Taming the Kat

Or perhaps that should be tamed by the Kat? There's always something to learn after all :-)

Anyway, a couple of weekends ago, I went on a solo flight in Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. It was a chance to do some stalls, turns, a simulated FLWOP before returning to Wellington. Everything went well and I had a bit of fun. I also managed to get a little bit of video, and here it is.

The flight out was via the Pencarrow Departure and the return was via the Hutt Valley and an Eastbourne Arrival. All in all, it was a fun flight in a really nice aircraft.

Brief visit to Wanganui Aero Club

Here are a few photos and a video of my brief visit to Wanganui this past weekend.

First up is a recently completed Titan T51 Mustang, ZK-LSD. This is a class 2 microlight and is still undergoing its test flying period. The aircraft has a 100hp Rotax engine. Check out the bottom of this post for a brief video of the startup.

Titan T52 Mustang, ZK-LSD

The next two pictures are of an Air Chathams-operated General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF. It looks like Air Chathams are going well in Whanganui, with a nearly full load of passengers hoping off this Sunday afternoon flight.

General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF, operated  by Air Chathams

General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF, operated  by Air Chathams

The final picture is an AESL Airtourer, ZK-LDG.

AESL Airtourer, ZK-LDG

Here's the promised video. It's only about 35 seconds long but you get to listen to the "meaty" sound of the 100hp Rotax :-)

Flying and passengering

Last Sunday afternoon was a day for being a pilot and for being a passenger. Both were fun flights.

First up was a flight in Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. This was a solo flight where I went up and did a couple of turns, stalls and a simulated FLWOP.

I don't have photos from that trip, but I hope to have a small video up in the next week or so. I also had a play with some different power settings to see the effect on fuel consumption [having a fuel flow meter is awesome] and checked out the heading hold on the autopilot.

Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT, operated by Aviators Anonymous

Next up was a trip to Omaka as a passenger. A couple of people were going to pick up another aircraft and I was able to go for the ride.

The aircraft was a Piper PA28-181, ZK-FHQ. Many years ago, this aircraft was online with the club. It has had a major refurb since then!

Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Leaving Wellington behind

Approaching Omaka, runway 12

Piper PA28-181, ZK-FHQ

Douglas DC3 parked up at Omaka

Piper PA28-181, ZK-FHQ, the panel

A "new" camera

I picked up a "new to me" camera the other day, and this was my first weekend playing with it.

The camera is a Canon EOS 700D DSLR and is a small step up from my other one - an EOS 450D. There is still a huge amount to learn, especially about the various settings and getting some default values to provide a good result in the common well-lit, daytime conditions I usually shot in. I do like the quite autofocus in the new lenses though.

Here are a few from today. There's nothing special in them, but they are OK. More playing in the next few weeks :-)

A brief visit to Paraparaumu, with video

I had a brief visit to Paraparaumu aerodrome [NZPP] on Saturday. It was part of a dual flight in a Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. I hadn't flown a PA28 in just over 5 years, but it mostly just came back. Fun times!

Somewhat surprisingly, the weather was nicer at NZPP than Wellington, with a fairly lumpy approach on each of my four approaches at Paraparaumu. After a brief stop for tea and coffee at the Kapiti Districts Aero Club, we headed back to Wellington. All up, it was 1.5 hours of fun flying!

First up is a picture of my takeoff from Wellington, kindly supplied by Paul Le Roy [Thanks Paul!].

Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. Photo supplied and (c) Paul Le Roy

Next up is the video. It's one of the approaches into NZPP, starting as I turned final approach through to landing. Fun times!

Air NZ B777 and other aircraft at Wellington

Pictures from today are [mostly] a little different.

First up is an Air NZ-operated Boeing 777-19, ZK-OKA, which arrived and departed this morning. I understand it was on a charter.

Boeing 777-219, ZK-OKA, operated by Air NZ

Next up is a Mount Cook Airline [Air NZ] operated ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVC.

ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVC, operated by Mount Cook Airline/ Air NZ

A rather unusual visitor operating around Wellington was this Royal New Zealand Navy-operated Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite, NZ3617.

Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite, NZ3617, operated by RNZAF/ RNZN

Last up is something completely different - a Beechcraft B300, ZK-PWL, operated by Cubro Ltd of a Tauranga address.

Beechcraft B300, ZK-PWL, operated by Cubro Ltd

A gaggle of A330's

This post is a bit of a catch up from a few weeks ago and consists of three Airbus A330 aircraft seen at Auckland. The A330 is a popular aircraft for regional and long-haul flights. These aircraft were taken over a few minutes and were just some of the larger aircraft seen.

First up is an Airbus A330-243, B-5962, and operated by China Eastern Airlines.

Airbus A330-243, B-5962, operated by China Eastern Airlines

Next up is a China Southern Airlines operated example, an A330-223, B-6135.

Airbus A330-223, B-6135, operated by China Southern Airlines

Last up is a relatively local operator. Qantas was operating this A330-202, VH-EBJ on a trans-Tasman route.

Airbus A330-202, VH-EBJ, operated by Qantas

Emirates A380 "Zoo" at Christchurch

Last Sunday I was at Christchurch airport. While there, I was able to obtain pictures of an Emirates-operated Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, as it landed on a lovely Canterbury day.

First up is the A380 on short final approach, with a special extra [retired] aircraft, a Fokker F27 Friendship, which is used as an airport fire rescue training tool.

Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, operated by Emirates

Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, operated by Emirates

Lastly, here's the zoo!

Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, operated by Emirates

Visit to Christchurch

I was in Christchurch last Sunday. The day was spent in a Flying NZ meeting, at Canterbury Aero Club. I did get some time to take photos, and here are a few of them.

First up are three Canterbury Aero Club aircraft. ZK-EYF is a Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk.

Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-EYF, operated by Canterbury Aero Club

Next up is one a Piper PA28-181 Archer, ZK-LJC. This aircraft was first registered to Canterbury Aero Club in 2006, which likely makes it one of the newer Archers in the country.

Piper PA28-181 Archer, ZK-LJC, operated by Canterbury Aero Club

Last up is another PA38-112. I missed the registration, although I'm sure someone will leave a comment...!

Piper PA38-112, operated by Canterbury Aero Club

Last up is something completely different. I don't have much information, but it's a Boeing 757-200F freighter of Pacific Air Express. The photo is rather rubbish, but it does serve to as a demonstration of what I don't like about Christchurch airport... rubbish photography options [unless you visit the club, as above!]

Boring 757-200F, operated by Pacific Air Express

Keep posted, as tomorrow evening, I'll have pictures of something rather larger and much more interesting!

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