History
The Clubs origins could be said to go back to 6 October 1950 when the NAC Social and Sports Club acquired ZK-ARX, a de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth. However the NAC Flying Club, known as the Air New Zealand Flying Club today, was formed as a subsidiary of the club in early 1954. The club was based at the Christchurch International Airport at the No. 2 hangar until purchasing it's own hangar in 2000 and moving to the Northern end of the Airport near the No.1 Air New Zealand Hangar. In 2015 the club was unfortunately in the way of Air New Zealand expansions and were forced to move, finding a new home at the Rangiora Airfield, where it operates from today.
ZK-ARX
ZK-ARX was a de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth built at Hatfield, England and test flown prior to shipment to New Zealand for RNZAF contracts. British C of A number 6783 was issued on 24 October 1939. NZ747 as it was then, was 'brought on charge' at Unit 18 Rongotai on 14 February 1940 and was operated by No.1 EFTS (Elementary Flight Training School) from 1940-1944.
NZ747 flew 3111.25 hours in RNZAF service before being issued free to NAC from Taieri on 03 March 1948. Entering the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-ARX on 18 June 1948. The aircraft was given a lengthy overhaul and finally emerged on 06 October 1950 to be operated by the NAC Social and Sports Club. It was eventually sold on 22 October 1958 to the Waimate Branch Aero Club Syndicate and again on 08 September 1960 to the South Canterbury Aero Club, Waimate Branch 08 September 1960.
ZK-ARX crashed near Fairlie, South Canterbury on 19 December 1961 after a forced landing due to engine failure. By this time the aircraft had logged 4977:55 hours. The wreckage was trucked to Timaru and purchased by S. Brodie, Rangitata. Registration was cancelled on 21 October 1963.
On 31 January 1975 the wreckage was purchased by E. Moffat of Temuka. ZK-ARX was rebuilt by Aerotech, Timaru and flew again on 26 February 1975, with new C of A being issued on 25 March 1975.
ZK-ARX was sold once more to M. McLeay, D. Grave, and P. McKean of Invercargill in 1976,
but was finally written off in an accident near Tapanui on 18 March 1976.