Happy New Year for 2026!

 

Transavia PL 12U Airtruk ZK-DMZ Rises Again

It has been reported on the Skyfarmers Facebook page that Don Hart flew his Tansavia PL 12U Airtruk ZK-DMZ at Wanaka on 29/12/25, marking its first flight since 1992!  I reckon that makes it the only flying Airtruk in New Zealand and possibly in the world.

ZK-DMZ c/n G356) is a utility model Airtruk but in New Zealand it was used on agricultural work.  It has had a long and eventful life here and was sadly involved in a fatal accident.  It was imported into New Zealand by Transfield (NZ) Ltd of Ardmore and was first registered on 12 October 1973.

It was delivered to Barr Bros (HB) Ltd on 17/11/73 and is photo'd above at Waipukurau on 29/12/73.  Tragically on 6/5/74 it suffered a nosewheel collapse on take off at Pukenui Station in Hawkes Bay and nosed over, trapping the pilot who could not be rescued in time and died.  It was an unusual accident at relatively low speed so the aircraft was not very badly damaged

It was rebuilt by Barr Bros at Ardmore being test flown again in October 1974, and was re-delivered to Barr Bros (HB) Ltd on 10/10/74.  It is photo's above again at Waipukurau on 23/10/77.  Ownership transferred to Barr Aircraft Equipment Ltd of Waipukurau on 28/5/75.

Another shot of it at Waipukurau in a new scheme, date unknown.  It went on to have several more accidents in the Hawkes Bay region, on 1/12 /75 at Omakere and at Moutere Station on 18/3/77.  Its last flight with Barr's was on 27/7/81.

Ownership then transferred to Don Hart trading as Skyfarmers at Ashburton on 7/3/89 and he operated it until it was cancelled on 15/5/97.  It is photo'd at Waimate on 28/2/93.

It was then displayed in the Ashburton Aviation Museum for many years before being re-registered to Don L Hart now of Wanaka on 15/3/23.

Don Hart had the Airtruk worked on at Wanaka planning to return it to airworthy status and it was displayed as a static exhibit at Warbirds Over Wanaka on 29/3/24.  

Congratulations to Don Hart for returning a very distinctive shape to New Zealand skies.

Recent Vintage Aviator Training days

 Most if not all of these aircraft have featured on the pages of this blog. I hope that the pictures that I am posting are a litte different and as such are worthy of being included again.

A pair of Fokker DVII's, ZK-TBI and ZK-FOD2

Fokker DR.1 Zk-JOK and EIII ZK-EIN

                                            Hanriot HD-1 ZK-EAY2, I have waited many years ro see this                                               wonderful aircraft in the air.

Sopwith Camel F1 ZK-SDL

In this line we have BE12, 2 SE5A's, Zkooer DVII, RE8, Sopwith Snipe, BE2F and Albatros D VA

Old versus New

A very busy day at Pauanui Airfield today with Warbird joy rides and a succession of privately owned helicopters and aircraft visiting.   Amongst these was the Ardmore based E75 Stearman ZK-BOE2 and AS350B3 ZK-HXT5 which is based near Raglan.

 

Unusual Wellington visitor

 We had a very unusual visitor to Wellington yesterdy, an Airbus A330-243 private business jet operated by Global Jet Aruba. It started its journey in Brazil and came via French Polynesia before arriving in Wellington in the aftrenoon. It departed at about 2.30pm today bound for Auckland.

 

Taupo back on the 22nd of December

 Allister Jenks spent some time at Taupo Airports back on December the 22nd and provided these photographs.

A long time resident is the Cessna 172A ZK-BPT c/n 47179. 

For more on this airframe see HERE

It moved to Taupo in mid 1985 and has been with its current operator Rotor & Wing Maintenance Ltd since late 2003.

Parked alongside is the Cessna 150H ZK-TOK c/n 150-68325 of Taupo Aviation Ltd. 

This was originally ZK-CSQ from new in July of 1969.

It joined the Tokoroa Districts Aero Club (Inc) from March of 2024 and was re-registered by them as ZK-TOK on 03-05-2024 and was on sold to Taupo Aviation during November this year.

ZK-JMP4 c/n 208B1169 is known as a Cessna 208B Supervan 900. 

Starting life as a standard Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in November 2005 as N479DV. 

t was re-registered to N95EL on 05-11-2007 and converted to a Supervan with the installation of a Garrett TPE331 turbine. Note the five bladed propeller.

It ferried into Taupo on 26-11-2014 and became ZK-JMP4 on 26-11-2014.

The Cessna 208 Supervan 900 ZK-TTS3 c/n 20800373 shows off Garrett TPE331 Turbine with its single large exhaust.

Originally bult as N4075L in early 2004 as an ordinary Caravan, it went to Brazil to Become PR-ITC. Returning to The States it became N332SV with Texas Turbine Conversion Inc at Denison, Texas in September 2019. 2016. Here it was re-worked by replacing the original P&W PT6A-114A engine.

It ferried into Auckland on 17-03-2017 - becoming ZK-TTS3 on 07-04-2017.

The Tandem Skydiving (2002) Ltd's Cessna U206F Stationair ZK-SKZ c/n U20602687 is still listed on the register but has been parked under the trees for some time. 

It has now been moved out in the open. 

For more on this airframe Click HERE

 

Two aircraft listed with Air Charter Taupo (1995) Ltd are the Vans RV-8 ZK-KCA c/n 80988 which was registered to them on 22-01-2003 (above).

And Below the Cessna 172N ZK-UWE c/n 17271209 which is of a 1979 vintage. I believe it was allocated two US registrations, N2258E and N1587C but was shunted out to Australia to become 

VH-UWE from 31-05-1979.

It flew into Auckland on 14-07-1994 and five days later became ZK-UWE with Lakeland Flying School Ltd at Taupo, and switching to Air Charter Taupo (1995) Ltd in October 1995.

Merry Christmas from Us to You!

 

EC120B ZK-IZO 2

Visiting Pauanui airfield this afternoon was the Hamilton based EC120B ZK-IZO2.  It was originally imported in 2018 from Canada by Argus Aviation for Heliview Cromwell.   September 2023 saw it change hands to its current Hamilton private owner.

 

Deer capture in the early 1980's

Another photo from the Graeme Stratton collection showing Joe Keeley about to net a deer from his Hughes 369D ZK-HPG c/n 87-0178D.

ZK-HPG was built as N8679F in August 1977 and served in the US with Offshore Helicopters Inc and Edwards & Associates Inc.  

It was airfreighted to NZ in a DC-10 and became ZK-HPG on 07-01-1980 for Southland Helicopters Ltd of Tuatapere and first flew the following day. It was delivered to Joe Keeley at Taupo on the 9th. Sadly, it was lost on 24-07-1984.

Hmmm !

Murphy Rebel ZK-REB/2 at Nelson

 Denny Capell of Hope, near Nelson registered his Murphy Rebel in August last year:

ZK-REB2 (c/n 707R) was registered to D M Capell of Hope on 31/8/24, making it the fourteenth Murphy Rebel of various models to be registered in New Zealand.

Thanks to Dave Bates who went above the call of duty to take the photo, at the Pugh Road airstrip in Hope.