Farewell to Strikemasters NZ6362 and NZ6370

Photo credit: Strikemaster Club Facebook page.

Brett Nicholls, Chief Executive and owner of Strikemaster Ltd, has announced that NZ6362 and NZ6370 will shortly depart New Zealand's shores. Brett says:

It is with some sadness that I would like to inform you that both my Strikemasters and all spares have been sold to Blue Air Training based in Las Vegas, USA. I understand Blue Air Training has eight Strikemasters and a significant inventory of spare – with my two, they will have four ex RNZAF Strikemasters.

The decision to sell was not taken lightly, however it has to be acknowledged that the landscape for Strikemaster operations has changed significantly over the last few months which had the potential to drastically increase the maintenance costs on the aircraft and the length of time each aircraft would be out of the air.

It came to light in the fourth quarter of last year that this company purchased all Strikemaster and Jet Provost spares from Australia (our main source of spare parts) and they have an extremely close relationship with a company in the UK who has the other significant inventory of Strikemaster spare parts.  Obviously, with the reduction in spare part availability it meant that running a Pt 115 operation was going to be increasingly difficult and significantly more costly.

I would like to thank the Strikemaster team for all their support over the years – Dave, Mark, Dean, Heather, Shooter, Paul and the Pioneer team. It has been fun. The Tauranga airshow on Saturday will be the last time these two aircraft will be displayed in front of a New Zealand – a bittersweet moment for all involved.

Time seems to have flown by since July 2012 when Strikemaster Ltd first gained Part 115 certification and ordinary New Zealanders were able to experience a flight in these iconic aircraft. Thanks Brett for bringing these two Strikemasters back to New Zealand and giving everyone this opportunity.

Blue Air Training provides contract Close Air Support (CAS) training to conventional and special operations personnel from all branches of military service. In 2015, their Facebook page included a post noting that they had been awarded a contract to provide 1,000 flight hours per year of CAS training for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs).

Strikemaster Ltd Receives CAA Director's Award

Photo courtesy of Strikemaster Ltd

Aviation Safety Management Systems (ASMS) congratulates Strikemaster Ltd as the recipient of this year's CAA Director's Award for an Organisation.

The July/August 2013 issue of CAA's Vector magazine reports:

Owner and operator, Brett Nicholls, said the award was an honour for his operation and people. "I am surprised, shocked, and stunned by our award but it reflects on our capable and very professional flight crew, a great aircraft, and high levels of safety management. We want to make this jet flight a safe and enjoyable experience for our passengers.

"We have embraced Part 115 and we can now provide a sustainable adventure aviation operation into the future," said Brett.

[Director of Civil Aviation] Graeme Harris commended Strikemaster for their constructive, professional work in gaining operator certification under Part 115.

"It is clear that this operator is very focussed on risk management and committed to high levels of safety in their adventure aviation business," Graeme said.

Strikemaster Ltd's Part 115 exposition was written by ASMS, and Safety Management Systems are an integral component of all the systems that we deliver. We continue to be involved with ongoing quality assurance and providing advice to management, both for Strikemaster and our other clients. Our aim is to provide operators in all industries with systems that support excellence in safety and service provision.

Strikemaster adds Mustang and Harvard to Fleet

Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) congratulates Strikemaster Ltd on the addition of the P51 Mustang ZK-TAF and the Harvard ZK-WAR to its fleet of aircraft. Approval to offer Adventure Aviation flights in these aircraft was granted by the Civil Aviation Authority on Monday 24th December 2012. We are proud to have projected managed the amendment process for the addition of these two aircraft.

About the North American P51D Mustang

ZK-TAF. Photo courtesy Graham Bethell.

Although this aircraft is finished in the colours of No.3 Squadron (Canterbury), it was not actually operated by the RNZAF. It was manufactured and delivered to the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1945 and was flown until 1951 whereupon it was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) where it remained until 1959. After its RCAF service this aircraft went back to the USA where it was “civilianised”. It had several different owners up until 1984 at which point it was imported to New Zealand by Sir Tim Wallis and made its first flight in New Zealand in January 1985. Graham Bethell has owned the aircraft since 1990 and it is well known in the New Zealand airshow circuit.

The Mustang type aircraft became famous during the last few years of WW2 as a long range escort fighter protecting allied bombers in Europe. Its high altitude, superior speed and fire power made it regarded by many as the best fighter aircraft of WW2. In its twilight years the Mustang performed sterling service during the Korean War in the early 1950s.

About the North American Harvard ZK-WAR

ZK-WAR. Photo Rob Neil, Pacific Wings
Magazine

The RNZAF operated 202 Harvards (NZ901-1102) delivered in the period from 1941 to 1944. 53 aircraft were lost through various causes during WWII. The majority of the Harvards were put into storage in 1945, and many were sold for scrap in 1958-59.

Under New Zealand’s Compulsory Military Training Scheme, NZ1092 along with the other MkIII Harvards served with the Territorial Air Force. NZ`1092 served in No.2 Squadron (Ohakea) 07 September 1956-27 March 1957, and with No.1 Squadron (Whenuapai) 27 March 1957-22 August 1957. In 1957 the Territorial Air Force was disbanded and the MkIII Harvards moved to Wigram.

The Harvards continued to be used for training roles in the RNZAF and were finally withdrawn from service in 1977.

NZ1092 was the first Harvard to be sold by the RNZAF (to Trevor Bland ex RNZAF pilot and founder of the NZ Warbirds Association Inc). It was registered as ZK-WAR and became the first warbird of the “Warbirds Association” at Ardmore. It was purchased by its current owner in 2012 and is now operated by Strikemaster Ltd.

ASMS Congratulates Strikemaster Ltd

Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) congratulates Strikemaster Ltd on the grant of their Part 115 Adventure Aviation Operator Certificate. We are proud to have project managed the application process and developed the exposition for Strikemaster Ltd’s operation.

Strikemaster Ltd operates a two-seater BAC-167 Strikemaster Mk 88 jet, which once served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force as part of No. 14 Squadron based at Ohakea airbase. The award of this Certificate represents a historic step forward for New Zealand aviation, with owners of historic jet aircraft now able to sell flights to the general public, providing a more financially secure future for this important part of New Zealand history. We wish the team at Strikemaster an exciting and prosperous future.