25 years ago - October 1987 - A trip up the West Coast

Hughes 500C ZK-HSR at Dave Saxon's helipad at Haast on 25 October 1987. Photo : S Lowe

Robinson R22 ZK-HZT at Mussel Point on 25 October 1987. Photo : S Lowe

Hughes 500C ZK-HXA at Karangarua on 25 October 1987. Photo : S Lowe

Winged Hunters' Fairchild Hiller 1100 ZK-HKN at Fox Glacier on 25 October 1987. Photo : S Lowe

At Franz Josef on 25 October 1987 were The Helicopter Line's Bell Jetranger ZK-HPO and Mount Cook Airline's Cessna 185 skiplane ZK-MCR. Photos : S Lowe

Hughes 300 ZK-HJR at Kaniere on 25 October 1987. Photo : S Lowe

Hughes 300 ZK-HXP at Hokitika on 26 October 1987. Photo : S Lowe

Hughes 500D ZK-HVL at Shantytown on 26 October 1987. Photo : S Lowe

Companions on the journey at Haast Pass - John Corcoran who I used to work with in the NZ Forest Service and one of NZ's great plane spotters, Bob Kerr. It was a great getting to know Bob and Dorothy when I lived in Timaru - it was Bob who got me on the big plane spotting road trips.