Cessna 150/152 type rating flight

Last Sunday I undertook a type rating with Wanganui Aero Club in their Cessna 150H, ZK-CTF. It was a fun flight and after an hour or so of dual flight I did some solo circuits.

Only some of the flight was recorded [unfortunately the Go Pro Session 5 battery is rubbish, so not everything was recorded] and of that, I've found a few bits that might be interesting. Obviously, with a 6-minute video, most of the flight is not included...!

Enjoy the video and let me know what you think...

A new type rating today!

I wasn't intending to fly today, but while visiting family in Whanganui, I popped in to see the friendly people at Wanganui Aero Club. I might be needing an aircraft next weekend. As my normal type of a Cessna 172 will have a new engine around then, I underwent a type rating in their C150 instead.

What a fun time! I had 1 hour of dual with Leroy, followed by 0.4 hours to get three circuits in. It has been a while since I'd had to fit in all the manoeuvres in on one flight, but in that one hour we managed the following:

Medium turns, steep turns, slow flight [including turns with and without flap], basic and wingdrop stalls, FLWOP, rejoin the circuit, flapless approach, glide approach, EFATO and precision approach and landing.

Just to make it more fun, all the circuits had a crosswind component.

Following this, I did the three solo circuits including finishing with the precision approach and landing. The C150 doesn't need much room to land, even though I wasn't trying hard for a short landing roll. Fun times!

Cessna 150H, ZK-CTF, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Wellington Airport's Runway 34 City Departure

Is there a more scenic departure from any international airport? It would certainly be hard to beat the runway 34 City Departure at Wellington airport!

On a nice day, this departure shows off the harbour, then the city, the wind farm and finally Cook Strait. all in seven or eight minutes of flying.

This video is 2 x normal speed, so it's under 4 minutes to see much of Wellington. Well worth the watch! I was a passenger on this flight and the aircraft is Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE.

Dassault Falcon 50 departing Wellington

Today's business jet departure was a Dassault Falcon 50, N115MF. It appears the aircraft ended up in Tauranga later in the day.

What a nice way to travel!

Dassault Falcon 50, N115MF

Dassault Falcon 50, N115MF

Trans-Tasman Pilatus

Crossing the Tasman from direct from Sydney was a Pilatus PC12/47, VH-YWO. This aircraft is registered to the Royal Flying Doctor Service [RFDS]. With a flight time is 4 hours 40 minutes, it was quite a quick trip for a fairly small turboprop.

It appears that the aircraft has been delivered to Sounds Air.

Pilatus PC12/47, VH-YWO, operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Yet another Bombardier at Wellington

Last Saturday I saw an Australian-registered Air Ambulance parked outside the Execujet hanger at Wellington airport.

The aircraft was a Bombardier CL-600-2B16, VH-URR, which is operated by Lifeflight Australia Ltd of a Brisbane address.

Bombardier Cl-600-2B16, VH-URR, operated by Lifeflight Australia Ltd

Bombardier CL-600-2B16, VH-URR, operated by Lifeflight Australia

Bombardier CL-600-2B16, VH-URR, operated by Lifeflight Australia

A day for making clouds...

Today was grey, gloomy and damp. There was rain in the morning and it was drizzly the rest of the day, but at least the cloud lifted as the day progressed.

Today's Singapore Airlines movements were much the same as always, although as can be seen below, the air and dew point temperatures were close enough that some cloud was created as the B777 landed and as it powered up to depart.

Click on the images for more detail.

Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRP, operated by Singapore Airlines

Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRP, operated by Singapore Airlines

Another Bombardier at Wellington

Last Sunday at Wellington, about the same time as Eminem was leaving, this Australian registered Bombardier CL-600-2B16, VH-BLM, arrived for a very short visit.

This aircraft has been going back-and-forward between Auckland and Queenstown over the past few days, although today it popped into Wellington for just over an hour from Queenstown before heading back to Auckland.

Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger, VH-BLM

Eminem's departure from Wellington

Last Sunday afternoon was the Eminem concert at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. I'm not a fan, but he did arrive and depart on a pretty cool aircraft!

Transport was in a Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000, registered 9H-VJV to VistaJet, as pictured below. These pictures are of the departure from Wellington.

Bombardier BD-700-1A10, 9H-VJV, operated by VistaJet

Bombardier BD-700-1A10, 9H-VJV, operated by VistaJet

Bombardier BD-700-1A10, 9H-VJV, operated by VistaJet

Visit to Westport

Last Saturday I went on the longest flight I've had in recent times. The first stop was at Omaka to drop off a couple of people and to refuel, followed by flying to Westport with a touch-and-go, then back to Wellington, with Andrew, a fellow club member. All in all, it was a fun 3.2 hours of flying.

We were a little rushed, so no time for the niceties of setting up the wing mounted camera or to stop at Westport, but it was still a fun ride! The aircraft was Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE.

I was busy with the flying, so Andrew has kindly sent in some pictures from the flight. As you can see, there's a lot of interesting countryside to see between Omaka and Westport!

Domes reporting point near Omaka aerodrome

Mount Murchison

An example of peneplains

Stockton Mine to the east of Westport

Westport Aerodrome as we joined overhead

On the approach for Westport Aerodrome, runway 22

Westport township

Murchison township. Try and find the 500-meter airstrip in the picture :-)

Lake Rotoroa

Lake Rotoiti

From the Koru Club in Wellington

If you follow this blog, you'll know that I recently travelled to Auckland for the Flying NZ National Championships.

