Beaver  Production List This document in Excel form is a listing of the whereabouts and history of over 1,000 Beavers.

New Zealand Beaver Information in Excel form (as per "Information" page)

Fieldair History from 1949 to 1976 in Excel form. The Company which imported 19 Beavers for aerial topdressing.   

Below is an alphabetical listing of all known Beaver importations into N.Z.  Please contact me if this info needs alteration.

ZK-AVL   c/n 148
Imported by Rural Aviation, New Plymouth, December 1951, then to James Aviation, Hamilton.
It was then purchased by Aerial Farming (Holdings), Palmerston North, January 1959.
Written off in an accident at Tairoa, near Taihape 21/12/1959
George Shirtcliffe fatally injured

ZK-AXK   c/n 89
Imported by Rural Aviation, New Plymouth, 12th January1951. The first Beaver to be imported into N.Z.
Assembled at Mangere by Miles King, Don Andrews and Doug Hull
Nicknamed "Jerry" after Jerry Hooper who was the first pilot killed in Aerial Topdressing in N.Z.
Flown by Bill Sutton & Keith McCready (New Plymouth)
Flown by Bert Burrowes, Cliff East, Don Thorpe and Ramsay McGill at Fielding from 1953 onwards.
Written off in an accident near Maungamahu, 20/04/1954.
Ramsay McGill fatally injured

ZK-AYT   c/n 138
Imported by Rural Aviation, New Plymouth, 12th October 1951.
Flown by Phil Lightband, Cliff East, Keith McCready, Arnold Mangush, Don Erceg and Frank Ferrier.
Based at New Plymouth and Fielding
Written off in an accident at Akito, 23/04/1956

ZK-AZB   c/n 156
The first Beaver purchased by Fieldair, originally imported by De Havilland, Wellington
Lawson Field saw the capabilities of this aircraft and bought it 19/12/1951.
Noel Marshall was the first pilot to fly it on topdressing.
Also flown at Gisborne by Bruce Thompson
Restored as the East Coast Air Services "Flagship" 10/07/1961.
Flown by Don Thorpe. Back with Fieldair 1962
Based at Gisborne, Wairoa, Hastings, Waipukarau, Masterton and Dannevirke
Flown by Jack McCurdy at Wairoa 1965. Crashed into swamp at Wairoa 1968. Rebuilt.
Flown by Owen Martin 1970
To Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd. 18/12/1970.
To Fieldair Holdings Ltd. Palmerston North, 30/03/1984.
Rebuilt and repainted at Gisborne late 1980's.
To Motiti Island Air, 11/02/1988
To Kayla Holdings, Hallett M Griffin, Palmerston North, 20/05/1990 and operated as a topdresser from Hallett Griffins base at Kairanga.
Sold to Walair Ltd., Walcha, NSW, Australia 16/03/98 where it is still active topdressing as VH-WOZ
tt 22,000 hours 2006
Retired from topdressing September 2006 and will be converted to passenger configuration at Walcha.

ZK-BBX   c/n 324
Delivered  22/08/1952
Registered to Fieldair Ltd. 24/11/1952. First flight 07/01/1953
Delivered to Fieldair 14/01/1953. Flown by Noel Marshall, later Arch Frazer & Mike Feeney
Flown by Brian Noblett 1965.
Also flown by Derek Erskine, Alf Rogers, Noel Kinvig, Ian Rankin, Mike Tucker, Ray Misson, John Rika, Steve Welch and Jim Doyle.
Configured to sprayer late 1985
N.Z Registration cancelled 26/09/1988
Exported to Australia and registered as VH-IDR 04/11/1988
Used as a sprayer by Western Aerial Crop Spraying, Derrinallum, Victoria.
Australian Registration cancelled 10/09/1993
Exported back to N.Z.13/09/1993 and restored by current owner, Jim Frogley, Havelock North.
Still active as the only Beaver topdresser in N.Z.

