A320 at the Bridge St mound

Following on from last week's posts, here's another picture from the Bridge St mound of an Air NZ operated Airbus A320-232, ZK-OXB, departing on runway 34. It's nice to see a bit more air traffic around, even though it is still very quiet.

Airbus A320-232, ZK-OXB, operated by Air New Zealand

Lastly, with the reduction in COVID 19-related restrictions, I'm trying to get back into a Tuesday/ Thursday publishing pattern, with photos from the previous week or two. It won't always work out that way 😀 but we'll see how I go!

Cessna 182

Here's that nice Cessna 182T I saw a few days ago, this time departing Wellington on a fantastic autumn day.

This was photographed at the "Bridge St mound" which is a mound of dirt that provides a great view of the runway. It's located on Bridge St [obviously] and is a great place for photographing aircraft, particularly of arrivals onto runway 16.

Cessna 182T, ZK-WYT

The latest jet on FR24?

Wellington Aero club's latest installation of ADSB has been in one of our Piper PA38-112 Tomahawks, ZK-TAW, which is a good prompt to get updated photos onto Jetphotos, which then appear on Flightradar24.com.

Of course, this also means it appears on FR24 as a medium-sized jet, so probably a chance to get that corrected also 😀

Go for it, plane spotting team!

Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-TAW, operated by Wellington Aero Club

Currency flight in a Cessna 172

I hadn't flown a Cessna 172 for just over 3 months, so last Sunday afternoon I had a dual currency flight in Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE.

Fun times! Included was a max performance takeoff from Wellington, some strip flying at Battery Hill, a bit of low flying and a rejoin into Wellington via the East Arrival [from the south east], finishing with a flapless approach. 1.2 hours of fun!

No photos from the flying [I was having too much fun!] but here's one of ZK-EKE in the evening just prior to being put in the hanger.

It was, of course, another perfect day of flying in the Wellington region!

Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE, operated by Wellington Aero Club

Cessna 182T

Today's picture is this nicely polished Cessna 182T, ZK-WYT, which is registered to a Penrose [Auckland] address.

Cessna 182T, ZK-WYT

I did that aviation thing again!

Apologies for the mug in front of the plane, ruining the shot... but I got to do that aviation thing again today [Saturday], after our Covid 19 restrictions on flying ended last Thursday.

It was great to get up for a few crosswind circuits in the Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO after around two months of not being able to fly. I managed 4 circuits in 0.6 hours, this included a brief hold at one point and a deliberate go around from 500' on one of the approaches [great practice].

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO

Oh yeah - I really do need a haircut.

Also, if anyone makes this the KP banner image, there'll be trouble!!

Airplanes!

Not normally something to get excited about, but with the recent loosening of rules, this was the first day I have been able to get out and see a couple of aircraft flying around.

First up is an Air New Zealand-operated Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-XXX. As has been noted elsewhere, these are now using Air NZ callsigns, so instead of Link 1234, it's now New Zealand 1234 Lima [and ex Mount Cook flights being NZ1234 Mike].

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEO, operated by Air New Zealand

The second aircraft os a Cessna 510 Citation Mustang, ZK-VXM. This aircraft is operated by Skyline Aviation of Hawkes Bay. Given the restrictions on travel, my guess is it would have been operating an essential services charter or air ambulance.

Cessna 510 Citation Mustang, ZK-VXM, operated by Skyline Aviation

Lastly, it's great to be out and seeing some aviation happening! Hopefully it won't be too long until I can get back into the cockpit myself. I'm sure the Nanchang is feeling a bit lonely these days...!

Passenger ejected from a fighter jet!

I suppose many you have heard of this incident already, but for those who haven't, or those who want one view of what happened, here is the video for you!

Try not to laugh too hard when you watch this...😂

Walkalong glider for those with an "in house PPL" right now...

Here's an interesting video of some guys building super lightweight gliders out of polystyrene. The video includes the gliders, wind tunnels, and some super-dodgy use of candles [no, it's not recommended!].

So, aside from the pyromania, this could be very interesting for those of us who are at home for the next few weeks, waiting out the Covid19 virus.

Dassault Falcon 50 at Wellington

From last week [before the Covid19 lockdown], I was at the aero club and saw this Dassault Falcon 50, N115MF, departing Wellington.

Perhaps it is nothing too special, but it is one of the last photos I managed to get prior to the lockdown.

Dassault Falcon 50, N115MF

As previously flagged, until this lockdown is lifted, I'll try and find some interesting posts to keep us all entertained. I'm thinking of a few youtube videos which I have liked. Hopefully, they will be interesting to you also!

The Lock Down

Like where much of the rest of the world is heading, the Prime Minister of New Zealand announced on Monday 23 April 2020 that New Zealand had moved to Covid19 Alert Level 3, with a move to Level 4 on Wednesday [yesterday]. My understanding of Level 4 means the shutdown of all non-essential services and people remaining at home [with a few exemptions], including, working from home.

Clearly, this means there will be a massive reduction in air traffic over the next four weeks [minimum], and no opportunity to get out and fly myself around or to easily observe air traffic.

All aero clubs and other flight training/ recreational flying organisations must be closed by now and all private/ recreational flying is also prohibited.

So, there will obviously be a big reduction in the usual posting on this blog until this is lifted.

I will try and find some interesting posts from time to time. I do have content for one or two more posts after this one. I am thinking of a small series of interesting online videos that I have found from time to time and if you have any thoughts on that matter, please let me know!

I have already heard of people who seem either oblivious to, or who don't care about, the lockdown.

If you are like this, please don't be a dick. The lives of people are dependant on a few weeks of lockdown. There are very few people in this fine land who will tolerate that level of selfishness! If the lockdown is not obeyed, it is likely there will need to be an even longer period of lockdown. Be a #GreatNewZealander and we get through this much easier and faster.

For authoritative sources of information, I can recommend the following NZ Government sites:

• covid19.govt.nz
• health.govt.nz

[clearly this list does not include Twitter, Facebook other  media sites, or your mates 2nd cousin's aunty...!]

Kawasaki BK117 B-2

This Kawasaki BK117 B-2 was quite a way from home recently.

ZK-HGW is registered to Helilink of a Papakura address and is seen here parked on the western apron at Wellington, outside the rescue helicopter base.

Kawasaki BK117 B-2, ZK-HGW, operated by Helilink

Aerostar 601

Topping off a fine weekend for flying [including just over 2 hours in the Nanchang], there was a visit from this beautiful looking Aerostar 601, ZK-JOS, on Sunday. This aircraft is operated by Matrinair Ltd and is based in Feilding.

I've never flown into Feilding, so it might be a nice place to take the Nanchang one weekend :-)

Aerostar 601, ZK-JOS, operated by Matrinair

Vans RV4 at Wellington

Last weekend this really nice RV4 visited Wellington. It's the second time I have seen ZK-RVV at Wellington. The first time was two years ago on 1 April 2018.

Vans RV-4, ZK-RVV, operated by Tauranga Aeroplan Co

Rockets and rubber bands

The last three or four weeks I have been looking at a Youtube channel called Flite Test. It's a channel with a lot of really cool radio-controlled aircraft [don't groan too loud!], with everything from what you might expect to flying hammers, kayaks and more.

It's pretty awesome!

I saw a video the other day which was a bit different. The Flite Test team did an episode on free flight models, some of which are rocket launched with spring-loaded wings and others which are powered by rubber bands. This includes an eight-engined monster right down to an extremely light inside-only model.

It's a pretty cool video, so I thought I would share it.




This may end up being a small series on model aircraft... I'll see how I feel and what reaction to get to this one. Let me know what you think in the comments!