ZK-AXJ  Auster J/5 Adventurer          (c/n   2892)

                                    

                                          The Adventurer was not the most common of the Auster models conceived and was basically a
                                          four-seat version of the Autocrat (which only accomodated three persons).  The aircraft was
                                         designed specifically for the Australian and New Zealand markets.  Just about all of the 50 built
                                         were shipped out as kits and assembled by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services in Bankstown, NSW.
                                         This particular machine was previously registered in Australia as VH-KAD.  It was exported to
                                         New Zealand in 1951 and was operated by the Stratford Aero Club.  Jim Dyson's photograph
                                         (above, courtesy of the David Molesworth collection) shows it in the mid 1950s whilst my shot
                                         below illustrates it at an air show at Nelson in roughly the same era.   ZK-AXJ is still current and
                                         registered to Murray Vincent of Waikuku.  Phil Treweek has an image of it at:
                                                                        http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/pages/teaaus3.html