ZK-AQZ
Percival P.44 Proctor 5
(c/n Ae143)
This Proctor 5 has
been restored and is still flying. It was one of the
last Proctors ever built
(1948) and was originally imported in
into New Zealand in that year by Ernie Clark of Christchurch,
the Percival agent, and used
as a demonstrator. The aircraft subsequently passed through
various
owners and
went to the Golden Age Flying
Society (GAFS) at Omaka, near Blenheim in 1972. When
this ceased its activities in the late
1970's, the assets passed to the Sport and Vintage Aviation Society
(SVAS) at Masterton where the aircraft
was originally displayed in a static condition only. It has now
been brought
up to airworthy condition with the SVAS. The shot
above is from Ian Brackley (via
the Ken Tilley collection) and was
taken in 2001. Despite this it is displayed in
authentic period
livery with the SVAS logo on the
tail. It is unusual (and very gratifying) to see it exhibiting a
full New
Zealand registration (instead the now
normal "last three").