Been a while...

 ... since I last flew - one month to be precise.

Today's flight was just a series of circuits at Wellington International Airport, in the aero club's Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE. Fun times, with sweet clearances, no delays and great weather.

Anyway, here's a reminder of what this awesome machine looks like.

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

Next up is a small video of today's Fiji Airways departure to Nadi [NFFN]. This is a Boeing 737-MAX8, DQ-FAD. It is good to see the regional operators returning to Wellington as the Covid restrictions are reduced.

This was shot on my new Samsung A73, so I'd say the image stabilisation is pretty good!

This would be nice!

This would be a nice little machine - two seats, 1200km range, turboprop, 800kg MAUW. Christmas present for me anyone? 😁

Avweb ditching video

Here is an interesting video on ditching survival rates, from Avweb. Take it how you want, but there would seem to be worse options than ditching [in some cases] and if landing in the water is your best option, then it is highly survivable.

Enjoy watching, it's only 5 minutes long.

I would actually like this

Here is an interesting aircraft and one I would love to have a go in one day [no chance, of course!].

It's an English Electric Wren, 99 years old [in 2022] and has a massive 3hp engine! Fun times!

Another hour in a Cessna 172

Saturday was a chance to take a couple of people for a flight to the Marlborough Sounds. The weather was nice - a bit breezy, but nice enough.

Yet again 😂 I have managed to not take any photos of my own, but in a one hour flight, we managed to get across to the Marlborough Sounds, taking a look from Long Island down to Picton then across to Port Gore, before returning to Wellington.

The flight path

Murphy Super Rebel

There was an interesting visitor to Wellington last weekend, a Murphy SR2500TD Super Rebel, ZK-MSR. This is registered to a Tauranga address, although I understand it has just been sold and will be moving shortly.

I don't know too much about the aircraft, but it's a Canadian designed homebuilt, seat four, it looks great and I'm rather jealous of anyone who gets to fly one of these for fun! 😀

Also, the bear on the tail looks cool also!

Murphy SR2500TD Super Rebel, ZK-MSR

An hour in a Cessna 172

Last weekend [Monday to be precise] I had a flight in a Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE. I was by myself, so rather than just go sightseeing, I thought I would practice some manoeuvres instead. So, after just one hour, I had practiced turns, stalls, FLWOP, constant radius turns, then rejoined with a short approach to land.

Fun times! No pictures from the flight, just this screen grab from an app.

The flight path

Propeller from a World War 1 aircraft?

Here's an interesting picture of an old propeller, apparently from a SPAD aircraft with a 200hp engine.

It appears to have been made by a company called Hispano-Suiza. It would be really good to know if there is more history to this propeller, and particularly if it could be confirmed as a type that would have been fitted to a World War 1 SPAD aircraft.

If you do know more, and particularly if you have links to information to support your views, please leave a message. I'm definitely keep to learn more!

Old propeller

Old propeller - do you know more?

The Boss

Monday's flight was in the Club's Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO. It was a quick trip across to Omaka aerodrome to pick up a couple of people and return home. It was a fantastic day for flying with bright skies and light winds - almost the perfect day for a flight across Cook Strait.

Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO, operated by Wellington Aero Club

While crossing Cook Strait I had radar monitoring, and this was followed by a very welcome clearance to "track direct to Omaka, 2500 feet or below" - a sweet clearance that saved me from having to descend earlier and navigate the transit lane. Nice. On arrival, a slight change of wind meant and overshoot and reposition for another vector. All fun. Heading home a short time later was another easy flight across Cook Strait and back into Wellington.

The only real challenge was someone flying around Omaka/ Woodbourne with a stuck mic. Heavy breathing is not really wanted on the frequency 😬, especially with various aircraft wanting ATC clearances and the like. Oh well, these things happen, nothing to get too excited about.

Flight track

All fingers accounted for

Saturday was another day to head to Masterton airfield and continue my flight training on the Piper J3C-50, ZK-AHD, with Wairarapa Flying Tigers.

