This blog started off by focussing on NZ's smaller 3rd level airlines, past and present. It has evolved to trying to present some record of NZ's domestic airline operations and some of the larger charter operators, interesting NZ international airliner movements and photos I have taken around the country. Comments, corrections or contributions are welcome, Steve - westland831@gmail.com
While in Alexandra I was able to score a couple of hours at the museum to do some research on the local air services. An airline that has always had particular interest to me was Goldfields Air I have updated my post with more information and photographs.
See : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/goldfields-air-alexandras-airline.html
The Pegasus School of Aviation was formed by Wally Christopherson in late 1966 and was licensed to operate flight training from Tauranga. Previously Wally had been the chief flying Instructor for the Tauranga Aero Club.
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| Bay of Plenty Times, date unknown |
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| A Pegasus School of Aviation Victa Airtourer ZK-CLF at Tauranga |
On the 5th of September 1968 the Pegasus School of Aviation was given a licence for air charter services from Tauranga.
In late 1971 Piper PA32 Cherokee 6 ZK-DEF was subsequently added to its fleet and in mid-1972 the Pegasus School of Aviation was authorised to vary the terms of Air Service Licence 635 and operate an air taxi services from Tauranga with one five-passenger Piper PA32 Cherokee 6 and one one-passenger Airtourer 150. .
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| An undated photo of the Pegasus School of Aviation's Piper PA32 Cherokee 6 ZK-DEF at Blenheim's Omaka Aerodrome |
In 1972 Pegasus applied for an air taxi service. Statistics given to the Ministry of Transport give a glimpse of the operations in the years ended 31 March and for 1972, 31 January;
Training Hours - (1968) 646; (1969) 1766; (1970) 1708; (1971) 1204; (1972) 1368
Charter Hours - (1969) 59; (1970) 130; (1971) 105; (1972) 98
Scenic Flight Hours - (1969) 12; (1970) 46; (1971) 53; (1972) 78
Piper Aztec ZK-DJG joined Pegasus' fleet in 1979.
The Tauranga Aero Club, who had always been Pegasus School of Aviation's big competitor, bought out the company in September 1980. The training business and fleet was subsumed into the Aero Club. At this time the Tauranga Aero Club's commercial arm was known as Tauranga Aerial Charter but the Pegasus charter fleet, which included at that time Piper Cherokee 6 ZK-DEF and Piper Aztec ZK-DJG, remained separate, initially being operating as Pegasus Air Charter and later being renamed as Pegasus Aviation.
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| Piper Aztec ZK-DJG wearing Pegasus Air Charter titles at Tauranga |
In 1984 Eagle Air doubled in size adding three Piper Navajo Chieftains and a second Embraer Bandeirante to its fleet. This enabled the company to establish a "hub and spoke" operation with Hamilton and Palmerston North being major hubs and flights timed to connect to similar timed arrivals and departure to other central North Island destinations. This timetable started on the 2nd of April 1984 and it enabled Tauranga passengers to connect at Hamilton to connecting flights to Gisborne, Napier, Wanganui, New Plymouth or Wellington.
From mid-1984 Eagle Air chartered Pegasus Aviation to operate the Tauranga-Hamilton flights offering a much better timetable for passengers travelling to and from Tauranga. Pegasus Aviation normally used the Piper Aztec, ZK-DJG. for these flights which operated twice daily on weekdays. Pegasus Aviation continued to operate these services until the 25th of October 1985.
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| Pegasus Aviation's Piper Aztec ZK-DJG at Auckland on 6 August 1984 |
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| Pegasus Aviation's Piper PA32-260 Cherokee 6 ZK-DEF at Greymouth on 20 October 1985 |
While in Alexandra I was able to score a couple of hours at the museum to do some research on the local air services. An operation I didn't have much on was Air Express and I have been able to update my post with a little more info to give a little more flavour to this short lived air service.
See : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/09/air-express-calling-at-alexandra-on.html
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| A classic Piper PA28 Cherokee 140, ZK-CUQ, at Alexandra on 3 October 2021 |
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| Mainland Air's Cessna 172 ZK-ETT at Alexandra on 3 October 2021 |
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| Built for SPANZ, Alexandra Airport terminal on 3 October 2021 |
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| NAC hangar, Taieri, 2 October 2021. Isn't it great that it is still standing! |
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| Dakota aircraft Popotea, ZK-APB, New Zealand National Airways Corporation, Taieri Aerodrome, 4 November 1947. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-10591-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23216956 |
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| New Zealand National Airways Corporation Lodestar AKX, Kereru, at Taieri Aerodrome with Dunedin Taxi bus, 12 November 1947. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-10714-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22818590 |
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| HeliOtago's Eurocopter AS 350 B3 Ecureuil ZK-IOJ.. |
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| and Airbus Helicopters MBB-BK117 D-2 ZK-IDH were both out on missions from Tairei on 1 October 2021 |
Heading to Napier this Saturday, the 9th of October are three Originair BAe Jetstreams filled with Tasman Mako fans for the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Hawkes Bay.
The Tasman Mako will makes its third challenge (2008, 2012) for “the log o’wood” on Saturday 9 October, 4.35pm kick-off in Napier.
The TRU has negotiated a same day return package including charter flight, match marquee hospitality and transfers for $600 inclusive.
The day’s schedule is ~
1.00pm - depart Nelson, arrive Napier 2pm, bus transfer to McLean Park
3.30pm – Entry to marquee hospitality with food (2 x buns filled with hot pulled pork, salads and condiments), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
6.30pm – an hour after full-time we depart marquee, and transfer to Napier Airport
8.30pm – depart Napier, arrive Nelson 9.30pm.
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| A couple more new ones for me, Vans RV-4 ZK-RVI on departure from Taieri on 1 October 2021 |
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| Foxcon Aviation Terrier 200 ZK-SOD's engine was having some work done it at Taieri on 1 October 2021 |
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| The Otago Aero Club's Cessna 152 was in the circuit at Taieri on 1 October 2021 |
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| My first photo of Cessna 182 Skylane ZK-OAD at Taieri on 1 October 2021 |
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| Even though its been on the register since 1973 this was my first photo of Cessna 177 Cardinal ZK-DDK, taken at Taieri on 2 October 2021 |
I also love Maules...
On 1 October 2021 Maule MX-7-180A ZK-MXM was doing some local flying...
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| ZK-CKP |
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| ZK-DJF |
Today marks the 70th anniversary of air services to Stewart Island.
On the 1st of October 1951, Amphibian Airways began a regular air service to Stewart Island from Invercargill. Over the years the service has passed down from one operator to another and from an amphibian air service to a land-based air service.
The first air service is recorded here...
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/10/60-years-of-stewart-island-air-service.html
Link to the various operators that have flown to Stewart Island can be found here...
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/06/air-services-to-stewart-island-index-of.html
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| A quick zip around the airport scored a new one for me today, Cessna 185 ZK-NRC taken at Hamilton on 29 September 2021 |
Someone sent me a photo yesterday of a Britten Norman Islander airframe that had arrived at Classic Flyers in Tauranga with, on one side, some Great Barrier Airlines markings. The question was, which Islander was it?
The answer is it is Britten-Norman BN2A-21 Islander c/n 759, which carried the markings ZK-KTR, but was never registered and was used for spares as far as I can tell.
I'm told it will I understand will be in an RAF scheme. This is the first Islander to be preserved in New Zealand.
Note to Bring Home Our Birds - You need to ensure you get an Islander at some point... They have been (and still are) in continuous NZ service for over 50 years!
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| Unregistered BN Islander ZK-KTR at North Shore on 26 January 2009 |
