Wayne Grant photos

Sir Peter Jackson's brand spanking new Gulfstream V-SP (550) ZK-KFB/2 touched down at Auckland just on 1520 today, 01Jun, concluding its delivery flight to NZ. Arriving direct from Honolulu, the V-SP had crossed from Savannah, Georgia the previous day.

Unlike the first ZK-KFB which was operated by Auckland's Air National, this machine is being operated by Sydney based Execujet and it is understood the jet will initially be housed in a hanger at Melbourne/Essendon. Execujet manage some 70 aircraft globally.

Cessna 172S ZK-XPS was registered on 19May this year to BA & SJ Painter of Auckland and was photographed today outside the Hawker Pacific hanger at Ardmore. Noted tucked in the back of the hanger was Southern Wings Piper PA28-181 ZK-SWG, ex N24GK, which was first noted still on the US register in late April.

Adria reports 13.5 million loss

Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways registered an operating loss of 12.2 million Euros and a net loss of 13.5 million Euros in 2009, according to Wednesday's issue of the Slovenian daily “Dnevnik”. Jat Airways’ net loss in 2009 amounted to 23.5 million Euros while Croatia Airlines’ loss came out to 27.3 million Euros.

Meanwhile, after almost 20 years, Mali Lošinj Airport, located on the island of Lošinj in Western Croatia, handled its first aircraft. Some 40 tourists from Innsbruck in Austria arrived on the island. The airport had to invest 300.000 Kuna (41.296 Euros) in security in order for the Austrians to agree to commence flights. The director of the airport, Alan Horvat, said “This line for us will not be profitable. However, we hope to have similar flights next season that would not only connect Mali Lošinj to Innsbruck but to Vienna too, maybe Munich as well. If we had five to six lines per week we would turn a profit”.

The airport’s director admits that greater interest will be generated once the runway is extended by at least 1.500 metres.

Captured today pounding the Rangiora circuit was the Cessna U206F Stationair ZK-TFW , c/n U206F-02273 , operated by Canterbury Aviation. It had been briefly registered in Australia as VH-AKX and prior to that a short stint as T8A-101 of Palau.

It arrived in NZ in February of 2001 to become ZK-PMM for the Kapiti Districts Aero Club. It had a bit of a whoopsie on Durville Island in July of 2001 and then moved down to Te Anau for Fiordland Experience Group from 16-09-2002. They re-registered it as ZK-TFW on 26-09-02.

On 29-08-2006 it was listed to Robinson Air Ltd of Mt Palm (North Canterbury) and operated under the Amuri Helicopter ticket until being listed to them on 24-11-2006. Somewhere about here it spent time with Flight Corporation of Nelson before returning south to Canterbury Aviation from 03-03-2008.

Joining our register on 27-05-2010 was this Robinson R22 Beta 11 , c/n 3129.
Top pic shows it in Japan in its original JA7961 markings which were issued on 25-09-2000 to Alpha Aviation.

This shot is of it in the Pacific Aircraft Services Hangar at Christchurch on 11-05-2010 with most of the bubble wrap removed.

Here was have it as ZK-HIJ4 and ready to be uplifted by its new owner, from further south, on June the 2nd.

Photographed under tow at Auckland late last week by Wayne Grant was Barry Coleman's Citation 501 ZK-NBR which is yet to be placed on the NZ register. Barry of course owns the National Business Review newspaper which is advertised on the engine cowls so the registration comes as little surprise.

Faram Aviation Group of Hastings has recently imported this Eurocopter 350B3 ZK-HQK/2 and was placed on the local register 17May and was outside Eurocopter today, 31May.


Also visiting Ardmore 31May from the Hawkes Bay was Hughes 369D ZK-HRF.

Small passenger increase recorded

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport saw its first quarter net profit fall by 37.3% year on year to 424.000 Euros, the “STA” news agency reports. Earnings fell by 66.8% compared to the first quarter of 2009 to 169.000 Euros. It should be noted that Ljubljana Airport was shut down for 2 weeks due to a runway overhaul. Still, the airport managed to increase its passenger numbers by a symbolic 0.6% to 240.588 passengers. Cargo was up 15.7% while 9.239 passengers transited through Ljubljana Airport, up 0.2% on last year.

The airport’s management is happy with the figures saying that it didn’t expect to see big increases in this first quarter. Passenger arrivals and departures were on par with 2009. The global financial crisis has led to cost cutting by airlines which the management says is the reason fewer people are using Ljubljana for transit.

