GA-7 Cougar ZK-PAP back on register.

Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar ZK-PAP , c/n GA7-0084 , returned to our register on 05-03-2010.

As N9526Z this Cougar arrived in NZ on 04-04-1979 to become ZK-SSS on 08-06-79 with NZ Aerospace Industries Ltd at Hamilton. It went on line with the Waikato Aero Club followed by a succession of owners until 23-12-1996 when it joined the Tauranga Aero Club and was re-registered as ZK-TAD. It remained at Tauranga until purchased by Paul and Paula Hally of Christchurch on 01-06-2006. They re-registered it as ZK-PAP on 13-07-2006 and it went on line with their Christchurch Flying School out of Wigram. A name change in July of 2008 saw it under the New Zealand Flying School banner.

Now as far as I know it was withdrawn from use at Timaru following the discovery of mainspar corrosion about 10-12-2008. Its registration was cancelled on 14-08-2008. A one off permit was issued for it to be ferried from Timaru to Christchurch - I think this was in August of 2009 - for delivery to the ANZ Engineers Training Centre.

On the 5th of March 2010 it was re-registered to Air New Zealand Ltd of Auckland.

The above pic shows ZK-PAP in the ANZ engineer Training hangar at Christchurch on 15-03-2010. Interestingly, it is parked under the Fokker F27 ZK-BXH which is also still currently registered although it was withdrawn from use on in about 1990. I believe this is for insurance purposes.