ZSBZL Piper PA14

[ZK-BZL]

HI,

I'm the current custodian of what was ZS-BZL and is now ZK-BZL in New Zealand.

I'm trying to trace all of the history of the aircraft and have a rather large blank from 1948 until the logbooks start in South Africa as ZS-BZL in 1999.

Would anyone have any information regarding this aircraft. Piper records show it was exported directly from the factory and never registered in the USA.

Photo attached of aircraft operating in New Zealand.

[Ray W]

According to my records ZS-BZL was registered here in SA in Oct 1948. She stayed on our register until she went to Namibia as V5-BZL. She was returned to SA on 19/2/1999 - I'm not sure how long she was in Namibia though. She was cancelled as exported to Australia on 20/1/2006. I don't think this went through though and at some stage I think she was re-instated as ZS-BZL as I have a photo of her that I took at Krugersdorp in 2009 as ZS-BZL (Blue) and also a photo by Bearcat taken in 2018 in the colours that she is now.

[ZK-BZL]

Thanks Ray.

Appreciate you filling in a few of the blanks on the history of BZL. It is great to know that it has always retained the marking BZL throughout it's life.

I managed to procure the original build sheet for it and it left the factory with Titanium Dope in Rust & Ivory. Would you have any contacts that may have some historical photos of it?

[Jayson v Schalkwyk]

Was BZL not the personal plane of Dennis Jankelow and then raffled as part of the annual, Dennis Janelow & Associates Reach for a dream aircraft raffle?

[Bearcat]

Was BZL not the personal plane of Dennis Jankelow and then raffled as part of the annual, Dennis Janelow & Associates Reach for a dream aircraft raffle?

Correct

[Ray W]

Thanks Ray.

Appreciate you filling in a few of the blanks on the history of BZL. It is great to know that it has always retained the marking BZL throughout it's life.

I managed to procure the original build sheet for it and it left the factory with Titanium Dope in Rust & Ivory. Would you have any contacts that may have some historical photos of it?

I've just checked through the late Dave Becker's photo collection and unfortunately he doesn't have one of her in the original colour scheme either, although I would imagine she'd have looked something like this one.

[ZK-BZL]

Thanks for all the assistance. I will check in with Dennis Jankelow & Co and see if they can shed any more light on it.

[flypiper]

Hi Guys,

This Piper was recovered by Erol Ferreira many moons ago at Tempe Bfn in the blue color sceme .