it for circuit training after launching from and recovering to CHC. They occasionally base aircraft there over weekends for club members who don't want to go all the way to CHC airport, as they do at Rangiora as well. Club competitions are held at West Melton (WL). There is no one manning the field full time so they have all the depressing signs, locks etc to protect their liability should an accident occur on the field which they'd have no control over.

[shorty]

Oct 1, 2015 21:11:37 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

OK. Thanks Bruce. It was something that never occurred to me before. Is there any benefit to this style of tail or was the designer just trying to be different from everyone else for the sake of it?

Two tail surfaces instead of three equals less drag