Today's flight was more upper air work - stalls, steep turns, slow flight, slips and an overhead rejoin. I was also seated in the rear seat, which was an interesting experience with limited visibility, but one I'll get used to since this aircraft is flown solo from the back seat. Next lesson will likely be lots of circuits. That'll be a lot of fun!

Not only that, but I am also learning some of the ground stuff, like starting the engines of the J3 and the de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths. These aircraft don't have starter motors [it seems to be just additional dead weight to carry around 😁], so they start using the Armstrong method, or swinging the propellers by hand. Fun times, and at the end of the day, all fingers are accounted for.

Only two photos from today, of two of Wairarapa Flying Tiger-operated de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths, ZK-ANL and ZK-BLK. Once up to speed on the J3, this will be the next bit of fun.

de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-BLK, operated by Wairarapa Flying Tigers

de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-ANL, operated by Wairarapa Flying Tigers

Time for a clean

I went flying on Sunday afternoon. The aircraft needed a wash prior to the flight... so, no, this was not after my flight... Clearly the previous flight had some fun 😏

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

Cessna 152

One visitor to Wellington on Sunday, a Cessna 152, ZK-NAK, which is operated by Nelson Aviation College.

Cessna 152, ZK-NAK, operated by Nelson Aviation College

J3

J3.

A fairly cryptic title I suppose, but very relevant to this post, as I had my first flight in a Piper J3C-50 Cub, ZK-AHD last weekend! What a fantastic experience!

Piper J3C-50 Cub, ZK-AHD, operated by Wairarapa Flying Tigers

This aircraft is operated by the Wairarapa Flying Tigers, alongside their Tiger Moths, and DHC Chipmunk [although this is awaiting servicing at the moment]. It is powered by a Continental A50, developing a massive 50hp* and has a max all up weight of 498 kgs. Definitely the lightest aircraft I have every flown and very definitely the lowest powered, by a long shot. Climb is a sprightly 60-65mph [no, not knots] and stall is about 35mph.

The panel is appropriately vintage as well

Piper J3C-50 Cub, ZK-AHD, operated by Wairarapa Flying Tigers

What a fantastic and fun machine it was to fly!

For this first lesson, it was turns, basic stalls, slow flight, an overhead rejoin and some circuits including 3 pointer landings and a wheeler landing. We actually tried two wheeler landings, but one was so bad, I went around. Fun times!!

Piper J3C-50 Cub, ZK-AHD, operated by Wairarapa Flying Tigers

The aircraft was flown with the door open [as I suppose a Cub should be flown...😁]. The speeds are quite sedate which provides more time to think about this, but with just under an hour in the seat today, there is certainly still more work to be done before I'm competent to take it up myself.

Fun times, and I'm definitely going back for more!

Piper J3C-50 Cub, ZK-AHD, operated by Wairarapa Flying Tigers

My understanding is that after a Cub rating, there may be an opportunity to do a Tiger Moth rating. That would be fun also!

* 50hp would be a similar number of horses as I have years... low power, young years? 😁

Two flying tigers

Yesterday I went on a trip to Masterton. I flew the Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO, over there and back. In between times, I had a nice meal at the Kittyhawke cafe.

I also got to see these two de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths, ZK-ANL and ZK-BEW, starting up for a flight. One day 👍

It is great to see these awesome aircraft still being used regularly. There's even a chance I may end up flying them one day. Stay tuned.

de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-ANL, ZK-BEW, operated by Wairarapa Flying Tigers

They are also available for joy rides if you are interested. Wairarapa Flying Tigers is the place to go to find out more.

If you're a pilot and are interested in flying these wonderful aircraft, you can use the same website to make contact with Wairarapa Flying Tigers.

A quick trip to Paraparaumu

I was not planning to do any flying on Sunday, and I didn't. I did however sit on board as a passenger as the Club's Piper PA38-112, ZK-EQX, was flown to Paraparaumu for some planned maintenance.

Not much to say about the flight, except it was a bit windy in Wellington, but surprisingly nice in Paraparaumu. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures.

Runway 34 at Wellington. I hate rolling shutter...

A bit of new road, not currently in use. Near Mount Wainui

Final approach into NZPP. That's the Paraparaumu Town Centre in the middle