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Post by Martin Wienert on Feb 13, 2008 19:54:05 GMT 12
Looking for any available information and photos of de Havilland Heron DH.114 1B, ZK-EKO, c/n 14044 bought by Air North 14.6.77.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers Martin
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 13, 2008 19:56:39 GMT 12
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Post by Martin Wienert on Feb 13, 2008 20:12:37 GMT 12
Thank you! Do you know what the livery looked like? The same as ZK-BBM? Martin |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 13, 2008 20:15:05 GMT 12
Im afraid I don't know but Peter will no doubt have a photo or two.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 13, 2008 21:18:39 GMT 12
Peter will no doubt have a photo or two. Expectations! ZK-EKO (the first) DH114 Heron 1B c/n 14044 G-5-11 1/2/1955 De Havilland Aircraft Co.Ltd. G-ANXA 16/2/1955 British European Airways (delivered 21Feb1955) 9/4/1974 Peters Aviation Ltd., Norwich S.Abd, Reg canc 24Jun77, ArrNZ 22Jun77. ZK-EKO 29/6/1977 Air North Ltd., Rotorua 22/11/1977 Rotorua Airlines (1977) Ltd., Rotorua WFU & parked at Rotorua 1979. DBF on ground at Rotorua 17Oct1981 Registration cancelled 24Jan1989 At Ardmore 28Jul1978, white over silver with blue striping and orange trim  Parked up at Rotorua, 1980  The results of the conflagration  |
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Post by Martin Wienert on Feb 13, 2008 21:27:40 GMT 12
Peter, thanks a lot  ZK-EKO 29/6/1977 Air North Ltd., Rotorua ? ? ? Nationwide Air, bt ( Eastwood/Roach) 22/11/1977 Rotorua Airlines (1977) Ltd., Rotorua Is this correct? And am I right that the registration ZK-EEX was never used in connection with a Heron? Martin |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 14, 2008 7:21:58 GMT 12
? ? ? Nationwide Air, bt ( Eastwood/Roach) Don't understand this comment. Nationwide was of course the Car Haulaways/Carvair thingy. Involvement with Rotorua was an attempt to get around the Air Services Licensing constraints. Heron ZK-BBM was sold into Fiji as VQ-FAY/DQ-FAY, on its return to NZ in 1975 was allotted ZK-EEX but reverted to BBM instead. ZK-EEX eventually was used by a microlight. |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 14, 2008 9:12:52 GMT 12
Well founded though eh You do a great job with this historical stuff Peter, keep up the good work, we appreciate it. |
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Post by Martin Wienert on Feb 14, 2008 11:33:03 GMT 12
? ? ? Nationwide Air, bt ( Eastwood/Roach) Don't understand this comment. Nationwide was of course the Car Haulaways/Carvair thingy. Involvement with Rotorua was an attempt to get around the Air Services Licensing constraints. Heron ZK-BBM was sold into Fiji asa VQ-FAY/DQ-FAY, on its return to NZ in 1975 was allotted ZK-EEX but reverted to BBM instead. ZK-EEX eventually was used by a microlight. Peter, thank you very much for your answer! |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 15, 2008 22:42:02 GMT 12
The whole convoluted machinations of the Nationwide/Air North/Akarana/Norak saga is enough to make your head spin. Well mine does anyway.
My interpretation, in relation to EKO is:
The Rotorua Aero Club had developed a very strong tourism operation during the 1960s, to the point where the commercial operations of the aero club threatened to dominate traditional club activities. This came to a head on 1969, and resulted in the then club CFI Ian Palmer and a couple of partners forming a commercial company called Geyserland Airways Ltd. This company bought the tourisim operations and assets from the Rotorua Aero Club.
Palmer ceased instructing, and ran Geyserland full time. The tourisim operation flourished, and Pamer established a Rotorua - Auckland scheduled service, managing to obtain Air Services Licensing Board licenses for this service. These services were later exended into Northland.
By 1972, Palmer was in conflict with the other partners in Geyserland. He wanted to extend the scheduled service operation, the others wished to concentrate on tourism work.
Palmer therefore formed a new company, Air North Ltd. for the scheduled service work leaving the tourism operations to Geyserland. Palmer then concentrated on developing Air North with services covering other towns such as Whakatane and Gisborne. This required additional aircraft, and the Heron ZK-EJM was bought.
By 1977 Palmer was stretched, doing most of the Air North flying, and also managing the company. He was approached by the men behind Nationwide Air, who offered to take over the company and its management, thus leaving Palmer to continue as Chief Pilot.
This takeover did not include all of the Air North assets, only Heron ZK-BBM being transferred. Heron EJM and Aero Commander CWP remained with Palmer, who formed Rotorua Airlines (1977) Ltd. to own these aircraft. Rotorua Airlines then leased these aircraft to the newly reformed Air North.
Shortly after this restructuring, ZK-EJM went into a ditch at Ardmore and was irreparably damaged. Palmer then sourced and bought ZK-EKO as a replacement, the aircraft being bought in Air North's name, but then transferring to Rotorua Airlines to reflect Palmer's ownership.
The aircraft initially operated with Air North titles, but operated under the Nationwide Air banner from 1978.
Nationwide were really only interested in freight, and saw Air North (and Akarana Air) as a means of getting the necessary ASLB licenses. They became in dispute with Palmer, who was eventually fired from his chief pilot position. Nationwide fell into arrears in their lease payments to Rotorua Airlines, and Palmer repossessed the two aircraft.
The Heron was flown to Rotorua and parked there. With no licenses Rotorua Airlines could not operate, and the company went into liquidation. The Aero Commander was sold for a proposed Auckland-Kaikohe service (which never eventuated) but there were no buyers for the Heron. It remained derelict at Rotorua until the fire, which remains an unsolved mystery.
So from the above, Nationwide Air never owned the aircraft, it was simply operated in their name.
The above is my interpretation of the situation. No doubt I have made some errors of detail, and I do not wish to blacken anyone's reputation. If others can further clarify the story, they are welcome to do so. Me - I'm off for an asprin!
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Post by Martin Wienert on Feb 16, 2008 4:28:00 GMT 12
Thanks again, Peter!   'Me - I'm off for an asprin!' I hope it helped!  Cheers Martin |
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pa18
Warrant Officer
Posts: 37 
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Post by pa18 on Feb 16, 2008 10:29:32 GMT 12
No doubt the same Heron that in the 70's was given an airways clearance by AKL tower to
"Track via its previous oil slick"
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 16, 2008 10:38:38 GMT 12
Well Peter, that is the first time I have managed to get my head around that whole saga - so your explanation is very good indeed.
Thanks for that.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 27, 2008 16:09:08 GMT 12
Colour shot of ZK-EKO parked up at Rotorua:  |
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Post by westland831 on Sept 23, 2012 9:37:47 GMT 12
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Post by scrooge on Sept 25, 2012 18:37:55 GMT 12
I think we've got the flight manual...
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