Lurking in the undergrowth at Awhitu is this Bristol 170 31 NZM. Registered to the Bristol Aeroplane Co as G-AINS with c/n 12833 on 27-01-1947 it did its share of demonstrating before being re-regestered with the Bristol test allocation of G-18-199 on 19-11-1951. It arrived at Whenuapai on 06-12-1951 to become NZ5902 with 41 Squaadron RNZAF on 13-12-1951. It was withdrawn from use on 23-03-1977 and sold to Dwen Airmotive to become ZK-EPA on 17-08-1978. It was cancelled from the NZ civil register on 01-12-1988 as scrapped. The "02" is still faintly visible on the nose.
Down the track at Mercer is the Piper PA-23-250 Aztec C ZK-JEI c/n 27-2638
This aircraft has more history than I have space for. But briefly:-Built as N5539Y in 1964 it had at least five US owners before arriving in NZ on 15-11-1972 to become ZK-DJG with Bishop Aviation at Gisborne on 27-11-1972. Five operators later it was with Seabee Air Ltd of Auckland in 1986. Cancelled on 30-05-1986 it became DQ-FEG first with Stardust Cruises and then Island Air in Fiji. It returned to NZ via Norfolk Island on 20-06-1987 and was stored at Flight Engineers until restored to Seabee Air as ZK-DJG on 14-03-1989. Great Barier Airlines appear on 18-10-1989. On 02-06-1990 it departed for Norfolk Island on delivery to become YJ-RV3 at Port Villa. Ownership change in 1991 saw Vanair listed. It returned to NZ again on 28-08-1991 to return to its ZK-DJG markings with Great Barrier on 06-09-1991 and departed NZ again on 12-09-91 for Cook Island Fisheries. Back yet again to NZ on 03-08-1993 for cancellation on 15-11-93 to become DQ-FIB for Vanua Air Charters. I then have it as returning to NZ on 24-10-1994, still with Great Barrier but now re-registered as ZK-JEI from 04-09-1995. Some six local operators later it was with JW & E I Lyver from 06-09-1999.
How it got in its present state I know not; but it appears to be badly damaged underneath, as if it had a wheels up or similar.
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