ZK-BDI   c/n 462
Imported by De Havilland (NZ) Ltd., Wellington 14/07/1953. ff 02/10/1953
To James Aviation Ltd., Hamilton. 'No.2' flown by Hap Neville (53/54), Red McNally (54/55)
Flown by Peter McNab 1955 until badly damaged by gale force winds at Taupo, 12/05/1958.
Registration cancelled.
Wreck purchased by Aerial Farming (NZ) Ltd., Palmerston North.
Rebuilt by Aerial Farming with new registration, ZK-BMO. Test flown 19/12/1958
Flown by Bob Divehall until January 1960, then Bruce McMillan. Crashed at Niho Niho, 02/09/1960.
Wreck exported to Australia, rebuilt as VH-AAW and operated by Aerial Agriculture Ltd.
To Robby's Aircraft Pty. Ltd. as VH-RAS.
Imported back to N.Z. April, 1966 by Fieldair Ltd. at Gisborne as ZK-CPZ. ff 15/03/1966
Flown by Bob Cranston, Harley Cadwallader, Neville Worsley & Jim Frogley
Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd., Palmerston North, 18/11/1980.
To Kairanga Aviation Ltd., Palmerston North, 16/09/1983.
Registration changed back to ZK-BDI.
Sold to Parakai Parachute Centre, Balmoral, 08/02/1988.
To P. Roberts, (Fieldair), Palmerston North, 29/09/1990
Exported to Australia 1990.
Registered as VH-BOS 10/01/1991 to Altair Aviation P/L, Camperdown, Victoria.

ZK-BFN   c/n 564
Originally registered in Canada as CF-HGW April 1954
Imported by DH NZ April 1954. ff 17/09/1954 (No hopper, fencepost dropping trials)
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne 20/05/1955.
Flown by Don Thorp, Jack McCurdy, Gerry Oman, Alan Condon and Ken Olsen
Flown by Noel Kinvig 1965
Crashed on test flight after rebuild at Gisborne, 14/04/1969
Aileron controls incorrectly fitted.
John Riddell and Harley Cadwallader seriously injured.
Fate of wreck unknown.

ZK-BFO   c/n 609
Imported by DH NZ 14/05/1954. ff 13/08/1954
To James Aviation, Hamilton. 'No.3' flown by Hap Neville & Bill Pentecost (non-ag)
Hopper fitted. First Ag flight by Bill Pentecost 17/10/1956. Damaged at Rotoiti 26/04/1957
Sold to Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch 1955 and rebuilt
Flown by Derek Erskine, Colin Green and Stan Dodwell
Crashed at Scargill, Nth Canterbury, 28/02/1964
Sold "as is" to Air Contracts Ltd., Masterton, 02/07/1964 and rebuilt, flown by John Jenkins from 06/11/1964
Later flown by Neville Worsley.
Exported to Bannock Aerospace, Vancouver, Canada, 26/01/1970, registered as CF-AXD to Cross Lake Air.
Destroyed in crash June 1972.

ZK-BMF   c/n 948
Imported by DH NZ, ff 04/03/1958 and used as a demonstrator.
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne  24/04/1961
Flown by Ray Misson 1965 and Colin Green
Flown by Bill Luther early 80's
To FR & MK Wright, Tauranga, 1992, rebuilt to passenger configuration.
Exported to Canada 1994, Registered as N712TS Washington State USA
Crashed 20/09/2004, destroyed/not recovered.

ZK-BMO   c/n 462
See ZK-BDI

ZK-BVR   c/n 126
Originally delivered to Central African Airways, 1951
To Australia as VH-EPY at Western Aerial Crop Spraying, Derrinallum, Victoria.
To New Zealand 1994. (Parakai Parachute Club) as ZK-BVR
To USA 1997
Still Active as N888KM, Washington State USA

ZK-BXJ   c/n 1054
Originally delivered to the US Army 25/02/1957 then to State Airlines in the US
Imported by DH NZ 1965, ff 07/10/1965
To Barr Bros., Waipukarau 08/10/1965
Flown by Dennis Hartley & Peter Cook
Flown by Graeme Brough when it crashed into loader at Tutira 02/06/1973
Wreck exported to Aerial Agriculture, as VH-IMC
Restored 1984 and exported to Canada
Still Active as C-FYNT Mascouche, Canada

