Questions for Kiwi Ag Pilots

[Fris B. Fairing]

I am trying to decipher the log book of the Queensland Air Museum's latest acquisition - Pawnee ZK-CEL. There are a few place name abbreviations which do not appear to have any relationship to ICAO codes. The flight times are shown in brackets.
FD - Kaipara Flats (3:00)
WHG - AK (1:10)
KHE - Ardmore (1:15)
Any local knowledge will be much appreciated.
Regards

[prospector]

WHG-AK I would go for Whangarei- Auckland NZWR-NZAA
KHE-Ardmore would go for Kaikohe-Ardmore NZKO-NZAR

[MikeJulietHotel]

I'd agree with those two.

I'd be interested to know the dates on the logbook entries.


MJH

[currawong]

I'll take a punt that FD is Fielding.

[Fris B. Fairing]

prospector
Thanks for that. Do the times match those sectors?
MJH
FD - Kaipara Flats (3:00) was 30NOV73
WHG - AK (1:10) was 20MAR78
KHE - Ardmore (1:15) was 26JUN78
currawong
That fits nicely but is it Fielding or Feilding?
Regards

[MikeJulietHotel]

Thanks Fris,

I had a think about the times and the sectors. Kaikohe - Ardmore is more than 5 minutes more than Whangarei - Auckland but who knows what the winds were...they're not out of the ballpark.

Feilding - near Bulls and Ohakea

MJH

[prospector]

Times could fit OK, bit slow but may have had spray gear, or a grass seeder fitted, may have diverted en route to look at a job coming up or some such thing.

[currawong]

Feilding, methinks.

Good luck with the restoration.

[Fris B. Fairing]

MJH
Evidently the dates didn't match your log book?
currawong
Thanks for the good wishes. It will be a static display only.
Thanks to all who responded.
Regards

[MikeJulietHotel]

Hi Fris,

no, that wasn't the reason for the question though

Worked (ground-bound) around that area in the '70s and don't recall a Pawnee - Fletcher and AirTruck territory mainly.

MJH

[Fris B. Fairing]

Gents

One more question. Would I be right in saying that Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd at Ardmore became Dalhoff & King Aviation Ltd on or about 1 April 1976?

Regards

[tinpis]

I think Pawnees were out of fashion certainly for chucking fertilizer in the top half on the Nth Island by the the mid 60's?

[currawong]

Would you believe they are still in production in Brazil?