ZK-AUQ de
Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth
(c/n DHA132)
This Tiger was an ex RAAF machine, having
served as A17-135 until civilianized in 1946 as
VH-ATK After having been bought and sold
a couple of times by Schutt Aircraft Sales and
Service at Essendon (Melbourne) it was exported to
New Zealand in 1951 to Aviation
Enterprises Ltd of Wellington. However,
because of the poor condition of the aircraft (really!)
it was not brought up to NZ civil airworthiness
standards until August 1951. ZK-AUO was
sold to James Aviation in 1954,
and then to A. Blechynden, Hamilton in mid 1957. It crashed
into the bed of the Little
River, Westland immediately after takeoff on 12 October 1957 and
was written off.. My
shot shows it with James Aviation in 1952. What a heap.