ZK-BXN   c/n 1597
Delivered to Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, June 1965, ff 22/10/1965
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne 22/10/1965
Flown by Bob Grave 1965. Also flown by Ray Misson and Mike Tucker
To Rangitikei Air Services, Taihape, April, 1977 and named "Pukeokahu" and "The Fletcher Eater"
Flown by Patrick Lonergan
Exported to Alaska 1997
Still Active as N99NL Chugiak, Alaska

ZK-CCY   c/n 1512
Delivered to DH NZ 06/11/1962, ff 20/02/1963
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne 20/02/1963
Flown by Alan Condon, Noel Bennett 1965 and Alf Rogers
Flown by Doug Sklenars 1968 to 1973
Flown by Andy Stevenson at Ruatoria 1973 to 1977
Exported to Australia, 1990, as VH-XIX
Crashed 1991 at Guyra.
Rebuilt back at Gisborne c/o F&K Wright, Tauranga.
To Float Air Picton 1994
Exported to Canada 1996
To Hamburg, Germany, 1996
Registered there as D-FVIP
Crashed 02/07/2006, Hamburg. Destroyed.

ZK-CFU   c/n 1530
Assembled at Rongotai, ff April, 1964, flown to Fieldair, Gisborne 14/04/1964
Flown by Charlie Down 1965
Minor crash at Tikokino, 16/05/1978
Repaired.
Fate Unknown.

ZK-CGS   c/n 802
Originally delivered to Sierra Leone.
Delivered to Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 12/1963, ff 18/02/1964
To Air Contracts Ltd., Masterton. Flown by Harry Mangham
Crashed at Tinui, 26/05/1965
Destroyed by fire.
Harry Mangham fatally injured

ZK-CGW   c/n 1547
ff NZ 21/08/1964
To Fieldair Ltd., Masterton, 26/08/1964
Crashed at Mauriceville, 18/02/1966 after tail-wheel failure on take-off.
Colin Thorne seriously injured (Only pilot to fly this Beaver)
Written off 09/03/1966

ZK-CGX   c/n 1548
Delivered to Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 02/06/1964
Flown by Clive Thorne from 06/02/1964 to 31/10/1966
Then flown by Harley Cadwallader, Jack McCurdy, Owen Martin, Lindon Wilson and Terry Walsh
To Rangitikei Air Services, Taihape, 23/01/1976 and named "Kaimanawa"
Flown by Patrick Lonergan 07/08/1976 to 15/02/1978
To Dahloff & King 15/01/1979
To Aspiring Air, Wanaka, 10/04/1979
To Air McMillan, Wanaka, 18/02/1982
To Vanair Ltd., Napier, 27/07/1983
To Pakuranga Motors, Auckland, 19/03/1984
Rebuilt at Ardmore.
Exported to Canada, 2000 Registered as C-FPSM
Still active in Canada with PT6 Turbine engine.

ZK-CKC   c/n 860
Originally delivered to the US Army as 54-1714
Delivered to Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, NZ 1964, ff 26/10/1964
To Fieldair 31/10/1964. (Fitted with dual controls)
Flown by John Riddell 1965
Crashed at Tinui, 02/12/1968 after engine failure.
Doug Sklenars uninjured.
Written off.

ZK-CKD   c/n 1557
Delivered to Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 08/10/1964
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne, 28/01/1965
Flown by Jim Irving 1965. Also flown by Bob Cranston, Derek Erskine, Jim Doyle, Harley Cadwallader, Bill Luther & John Rika.
Flown by Vaughan Wilson early 80's
Rebuilt at Gisborne c/o F&K Wright 1986
To Wilderness Wings Ltd., Hokitika 08/02/1993
To Seawing Airways, Darwin, Australia, 1996
Now at Rose Bay, Sydney Registered as VH-SWB
Still active.

