Sunair's Piper PA23-250 Aztec ZK-WDP has headed off shore in recent days on its return to operations with Coral Sun Airways based at Tarawa, Kiribati.
ZK-WDP arrived in NZ during April 2013 wearing the exotic Kiribati registration of T3-64Z, a simple change from the previous registration it wore - N2364Z. The Aztec was first spied arriving at Norfolk Island from Nadi on the 12th and and heading onto Kerikeri and Tauranga the next day. It took up its Kiwi markings on 03 September 2014 using the initials of Sunair's owner.
Its arrival in the country back in 2013 had been preceded by the northbound journey of Sunair's Piper PA23-250 Aztec ZK-PIW. Still wearing the colours as worn during its time with Mountain Air/Commercial Helicopters, ZK-PIW departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island 09 April 2013 and onto Nadi the next day. It was then heard flying from Majuro to Tarawa 30 April for operations with Coral Sun.
ZK-WDP has been resident at Ardmore for the last few weeks having avionics work carried out and departed from there for Kerikeri and Norfolk Island 01 March 2015 and to Port Vila the following day. ZK-PIW is making the journey home to Tauranga and it arrived at Norfolk Island yesterday from Port Vila.
On the subject of Coral Sun Airways - the small airline established in 2009 has had its ups and downs and the two Britten Norman Islanders it once flew have long since returned to Australia, however a positive sign for the fledging operator was the arrival 04 March of Beech 200 King Air N283KA. This "vintage" King Air was built in 1975 and wears the construction number BB-83. It had been listed for sale in the USA with 12,400 hours on the clock! N283KA made its way to Honolulu from Merced, California 01 March (local date) and then onto Tarawa 04 March. The King Air is expected to operate services to Samoa and Tuvalu in an agreement with Samoa Air.
and also: https://www.facebook.com/coralsunairways