I flew up on Air New Zealand and having a flexitime ticket, I was able to fly on one of Air New Zealand's brand new Airbus A321-271NX aircraft, ZK-NNC. There's something nice about being able to fly on a shiny new aircraft, even more so with comfy seats [near the front at least] and working wifi!

While waiting for my flight, I was able to take some photos of the arrival of this A321 and a few other aircraft. The photos were taken through glass which is not the best, but here's what I got.

Airbus A321-271NX, ZK-NNC, operated by Air NZ

Airbus A321-271NX, ZK-NNC, operated by Air NZ

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

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

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEM, operated by Air Nelson/ Air NZ

I got one flying photo...

I've just gone through the few photos I took on my DSLR at the recent Flying NZ National Championships. I had a sum total of one airborne aircraft on it :-) To be fair, I had a couple of photos of the flight lines also...

ZK-FPG is a Cessna 152 and is registered to Tauranga Aero Club. here it is about to touch down on Wednesday.

Cessna 152, ZK-FPG, operated by Tauranga Aero Club

Next up are two pictures of the flight line. The first includes the main North Shore Aero Club office and other facilities, the second is the parking aero on the cross runway, which was closed for the event.

More from the Flying NZ Nationals

Here are a couple of pictures I forgot to include in the previous post!

One of the challenges of a big competition is the early starts. Some days, I was up before 6am to get ready, with briefings from 7am the normal situation.

On the plus side, staying in Orewa, I was never far from the ocean. This following picture was taken on my phone camera.

The beach at Orewa

Lastly, a selfie [a rare kind of photo from me!] at the dinner and presentation event!

Lastly, the all-important judge's badge!

Flying NZ National Championships

Last week was the Flying NZ National Championships, this year hosted by North Shore Aero Club, on Auckland's North Shore at Dairy Flat.

Like last year, I was assisting in an official capacity, this year as the Deputy Chief Ground Judge. This meant two things - a lot of standing around in the hot sun, and, unfortunately for me, no flying this year. It also meant not much time for photography, although there is a lot of this scattered around Facebook in particular.

I flew on Air NZ to and from Auckland and, due to my being late to book accommodation, I managed three motels in 5 nights. The trip to Auckland was interesting, as it was my first flight on an Air NZ Airbus A321-271NX [an A321NEO], ZK-NNC. Somehow I scored a ride in seat 7C and the free wifi was working. A win all around!

The event itself was a lot of fun, with wildcard events on Wednesday, competitions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the dinner and Championship presentation dinner on Saturday. While I wasn't flying, I was assisting with any competitions requiring a landing grid [and ran the grid for the Jay Peters Professional Pilot competition], as well as being a judge in the 2 and 3 ship formation competitions. I also got to present the awards along with Paul and Lisa on Saturday night. It was a very busy time!

Anyway, here are a few photos from the trip.

The trip started in the Koru lounge in Wellington. Yum.

This was followed by boarding onto the A321.

Airbus A321-271NX, ZK-NNC, operated by Air New Zealand

The legroom was good in seat 7C.

The seats up front are quite comfortable. The sculpting provides good support without appearing to take much room away.

This must be my seat. The IFE system worked well, and was quite responsive. The only issue I had was that the computer and I have a difference of opinions as to my date of birth. No biggie, it just meant I could not access some personalised information, like my airpoints balance.

Lollies! Not sure where they went, but I have not eaten then, nor found them... I must go and have another look!

North Shore Aero Club were our hosts for this competition. They have a nice facility, fleet and are friendly yet professional. This would be a great place to learn to fly if you're on the Shore.

North Shore Aero Club facility

Flying NZ has just produced these fantastic sipper bottles! They are well insulated, with ice lasting for several hours, even with the very very hot days out on the landing grid. They'll keep hot drinks hot also. Well worth the small cost! I might get another one :-)

Flying NZ insulated sipper bottle

There's always something funny happening at a competition. Someone [who will remain nameless], called out that I have "nice legs". I'll take the compliment, even if I'm a bit suspicious about the sincerity of the comment! ha ha!

Anyway, that's it for this post! I may have a few more photos, but they are for another day.

Young Eagles visit to RNZAF Base Ohakea - Biggin Hill!

Following the visit to 3 Squadron and their helicopters, we had yet another treat - a visit to Brendon Deere's Biggin Hill hanger!

After a quick briefing, including an introduction to the aircraft in the hanger and "if there's an earthquake, please protect the Spitfire!" :-), we were able to have a good look around.

The WW2 historic warbirds were all airworthy and flown periodically. the Bell UH-1H Huey could be made airworthy and the Aermacchi MB-337 I'm not sure. Anyway, here are the aircraft. Check out the website for details of all these aircraft.

First up is the Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX. What an awesome machine!

Next up is the mighty Grumman TBM-3E Avenger. This was, by far, the largest aircraft in the hanger.

Last up from Biggin Hill is the Aermacchi MB339CB. 

Now for the very last photo from this series. Thanks to Iain Latter for supplying this image of the 18 aircraft that flew into Ohakea. This was taken from the control tower. Thanks Iain!