Finish Of Plane

Flown to North Shore-Nelson-Dunedin yesterday was Piper PA31 Chieftain ZK-FOP which sadly is to be used as spares for Mainland Air's two Piper Chieftains ZK-KVW and ZK-VIP . 

A history of its ownership can be found here : http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2016/11/piper-pa-31-navajo-chieftan-zk-fop.html

Here is a photo history of its New Zealand service...

Arrived from the States, N888SG at Christchurch on 30 November 1987 - nearly 30 years ago!

Registered in New Zealand as ZK-FOP the Chieftain went into service with Pacifica Air flying Christchurch-Alexandra-Wanaka-Christchurch... photo taken at Christchurch on 28 February 1988
See : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/10/pacifica-air-profile.html

ZK-FOP at Hokitika on 5 January 1989. 

Following the closure of Pacifica Air ZK-FOP went to Airlink which operated Christchurch-Timaru-Alexandra for a brief time... photo taken at Timaru on 28 August 1989
See : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/10/airlink-to-alexandra-for-15-weeks.html

Still wearing signs of its brief time with Airlink, ZK-FOP at Hokitika on 23 May 1992 while being operated by Airwork

A mean green machine... FOP wearing NZ Aero Medical Service titles with sponsorship from Air BP... photo taken at Nelson on 7 January 1994 

Eventually ZK-FOP went to Airwork where among other things it was used on coastal patrol work as seen getting airborne from Nelson on 15 February 2005.

In more recent time ZK-FOP flew for Barrier Air as seen at Auckland on 10 January 2016
Barrier Air was its last operator and was used by them until they retired their Chieftain aircraft.
See : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/barrier-air-new-name-to-barrier-and.html

What's the word?

There are a couple of big rumours flying around at the moment in the NZ airline scene which if they come to pass will certainly give me something to blog about...

I just had a look at my crystal ball gazing back on 1 January...

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2017/01/crystal-ball-gazing-for-new-year.html 

It's interesting to see what has happened so far this year and look forward to the last four months of the year.

Hamilton last week

Beech B300 Super King Air ZK-PWL at Hamilton on 7 August 2017

Cessna R182 Skylane RG ZK-MRG at Hamilton on 7 August 2017

Our Aircraft Manufacturer

On Monday 7 August 2017 I was given the opportunity to visit Pacific Aerospace at Hamilton...

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KDN.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KDP

and Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KEB are all ear marked to be jump ships

while Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KED will be used for aerial survey work.

 

The line up outside the Pacific Aerospace hangars

On the production - one airframe awaiting riveting and one riveted

another airframe taking shape

Nearing completion Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KDI

Not in production Pacific Aerospace CT/4E Airtrainer ZK-JDZ

And hopefully soon to be in production - the Pacific Aerospace Expedition E-350
see http://www.aerospace.co.nz/aircraft/e-350-expedition

Bits and Pieces from Ardmore

More from my visit to Ardmore on 5 August 2017

We start with an Australian, CAC Sabre A94-922 

Preparing to leave the country - Bristol Freighter ZK-EPG 

 

A couple of Cessnas... Cessna R182 Skylane RG ZK-ETX...

and Cessna T240 TTx N362CS.

Up for sale, Piper Chieftain ZK-NSP

A couple of new photos for me were Cessna 206 ZK-NVC

and Piper PA22 Pacer ZK-PAL.

and finishing with an Australian, Diamond DA62 VH-DNU

New Operator???

Ardmore Floatplanes

It's not too often you get three floatplanes at a New Zealand airfield... but this is what I captured at Auckland on 5 August 2017

Currently visiting New Zealand is American-built Quest Kodiak N181KQ 

 

New Zealand resident but American registered Cessna 206 N26NZ

My first photo of Auckland Seaplanes' DHC Beaver ZK-WKA

For sale, one Pilatus PC12...

And as it happened I managed to photograph it yesterday at Ardmore on 6 August 2017

 

Interested in buying???

Check out the link below

http://oceania-aviation.com/aircraft-sales/58/2009-pilatus-pc-12-ng/

and if you want its airfield...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/95481308/former-tech-multimillionaire-tony-lentinos-wellsford-property-up-for-sale?cid=facebook.post.95481308

On Repaint...

Being repainted at the moment is Fly My Sky's BN Islander ZK-PIY as seen at Ardmore on 5 August 2017

One presumes it will look like ZK-EVO as seen here at Auckland 30 October 2016

Air Chathams' Sale

Here is an opportunity to check out some of the Air Chathams' routes and aircraft...

Network Wide Sale!!!

We are celebrating 21 years operating our trusty Convair 580's and our 1st Year Anniversary of the Whanganui to Auckland service with really low fares!

Sale period from 7th to 21st August. Get in quick before they're all gone! 

Book online www.airchathams.co.nz