Soon in Podgorica

The CEO of Montenegro Airlines, Zoran Đurišić, signed a final agreement for the purchase of an Embraer E195 jet. This will be the third Embraer in Montenegro Airlines’ fleet and the first to be actually owned by the airline, with the others on financial leases to the carrier. At the singing in Paris, Đurišić said that the E195 in question is in the final stages of production and should be in Podgorica by June 25. The aircraft is being financed from a loan the airline received from the Brazilian National Bank.

The arrival of the newest Embraer will be Montenegro Airline’s 9th aircraft and the airline’s 8th operational aircraft. If the airline carries out its plan of setting up an airline in Niš, 2 aircraft would be leased to its subsidiary Master Airways. Montenegro Airlines has an option of ordering another Embraer.

On the 19th of March I just happened to be motoring through Eltham and found this Bell (Garlick) UH1-B ZK-HHB2 , c/n 3114 , sitting on its trolley at Beck Helicopters. Built as 65-12856 for the U S Army for delivery to Kongelige Norske Luftarsvaret as #856 (the last three numbers of its US serial). It was withdrawn from service in 1991 and went back to the US for civil conversion by Garlick Helicopters of Hamilton Montana. It was registered as N123MS in January of 1992 to Construction Helicopters Inc of Porter Valley in California.

By November of that year it was in NZ and become ZK-HHB2 on 18-11-1992 for Beck Helicopters Ltd.

About 1/2 a km north I found Bell (Tamarack) UH-1F ZK-HHF3 , c/n 7009 , seemingly trying to park at the top of a piece of rope. It was actually dousing a small fire which I assume was a training mission.

This Huey was built for the USAF and carried the serial 63-13149 and spent much of its service life supporting the missile sites. It was stored at AMARC (Davis Monthan) in January 1986. Tamarack Helicopters of Stevensville, Montana placed it on the US civil register as N2412G on 28-01-2003. It became ZK-HHF3 on 09-06-2003 for Beck Helicopters.

Whilst checking out the Cougar ZK-PAP I was kindly permitted to check out the other airframes used in the ANZ Engineering Training Centre at Christchurch.
Above is the Bell 206A JetRanger ZK-HVH2 , c/n 423. This was damaged near Turangi on 27-09-1991 and cancelled in June of 1992. Note its shortened tail boon.


A second JetRanger is this Italian built Agusta AB206B ZK-HPB2 , c/n 8002 . It came to grief when it rolled on landing on the Fox Neve on 06-70-2002. It was cancelled on 07-02-2003.

Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk 11 ZK-EVA1 , c/n 38-81A0017 was new to the MDAC at Palmerston North in 1982. Its claim to fame would have to be its midair collision with its hangar mate, Tomahawk ZK-EQM over Aokautere (near Palmerston North) on 30-07-1989. It was later registered to the Ardmore Flying School until being cancelled as withdrawn on 24-12-1999.

Tomahawk ZK-EQG , c/n 38-79A1144 began its career with the Nelson Aero Club in early 1980. After several ownership changes it was back with the Nelson Club when it was cancelled as withdrawn on 21-07-2006.

ZK-EIX , c/n 38-79A0649 started off at the South Canterbury Aero Club in 1979. It had a heavy landing at Christchurch on 21-10-1998. Ownership changed to Ron Potts on 10-01-2000 - but did it ever fly again ?

It was cancelled as withdrawn on 24-09-2004.



Aero Commander 500 ZK-CWP1 , c/n 500-842-98 has been in NZ since 1968 when it was listed with the Rotorua Aero Club. After a heap of owners I seem to recall that it sat in a derelict state at Ardmore until its registration was revoked on 03-07-2002. (I wondered where it had disappeared to).

Cessna 172F ZK-CHT , c/n 172-52188 failed to get airborne off a strip on Molesworth on 01-03-2005. It was cancelled on 09-08-05 and its mortal remains sat at Timaru for a while.

A second Friendship ZK-BXI , c/n 10286 , is also on site, although it is in several sections.

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.

Returning to our register on March 23rd was the Boeing 737-8FE ZK-PBL , c/n 36605 , (line # 2710).

This 737 was originally delivered into Christchurch on 29-08-2008. Named as "Canterbury Belle" it entered service with Pacific Blue on 02-09-08 with a run to Brisbane.

Its NZ registration was cancelled on 02-04-2009 for listing as VH-VUQ to BOC Aviation (USA) of Reno, Nevada the following day; Operated off course by Virgin Blue Airlines. Its first service in Australia was from Brisbane to Sydney on 18-04-2009.

As VH-VUQ it flew into Christchurch on 18-03-2010 for transfer back to ZK-PBL status by ANZES.

Above is a pic of ZK-PBL at Christchurch on 27-09-2008.

Two more Dash8s in Zagreb soon

Croatia Airlines will accept new aircraft in the following days. The Croatian ministry for sea, transport and infrastructure reports that the national carrier will receive 2 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s within the next 2 weeks finalising the acceptance of the 6 aircraft order. The airline received its first Dash 8 in May 2008. All of the aircraft are new and are on a 6 year financial lease to the airline. This aircraft type now becomes the most predominant one in the Croatia Airlines fleet. The Croatian national carrier also has an option of ordering a further 4 Dash 8s.

Meanwhile, the airline will farewell one of its Airbus A320s. The aircraft, registered 9A-CTM, will leave the fleet following the arrival of the Dash8s. The interior of the A320 in question has already received a new look for its next customer. The aircraft bore the Star Alliance livery which has now been transferred to an A319, registered 9A-CTI. Croatia Airlines has 4 Airbus A319s on order which should start arriving in 2 years. It already has 4 aircraft of this type in its fleet.

Last shot of ZK-MOT on NZ soil, taxying for departure at Auckland 25Mar.

Wellington's Acernus Citation 510 Mustang ZK-MOT, nee ZK-MUS, departed Wellington for Auckland (where it is pictured), Lord Howe Island, Brisbane and Maroochydore on its export to the USA. It is understood the operator will take delivery of ZK-MUS/2 in April.

Originally delivered as N1749L on 12Feb08, it became ZK-MUS in May of the same year and flew under its ZK rego for the first time on 01Jul. It was re-registered ZK-MOT 02Mar10 and first noted flying under that registration on 13Mar.

ZK-MUS/2, 510-0300, was registered to Acernus on 23Mar10.