The end of another year, but take it easy!

It's the end of another busy year... and I can't imagine that next year will be any different!

Today's photo is of the Wellington-based Lifeflight Air Ambulance, a British Aerospace Jetstream J32, ZK-LFW, operated by Air Freight NZ. Why this? Well, unfortunately there have been a lot of air ambulances in and out of Wellington over the past few days... 

Anyway, here's a picture of ZK-LFW.

British Aerospace Jetstream J32, ZK-LFW, operated by Air Freight NZ on behalf of Lifeflight Wellington

Air Chathams Convair

I like holidays... pity I will be at work from next Tuesday :-(

In the meantime, I get to spend time at the Aero Club helping out and taking photos. A nice photo from yesterday was this General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIB, which is operated by Air Chathams.

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

Air Gisborne Navajo

Tuesday afternoon produced another air ambulance, this time not as flash as the Beechjet 400 [see previous post], but a Piper PA31-325 Navajo, ZK-SRC, which is operated by Air Gisborne.

I assume it delivered someone to Wellington hospital, as it departed with the pilot and flight nurse as the only occupants.

Piper PA31-325, ZK-SRC, operated by Air Gisborne

Beechcraft Beechjet 400A

This one-of-type for the NZ aircraft register is a Beechcraft Beechjet 400A, ZK-NXJ, operated as an air ambulance, by Skyline Aviation of a Napier address.

To describe it as a Beechcraft is perhaps a little misleading, as I found out when I took a quick look at the Wikipedia entry for this aircraft. it is a Beechcraft, a Mitsubishi, a Raytheon and a Hawker! What a history! I believe that this particular model has been remanufactured by Nextant, so it's also one of those! Make you own mind up, I suppose :-) Click here for the Wikipedia link.

Anyway, here are the pictures.

Beechcraft Beechjet 400A, ZK-NXJ, operated by Skyline Aviation

Beechcraft Beechjet 400A, ZK-NXJ, operated by Skyline Aviation

More pictures and a video from yesterday's flight home

I had a few pictures and a video of my flight home on my mobile phone, so I though I would share these. Nothing spectacular, although I do like the video of the Wellington CBD as we flew past :-)

The main purpose of the pictures is to show what happens with a slow phone camera sensor... you get some pretty interesting results. Neither of these images have been altered [except the watermark and resizing] - they are as they came off the camera.

Weird camera effects!

More weird camera effects!

Kiwi Regional's Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A

As noted in my previous post, I was at Hamilton airport earlier today. While there I heard an announcement about check-in being open for a Kiwi Regional Airlines flight to Nelson. This was unexpected good news, as it meant that when their Saab SF340A arrived, I'd be able to get some photos, which I did. These are the first of their aircraft and one of very few SF340's I have ever seen.

Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A, ZK-KRA, operated by Kiwi Regional Airlines

Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A, ZK-KRA, operated by Kiwi Regional Airlines

Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A, ZK-KRA, operated by Kiwi Regional Airlines

Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A, ZK-KRA, operated by Kiwi Regional Airlines

To the Tron* and back, where Eagles go to die [or at least be exported]

Last few days I have been in the quaint* village of Cambridge, relaxing with relatives. Fun times! I flew up and back with Air Nelson with nice comfortable rides in both directions.

Hamilton is the maintenance base for Eagle Airways [another part of the Air NZ group], although perhaps not for long as the Raytheon B1900D's are slowly being withdrawn and exported and Eagle Aiways shut down. On the way and while I was in Hamilton, I got a few pictures of current and withdrawn B1900's.

First up is ZK-EAG, taken at Wellington, taxying out for another flight.

Raytheon B1900D, ZK-EAG, operated by Eagle Airways/ Air NZ

 Next up is ZK-EAB, getting ready to leave from Hamilton to Auckland. This is a route which will be abandoned when Eagle Airways is closed down later this year.

Raytheon B1900D, ZK-EAB, operated by Eagle Airways/ Air NZ

Last up are a couple of withdrawn B1900's, ZK-EAR and ZK-EAJ, which are parked up with the Air NZ livery [mostly] removed. I presume these are being readied for export. There was a third B1900D over there, but I didn't photograph it for some reason... from the heat haze, you can see it was another hot day in the Tron!

Raytheon B1900D, ZK-EAR & ZK-EAJ, operated by Eagle Airways/ Air NZ

Last up is my ride home. This an a Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEQ, operated by Air Nelson/ Air NZ.

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

* the Tron. I'm not explaining. You either know this one or you don't!
* quaint: I'm not explaining this either, except that it's an inside joke :-)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year

* Picture is ex Air NZ B737, ZK-NGI

Ridge Air Cessna 402C

Today's visitor was this Cessna 402C, ZK-VAD, with is operated by Ridge Air of a Blenheim address.

Cessna 402C, ZK-VAD, operated by Ridge Air

I other news, I did get to go flying [albeit as a passenger] a couple of times today. Thanks Lawrence! Flying around a a C172 [a couple of different ones] is good fun and a nice relaxing way to see some of the countryside!

