Beechcraft Beechjet 400A

Last weekend I saw this Beechcraft Beechjet 400A, ZK-NXJ departing. This aircraft is operated by Skyline Aviation as an air ambulance. This is an awesome looking aircraft!

Beechcraft Beechjet 400A, ZK-NXJ, operated by Skyline Aviation

Helicopter at Masterton

I had a very brief visit to Masterton last Saturday... not much happening at the time, but I did get to see this Agusta-Bell AB206A, ZK-HMA, departing.

Agusta-Bell AB206A, ZK-HMA

More pictures of a Qantas Boeing special livery

Following on from my post last Tuesday of a Qantas-operated Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, here are some more from this aircraft's visit today. The more I look at the aircraft, the more detail I notice in it - click on the images for a higher resolution version and see what you can find!

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Sunsets and a Mountain

I was out of town for a couple of days this past week, flying back home on Thursday evening.

At this time of the year, a 17:30 - 18:30 flight from Auckland to Wellington produces some really nice views towards the setting sun. Here are a few of them.

First up, we popped up through the cloud after takeoff.

Next we have Mount Taranaki poking up with a really nice sunset.

Here's another image of the sunset a little later.

Here's that same sunset zoomed in. All of these images were taken on my cellphone camera, so it's only a digital zoom. Still, I think it looks really nice!

This is the Marlborough Sounds as we descend towards Wellington.

I think I might need to get current at night one everything then go for a sunset flight...

A bit of TLC and more

I'm helping to organise the Flying NZ Cook Strait Region competitions, which this year will be held in Whanganui. As part of this, I visited the aero club to work on a couple of the competition organisational things with them and saw a few interesting aircraft.

First up where a couple of Cessnas. ZK-TLC is a Cessna 182T and is registered to a Drury address.

Cessna 182T, ZK-TLC

ZK-EOG is a Cessna 172N and is registered to a North Harbour [Auckland] address.

Cessna 172N, ZK-EOG

It's always good to see an Air Chathams operated Convair - they are a rather rare aircraft these days. This was waiting for passengers to Auckland.

General Dynamic Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIE, operated by Air Chathams

After Whanganui, I had a brief visit to Feilding. I've never bene to the Feilding Aerodrome before. This aircraft is a Cessna A152, ZK-JDB, which is registered to North Taranaki Aero Club.

Cessna A152, ZK-JDB, registered to North Taranaki Aero Club

Qantas Boeing at Wellington

Last Sunday I saw a rather unusual Qantas-operated Boeing at Wellington. Not that Qantas is that unusual, or that Boeings are unusual, but as you'll see from the picture, this one has a rather unusual livery applied.

This aircraft is a Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ and has Qantas' Mendoowoorrji Aboriginal livery which actually looks quite nice! Also, being VH- registered, it's actually a mainline Qantas jet, rather than their local subsidiary, Jetconnect.

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Test only

Testing

A departure from Omaka

This brief video is of a recent departure from Omaka, runway 12. The video then heads out over the Watertank and Ponds reporting points.

Unfortunately, the camera then stopped working, so I don't have the Cook Strait crossing or the arrival into Wellington.

The video is sped up to 3 times normal speed so that it's not too boring :-)

USAF C40B at Wellington

I was at Wellington Airport today and saw this USAF-operated Boeing C-40B/ B737-7CP, registration 01-0015, parked across on the RNZAF Air Movements Base apron.

Boeing C-40B/ B737-7CP, 01-0015, operated by the USAF

Trip from Auckland

I recently had a brief visit to Auckland. A delayed flight home meant leaving as it started to get dark, and not having my main camera meant that the photos are a wee bit rubbish, but interesting none the less.

First up is the rather different looking, but nonetheless, Air NZ operated, Boeing 777-212/ER, ZK-OKI [ex 9V-SVL]. This has been dry hired from Singapore Airlines by Air NZ to help cover the downtime on their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

Boeing 777-212/ER, ZK-OKI/ 9V-SVL, operated by Air NZ

Next is a general view of part of the international apron at Auckland International. It;s a busy place on a Tuesday evening.

This is the view of part of Manukau just after takeoff from runway 05R. I was in seat 27F, hence the relatively unobstructed view of the ground. The takeoff was slightly interesting, in that we used full length for the takeoff - not something I recall having on a domestic sector from Auckland before.

After takeoff, we climbed up almost as far as Ardmore Airfield before turning right to fly past Auckland again. This provided a reasonable view of the airport and surrounds in the rapidly fading light.

Auckland Airport and surrounds

This last photo is a shot I got as we descended towards Wellington [we were over Cook Strait at the time]. The bright light is a wingtip light... with a bit of practice, I think I could have gotten a better picture. Oh well! Certainly not much to see at that time of night.

Weather change

Today was a very interesting weather day. In terms of flying, it was a breezy north-westerly - not very comfortable for flying. Mid-afternoon, the wind had dropped and we headed off on a couple of Young Eagles flights - bright blue skies and a gentle north-westerly breeze. Everyone enjoyed the flights!

By 4:30pm though, just as forecast, the skies started to go dark, the temperature fell several degrees and the rain started. Fun to watch!

Anyway, here are a couple of photographs and video of what arrived. Enjoy!

3.6 hours flying today...

3.6 hours flying - that is the most I have done in a single day for a while.

Most of it was in a Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO, from Wellington to Whanganui and back, but while in Whanganui, I had some dual time in the Piper PA18-90 Super Cub, ZK-BTU with Wanganui Aero Club.

Thankfully it was dual, as I'm not at all current and was clearly not onto it today as the aircraft "owned" me on most of the landings. Oh well, that's what dual is for! I'll do some more in the near future. I think I just need to get the feel of it back and keep a lot more current in future :-) It was a beautiful day for all the flying and so I can't blame the weather!

Anyway, here is a picture of ZK-BTU after the post-flight refuelling. Yes, it is still my favourite type of aircraft!

Piper PA18-90 Super Cub, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Wild and windy today

Here are a couple of movements from earlier today. The wind has been gusting up over 100km/hr at times and, although I missed them, there have been some go-arounds and diversions. Fun times.

Anyway, here are the videos. It's not exactly great cinematography :-) but good enough to give you an idea of what it was like. The first is an Air NZ Airbus A320-232 landings, the second is a Singapore Airlines Boeing B777-200 departing. The departure was rather impressive - the shortest takeoff I have seen in a B777, although not at all surprising given load limitations at Wellington and the gale force winds.

More night flying!

Last Friday was a perfect night for flying. There was very little wind, great visibility and no significant cloud, so I took a quick trip up to Paraparaumu for a couple of touch and goes, then back to Wellington.

I always like flying into Wellington at night and I think the final part of the video shows why. From the north, we descend over the harbour, over the highway then onto the runway. Fun times!


Lastly, this flight brought up my 25th night hour (actually a total of 25.75 hours). Fun times!

Cirrus SR22 ZK-LDY

I'm catching up on a few photos, and this Cirrus SR22, ZK-LDY is one of them. This aircraft is registered to an Auckland address and visited Wellington on 9 June.

Cirrus SR22, ZK-LDY