Besides Adria Airways, the airport is used by easyJet, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Jat Airways, CZA Czech Airlines and Montenegro Airlines.

This photo was sent to me by westland831 (check out his great blog at http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/). It shows a Cessna 182 marked as ZK-DFQ. But what you see is not what you get. (it is actually ZK-DCJ cunningly disguised).

I will now try and sort out the tale of these two Cessna 182's ZK-DCJ and ZK-DFQ.

ZK-DCJ is Cessna 182Q Skylane 11 , c/n 182Q-65963 , which came to NZ as N759FR on 28-09-1977 to be registered as DCJ on 06-10-1977 to the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Division. (The registration block from ZK-DCA to ZK-DCR were all allocated to the MOT, DCA , CAA, CAD, Secretary for Transport - Call then what you will.)

DCJ carried out its official duties until 27-07-1987 when it over ran the strip at Lake Ferry. Its registration was cancelled on 26-11-1987, with its engine going to ZK-DCR. However this was not the end of it. Pic above shows ZK-DCJ with its MOT decal on the tail, lurking in the CAA hangar at Paraparaumu (Now Helipro's). Its remains went to Drake Aviation at Christchurch.
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Now then ZK-DFQ was a Cessna 182N Skylane , c/n 182N-60360 , which arrived in NZ from Australia and Norfolk Island as VH-RLV on 10-09-1971 for Dennis Thompson Aviation Ltd for registration to Alpine Helicopters on 12-10-1971.
Pic below shows it at Taieri on30-03-1972. It went through a series of owners including Dalhoff & King Aviation Ltd of Ardmore on 05-10-1978; to Airwork (NZ) Ltd Christchurch on 04-04-79; to A B Robinson of Rotherham (North Canterbury) from 14-12-1979; then to Drake Aviation of Christchurch on 15-09-1983. It then went to D S Latter initially of Cheviot from 08-05-1984 and then at Christchurch from 24-11-1986.

Now the damaged airframe of ZK-DCJ was repainted to represent ZK-DFQ to be used in a movie (the name of which I have long forgotten) which involved crashing the aircraft into the bush.

I recall seeing the movie and the crash scene clearly showed the ZK-DFQ registration.
This view of ZK-DFQ was shot at Christchurch on 13-06-1986 with its new paint job.

Behold, two ZK-DFQ's as spied at Christchurch on 04-03-1988 although I had seen them both on 26-02-88. The one on the right is the real DFQ with DCJ on the trailer - note its bent prop.
The real ZK-DFQ continued aviating and was sold on to Mike Thomas of Killermont Station (at the northern end of the Lindis Pass) on 28-10-1994 and then on to Mike Manion at Christchurch on 13-05-1996. Its demise came with an over run and overturn on the Waitomo airstrip on 29-12-1996. Its registration was revoked on 27-06-2001 - end of story for DFQ to date.

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After the movie the remains of ZK-DCJ went back to Drake Aviation and it was rebuilt using parts from another damaged Cessna 182P. This was c/n 182P-62799. Unfortunately I failed to record its previous identity at the time, but a bit of homework reveals that it was actually the remains of Peter Elworthy's Cessna 182P Skylane ZK-DOW which had over run through a fence and some small trees on 17-01-1982 at Double Hill Station (Upper Rakaia River).
Below is the damaged fuselage of ZK-DOW about to be cut and pasted into ZK-DCJ which was re-registered on 07-06-1990 to Bruce and Rae Drake.

And ZK-DCJ as spotted at Omarama on 06-01-1992.

These two Robinson Helicopters appear in the recent CAA ownership change listing.

Top pic is of the R44 Astro ZK-IVP , c/n 0293 , as seen at Hanmer Springs on 20-05-2009. This was imported from Japan in early 2003 by Skysales and joined Amuri Helicopters at Hanmer from 26-08-2005. It was noted for sale on Trade Me early this year. It is now with Highland Hunters Ltd of Auckland - listed on 14-02-2010. Its replacement at Hanmer is the Raven 11 ZK-HTF5.

Bottom view is of the R22 Beta ZK-HDJ5 , c/n 4410 , taken on 15-03-2010, which Skysales Aviation (NZ) Ltd at Christchurch registered on 30-01-2009. It has remained as a stock item. See earlier posting at http://design-plane.blogspot.com/2009/01/looking-for-new-homes.html. On 29-04-2010 it was relisted to Quantum Learning NZ Ltd of Whangarei.