Lifejackets arrived!

Yesterday, I ordered two Hutchwilco 150N manual inflatable lifejackets from Full On Fishing, a store and online retailer in Hamilton. Yes, I ordered two of them, and yes, they were discounted. Actually, including delivery, I paid under $210 for both of them. Delivery was only $9.90, although I now see on the website, if I had signed up, delivery may have been free.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived today... I had expected it would be next week at the earliest.

The lifejackets look very well built, easy to maintain and  include full instructions for repacking and rearming [should I need to...!] and they should be a lot nicer to wear and [hopefully never] use should the need arise.

Why purchase them? I can use the Aero Club-supplied jackets. Those ones are a pouch version, similar to the ones the airline give you where you strap them around your waist. Issue is that they kinda get in the way a little. If I have to use them, I take a hand off the controls, pull it up, thread it under the harness, and over my head. Not ideal if I have an EFATO [Engine Failure After Takeoff]. With the type I have purchased, it is always on, and all I have to do is find my way out of the aircraft and pull the red tab.

Anyway, here's a picture.

Hutchwilco 150N Inflatable Lifejacket, Manual

BTW - Manual inflation... this is very important. Like they say on the airlines, only inflate as you exit the aircraft... so automatic inflation is a very bad idea.

Also in the package was a fishing newspaper, and what I guess are some fishing lures. I don't fish [although I enjoy a good snapper!], so if anyone wants them, they are all yours.

Fishing lures. Free to a good home. Free even to an OK home.

Hello, little Miss 4.5 yrs old!

This is a slightly unusual post... in that it is addressed to my 4.5 year old niece, who didn't seem to believe that I would be flying a REAL aeroplane this evening!

So, little Miss 4.5 year old, here are some pictures of your Uncle Rod flying a real aeroplane! Pretty sure that Nana and Pops can tell you all about flying with me!

For the slightly older among you, the aircraft is Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT. The flight consisted of 4 circuits, including normal and flapless approaches, and a short approach. Fun times, and I'm now all ready for a planned flight one evening next week!

Thanks to Lawrence for the photos.

Me waving and not looking where I was going [just kidding!]

The instrument panel so I [vaguely] know what's happening

Looking out the window towards the east over the Mirimar Peninsula

Looking north-east over the Mirimar Peninsula

Upgraded PA38 at Wellington Aero Club

Online now at Wellington Aero Club is an upgraded Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-TAW. This aircraft has had a new interior installed, including a refurbished panel, an Aspen Avionics Evolution EFD, provision for an iPAD mini for maps, new and refurbished plastics, carpets and the like.

With any luck, a second aircraft should be updated this side of Christmas.

Panel of Piper PA38-112, ZK-TAW, operated by Wellington Aero Club

AC/DC-chartered Comlux Aviation A319 departs

Further to yesterday's post, the Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta on behalf of AC/DC departed for Auckland this afternoon.

This would be the first visit of an A319 I have noted at Wellington, although last time AC/DC visited, they used an even smaller Airbus, an A318, also from Comlux Aviation Malta!

Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta

Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta

Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta

Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta

AC/DC fans arrive on mass? :-)

Maybe, maybe not :-)

Anyway, an arrival this afternoon was this CASA CN-235M-200, 52-IC, operated by the Armee de L'Air [French Air Force]. I understand that this aircraft is based at Noumea. It arrived today and parked on the western apron near the Comlux A319 from the previous post.

CASA CN-235M-200, 52-IC, operated by the Armee de L'Air

Still, if they are fans, it'd be a cool way to arrive for the concert :-P

AC/DC/CJ/WN!

After that rather cryptic title, allow me to explain. Today's photos are of an Airbus A319-115/CJ, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta at Wellington [NZWN]. It was used to bring the band AC/DC to Wellington for their concert tonight. I'm not sure when it leaves, but I guess it'll be sometime tomorrow morning [so I'll probably miss the departure].

The aircraft was parked outside the Execujet hanger, which, apart from a couple of obstacles, is a great place to photograph visiting airliners! It's also not often that we get aircraft of this size on the western apron [at least outside of the military apron further to the south].

Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta

Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta

Airbus A319-115/CJ, 9H-AVK, operated by Comlux Aviation Malta

For photos of the arrival, check out the MRC Aviation blog.

For photos of the inside of this aircraft from the past couple of years, check out the following links!
Airliners.net 9H-AVK dining area
Airliners.net 9H-AVK lounge area

More photos from Saturday

Here are a couple more photos from last Saturday's visit to the airport, this time from the vantage point at the Aero Club.

First up is a Cessna 402B, ZK-SVQ, which is operated by Kiwi Air Ltd of a Gisborne address. This aircraft is used for aerial photography/ mapping.

Cessna 402B, ZK-SVQ, operated by Kiwi Air Ltd

Next up is a Cessna 172R, ZK-NAD. This aircraft is operated by Nelson Aviation College.

Cessna 172R, ZK-NAD, operated by Nelson Aviation College