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D F C Rose’s ZK-ZIP (c/n AACA 235 first registered on 19/7/82!), which test flew at Ardmore in 2006 I think, and achieved some publicity in the newspapers when the undercarriage collapsed on landing. However it has been repaired and this photo was taken at Ardmore in 2007. The point on the nose is a lead weight for Cof G balance. It is currently owned by the ESOR Trust of Manakau City.
It has been confirmed that ZK-ZIP had in fact flown in 1982, which made it the first BD 5 to fly in the Southern Hemisphere. He also searched out some old photos that I can now post of an early test flight from Ardmore in 1982. The test pilot was Russel Broadbent. Also in my previous post I wondered if this aircraft first flew as ZK-DYM, but as the photos show, it was always ZK-ZIP.
And here is ZK-ZIP taxing out from in front of the old Auckland Aero Club hangar. David advised that around 4 or 5 flights were made until a piston in the 3 cylinder Hirth engine blew. The BD 5 was able to make it back to Ardmore but the resulting heavy landing caused some undercarriage damage, and the plane was not flown again until 2006. It now has a 2 cylinder Hirth engine.
ZK-ZIP was originally ZK-DYM
The above photo was taken at the 1998 SAANZ flyin at Matamata.
The above photo was taken at Ardmore in the 1980’s.
Provided by Owen Wilson: ZK-ZIP (Hirth Engine) belonged to Dave Rose of Auckland (since passed away) and was the first to fly in NZ, but crashed after an Engine Failure on it’s first official Test Flight in 1980 (had flown twice before…). Was rebuilt over 20 years, and crashed again, this time due to a Wing-Drop Stall on the flare over the threshold.
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