Tiger Moth NZ847 (ZK-AKC) Heading North

[Dave Homewood]

Saturday, 11 May 2024

Tiger Moth added to collection of vintage warbirds
By Mark John

One of the few remaining Tiger Moth warbirds in Otago has been sold to an Auckland buyer.
An Auckland businessman, who has asked to remain anonymous, picked up the 1940s aircraft from Taieri airfield beginning its journey to its new home at Ardmore Airport yesterday.

He was pleased to be adding the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth to his collection of vintage warbirds, which included a North American T-6 Harvard.

"This is a true New Zealand-built aircraft, obviously, of British design.

"These are a piece of history — they’re almost an art piece," he said.
There were 98 Tiger Moths that were used to train pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War 2 before they flew Avro Lancasters and Supermarine Spitfires.

Although the plane would have seen its fair share of bad weather, the new owner said he was planning on keeping it safe in a hangar with the exception of a handful of joyrides and an airshow or two.

The owner, and engineer Kevin Paulsen, took off from Taieri yesterday and planned to spend the night in Blenheim before flying across Cook Strait today.

"Crossing the strait will be exciting.
"I have done it many times in various different aircraft and I can assure you the moment you’re on land the engine is purring perfectly, but the moment you get over water it’s a concrete mixer."

For the journey, they would fly about 2000 feet above the ground, well below controlled airspace.

[e-mail]

Photos and video in the article here:
www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/tiger-moth-added-collection-vintage-warbirds?

[Dave Homewood]

From NZDF Serials:

NZ847
DHNZ97

Built at Rongotai.
BOC Unit 18 Rongotai 10 October 1941.
With No.1 EFTS, Taieri 1942.
Fitted with a canopy during early 1943.
With ATC Touring Flight from 11 January-July 1944.
Sold to New Plymouth Aero Club from No.42 Squadron on 09 August 1946.
Entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-AKC on 24 June 1946.
The canopy was retained on this aircraft for some time after it was civilianised.
To J. Wells, Dargaville in late 1957.
To J. Harvey.
To North Otago Gliding Club in 1958.
To J. Hanlon, Dunedin.
Crashed and overturned at Wanaka on 04 January 1965.
Stored at Dunedin in pieces by 1971.
Cancelled from register on 13 November 1973 as withdrawn from service.
To T. Grant, Mosgiel for restoration on 19 November 1974.
To T. Grant and J. Hanlon, Mosgiel on 11 February 1975.
To T. Grant, Mosgiel on 24 April 1975.
To J. Crosbie, Pukekohe on 19 January 1982.
To Allied Press Ltd, Dunedin on 03 May 1990.
Severely damaged in fence strike during precautionary landing near Waitahun, Otago on 05 December 1999.
Regained airworthiness 26 January 2001 following repairs by Croydon Aircraft Co, Mandeville.
Crashed at Taieri Airfield after stalling during take off while towing a banner on 03 November 2001.
The aircraft flipped onto it's back causing substantial damage to fuselage abd wings.
The pilot luckily suffered no injuries.
Following major repairs undertaken by Ray Goulding at Rangiora it regained airworthy condition in November 2003.
Currently opearting from Taieri with Julian Smith of allied Press Ltd.

[madmax]

Dave, I'm sure the number of DH82s operated by the RNZAF was 335

[Dave Homewood]

I did not write the article.