Belgrade awaits Mat Airways

As reported several days ago, Mat Airways is planning to commence services from Macedonia this summer and the first destination will suitably be Belgrade, since the new Mat is owned by the Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki Travel. The first service, to be operated with a Boeing B737-500, is expected to be Ohrid – Belgrade, the “Macedonian International News Agency” reports. If so, the airline would be in direct competition with Serbia’s Jat Airways which operates services to Ohrid with an ATR72.

The “Sitel” agency reports that Mat Airways will withdraw from Macedonia if the Civil Aviation Agency does not grant them a flight permit within the next week. The management of the airline had a meeting with the Agency recently during which questions were raised whether Mat Airways is in fact the former MAT Macedonian Airlines.

Special thanks goes to visitors for contributing to this news item.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL c/n 139 was ZK-JDQ2 from 12-02-2008.

It headed offshore from Hamilton to Auckland and Lord Howe Island on 22-04-2008. It went through to Longreach the next day and then to Darwin on the 24th and Denpasar on the 25th.

It was heading to GoSky AG of Berlin for its skydiving activities. Its NZ registration was cancelled on 18-03-2009 for it to become D-FGOJ. It has recently been working in Portugal and recently made the headlines.

Check out http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=D-FGOJ

The above photo was taken at Hamilton on 20-03-2008.

To me, the Hawk Trainers seem to have been designed during F G Miles ugly phase.

ZK-AYW I think at Waharoa



A pity that ZK-ALO was not the one chosen to be rebuilt at MoTAT as this had a far more significant NZ history. It arrived prewar and served with the Otago aero club as ZK-AEY before wartime service as NZ586.
Postwar it returned to Otago as ZK-ALO and then moved to Waipawa before arriving at Matamata in 1952.

ZK-ALO at what looks to be Mangere



L8353 is currently in a high-up dark corner of the display area at MoTAT, and is impossible to view or photograph in that location. Pity.

This view of ZK-AYW was taken in February last year when I dropped into Te Kuiti.
The locals were busy painting the exterior of their Club House (Most were actually partaking of tea and scones).
On the wall of the Club House are several photographs. This was one of them. Alas I failed to notice the reflection from the windows.

Built as a Miles Hawk Trainer Mk111 for the Royal Air Force about September of 1938 it was allocated the RAF serial of L8353 and carried the constructors number of 779. It served well during World War Two, including time back with Miles Aircraft during 1940/1941. It also spent time with the 8EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) during 1943 and wore the code FD-TE and flew over 3500 hours before being demobbed. It was inducted onto the UK register as G-AMMC with W A Rollason Ltd in 1953 for export to NZ for the Waitomo Aero Club. It became ZK-AYW on 18-11-1953 and received its CofA on 03-12-53. It was damaged at Raglan on 22-02-1954 but was repaired and remained with the Club until sold to R G Perry (still at Te Kuiti) on 14-02-1961. By July it was with the Piako Aero Club of Matamata until being withdrawn from use on 02-09-1962 with 4302 flying hours. Its Gipsy Major engine I believe went to the Tiger Moth ZK-DAM some years later.
It was presented by L R Nicholson to MoTaT on 20-11-1967 and its registration was cancelled on 19-12-1980. It is now preserved at MoTaT using parts from fellow Magister/Hawk Trainer ZK-ALO and wears its military L8353 colour scheme.

Photo below shows the workers at rest.

A photograph from the archives.
Caution ! viewing this photo for too long may sear the eyes.

I will make it a triple banger question time.

1. Can you put a name on this fine specimen of humanity. (This would have to be worth a chocolate fish) ?

2. What is the aircraft make and model being "worked" on" ?

3. Would you care to offer a possible ZK registration ?

Be advised that no correspondence will be entered into and names may have to be changed to protect the innocent.

No vacant seats to Tivat

Both Montenegro Airlines and Russian charter companies are reporting bumper ticket sales on flights between the 2 countries this summer season. Moskovia Airlines told the “Novosti” newspaper, that the airline is sold out on the Moscow – Tivat route until June 15. “We have sold 2.220 tickets for the next 13 flights”, a spokesperson from the airline says. Moskovia has 4 weekly flights operating between Moscow and Tivat, increasing to 5 from June. From July to September, the airline will operate daily flights to the Montenegrin seaside town. Montenegro Airlines has also said that it only has business class seats available to Moscow for the next 2 weeks. The national carrier operates 5 weekly flights from Montenegro to Moscow. Rossiya, S7, Transaero, Yamal, Ural, Polet and VIM are other Russian based airlines operating to Tivat this summer.