ZK-CKH   c/n 25
Originally delivered to DH Africa, 17/11/1948 as ZS-DCG
To Libya 1961 as G-ARTR
To New Zealand 07/10/1964, registered as ZK-CKH, ff NZ 16/12/1964
To Air Services Ltd, Masterton 21/12/1964
Flown by Neil Middlemiss until June 1973 then Tony Pratt
To J.D.Menary, Kaikohe, 02/09/1982
To James Aviation, Hamilton, 08/05/1984
Syndicate purchase at Auckland.
Active with NZ Warbirds, Ardmore.

ZK-CLP   c/n 493
Imported by DH NZ 04/1965, ff 24/03/1965
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne, 06/04/1965
Flown by Ian Rankin 1965
Flown by Bob Cranston 30/09/1966 to 1969 (Mostly based at Dannevirke)
Crashed at Wanstead, 04/01/1969
Destroyed by fire.
Bob Cranston badly injured.

ZK-CMU   c/n 1590
Imported by Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, f/f 21/07/1965
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne, 28/07/1965
Flown by Dick Beattie 1965, based at Napier until 01/10/1968
Flown by Harley Cadwallader and Andy Redfern
Dismantled at Gisborne 28/10/1984
Rebuilt at Gisborne late 80's
To Float Air Picton 1990
Exported to USA and registered in Connecticut as N97FW
Still active.

ZK-CMV   c/n 1048
Originally delivered to DH Australia as VH-AAI, 29/07/1957
To Aerial Agriculture, Bankstown. Cancelled 1965
Exported to NZ, ff 29/07/1965
To Air Contracts Ltd., Masterton, 16/08/1965
Flown by Neville Worsley (mostly) based at Dannevirke until Accident at Weber 18/05/1967.
Repaired and flown to the South Island for use as a Meat hauler until 23/08/1968
Exported to Bannock Aerospace Ltd., Vancouver, Canada January 1970
To Ross Air Services as C-FAXC
Still active.

ZK-CMW   c/n 1084
Originally delivered to DH Australia, 20/10/1957
To Aerial Agriculture, Bankstown as VH-AAL
To Robby's Aerial Services,South Australia, registration cancelled 10/08/1965
Exported to NZ, registered as ZK-CMW, ff 02/09/1965
To Air Contracts Ltd., Masterton and flown by Graeme Millward 04/09/1965 until accident at Pahiatua 14/03/1966
Rebuilt, flown by John Rika 14/06/1966 to 22/05/1968 then flown by Don Cameron.
Crashed at Pahiatua 19/06/1968
Sold "as is" to Fieldair Holdings Ltd., Gisborne, 03/02/1969
Used as a training aircraft as fitted with dual controls.
Stored at Gisborne, 1975
Rebuilt 1985 and is now on show at Wigram Museum, Christchurch.

ZK-COV   c/n 1602
Imported by Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 16/07/1965, ff 15/11/1965
To Auster Air Services, Timaru, 19/11/1965
Based at Waimate and flown by Eric Gawler until February 1971, then Arthur Rudge
To Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch, 16/05/1974
Crashed near Cave, 01/03/1975
Written off.
Arthur Rudge & 8 year old passenger fatally injured

ZK-CPE   c/n 1603
Imported by Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 21/12/1965, ff 15/11/1965
To Aircraft Holdings, Wanganui, 25/01/1966
Delivered to Wanganui Aerowork 21/12/1965 and named "Moawhango"
Flown by John Harding, Andy Stevenson, Ken McCracken, Richmond Harding and Ritchie de Montauk.
To Airwork (NZ) Ltd., Christchurch, 15/05/1974
Based at Waimate and flown by Neil Moore, Sam Sands and Col Bolgar
To Virgo Fisheries, Kaikoura, 09/07/1984
To R.B.Jowitt, Manurewa, 16/10/1982
Rebuilt 1996
Exported to Canada 1998
Still active there as C-GTCF

