Wellington Anniversary Weekend flying

Last weekend was a busy time for flying, even with the terrible weather on Sunday.

Saturday, I collected Nanchang CJ6A ZK-MAO from Omaka [NZOM]  and then took it on another flight later that afternoon with Rhys The Pilot. We took the Owhiro departure then tracked north to have a look around Kapiti Island and came back on a City Arrival procedure. Fun times.

Sunday was a write-off with the weather.

Monday was a public holiday and so I got to take the Nanchang up again, this time for some circuits at Kapiti. After refueling, I took off again around Kapiti Island and back for another City Arrival.

On Monday evening, I took Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO up to Kapiti [NZPP] to collect someone else who was flying a C172N, ZK-EKE, up for a 100 hr maintenance check.

All in all, a good few hours of flying for the weekend. Despite all the flying though, there's only one photo... of the Nanchang after it was put to bed in the club hanger this afternoon.

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO, operated by Wellington Aero Club [for Wellington Warbirds]

Cessna 172M

Just trying to catch up on photos...

I was hanging around the aero club a few weeks ago when this Cessna 172M, ZK-ZZC, arrived from Taupo.

Cessna 172M, ZK-ZZC

I'll get sick of them soon, perhaps. Another A350

Ok, maybe I will get sick of photographing these soon [probably not], but here is another Airbus A350-941 departing Wellington. Singapore Airlines operated 9V-SMD on their Sunday 5 January flight to/from Melbourne.

Airbus A350-941, 9V-SMD, operated by Singapore Airlines

Cessna 208 Caravan

Yesterday's new (to me) aircraft was this Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV, which is operated by Evander Aviation. The aircraft is a brand new Caravan and was only registered in New Zealand in early December 2019.

Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV, operated by Evander Aviation

Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV, operated by Evander Aviation

Nelson Marlborough rescue helicopter

The Nelson Marlborough rescue helicopter, operated by GCH Aviation of a Christchurch address, has been in and out of Wellington recently.

Here are two pictures of the arrival and departure last Sunday.

Kawasaki BK117 B-2, ZK-IMN, operated by GCH Aviation

Kawasaki BK117 B-2, ZK-IMN, operated by GCH Aviation

As a bonus [and rather easy] question, take a look at the white object on the right skid [second picture, indicated by the arrow]. What is it and how might this be useful for a rescue helicopter?

Correct answers in the comments section on the blog. The prize is the respect and admiration of your peers 😁

Air Chathams ATR72

Following on from my last post's Air Chathams theme, here are Air Chathams' ATR-GIE ATR72-500, ZK-MCO departing Wellington.

ATR-GIE ATR72-500, ZK-MCO, operated by Air Chathams

ATR-GIE ATR72-500, ZK-MCO, operated by Air Chathams

Air Chathams Convair

The General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580 [no wonder everyone just calls it a Convair!] is one of the types of aircraft I have not yet flown on, but would very much like to.

Time is, unfortunately, running out, as I hear that they will not be used for much longer than another year or so. With Air Chathams starting to use SAAB 340's and ATR72's and the recent parking out and disposal of another Convair, that is perhaps little surprise. I have been inside one before when it was parked up at Whanganui, where legroom was amazing!

Anyway, here is ZK-CIB departing from Wellington.

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

Pelorus Air

Yesterday I finally got to see Pelorus Air's new Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-PEL. From the outside, it is a really nice aircraft. I haven't seen inside this one as yet, but other GA8's I have seen have been somewhat utilitarian but quite nice.

Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-PEL, operated by Pelorus Air

Earlier today., I also got around to photographing their Cessna 172, ZK-MGR. When I say "172", I don't mean an M, N, R, S or other later models, this is a very nicely presented, and very early model, C172.

Cessna 172, ZK-MGR, operated by Pelorus Air

In both cases, these are the first. pictures I've published of these aircraft - surprising for ZK-MGR since it has been around for a while...!

THIS is how you prank a pilot

It's a long video, but well worth the watch. It is absolutely hilarious!

A flight around Whanganui

So far, I have only had one flight over the Christmas period, where I got to take an aunt and uncle up for a flight around Whanganui, in Wanganui Aero Club's Cessna 172S, ZK-JIP.

The weather wasn't great, with a few clouds around 1400', but mostly a bit higher than that. There was very little wind though, so no turbulence during the flight. Best of all, everyone enjoyed themselves. We got a good look around Whanganui, across the city, out to Kai Iwi, back across to Aramoho and them rejoined to land.

I wasn't taking any photos, so thank you to the Chief Photographer 😀 sitting in the back seat for most of them.

Thanks also to Wanganui Aero Club for the aircraft. In case you were wondering, ZK-JIP was previously ZK-RQA.

Cessna 172S, ZK-JIP, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Passengers, including the Chief Photographer on the right :-)

Whanganui, looking north

Whanganui, looking towards Whanganui River mouth

Kowhai Park from 1500'

Short final for runway 11

Panoramic view of Whanganui... taken from the Durie Hill elevator tower

Merry Christmas!

Catch you all in the new year!

* clipart from clipart-library.com

The boss today?

Saturday was a nice enough day for a flight, so I headed out to Paraparaumu aerodrome in the club's Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO, along with one of the club's student's, Eric.

It was a fairly quick flight with no delays at either aerodrome. We flew up, did a couple of crosswind circuits then we stopped for fuel and a chat with the locals.

After this, we took off, had a look at Kapiti Island, then returned to Wellington via Paekakariki, Pukerua Bay, Haywards then a Ward Arrival. Again, there were no arrival delays, so all up this was only 1.1 hours of flying. A lot of fun in a fairly short time.

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

BTW, if you are flying around the Hutt Valley these days, do check your NOTAMS. There's one about a new frequency to use and a coming CFZ.

Bye bye Singapore

This post is a simple photo of a Singapore Airlines-operated Airbus A350-941, 9V-SME, as it lifted off from Wellington on its way to Melbourne then Singapore.

Airbus A350-941, 9V-SME, operated by Singapore Airlines

A go around is perfectly normal and nothing to get excited about

So, whatever you do, don't get excited by this post.

Last Sunday was rather blustery and everyone who ventured in [or out] was having to work a little harder than usual. There were a few go-arounds and I thought this partial sequence of photos from one of the go-arounds shows that it is [almost] never two late to decide to try again.

Before the social media warriors [worriers?? 😂] get too excited, while a lot of go-arounds are commenced earlier, it's not that unusual to go around just prior to, or slightly after touchdown. Sometimes the crew will start the go-around, then briefly touchdown, before continuing on their way.

Anyway, the sequence is left main down, right main down, left again [but almost level] and away we go. The aircraft is an Airbus A320-232, ZK-OXL.

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

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

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

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

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

Aside from all that, it's a nice view of the aircraft as it flies past at low altitude.

Wax

Last Sunday was a particularly windy day with very few light aircraft flying around.

One that did venture into Wellington was this Cessna 172M, ZK-WAX, of a Tarras address. It looked like a lot of "fun" for the occupants!

Cessna 172M, ZK-WAX