Meanwhile, charter flights from Skopje to Burgas in Bulgaria will be launched in July, the Macedonian “Dnevnik” daily writes. The flights will take place on Mondays between July 19 and August 23 from Alexander the Great Airport in Skopje to Sarafovo Airport in Burgas.

Not directly connected to NZ Civil Aviation, but supported by some well known aviation names.

The annual fund rasing Trans Alpine Scooter Rally is meant to move out from Christchurch tomorrow.

I managed to capture this shining example being readied.

Click on

http://www.scootersafari.co.nz/

And then look in "Support A Rider" and you will see some familiar names participating.

I wish them well in these inclement meteorological conditions.

Look whose back

Macedonian newcomer Mat Airways is eagerly awaiting to take to the sky. All it needs now is the most important piece of the puzzle, a license from Macedonia’s Civil Aviation Agency, which has proved a challenge to come by. Mat Airways has been formed by Serbia’s largest tour operator, Kon Tiki Travel based in Belgrade. Kon Tiki is also planning to set up a charter airline in Serbia this summer.

The Serbian tour operator has said that together with another Serbian company, the Metropolitan Investment Group, it has invested great means into the new Mat, the “Makfax” news agency reports. The airline has denied that it has links with the former national carrier of Macedonia saying that the 2 only share a similar name. The airline will operate charter services with a Boeing B737-500, which used to belong to MAT Macedonian Airlines before it was grounded by the country’s Civil Aviation Agency. Mat Airways currently counts 60 employees.

I've had my head buried in pilot reports, image processing and P&P's 2010 LSA Buyer's Guide. Guides in particular never seem like they'll be such a mind-numbing chore yet every time the same number of eyeball-jittering, typing finger-stiffening days roll by. Look for it in the Oshkosh issue, late June I think.

There are 107 registered LSA models on the books.  I couldn't write about all of them so went with the top-selling 20, realizing even then some great airplanes get left out, so I factored in another couple dozen or so that stand a good chance of garnering market share in the future.
Most if not all The Magnificent 107 remain in some state of production - a minor miracle given our sluggish  economy.  Even more new designs approach ASTM certification this year.  Clearly it's going to be a big pie -- with a lot of small slices -- for a long time to come.
Given our "Little Industry That Can" bravura, it's always a lamentable duty to report whenever a noteworthy aviation project goes down the tubes.  But reality is reality:  the Sadler Vampire project is looking for another owner.
The original Vampire revved everybody up back in the early '80s as a unique, single seat ultralight.
Here's a summary from an excellent Wikipedia blurb:

The Vampire won Grand Champion Design at Oshkosh in 1982.   Bill Sadler started up American Microflight, which became Sadler Aircraft Co., and by 1984 was cranking out 4 units per month!  Not long after, ABC's 20/20 broadcast its infamous, recklessly distorted "expose" on the danger of ultralights that nearly killed the industry singlehandedly, or I should say underhandedly...a cautionary testament, more evident than ever in today's media, to the press's power to inflame irrational fear in the general public, whatever the truth might be.
Anyway, Sadler, facing the dramatic industry downturn everybody suffered after 20/20, sold the rights to Aero.V.Australia.
By the late '80s, Sadler developed a military version: the aptly-named Piranha, with enclosed cockpit, bullet-resistant Kevlar fuselage pod, machine gun mounts in the wing roots, all to support a ground attack, interdiction and counterinsurgency mission.  Holy Third World combat ops, Batman!
A UAV (unmanned) version was developed around the same time but never flew without a pilot.
David Littlejohn, VP of Sadler Aircraft, just informed me that once the principals looked at the books, they realized they'd have to sell 40 units just to break even on R&D expenses in their attempt to bring the Vampire to the S-LSA market.

In his own words (excerpted):

"...the economic downturn ...has taken its toll on the Vampire. I'm disappointed to report that the Vampire project is being suspended and offered for sale.

