Bennet Aviation Te Kuiti

[noel88]

Found another aircraft amongst the slides though after the comment about the last one having a short flying time before crashing - I believe now that it was only 123 hours I find this one which also had the same problem. Seems like my uncle taking a photo of your plane might not have been good luck.

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 63090

Date: 08-OCT-1963

Time: ~1130
Type: Bennett PL-11 Airtruck
Owner/operator: Waitomo Aircraft Ltd
Registration: ZK-BPV
C/n / msn: 001
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Ngapaenga, near Waitomo - New Zealand
Phase: Take off
Nature: Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Pilot John Worthington .
The prototype PL-11 Airtruck crashed in a gully at the end of the airstrip, reportedly due to pilot incapacitation.

Mr Worthington was taken to Te Kuiti hospital suffering from head and chest injuries.

[noel88]

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, another great shot. Is that an Austin A-90 Six?

[The Red Baron]

Vauxhall Velox isnt it?.

[TS]

I reckon your correct...

[johnnyfalcon]

What a cracker picture!

[baz62]

Aug 5, 2018 12:38:42 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Wow, another great shot. Is that an Austin A-90 Six?

Looks like a Vauxhall, similar to the one the Air Force Museum has.

[delticman]

Aug 5, 2018 12:35:00 GMT 12 noel88 said:

Found another aircraft amongst the slides though after the comment about the last one having a short flying time before crashing - I believe now that it was only 123 hours I find this one which also had the same problem. Seems like my uncle taking a photo of your plane might not have been good luck.

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 63090

Date: 08-OCT-1963

Time: ~1130
Type: Bennett PL-11 Airtruck
Owner/operator: Waitomo Aircraft Ltd
Registration: ZK-BPV
C/n / msn: 001
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Ngapaenga, near Waitomo - New Zealand
Phase: Take off
Nature: Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Pilot John Worthington .
The prototype PL-11 Airtruck crashed in a gully at the end of the airstrip, reportedly due to pilot incapacitation.

Mr Worthington was taken to Te Kuiti hospital suffering from head and chest injuries

This shot was taken sometime in early 1961. Not long after this it was dismantled and various parts were redesigned by Geoff Young and it flew again in April 1963, this time with a nose gear oleo built out of Harvard main leg and was painted in red colours.

So this shot is quite rare in colour.

I'm interested in the 127 hours TT, where did you hear or read that.

Ray

[noel88]

The 123 hours was in reference to ZK-BXY on the other slide I scanned.

www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/ceres/ceres.htm

That was also posted before it was posted that BXY was all silver meaning my pic must be BXW.

[delticman]

Aug 9, 2018 21:52:07 GMT 12 noel88 said:

The 123 hours was in reference to ZK-BXY on the other slide I scanned.

www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/ceres/ceres.htm

That was also posted before it was posted that BXY was all silver meaning my pic must be BXW.

Thanks, I MUST pay more attention and read from the top, not flick through the pages backwards!

I am pretty sure that ZK-BPV has two sets of hours, the ones logged and what it really did.

[ianwau]

Just finished a 1:48 model (scratchbuild) of the PL.11 Airtruck (ZK-CKE)
DSC00981 by ian w, on Flickr

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, that is fantastic Ian!

[Mustang51]

Only its mother could love it. But, then again, it did appear in MAD MAX in its later guise

[worthington]

Hi all,

I'm new here. I am the granddaughter of John (Jack) Colin Worthington.

Doing a little research to hopfully pass on to my children.

I must say, it's very heartwarming to see his name. Missed very much.

Rhee Worthington

Aug 5, 2018 20:46:38 GMT 12 delticman said:

Aug 5, 2018 12:35:00 GMT 12 noel88 said:

Found another aircraft amongst the slides though after the comment about the last one having a short flying time before crashing - I believe now that it was only 123 hours I find this one which also had the same problem. Seems like my uncle taking a photo of your plane might not have been good luck.

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 63090

Date: 08-OCT-1963

Time: ~1130
Type: Bennett PL-11 Airtruck
Owner/operator: Waitomo Aircraft Ltd
Registration: ZK-BPV
C/n / msn: 001
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Ngapaenga, near Waitomo - New Zealand
Phase: Take off
Nature: Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Pilot John Worthington .
The prototype PL-11 Airtruck crashed in a gully at the end of the airstrip, reportedly due to pilot incapacitation.

Mr Worthington was taken to Te Kuiti hospital suffering from head and chest injuries

This shot was taken sometime in early 1961. Not long after this it was dismantled and various parts were redesigned by Geoff Young and it flew again in April 1963, this time with a nose gear oleo built out of Harvard main leg and was painted in red colours.

So this shot is quite rare in colour.

I'm interested in the 127 hours TT, where did you hear or read that.

Ray

[wingnut180]

Hi Rhee,
Your late Grandfather took me for my first flight in one of his topdressing 180's in March 1957never to be forgotten. You wouldn't be Allan's daughter by any chance?