VH-KKO  Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer 150              (c/n   22-878)

                                 

                                     The shot of VH-KKO above was taken by Geoff Goodall at Jandakot, Perth in  November 1969,
                                     soon after the aircraft had been re-assembled after having been shipped from Kenya,   It is an early
                                     1952 model originally delivered as VP-KKU.  Upon that colony gaining independence (i.e. when it
                                     became a TPLAC) the Tri-Pacer was re-registered 5Y-KKU.   I have spent years endeavoring to
                                     find out just who, in ICAO (I mean there had to be one specific bloke), decided to give the "emerging
                                     nations" alphanumeric prefixes.      Totally unnecessary, since there were plenty of all-letter combos
                                     available.  I mean, Kenya could quite easily have been given KY-.  Why 5Y-?    That plus the fact
                                     that one would think there'd be some sort of system.   e.g. all Asia to be "4x"; Africa to be "5x", etc.
                                  .  Not so.  There appears to be no rhyme nor reason........ The mysterious "they" again.  Anyway, this
                                     Tri-Pacer had been uncrated at Jandakot in February 1969 after being imported by its previous
                                     owner in Africa, Erik Hovmand, who had migrated  to Western Australia (don't blame him).  How-
                                     ever, he faced faced a certification delay because it was described as a PA-22-135, which did not
                                     fit DCA's approved PA-22 type designations.    (I don't know why, since all early Tri-Pacers were
                                     35s).   Consequently, as a result VH-KKO was not added to the register until May 1970 by which
                                     time it had been re-engined to become a PA-22 Tri-Pacer 150. 
                                     It is still flying and Martyn Covey took the shot below at a Fly-In at Boort, Victoria in May 2008.  
                                     Today it not only looks very attractive in its white and mustard finish, but also appears to be in
                                     pristine condition.   (Even the seam line on the tent matches).