Wellington's movements today

After several days of great weather, today was still fine, albeit with a wee bit of cloud around. I wasn't flying, but I was around to see Wellington Aero Club beat out target hours for the month - one of the biggest results in well over a year which is good to see! The hours target for next month will be even higher, so we'll be working hard to beat that also

Commercial aircraft caught in the act of committing aviation are as follows.

Airbus A320-232, VH-VGF, registered to Jetstar

This aircraft had an interesting taxi route this afternoon. It headed south along the taxiway, then turned back onto the apron and eventually back onto the taxiway, this time headed north to the runway holding point. Almost as though the crew taxied the wrong way...?

Another photo of Airbus A320-232, VH-VGF, registered to Jetstar

Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGG, registered to Air New Zealand

Gulfstream GVI, ZK-KFB, registered to ExecuJet New Zealand, but better known as film producer Peter Jackson's personal plane!

Gulfstream GVI, ZK-KFB, registered to ExecuJet New Zealand

More pictures from yesterday's [day] flight

Here are some additional pictures I have been sent from yesterday's big daytime flight. Many thanks to Amy for sending these through!

Flying over the Southern Wairarapa area at about 4,500', looking north. that is Lake Wairarapa in the middle

Over the east cost of the North Island, again looking north.

Northern end of the Hutt Valley with Kaitoke Airstrip in the foreground, and a glimpse through to the Southern Wairarapa area in the background.

A fantastic day, a 13,000' flight and it's not over yet!

Today was one of the magic days that just screams out for a flight! No cloud, fairly gentle breezes and very hot.

Today's flight was in the Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT and three of us flew out of Wellington, across to the East Coast of the North Island, climbing to 13,000' on the way across. the views were awesome - we could see all the way up to Mt Ruapehu and despite a breeze of up to 20 knots at 2000', there was virtually no turbulence, even close to hills, except perhaps on the way back down the Hutt Valley.

It is fair to say that taking off with 120 litres of fuel, 3 people and at least 24 degrees meant that the aircraft struggled through those last 3,000' but we made it!

Photos from this flights are from Andrew. Thanks!

 Crossing the Rimutaka Ranges at about Mt Matthews

Flat Point [including Flat Point Aerodrome, NZFT] from 13,000'

Masterton airfield [NZMS] from 9,500'. The full size image is very interesting - it should pockets of haze that make the photo look fuzzy, but other parts which are very sharp.

Yep, we made it.

Lastly, why it is not over yet? Well, I'm flying again tonight. My budget is taking a hit, but I do want to keep current at night, so today is too good an opportunity to pass over!

Some visitors

Today's aircraft photos consist of a homebuilt aircraft, an air ambulance and two airliners.

 Vans RV12, ZK-JRV is registered to a North Shore address.

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-POB, is registered to Airwork Flight Operations of Auckland and is operated as an air ambulance.

ATR-GIE ATR72-212A, ZK-MVD, is one of Mount Cook Airline's new ATR72-600's

Fokker F27 Mk 50 [aka F50], VH-FKO is registered to Alliance Airlines, and as previously reported has the contract for Tauck Tours flights in New Zealand.

Some random shots...

After the hectic activities of the past few days, I've now got just a few "random" pictures left to show. The first two are from Masterton, the last from Wellington.

Piper PA28-161, ZK-MBG, is operated by Wellington Aero Club [WAC]. This aircraft was at Masterton on display at the WAC stand and is the reason a couple of us drive over to Masterton on Monday evening.

Cessna T182T, ZK-ZZR is registered to Izard Pacific Aviation of a Taupo address.

Last up is a Boeing 737-8FE, ZK-PBF, of Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) Ltd landing at Wellington. This aircraft carries the Virgin Samoa/ Airline of Samoa titles, including the custom engine cowling design. Nice!

A beautiful de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth

I had reason to drive back to Masterton airfield yesterday evening and while there, I got to see this beautiful de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-ANL!

I think you'll see form the photos that this aircraft is in great condition, having been refurbished/ restored within the last 12 months or so, and is New Zealand's only spray-equipped Tiger [all of the spray gear was in a trailer].

Many thanks to Wayne for telling me a bit about the aircraft's history. I am trying to find a comprehensive web-based history of this machine, so if you know of one, please send me the link :-)

Bombardier Challenger at Wellington

An unexpected but interesting arrival at Wellington today was a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 [CL604], N401NK. I have no information about who was on board [and to be honest, I don't really care about that :-)].

Cessna 402B at Wellington

I'm still a little in catchup mode after the trip to Wings Over Wairarapa at Masterton, so here is a photo I took yesterday.

This is a Cessna 402B, VH-SVQ, which is parked up at Wellington. The aircraft is registered to a company called Vekta, of a NSW, Australia address. I'm not sure what it is here for, although I hear it has survey equipment on board.

Wings Over Wairarapa: Yak 52's and the big bang

Well this is it. The last post from the airshow, and as I'm sure someone will point out, I missed publishing a lot of photos.

For example, several of the WWI aircraft, the awesome Tiger Moth display, the attempt to get the Pearce 1903 replica flying, the Bren Gun carriers [so what... :-P] and many more. As I started off by saying, I was mainly there to help on the Wellington Aero Club stand, so it's not surprising that I was not in the right spot for a lot of the photos.

One aircraft type I do want to publish photos for though is the Yakovlev Yak 52. These guys always put on a good show, and one of my [many] favourite photos came from these aircraft, so the first photo below is near the top of the formation look with smoke on.

The final photo is from the finale... and that's the mock airfield attack complete with explosions :-) Enjoy!

Yakovlev Yak 52, including ZK-KGB, ZK-PTE, ZK-YAK, ZK-YAQ, one of my favourite shots from the air show

Yakovlev Yak 52, including ZK-KGB, ZK-PTE, ZK-YAK, ZK-YAQ

Yakovlev Yak 52, including ZK-KGB, ZK-PTE, ZK-YAK, ZK-YAQ

Yakovlev Yak52, ZK-YAQ

Yakovlev Yak 52, ZK-KGB

The big bang... That's all folks!

Wings Over Wairarapa: North American Harvard 3*'s

In the post I have a few photos of the North American Harvard 3* aircraft at the air show. I guess these are not my favourite airshow aircraft [I like the jets more], but they still put on a good show. What follows are just a few representative photos from those that I took.

Smoke on!

 Disappearing into the smoke of the leading aircraft

Formation of Harvards and Yak52's

Wings Over Wairarapa: Old and not as old

Here are a few photos I didn't have a better space for :-)

I did not get many photos of the WWI era aircraft this time around. A combination of being busy and in the wrong position to get photos was quite limiting, but such is life. In fact just about the only photo worth publishing follows:

Three WWI era biplanes

Nord 1002/ Messerschmitt BF 104, ZK-WFI

Lineup of North American Harvard 3*'s

Avro 652A Anson Mk 1, ZK-RRA

Wings Over Wairarapa: Ex Military Jets

Very popular at any airshow is New Zealand's slowly increasing numbers of ex-military jets. In this airshow we got to see a Venom, a Vampire, 2 L39's and 2 Strikemasters. The last 3 types are shown below.

Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross, ZK-WLM

Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross, ZK-VLK

de Havilland DH115 Mk 55 trainer, ZK-RVM

de Havilland DH115 Mk 55 Trainer, ZK-RVM

BAC BAC167 Strikemaster Mk 88 [ex NZ6372], ZK-BAC

BAC BAC167 Strikemaster Mk 88 [ex NZ6370], ZK-STR

The L39's and BAC167's in formation

The L39's and BAC167's in formation