Prospector found this photo of BGN
This image looks like it was taken from a newspaper. It wasn't, it's merely a very small,grainy, washed out neg. It was owned by Vanair Ltd of Hastings. It crashed following an engine failure in April 1955 in the Putorino area, after only five months service.
Heres one that will make yer eyes water
We both probably knew the lovely fella that perished in her when it was a turbo Fletcher (the first)
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A Fletcher in the blue and grey livery of Roberston Air Service at Christchurch in 1955.
This aircraft was converted to have a Garrett TPE331 turboprop engine of some 530 hp installed in 1967, making it a FU-24-1160 (which actually gave it a new c/n of 2001).
It was written off in an accident in 1968
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac2/NZBA/NZCivBA.html
Wait!...theres more!
Old WAC ZK-BBV pranged in a hedge at Ohaupo after running out of gas.The pilot a shearer bloke, went on to Rural I think it was and died in a C180 topdressing.
