ZK-ABN  Simmonds Spartan                                  (c/n   42)

                             

                                This historic photo, from the Marlborough (NZ) Museum archives, was taken at the third
                                annual air show pageant on 7 March 1931 (five months before I was born).  In addition to
                                the Spartan identifiable are the D.H.60 Moths ZK-ACE, -ACI, -ACD, -ABE, -and -ABQ
                                nearest the camera.     The Spartan was imported in 1929 to its dealership, New Zealand
                                Airways Ltd and was named "Southern Cross Kitten".    In the image below, from the
                                Museum of New Zealand archives, the name is visible, despite the lo-res of the picture.
                                ZK-ABN  had a couple of private owners before crashing at Pleasant Point, near Timaru
                                on 31 October 1939.. While landing on a private field, the aircraft was caught by gusty
                                winds.  The right wing hit telephone wires and the aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest
                              . The pilot was injured and -ABN was damaged beyond repair.