Taupo report

Piper PA31-310C Navajo C ZK-MJF (c/n 31-7912089) came from Canada and was registered using the initials of its new owner M J Funnell as its registration on 16-06-1994. John re-listed it to Helicopter Services (BOP) Ltd on 27-02-01. On 01-09-2011 it was transferred to the New Plymouth Aero Club and is used in the air ambulance role as required. Its maintenance is still carried out at Taupo by Helicopter Services and it is seen above parked outside their facility today.
Below is the New Plymouth Aero Club Partenavia P68B ZK-ZSP (c/n 129) which came over to uplift the Navajo pilot.

Fifty seven years old and still providing good service is the De Haviland Canada Beaver ZK-FPZ (c/n 717).  Built for the US Army it went civil in Texas in 1972 and then to Alaska from 1979. It came to NZ in 1988 for Float Air Picton. It sunk at its moorings in March of 1990 during high winds, went to Taupo for a rebuild and has been there ever since. It is currently listed to Venture Air Ltd and is seen here on 11-12-2011 outside Helicopter Services awaiting an engine part.

Seen on the 09-12-2011 was the Advanced Flight Ltd's Eurocopter EC 130 B4 ZK-IBX2 (c/n 4445).

Report and photographs by Henry McIntyre.