< PreviousKiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 65 10 Industry and Community News Professional GyroCopter Instruction Trial Flights from Tauranga P: 0800 FLY A GYRO E: fly@gyrate.nz www.gyrate.nz 2017 Limited this can be you f t V o u c he r s A v a i l a b l e overseas have somehow stumbled across it and have contacted me. I enjoy receiving and always acknowledge their feedback.” KiwiFlyer very much recommends the website as a fascinating insight into some of Bryan’s history, WWII operations, aviation wisdom, and various snippets of New Zealand aviation history as well. Now in his 94th year, Bryan recently participated in the NZ Warbirds Battle of Britain Flypast – from the back seat of a Kittyhawk in which, once formalities were done with, he took control and reminisced with some wingovers and aileron rolls – turn to page 37 for more. More Lessons from the Sky Readers who follow our recommendations might have purchased Fletcher McKenzie’s book ’81 Lessons from the Sky’ when it was published last year. To recap, the book contains 81 stories from General Aviation pilots who had an aviation ‘event’ of some sort, survived to tell the tale, and then duly did so – in most cases via either Australian, United Kingdom, or United States aviation safety reporting systems. There are now two more books in the series. The first focuses on Air Transport pilots and is entitled ‘101 Lessons from the Sky’. The second is entitled ’71 Lessons from the Sky’ and focuses on Helicopter pilots, both private and commercial and including material from Claude Vuichard who invented the Vortex Ring State recovery technique. There’s more to come too. Fletcher’s goal is to share 1,000 lessons from the sky, with additional books featuring 72 lessons on the Cessna 172, and books focussing on aerobatics and taildragger lessons and gliding. Fletcher’s books all follow a similar theme. They are a collation of pilot wisdom told succinctly in the pilot’s own words, copied from safety reports. CASA (Australia), NASA (USA), and CHIRP (UK) were all happy for stories from their databases to be republished. What about NZCAA you wonder? Sadly Fletcher’s request there was declined. It’s true that the stories Fletcher has assembled have all been told before, but they are not so easy to seek out to read as they are in the convenient and well-presented formats Fletcher has created. His books can be picked up at leisure and contain much to absorb. Some of the stories are funny, some are disheartening, and some are quite alarming. Many include addition postscript comments and advice from the reporting authority. Many pilots might declare “that wouldn’t happen to me” but at least on some occasions that will only be the case because perhaps you read about it in Fletcher’s book first and then made the right decision some day when it could very nearly have happened otherwise. Many of the anecdotes within these books will be powerful back-of-mind lessons to remember. And if readers have a lesson they are willing to share to ensure others learn from it, please do share it with Fletcher to help make the skies safer for everyone. Contact Fletcher on fletch@avgas.org. Fletcher’s books are published by Squabbling Sparrows Press and can be purchased as ebooks or paperback via Amazon.11 2019 #5 Primary Avionics acquires Avionics Hawke’s Bay Two well-known and respected, privately owned avionics maintenance providers have joined forces following Hamilton-based Primary Avionics Limited’s acquisition of Avionics Hawke’s Bay Ltd. The combined business will be based in Napier from 1st October. Adam (Sammy) Seumanutafa from Primary Avionics says that moving his family to the edge of the island wasn’t something he had planned on doing 12 months ago. However, after hearing there was a potential opportunity to acquire the Avionics Hawke’s Bay facility in Napier, this has now become a reality. “Primary Avionics has been based in Hamilton for four years and a sea change to the coast seemed like a good idea,” says Sammy. “We’ll have better facilities there as well as the amalgamated expertise of both Steve Lillie (AHB) and myself. We both have backgrounds in the Air Force and general aviation.” Sammy is delighted to have Steve remain as an integral part of the technical team with his expertise of local aircraft, operators and avionic solutions of course remaining invaluable to the broader company and their clients. Also joining the team is Maretta Seumanutafa in an administration and technical support role – helping to ensure that Sammy and Steve are as available as possible for fault repairs, advice, installations and maintenance. Over time, the Avionics Hawke’s Bay brand will be absorbed into Primary Avionics. Sammy says that with a fantastic facility developed by Steve, and two avionics LAMEs on site, the company now has the capacity to provide a complete fly-in avionics service at Hawkes Bay Airport and Bridge Pa Aerodrome. With