Another flight today

I had planned to have a flight in the Club's Cessna 172N, but with the wind getting up, and the winds being gusty, variable and with a crosswind [particularly at the northern end], I decided against it. Instead I took a dual flight in the Club's Piper PA28-161 Warrior, ZK-MBG.

I hadn't flown a PA28 in a wee while so this was always going to be a bit of fun. Today was no exception, but mainly because of the turbulence we encountered on every takeoff... it seems every time I go up in a PA28, I end up hitting my head a few times... ha ha ha!

Anyway, after a bunch of circuits and some turns and a lot of holding, I managed a few circuits and didn't manage to embarrass myself too much :-)

Pictures are of the Warrior [note the dark clouds in the background] and two pictures of a Piper PA28R-200 Arrow, ZK-DUY, registered to Canterbury Aero Club which arrived today.

Hamilton Airport and on the way home

As mentioned in my last post, I was at Hamilton Airport earlier today in preparation for my trip home on the Mount Cook Airline ATR72, ZK-MCB.

While there I managed to snap a few photos across the airport, including of Waikato Aero Club, CTC and the control tower. One perplexing question was a marking on the apron [see first photo] which I hope someone can help me with. Painted on the apron are "737", "A320" [both obvious], but also "O 300". Can anyone help with that last one?

Anyway, the airborne photos are of the trip home. A little bit lumpy in places, but nothing to worry about. We cruised back at 18,000', and there were a few clouds around at altitude.

Christmas and Hamilton airport

As mentioned in my other blog, I have just arrived back in Wellington after a few fun-filled days with family in Cambridge, in the Waikato and a day in Papakura, Auckland. I'm not sure it is possible to have more fun than we had over those few days!

I flew to Hamilton airport [ICAO: NZHN] on an Air Nelson DHC-8, and came back on a Mount Cook Airline Aerospatiale ATR72, ZK-MCB. While at Hamilton airport for the return trip, I managed to get a few photos, including the ATR72, a Piper PA31-325, ZK-SRC registered to Air Gisborne [on what appeared to be an Air Ambulance run] and various pictures of the airport [more on these in the next post].

Merry Christmas from Sunny(?) New Zealand!

Welcome to another Christmas!

The Mayans [or at least those who tried to interpret their calendar] were wrong, so we get to celebrate another Christmas. Hooray!

I guess that many of you in the northern hemisphere will be wrapping up warm and celebrating your mid-winter Christmas, whereas those of us in the southern hemisphere are in mid summer along with all that that brings [which seems to be lots of rain and some fog this year!].

Weather is very changeable for us in New Zealand. A great example was earlier today, when at 12:20 we had bright sunshine. Nek minnit [ok, less than 1.5 hours anyway!], the fog has settled in and the visibility is down to next to nothing. Still the temperature hasn't dropped - still mid 20's [Celsius].

Anyway, here are a few pictures of today's change in weather, plus a few of the aircraft at the airport. Top to bottom are:

Wellington airport taken from Mount Victoria

Wellington City, also taken from Mount Victoria

General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIE, registered to Air Chathams, on the western apron just as the fog starts to roll in

General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIB, registered to Air Chathams, taking off into the murk

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEA, registered to Air Nelson, also off into the murk

The same DHC-8 a few seconds later... you might need to look close to see it

Last is a link to Hayley Westernra singing Te Harinui and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Fairly sure this would not be approved these days...

I am sure there are a few reasons why this would never happen these days...

...probably including the Rules, and a lack of engineers who enjoy flying...:-)

A new Cessna 172... soon

Here are a few pictures of a recently imported Cessna 172 being reassembled in Wellington. This model is equipped with a Garmin 1000 setup, and when finished, heads up north. I don't have a New Zealand registration as yet.

Life flight and RNZAF

Pictures from today are a British Aerospace J32 Jetstream, ZK-LFW, operated by Vincent Aviation as the Lifeflight air ambulance.

Second is the arrival of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757-2K2, NZ7572. 

More flying and a wee bit of air-to-air

I got to go flying again today, this time as a passenger. Apart from some practice for one of the pilots, it was a chance to get some air-to-air photographs of the Nanchang CJ-6A, ZK-MAO.

It all went well enough. It was a wee bit lumpy, and the "camera ship" was a Piper Arrow [unfortunately, the club's C172 was out of service], both of which made it hard to get even reasonable photos, but such is life. 

Here are some of the photos.

There are a few photos from the flight. First is looking south-east, then north up the Hutt Valley and then looking over Wellington Airport. next up are the two pilots, a picture of the Nanchang after start-up on the ground, and finally, two air-to-air shots of the Nanchang. Enjoy!

15 years - Star Alliance livery on Air New Zealand A320

Which all the focus on Air New Zealand's Hobbit Boeing 777 and All Black A320's, B1900's and ATR72, it would be easy to miss this one.

Air New Zealand's Airbus A320-232, ZK-OJH has this special livery applied, celebrating 15 years of the Star Alliance. Click on the images to get bigger versions and note the black square on the rear fuselage with "15 years" written in it

Morane-Saulnier MS880B visits today

Today's "less usual visitor" is this Morane-Saulnier MS880B, ZK-BZZ. Last time I checked [way back in 2009], this aircraft was registered to a Nelson address. Unfortunately with changes to the CAA website, this information has been removed, so I can no longer be sure.

Another aircraft was this British Aerospace Jetstream 32, ZK-VAI, registered to Vincent Aviation, and undergoing engine checks/ runups today. This is the first time I have photographed this aircraft, and it appears to be a recent addition to the register having previously been on the Australian register. Looks like it arrived early November and has had a repaint since then.

Lastly, I was able to get up for a few circuits today. Several landings and a few overshoots. A lot of fun!

More from the Club trip to Cape Campbell

On 10 November, Wellington Aero Club went on a Club trip to cape Campbell - a small strip near the top of New Zealand's South Island. A couple of days ago, the club uploaded some video highlights which I wanted to share. So, here you go!

Air NZ/ Mount Cook Airline's new ATR72

Yesterday, in addition to the Gulfstreams, I got my first glimpse at the new All Black Air NZ/ Mount Cook Airline ATR72-212A [ATR72-600], ZK-MVA.

This happens to be the first ATR in the Mount Cook fleet with ADSB, so it's very easy to see when it is coming and going :-)

Another Gulfstream departing

As indicated in my previous post, there were two Gulfstream departures from Wellington today.

The second one is a Gulfstream GV-SP [G550], N79RP, registered to Warner Communications Inc, so will have been here as part of the premiere of the movie, The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey.

USAF C-37A/ Gulfstream G-V

An interesting departure today was this USAF C-37A [Gulfstream G-V], registration 01-0028. It had been parked up at the RNZAF Air Movements Base apron prior to departure.

Interestingly, it was not the only G-V to leave today, but that's for the next post.