Ex Kiwi Blunty landing incident

Ex Royal New Zealand Air Force BAC-167 Strikemaster NZ6362, now registered N167BA with Blue Air Training LLC of North Las Vegas, had a landing gear collapse at its home airport on the afternoon of 08 February 2019.  No details as to the extent of damage - anyone read anything?

NZ6362 was active in New Zealand as ZK-NTY from 2014 until early 2017 when it, along with NZ6370/ZK-BAC, were exported to the USA. 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=nz6362

Fourth Strikemaster Registered

New Zealand's BAC Strikemaster population officially reached four aircraft on the 19th of this month when ex RNZAF example NZ6362 became ZK-NTY with Strikemaster Ltd, Ardmore.  

NZ6362 has for the last 20+ years resided in Australia where it was registered VH-AGI.  Thanks to online resources, this airframe is construction number 302 and it first wore the test registration of G27-198 making its first flight from Preston, UK on 06 June 1972.  It was delivered to the RNZAF two months later and became NZ6362.  It arrived New Zealand on board "Majestic" 05 October 1972 and delivered to Ohakea four days later.  Its first flight in New Zealand is recorded as 15 November 1972 serving with 14 Squadron.

It was transferred to Aermacchi as part of purchase deal for the MB339CB's in December 1992 and sold by tender in March 1993.  It was shipped to Australia and became VH-AGI with International Air Parts Ltd on 09 September 1993 and subsequently took up residence in Western Australia.  It arrived back in NZ during early 2014 to be operated alongside the country's first re-imported Strikemaster, ZK-STR/NZ6370.

ZK-NTY is the third ex RNZAF (MK88) example to grace our shores, the first (as mentioned above) being ZK-STR/NZ6370, followed by ZK-BAC/NZ6372 and now ZK-NTY.  The fourth is a MK80A, ZK-VPR. 

NZ's Fourth BAC Strikemaster takes to the skies

New Zealand's fourth airworthy BAC167 Strikemaster ZK-NTY has taken to the skies for the first time since its return to the country during winter 2014.

This example is registered to Strikemaster Ltd of Auckland sharing ownership with another ex RNZAF MK88 model ZK-STR which was the first Blunty to make its way back to NZ after their removal from military service.

The BAC-167 Strikemaster MK88 was the export version produced by the British Aircraft Corporation to meet RNZAF requirements - sixteen being acquired - the first of which was delivered in May 1972. The example supplied was listed to the manufacturer as G-27-198 and first flew from Preston on 06 June 1972. It was shipped to NZ aboard the MV Majestic and arrived here on 05 October 1972 for truck delivery to Ohakea on the 9th. Its first flight in NZ was on 15 November 1972 as NZ6362 before going on line with 14 Squadron. It, along with all its surviving examples, were transferred to Aermacchi as part of the purchase deal for the new MB339 Strikemaster replacements in December 1992. NZ6362 was sold by tender in March 1993 and shipped to Australia for International Airparts of Narrabeen, NSW - with whom it was placed on their civil register as VH-AGI on 09 September 1993. It moved to West Australia from 21 November 1994 for Neville Hyder of Busselton, but sadly Neville was killed on 06 March 2007 and ownership passed to his wife Patricia on 19 January 2009. It is understood to have been stored for some time and eventually made its way to NZ for restoration by Pioneer Aero at Ardmore on behalf of owner Brett Nichols. it became ZK-NTY (for BluNTY) on 19 September 2014 and made its first flight ex restoration on the afternoon of 30 January 2015 at the hands of test pilot Dave Brown. A planned rejected takeoff was conducted before returning for a standard takeoff. It was expected the first flight would see the jet head east for upper air work however obviously not all was working according to plan and the Blunty carried out a normal circuit to land back on runway 03 before returning to the hangar for attention.

It is planned to have all four NZ Strikemasters fly in formation at the Omaka Airshow at Easter this year. 

Another "62" from the same era was out flying at the same time - purely coincidental ex RNZAF Airtourer ZK-CPG/NZ1762 returned from a jaunt to the east. 

Going, Going.............

and almost gone.

Ardmore-based Strikemaster Ltd, owners of BAC BAC-167 Strikemaster MK88 ZK-NTY (NZ6362) and ZK-STR (NZ6370), formally announced last week the sale of both aircraft and spares inventory to Las Vegas/NV company Blue Air Training. The US company already operates a gaggle of Jet Provost and Strikemaster aircraft in the close air support role.

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/24986/strikemasters-leaving-new-zealand

http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/news/

https://www.blueairtraining.com/

Before making their final flight/s over NZ soil the two Strikemasters were the feature act at this past weekend's Classic of the Sky's airshow event held at Tauranga. 

Inclement weather precluded the aircraft from returning to Ardmore Sunday 22 January however winds finally abated (a little) and the jets arrived back within 15 minutes of each on the morning of 23 January with both aircraft then conducting a couple of local flights as a farewell to those associated with them. Both ZK-NTY and ZK-STR were then parked with fellow ex RNZAF Strikemaster ZK-BAC (NZ6372) for a quick pose for the cameras. 

Previous posts on the Blunties can be found HERE

The New Zealand warbird jet population is now made up of:

Aero L29 Dauphin - JET/JRF/SSU/VAU/WBD

Aero L39 Albatros - CCP/EJA/TCS/VLK/WLM

BAC Strikemaster - BAC/VPR

DH112 Venom - VNM

DH115 Vampire - RVM/VAM

Hawker Hunter - JIL (still registered but no longer flying)

BAC to the skies

BAC 167 Strikemaster MK88 NZ6372 has returned home to New Zealand after many years in Australia after the type was phased out of military service and replaced (at the time) with Macchi's. 

After several months static at Ardmore, near Auckland, NZ6372 shed its VH-LLD marks in favour

ZK-BAC and was registered to RNZAF Strikemaster Ltd of Lower Hutt on 17 March 2014.

Today, at 1140, it lifted off for the first time post its import, and is seen here departing off Ardmore's runway 21 in the capable hands of Dave Brown for what to be a brief first flight. 

NZ6372 was delivered to the RNZAF in May 1975 ex G27-241 and was trucked from Wellington to Ohakea for assembly.  It served with 14 Squadron, Ohakea through until December 1992 when it was sold to Aermacchi as part of the purchase deal for the MB339's.  In May 1993 it was sold by tender and moved to Australia where it became VH-LLD with J L Pierce of Watcham, Victoria, in November the following year.  It has remained airworthy since and becomes New Zealand's third airworthy Strikemaster after ZK-STR (a MK88 based at Ardmore) and ZK-VPR (a Mk80A located at Christchurch).  A fourth Strikemaster has arrived at Ardmore for re-assembly with this aircraft ex NZ6362.

Falcon's Roost 30 - From many moons ago

Back in 1992 Hokitika played host to the annual Falcons Roost 30, a RNZAF jet trainer deployment.  This particular year saw a mix of the soon to be retired Strikemaster's (4 aircraft) and recently inducted Macchi's (6 aircraft).  The exercise was held from 31 March until 08 April and was preempted with the visit on 12 February of Strikemaster's NZ6361 and NZ6362.


Hokitika 12 February 1992



Hokitika 12 February 1992

Hokitika 03 April 1992



Hokitika 03 April 1992. All photos Mike Condon.  (check out the early snow fall!)