the additional ability to service client’s aircraft in their own hangars, Sammy is confident that the level of avionics support offered to aircraft operators, both commercial and private, will be as comprehensive as at any other facility in New Zealand. The fast approaching ADS-b mandate will be occupying space in many operator minds with questions about requirements, available systems, integration with existing equipment and cost. Primary Avionics can help with all of these questions. Sammy welcomes all enquiries and is happy to talk through possible options to ensure operators are making the best decisions regarding equipment and installation and of course the newly announced rebate. Contact Sammy on 022 636 6573 or contact@primaryavionics.co.nz Contact: Adam (Sammy) Seumanutafa E: contact@primaryavionics.co.nz P: 022 636 6573 Napier Airport Smokefree Avionics Experts Need ADS-b ? Talk to us about your options and all other avionics requirements incorporating Sammy Seumanutafa and Steve Lillie Ready to build kits | Factory built aircraft options as a Microlight or LSA Kits in stock | Kits, spare parts and full support available in New Zealand Contact your NZ Savannah Agent Philip Seale at Westwind Aviation P: 021 747 494 or philipseale@xtra.co.nz www.savannahnz.com ICP Savannah S 09 489 9650 val@hoodbrokers.com www.hoodinsurance.co.nz Public Liability Insurance Business Protection Insurance General Insurance Offering the best possible solutions to protect you business and yourself.KiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 65 12 No caption required. Just take a moment to admire this beautiful machine. Earlier in the year Avspecs rolled out another miracle achievement in the form of Mosquito PZ474. Following a short test flying phase it was shipped to Texas for new owner Rod Lewis. Once test flying and FAA certification was completed in Texas the aircraft winged its way to Oshkosh to be prepared for judging for the prized title of Best WWII Restoration at the Oshkosh show. It was met there by many of its New Zealand restoration team. As it turned out, the Mossie cleaned up – winning Grand Champion WWII Warbird. Avspecs were presented with the Golden Wrench and Phoenix awards for their part in restoring the machine. With the aircraft heading to Oshkosh and with success there seemingly a safe prediction, it seemed appropriate to hold off celebrating this latest Avspecs achievement until the awards were announced. Gavin Conroy tells the story of PZ474. contributed by Gavin Conroy On January 13, 2019 a crowd gathered at Ardmore to see DH FB.VI Mosquito PZ474 take to the air in the hands of Steve Hinton and Warren Denholm. There was quite a bit of additional excitement about this particular aircraft because PZ474 had served with the RNZAF before being put on the civilian register as ZK-BCV. PZ474 was built in Hartfield in early 1945 and was allocated to RAF No. 19 MU (Maintenance Unit) on the 19 April 1945. It was passed on to No. 80 OTU (Operational Training Unit), then to No. 132 MTU (Mosquito Training Unit) at East Fortune and finally ended its RAF days at No. 151 MU during 1946. The RNZAF had shown considerable interest in the capabilities of the Mosquito and although WWII had ended, in 1948 they placed an order for 90 of the type to be delivered to The story of Mosquito PZ47413 2019 #5 KiwiFlyer Feature New Zealand. These were not new aircraft but overhauled RAF machines. PZ474 was one of the last of 90 to leave England in 1948. It took some 18 months to get them all to New Zealand, only for time to have marched on. By then the type was showing its age as jet aircraft began to dominate air arms around the world. Many of the Mosquitos were flown to an outdoor storage facility at Taieri, facing a bleak future. Arriving and departing New Zealand PZ474 initially arrived at Base Ohakea on April 5, 1948, in the hands of an RAF/RNZAF flight crew. On arrival in New Zealand it was allocated to 75 SQN RNZAF as NZ2384 and is believed not to have flown actively. Not long after arrival it was flown to open air storage in Taieri to await the axe, quite literally! It was at risk of being broken down for scrap like most of its type. In 1952, two Americans, Richard Loomis and Lewis Leach arrived on the scene with the objective of buying four Mosquitoes and flying them to the USA for potential contract work. The aircraft Gavin Conroy image For all your engine overhauls Lycoming, Continental, Gipsy, Rotax... Part 145 approved Call Bill O’Neill or Graeme Daniell 03 489 6870 or 027 307 5850 Taieri Airport, Mosgiel. www.southair.co.nz View the whole Lightspeed range at www.lightspeedheadsets.nz 0800 116 741 phil@lightspeedheadsets.nz SPECIAL DEAL on ZULU.3 and TANGOs for instructors and professional pilots CONVERT your ZULU.2 to ZULU.3 TRADE IN your old set See Website for details PILOT FLIGHT BAGS SPECIAL DEALS Meet Zulu.3 Durable Kevlar Core Cabling 7 Year Warranty ANR, Bluetooth, Stunning