I apologize to all that have been following our progress. As is so often the case though, we had lots of "interested" folks, but not folks interested enough to commit...money in escrow and secure aircraft. As such, we failed to meet the required pipeline commitments needed to receive second-stage capital from our investors.  It's frustrating.  But such is reality in periods of economic uncertainty.

At this time we are seeking buyers of the company. Specifically, we have the prototype Vampire and various parts for three more Vampires already under construction. We are asking for $50,000 obo (development costs were more than 15 times [that] amount). And that price includes a nearly brand new Jabiru 3300 with under 100 hours on it.

At this time the company is being sold as a package including: prototype Vampire (has flown, but not flying now), wing sections for 4 aircraft (unskinnned), raw aluminum to skin the wings, spars and tail booms for 2 planes, landing gear for 4 planes, various other miscellaneous parts.

If interested...please send an email to: info@sadleraircraft.com.

The Vampire was an exciting original from day one...if it's resurrected yet again, maybe it should be renamed the Lazarus - this is one design that just won't die.
We sincerely wish everybody connected with Sadler Aircraft the best of good fortune going forward.

   ---images courtesy Sadler Aircraft

Joining Jat's flock in 2012?

The 12 year saga between Jat Airways and Airbus may soon come to an end, acceding to some Serbian media and the CEO of the Serbian national carrier. The politically motivated order for 8 Airbus A319s, in 1998, never materialised but Jat has already paid 23.5 million US Dollars for the aircraft. According to the media, the airline will now purchase 4 Airbus A319s, due to be delivered between 2012 and 2013.

“We are still negotiating, but a deal is imminent. Airbus has offered us good terms and has lowered their initial asking price. The problem is that Airbus wants to be paid 14 million Euros immediately while the rest would be paid off until 2022”, a source close to the airline said, adding that the immediate payment would be difficult for Jat to make. The news was confirmed several days ago by Srdjan Radovanović, Jat’s CEO, who said that the terms set out by Airbus are better than those previously offered and that it involves 4 aircraft that would be paid off within the next 12 years. Reportedly, the Serbian carrier is also hoping to get free training for its pilots and maintenance crews from the Toulouse aircraft manufacturer.

The 1998 order was worth a total of 580 million US Dollars.

On my second visit to Ardmore for the day (!), I stumbled across AS355 Twin Squirrel ZK-HXO in the livery of its most recent operator, Rick Lucas Helicopters.


At Mechanics Bay 19Mar 2004 with Helilink/Airwork whom it operated with from its initial importation in July 2001.


At Ardmore 28Aug 2007 looking very much like the Police "Eagle" machines with the addition of Helilink titles and a not so easy to read "XO" on the tail.

And at Ardmore 25May 2010 in full Helipro colours.

B&H Airlines’ passenger numbers up by 133%

The national carrier of Bosnia and Herzegovina, B&H Airlines, is reporting a sensational start to the year with the airline increasing its passenger numbers by 133.7%, compared to the same period last year, official statistics say. It should be noted that the airline has increased its number of flights by 46.4%. More frequencies, improved marketing and a sounder product have led B&H Airlines to handle 17.258 passengers. From January 1 until the end of March, the airline operated a total of 340 regular flight and 9 charters. However, the national carrier still has one of the lowest load factors (cabin occupancy rates) in the EX-YU region, standing at only 49%.

On the other hand, it has been no secret that the “Big 3” in EX-YU aviation: Adria Airways, Croatia Airlines and Jat Airways have been having financial problems. The management of Croatia Airlines reported a loss of 100 million Kuna (13.7 million Euros) in the first quarter of 2010. The loss is 3 times greater than that for the same period last year. The airline registered a 7% decrease in passenger numbers for the first 3 months of the year, the “Poslovni.hr” business portal reports.

ZK-CKE scores again.
It is indeed the Bristol 170 Freighter ZK-EPA1 as seen at Awhitu.
Three photos show it lurking in the bushes on 25-02-2009. The bottom view is of it at Ardmore on 09-08-1985.As you can see, it is an ex RNZAF aircraft.
It started with the Bristol Aeroplane Company as G-AINS with the construction number 12833 on 27-01-1947 and was allocated (but did not wear) the manufacturers serial of G-18-99. It was delivered to NZ and taken on charge by the RNZAF as NZ5902 on 13-12-1951. Its UK registration was not cancelled until 17-04-1952.
It was withdrawn from RNZAF use at Whenuapai on 23-03-1977.
It, along with several others went to R S Dwen of Ardmore with whom it became ZK-EPA on 17-08-1978. Its NZ civil registration was cancelled on 01-03-1988.

