ZK-TAJ Vincent Aviation DH-114

Thanks Martin. Good pickup. Ed Coates has provided for us again.

I admire your patience, gentlemen. Not many would persevere for over six years to achieve that goal. Bravo!

Answer to Ron Cuskelly #3

Finally there is a photo of the ‘hunting lodge’ west of Woodbury, Tasmania
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/VH-CLT%20wreck.jpg
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Martin

I had forgotten about this thread. It was subsequently established that the airframe of ZK-TAJ was cut up and taken away by a Launceston scrap dealer on 6 Nov 1996. These photos were taken at that time by David Swiggs.

As VH-CLT is the only aircraft unaccounted for it must be the “hunting lodge”. I have yet to see a photo of the lodge in situ.

Regards

quote by Ron Cuskelly: It is reported that a Heron fuselage is in use as a “hunting lodge” west of Woodbury, Tas. It is my understanding that this is the fuselage of ZK-TAJ.

Again and again one could read this rumor about the ‘hunting lodge” – made of a Heron fuselage.
Anyone with a picture?

http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/VH-CLT%2520Tracy.html
Ok, it was VH-CLT c/n14071 – and still no pictures?

After-market mod. Riley for Lycoming and Saunders for turbo-props IIRC.

I spy American engines! Was that a DH option or an aftermarket mod?

Just come across the following pic, which would seem to confirm that TAJ was painted up in the Vincent titles.
Don’t yet know if the pic was taken in NZ or Australia (see aircraft history above).

Further update – I have now been advised of a December/January 1991 magazine advertisement for the sale of this aircraft, which includes a photograph showing it painted in an identical scheme to that in the flickr pics. This would seem to confirm the identity as ZK-TAJ.

“DH RILEY HERON COMMUTER ZK-TAJ
Low Cost Entry Level. 15 Pax Com.Only 10,000 Hrs since new. New Lycom. IO-540 Engs. 1,185/1.13_1,298/946 Since O/H. King IFR Avionics, 2 KX-175B, VOR/LOC, 2 Kr-85 ADF, KN-65A DME Transponder, HF, Intercom. Complete Records From Day One. Extensive Spares Package. New C of A and Major Check. Excellent paint and interior.13,500 or 12,500 MCTOW. 8.708 Lbs Empty. Immediate Delivery. All Manuels Included. Type Training Avail.
Price: $365,000 + GST
Delivered Ex Ardmore”

That’s New Zealand dollars of course.

(Thanks Dave for the info).

Looking again at the flickr pics, the logo on the tail is certainly different from the logo on the tail of KAM in your pic. It seems probable that these three photos are of TAJ, but I am asking around locally here to see if anyone can definitly confirm the paint details. I will advise if anything more comes to light.

Memo to self: don’t repaint the aircraft until after the corrosion check!

A bit late in the day for me to check up on the hunting lodge – I was in Tassy for three weeks in early 2006, and could have investigated if I had known about it at that time.
Any current Tasmanian Tigers around here who could check it out?

It is reported that a Heron fuselage is in use as a “hunting lodge” west of Woodbury, Tas. It is my understanding that this is the fuselage of ZK-TAJ.

Again and again one could read this rumor about the ‘hunting lodge” – made of a Heron fuselage.
Anyone with a picture?

Here’s VH-KAM at Auckland on 20NOV92 in Airlines of Tasmania colours but with Vincent Aviation titles

http://www.adastron.com/aviation/vault/VH-KAM-12.JPG

VH-KAM was delivered to Vincent on 26JUN92 and returned to Airlines of Tasmania on 21SEP93. The Heron in the Flickr photos is wearing a different colour scheme from what KAM was carrying in NOV92. Is it likely that Vincent would have repainted KAM between NOV92 and SEP93? I don’t know but I suspect not.

Hmmm – now this raises a more interesting question.
The guy who posted the three Heron pics at flickr.com seems, from his comments on his own pics, to know little about aircraft. He has googled the history of Vincent Aviation, discovered that this firm owned ZK-TAJ, and therefore assumes that these pictures are of this particular aircraft. I have looked carefully at the three pics, and cannot actually see a definitive visible registration.
Now after the TAJ corrosion debacle, Vincents leased Heron VH-KAM from Airlines of Tasmania for use in NZ over the period June 1992 – August 1993, after which it returned to Australia.
Now the question is – are these pictures of ZK-TAJ or VH-KAM?
One way to settle the question would be to know if either aircraft were or were not painted up in Vincent colours. Anyone?

I attach a photo of ZK-TAJ during its Cook Islands ownership.

I am advised that ZK-TAJ was inspected in NZ by an engineer from Airlines of Tasmania. His advice was that the aircraft was corroded beyond repair. Apparently the aircraft was shipped to Tasmania anyway and promptly written off on arrival! It is reported that a Heron fuselage is in use as a “hunting lodge” west of Woodbury, Tas. It is my understanding that this is the fuselage of ZK-TAJ. The other Heron mentioned above, VH-KAM, is now with the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra but she came to QAM without the engines which are reputed to have come from ZK-TAJ.

Interesting pics those, as this Heron had a very short life with Vincents.
After serving with Shell as YV-P-AEB and YV-284P, this Heron went to Air Rarotonga (1982) Ltd. in the Cook Islands as ZK-TAJ in July 1986.
The aircraft was later sold to Vincent Aviation Ltd. of Wellington, New Zealand, and arrived in NZ 7Feb92. Presumably it was painted in Wellington, and it was then flown to Palmerston North on 24th February for airframe overhaul. Excessive corrosion was discovered at that stage, and the aircraft never flew again. The airframe was shipped to Australia and scrapped, the engines were removed and used in Heron VH-KAM. This resulted in legal action between Vincent Aviation and Air Rarotonga.