Front Row Centre Audio Modified Ear Seals for Better Comfort and PerformanceKiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 65 14 Mosquito PZ474 were purchased from the New Zealand Aircraft Stores Board in 1953 by Aircraft Supplies NZ, based in Palmerston North, and owned by Harry Rolfe. This company was given the task of bringing the aircraft back to airworthy standard for export. They built a hangar at Milson that could fit one entire Mosquito in it and there they intended to do the wood repairs for each Mosquito prior to their flights to the USA. Each aircraft was flown from Taieri to Palmerston North by Bob Scott. It was found that out of the six aircraft purchased by Rolfe, four of the aircraft could be brought back to airworthy status with quite a bit of work. Fortunately, NZ2384 was one of them and escaped the axe again. It was a huge job for a small team to bring these aircraft back to flying condition. Harry’s son Bill Rolfe was in the RNZAF, serving as an engineer at the time, and had some knowledge of the Mosquito. As time was tight to get the first aircraft off to the USA, Bill spoke to his CO and was given two weeks of special leave to help get the first aircraft ready. NZ2384 was allocated the registration ZK-BCV on September 2, 1953 as work was underway to get all four up to airworthy standard and fly them out of the country. A change of register As it was on the New Zealand civil register the Mosquito had to comply with the local Civil Aviation rules and when inspector Fred O’Leary looked over ZK- BCV he came up with a long list of work to be done before the aircraft would be given a certificate of airworthiness. This did not impress the captain for the flight, Elgen Long. He was so outraged by the list of things to be done that he asked to borrow a car. He drove to the American Embassy and placed the aircraft on the USA civil register. ZK-BCV was now N9909F. That took care of the list of jobs to do to satisfy the New Zealand CAA as it was no longer operated under their jurisdiction. When Fred turned up the next day to check on progress, he was told in no uncertain terms that the aircraft was now on the American register and that Fred was to stay away from it from that day on! Part of the work done was to have a 400-gallon fuel tank installed. This, to be carried in the bomb bay, was made by an engineer in Feilding. Access to the filler cap was through the top of the canopy, which was awkward to say the least, but the extra range was appreciated. Long The early stages of connecting wing and fuselage to ensure a good fit when they are eventually joined together. Fitting the instrument panel. The wood smells great.Cockpit fit-out almost completed now. Two large fuel tanks are fitted in the bomb bay.The hydraulics are a myriad of amazement. Radiators mounted in the leading edge of the wing.Crew door to the cockpit. Amazing attention to detail.AOPA NZ member price of $84 including GST and postage at www.aopa.co.nz Available to non-members for $91 including GST (excluding postage) at www.shop.aeropath.aero Full sets of all charts included here would normally cost about $190.KiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 65 16 Looking at the 20mm cannons and ammo feed runs. Mosquito PZ474 Exhaust stacks developing fabulous colour. Russell Jenkins applying PZ474 to the fuselage. Above the cannons are four .303 machine guns.Ammo boxes to feed the .303 machine guns. Completed replica rockets and rails, built and designed by Avspecs!range wing tanks were also installed. Bill Rolfe was able to fly with Lewis Leach on a test flight to measure fuel burn rates for the trip to the USA. He was the last Kiwi to fly in this Mosquito until Warren Denholm during the test flights in January 2019. In fact, Bill was most likely the last New Zealander to fly in a Mosquito until KA114 flew again in 2012. In 1955 Mosquito N9909F, Captain Elgen Long and Lewis Leach departed New Zealand via Auckland, then to Fiji, and on to Hawaii, using only dead reckoning navigation. Despite a reported in-flight fire that was put out by the crew the aircraft made it to the USA, but the other three aircraft never got a chance to leave New Zealand. The plan was for Long and Leach to return to New Zealand and fly them out, one at a time, but once news broke that a former RNZAF military aircraft had been flown out of New Zealand to another country and more were to follow, the government put a ban on exporting former military types, in case they were to be used for foreign military use. Although they were being flown to a country which was an ally, there was no information to suggest they would not be then flown on to another country and used in combat. As a result, the remaining three aircraft were scrapped. American operations Once in the USA, the aircraft was to be flown by Trans World and be used for an upcoming contract that included geographic surveying of northern California