Saturday 23 November 2013

Pilatus PC12 ZK-TIL

New Zealand's first Pilatus PC12 has been getting an airing since arriving on our register earlier this month.  ZK-TIL, ex VH-ZBD, has been in the country since 01 August having arrived at Auckland from the Gold Coast via Lord Howe Island.  It headed to Wellington the next day where it was hangared until flying upto Ardmore, Springhill, back to Ardmore and onto Wellington 07 August.  It then positioned to Fielding 13 September and underwent a couple of flights including a Queenstown visit before months end.  


NZ certification was carried out at Fielding and it became ZK-TIL with Tara Iti Holdings Ltd of Wellsford on 05 November.  Tara Iti is associated with a new golf course being developed on the Pacific coast west of Wellsford and it is understood the aircraft will be used to ferry golfers as required and fly them in to Springhill http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZSL.pdf


The Pilatus PC12 was first flown on 31 May 1991 and the first aircraft delivered in 1994.  ZK-TIL, with a c/n of 837, is a PC12/47 indicating it is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B engine, with a maximum takeoff weight of 4740kg.  

Pilatus have made several demonstration tours to NZ over recent years so they will be delighted to finally have one of their very popular aircraft in Kiwi skies. 

Some air to air shots of ZK-TIL can be seen at the Wings over NZ forum by clicking here and scrolling down a smidgen.

Arriving at Ardmore 23 November before then embarking direct to Queenstown, C Hunter photo



3 comments:

  1. Can I have the office number and email ID of Tara-Iti Holding Limited

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  2. Can I have the office number and email ID of Tara-Iti Holding Limited

    ReplyDelete
  3. Isn't the Tasman coast west of Wellsford? And the Kaipara Harbour. I know the Irwin tool people originally of Wellsford are pretty air minded.

    ReplyDelete