American Classics coming soon.

[Bruce]

Over the weekend we had an SAA BBQ and I was catching up with one of our chapter members who has a big interest in Classic American light aircraft. This American gentleman already has several Luscombe Silvaires and Taylorcrafts here in NZ, some of them currently under restoration for sale. he advises that in 2007 we are likely to see the arrival of a Beech 18 twin, a Stinson 105 "Station Wagon" and possibly the return to NZ skies of a Cessna 195. The time frame may be somewhat fluid, but certainly this types will add colour and interest to the NZ GA scene. Discussing with him further, we may possibly see a Globe Swift or Ryan Navion, depending on interest, in the distant future.
Personally I love the American classics, (Can I have a Globe Swift for Christmas please Santa...) and its good to hear some of the more exotic types are on the way.
p.s. I won't name the person, hes not into publicity etc...

[Dave Homewood]

Another Beech 18 will be nice to see. I wonder if we'll see the CAF's one flying again any time soon. I hope so.

Is the Cessna 195 the old-style radial version, like the lovely green and silver one that came out here in the early 1990's with much fanfare and then was promptly destroyed in a crash?

[flyjoe180]

From memory it ended up in an orchard...

[flyjoe180]

Yep, Cessna 195 is the radial job Dave. It was a nashi orchard it ended up in. Remember nashi pears?

[Peter Lewis]

flyjoe180 said:

It was a nashi orchard it ended up in. Remember nashi pears?

It came in from Canada, and didn't last long here - December 1987 to January 1988.