Cessna 185A ZK-CBS

 Cessna 185A Skywagon ZK-CBS , c/n 185A-0398 , was allocated the US registration N4198Y, and it is my guess that it never carried these marks as it was test flown using Cessna's "test registration" of N11B before shipping to Rural Aviation at New Plymouth. I have it as first being registered as ZK-CBS to Mount Cook Air Services Ltd of Timaru on 05-09-1962 and first flying in NZ on 10-07-1962. It followed the Company name changes with a move to Mount Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd on 18-07-1973.

The shots above and below are at Wellington on 28-04-1964.

 It then appeared in Mount Cook Airlines scheme as fleet number "23" as seen above at Mount Cook on 31-12-1977. Ownership title changed to The Mount Cook Group on 07-02-1978.
It then spent a period in what looks like the carrot dropping role. Photo below taken at Queenstown on 09-09-1978.

 Another name change on 30-06-1998 had it with Tourism Holdings Ltd of Pleasant Point from 30-06-1998.
It latest change was to Aoraki Mount Coo Ski Planes Ltd of Mount Cook on 16-01-2002.

 Above and below we see her at Mount Cook on 15-08-2006. Now minus its fleet number but still retaining the ranunculus (Mt Cook lilly) on its tail

 Below as seen at Masterton on Friday with ski racks underwing and also what I assume is part of its bird tracking kit protruding forward on each wing.

It is said to be the highest houred 185 in country.