and Nevada. In March 1955 it was fitted out with the camera gear required to undertake this work, but its sister ship, owned by Trans World (N9919F) 17 2019 #5 reportedly did the flying. This aircraft was a B.35 from the RAF which ended up being crashed (leading to the death of the pilot and loss of N9919F) for an insurance claim. (See March 2008 edition of Aeroplane for more information.) Trans World was in trouble financially and in order to keep its sister ship flying, N9909F was sold to the Insurance Finance Corp (IFC) in 1956 and then leased back to Trans World; but again, not much is known of its flying activity. Unknown to IFC, N9909F had been attached to Whiteman Airpark for a substantial sum of money for rent and other bills. Once these were paid by IFC the Mosquito was repossessed from Trans World. Ownership changed once again. In 1958 it was purchased by California Air Charters, but just over a year later it was back at Whiteman Field under the ownership of Marvin E Whiteman and slowly rotting away. It is possible that at this time the aircraft was part of operations undertaken by the CIA. It is thought that the CIA used the aircraft for gathering intelligence in North America but, again, no real proof has come to light. Perhaps the reason Elgen Long was able to get the aircraft moved onto the American register overnight was due to a connection with the CIA and that the so-called photography work it was supposed to be used for could have been the original intention for the aircraft, but later changed. Remember that it was thought that the aircraft never actually did the photographic/ survey work, its sister ship did. There is little doubt it was doing some flying in the USA, so what was it doing? It has even been suggested it was used to shoot down drug smuggling aircraft. Again, at this time, there is no definite proof but with its speed, cruise altitude, and potential firepower it could have done the job. This does seem unlikely as no images from the time show the aircraft with any weaponry. During the 1950s a few people in New Zealand suggested it was to be used by the CIA even before it left New Zealand, so who knows? It sure does leave one thinking! N9909F had its registration cancelled in 1970 and once again became PZ474. Well known Warbird collector Ed Maloney looked to put a deal together for PZ474. The aircraft was cut in half behind the wing for transportation, but the sale was never finalised. PZ474 was then sold to James R Merizan. He had the idea of bringing it back to static display status, but this never happened. By this time the remains of the aircraft were in storage at Chino and in 2012 photos surfaced that appeared to show PZ474 in very bad condition. Back to New Zealand The real possibility of saving PZ474 came along in 2014 when the project was purchased by Rod Lewis of Lewis Air Legends. Rod has had several aircraft restored by Avspecs, including his Mk V Spitfire, P-40C Tomahawk and DH Rapide over the years, and had a real interest in a Mosquito due to previously watching Avspecs bring KA114 back to life. The aircraft was packed up and somewhat ironically, sent back to New Zealand for restoration. The aircraft had a lot of parts missing and, out of the three Mosquito aircraft fitted out by Avspecs, PZ474 became the most challenging to rebuild. It was amazing to be at Avspecs in October 2016 for the last test flight of Mosquito TV959 and to see the wing arrive for PZ474. It was soon attached to the fuselage constructed by Glyn Powell’s company, Mosquito Aircraft Restorations Ltd, not far from Ardmore. They had also produced the fuselage for TV959. A production line had almost formed in the Avspecs hangar. Work on components and engines had been started well before the wing and fuselage arrived, so the team were in a great position to advance the Mosquito quickly, and quickly they did. Just over two years later, PZ474 was flying again. Two rather important pieces of history came with the aircraft from Chino, both of its original engines. These engines had been installed on the Mosquito from new, Engine runs in front of a big crowd at one of the Ardmore Open Days. KiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 65 18 Mosquito PZ474 Looking like a period photo, but this is PZ474 in 2019.19 2019 #5 Cutting a beautiful shape in the sky, the Mossie is flown over the Hauraki Gulf by Warbird legend Steve Hinton. www.avcraft.co.nz Avcraft Engineering NZ Ltd. Feilding Aerodrome 06 212 0920 mat@avcraft.co.nz From a 50 hour inspection on a Cessna 150, to a KingAir Phase Inspection or a Pilatus PC-12 Annual, our experienced engineers have the skills, knowledge and tooling to assist you with all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance requirements. Plus: Aircraft recoveries, Insurance repairs, Rebuilds, Sheet metal work, Corrosion repairs, Paint refinishing, Fabric work, Maintenance Control, and Avionics. Gavin Conroy imageNext >