So I would like to know if it just sat at the Dwen yard for nearly ten years ; and when did it go out to Awhitu ?

View of ZK-EPA at Ardmore on 09-08-1985.

The second Citation 510 Mustang to wear the registration ZK-MUS arrived at Ardmore during the evening of 24May and was still there this morning. It was delivered to Wellington 23Apr10.


AS350B Squirrel ZK-HSE/4 was registered to Rotorflite of Clevedon 05May10 and it was also at Ardmore today. The colour scheme displays that typically worn by aircraft of Japanese lineage. It was noted departed Ardmore southbound 29May and underwent an ownership change 01Jun to Stewart Island Helicopters.

Now what type of flying machine was this then ?

What ZK registration would you care to put on it ?

To Montenegro from 2011

The first low cost airline to serve Montenegro will be Air Berlin in 2011. The largest German airline, which is not part of the Lufthansa conglomerate, plans to commence services to the country from its hub at Nuremberg Airport. The decision comes after talks were held with Predrag Nenezić, Montenegro’s Minister for Tourism. With the financial crisis still brewing, Montenegro has moved away from the concept of being a holiday destination designated only for the rich and famous.

Following strict protectionist policies, the Minister said that the Government is considering subsidising low cost airlines in order for them to begin flights to Podgorica and Tivat. “The main reason why there haven’t been any low cost airlines in Montenegro so far is because there has been no interest”, Nenezić told the “Pobjeda” newspaper. It’s no secret that the Government has done little to entice low cost airlines to commence flights. Last year, the Ministry for Transport said, “Low cost airlines that are interested in commencing services to Montenegro want certain amenities, such as lower airport taxes, reduced airport handling fees and so on. If we allow this to happen we would seriously be infringing competitiveness regulations and equal rights for all”. The Ministry also warned that there was “a dark side to low cost airlines”.

The European Union abolished entry visas for Montenegrin citizens in December 2009. Montenegro Airlines is expected to be privatised but the process has stalled. Whether the Government plans to privatise its national carrier this year and introduce some competition in 2011 remains to be seen.

I have received some low resolution photos from Peter Layne, taken recently, showing the fuselage of ZK-FRO in the Seaview Wreckers yard at Porirua, two of which I have included at the bottom of this posting.

Beechcraft A23-24 Musketeer Super 3, c/n MA-181 , was I believe a 1967 production aircraft which arrived and was uncrated at Hawker De Havilland at Bankstown on 10-04-1969 and was registered as VH-DYG1. The only listed Australian operator I can find was Sunland Aviation Service Pty Ltd of Archerfield.

On 08-11-1969 it was registered as ZK-DAD to the Wellington Aero Club. Colour scheme was from memory - blue lower fuselage with white upper and tail, with red and gold trim lines.

Top pic shows her at Wellington on 06-07-1971 with the Pig ZK-DAI behind.

Second view is after take off from the Picton airstrip on 17-04-1972.

On 03-01-1973 it looked like this at Wellington.

And on 19-07-1973 it was even more naked, being prepared for a repaint outside the Aero Club hangar at Wellington

Ending up like this - In the Club colour scheme of yellow and black trim with stylised WAC on the tail

Same day

It then passed to a series of owners, including Westland Air of Hokitika from 04-03-1974; Hired to the Stratford Aero Club briefly in 1974; To A P Orchard at Greymouth on 12-11-1974. R E J Turner of Ardmore had it from 01-04-1977 followed by T C Williams and K T Lochore at Masterton from 16-07-1977. B W Saunders of Auckland appears on 26-07-1988 and on this same day it was re-registered as ZK-FRO.

Under its new rego it passed through the hands of T R Willigers at Whitianga from 20-05-1997; R J & D J Lees of Thames from 29-09-98. To F P Radisich at Thames on 02-09-99 and the to Abdul Hamees of Auckland on 04-10-2002.

It had fuel problems on take off at Hamilton on 15-01-2004 and force landed at Rukahia. Its registration was revoked on 02-06-2004.

These two shots show ZK-FRO at Hokitika on 09-03-1993, and a nice view of her at Omarama on 19-01-1995

Two recent views from Peter Layne showing ZK-FRO in the wreckers yard.