ZK-CPS   c/n 1609
Imported by Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 1965, ff 03/12/1965
To Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne, 01/1966
Flown by John Riddell, Basil Martin and Keith Turner.
Force landed at Rakauroa 28/10/1972
Rebuilt and flown by Keith Turner 23/05/1973 to 30/05/1975
Crashed into trees at Nikau, 24/11/1976
Steve Welch fatally injured
Written off 13/04/1977

ZK-CPZ   c/n 462
See ZK-BDI

ZK-CRE   c/n 1613
Imported by Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 21/01/1966, ff 10/06/1966
To Fieldair Holdings, Gisborne, 13/06/1966 and stored for a short time.
First used topdressing 13/03/1969 and flown by Noel Bennett
Flown by Mike Cronin from 10/11/1972, also Alan Nichol and Dave Ashworth
Flown by Jim Frogley 1985
Registration cancelled 07/04/1988
Exported to Australia, Hadlock Holdings, Tumut as VH-CEV
Exported to Alaska 1999 Registered as N13VF
Crashed 2003
Awaiting rebuild

ZK-CTJ   c/n 1596
Imported by Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 09/05/1965
Exported to Kenya 1969 as 5Y-AIW
Still active in Kenya

ZK-CYD   c/n 1615
Imported by Hawker-Siddeley, Wellington, 29/07/1966
Exported to Kenya 1969
Exported to the US 11/1992 Registered as N1966B
Still active in Illinois

ZK-CZL   c/n 1541
Originally imported by DH Australia, 05/03/1964
To Aerial Agriculture, Bankstown as VH-IDM
Exported to NZ 1969, ff 26/05/1969
To Fieldair Holdings Ltd., Gisborne as ZK-CZL, 27/05/1969
Flown by Bob Cranston from 05/061969 to 12/07/1972
Then flown by Keith Turner, Charlie Down, John Rika and Dave Ashworth
Used as trainer as fitted with dual controls
To Island Air Safaris, Tauranga, 1987
Exported to Australia, 20/01/1989, as VH-OMO
Exported to Canada, registered C-GEDE
Still active

ZK-CZO   c/n 1533
Originally imported by DH Australia
To Aerial Agriculture as VH-IDE
To Robby's Aircraft Services
Imported to NZ by Fieldair Ltd., Gisborne as ZK-CZO, ff 30/05/1969
Flown by Neville Worsley from 04/08/1969 to 1972
Crashed at Te Karaka 06/12/1972
Alec Williams fatally injured
Destroyed. Total time 5,207 hours

ZK-FPZ   c/n 717
Originally delivered to the US Army, 01/11/1954
To Texas State Tech. Institute 01/1972
To Alaska, 17/06/1980
To Kennedy Air Service, 01/1982
Exported to New Zealand 1988
To Motor Holdings Ltd., Ardmore
To Lake Rotorua then Float Air Picton 1989
Blown into Harbour during storm 22/03/1990
To Mid-Island Aviation, Taupo as Parachute dropper
Still active

NZ6001   c/n 911
Delivered to Royal New Zealand Air Force 07/1956
Registration changed to NZ6010
Assembled at Hobsonville, arrived Wigram 11/08/1956
Named "City Of Auckland" and shipped to Antarctica December 1956
Flew in Antarctica then brought back to N.Z. in 1958
Shipped back to Antarctica 1959
Crashed on Beardsmore Glacier during whiteout conditions 15/01/1960
Written off and not recovered

53-7935   c/n 749
53-7935 Delivered to US ARMY 10/01/1955
# 1476  L-20 No.477 Command A-4
RP-67
N67683  Airworthy 16/9/1976
N12GA Gary W. Arthur, Bush Pilots Air Service Inc. Lake Hood, Anchorage, Alaska
Registered 02/1980   Silvertip Lodges                        
Noted being assembled at Fieldair, Palmerston North, N.Z. in 1992                        
Owned by United Airlines Pilot, Rotorua, N.Z.                        
To Alaska as N34EB Paul E. Oakes, Wasilla, Alaska                        
Registered 04/10/2000                        
Active   
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