Cessna T182T ZK-TBO was imported to New Zealand by container in November 2001 wearing its FAA markings N3548F. The aeroplane was owned by the Walkington Family Trust of Christchurch however in August 2016 was transferred to Professional Helicopters of Auckland. It was listed for sale by Oceania Aviation/Flightline and subsequently sold overseas. Following an avionics upgrade and extra modifications the Skylane departed Kerikeri 19 October for Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast. It continued to Mareeba, Far North Queensland 20 October.
During a brief visit to Ardmore earlier in the month minus camera (!) we took a couple of shots of ZK-TBO parked outside the Auckland Aero Club on a murky morning. The tail art is hard to make out in the images however it depicts an ant holding up what could be a rock, or perhaps some other brown object (!!) and the faint outline of a world atlas could be made out up close.....
