ZK-BLI      de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth            (c/n  DHNZ128)

                                                   

                                                        This photo of a Tiger is somewhat of an anomaly.  The aircraft was not civilianized until 1955
                                                        and went to the Hawera Aero Club.  By that time, tail registration numbers were definitely in
                                                        vogue, and, in fact, it had a tail rego painted roughly on (see shot below) before the RNZAF
                                                        roundel and serial were doped off..  (Looks like NZ 1440 but is actually supposed to be
                                                        NZ 1448).    Anyway, it is odd that it was repainted with a late 1940s style rego. It went
                                                        to the South Otago Aero Club in September 1956, and then had a series of private owners.
                                                        ZK-BLI suffered severe damage at Waimate in 1988 after nosing over onto its back during
                                                        landing.  It was repaired and took part in the Millenium Vintage Air Rally from North Cape to
                                                        Bluff between 9 and 18 February 2000.    In March 2005 it went to the Tiger BLI Syndicate
                                                        of Auckland and is still currently airworthy in New Zealand.