It is time for a short break.
Posting may slow down a little for a few weeks but I'll be back with more interesting pictures, commentary and information soon!
[Yes, the picture is a hint]
Friday, March 25, 2016
Sunday, March 20, 2016
A couple more Sunday pictures
Just a quick post with two more pictures from this Sunday afternoon at the Aero Club.
First up is a Diamond DA40, ZK-MTE, which is operated by the Massey University School of Aviation.
Next up is a Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-TQM, which is operated by Eastern Australia Airlines on behalf of Jetstar. Slightly unusally this aircraft lined up and departed from stub taxiway A9 instead of full length before heading off to Nelson.
First up is a Diamond DA40, ZK-MTE, which is operated by the Massey University School of Aviation.
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| Diamond DA40, ZK-MTE, operated by Massey University School of Aviation |
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| Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-TQM, operated by Eastern Australia Airlines on behalf of Jetstar |
Douglas DC3 at Wellington!
A surprise visitor at Wellington today was a Douglas DC3C-S1C3G, ZK-DAK! This aircraft is owned by Flight 2000 Ltd of a Mairangi Bay [Auckland] address and based at Ardmore airfield.
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| Douglas DC3C-A1C3G, ZK-DAK, operated by Flight 2000 Ltd |
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| Douglas DC3C-A1C3G, ZK-DAK, operated by Flight 2000 Ltd |
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| Douglas DC3C-A1C3G, ZK-DAK, operated by Flight 2000 Ltd |
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Alliance and Paraparaumu
First up from today is a picture from the semi-regular Alliance Airlines-operated Fokker F27-500/ F50, VH-FKO. As usual, this is operated on behalf of Tauck Tours.
This afternoon however, rather than just photograph planes, I went for a flight to Paraparaumu [NZPP]. This was for the purpose of undertaking some circuits at an uncontrolled [and less conjested] aerodrome. It's a quick flight to Paraparaumu [about 15-20 minutes each way] which left plenty of times for circuits. Fun times and despite not having flown for about 6 weeks, I don't think I managed to embarrass myself at all :-)
Another reason for the flight was to test my new headset. I have gone cheap and purchased a Pilot Communications PA18-50 ANR headset. Initial impressions are that the passive noise reduction is basic but usable, and the ANR probably makes it somewhere between a good passive and a good ANR headset. Not bad though for the price I paid.
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| Fokker F27-500, VH-FKO, operated by Alliance Airlines, on behalf of Tauck Tours |
Another reason for the flight was to test my new headset. I have gone cheap and purchased a Pilot Communications PA18-50 ANR headset. Initial impressions are that the passive noise reduction is basic but usable, and the ANR probably makes it somewhere between a good passive and a good ANR headset. Not bad though for the price I paid.
Friday, March 18, 2016
More from last Sunday evening
While at the airport last Sunday evening, I took the opportunity to try and photograph a few of the locals going about their business. Obviously, the arrival of the C17A overshadowed everything else :-) but I've eventually caught up with the remaining photos. It's a bit hard in the fading light, but here are a few of what I got.
First up, Sounds Air. Sounds Air just seems to keep getting bigger and better, with the company adding more C208's to the fleets over the past couple of years, plus the addition of the awesome PC12 for their Westport to Wellington, Taupo to Wellington and Napier to Blenheim sectors. They have recently had a nice little write-up in Stuff.co.nz. Click here for the writeup.
Anyway, on to the aircraft. First up is one of their Pilatus PC12/45's, ZK-PLT.
... followed by a Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-SAN.
Next up are a couple of Airbus A320's. Firstly, an Air New Zealand-operated Airbus A320-232, ZK-OJQ, coming to a halt after landing.
Now the competition, a Jetstar-operated A320-232, VH-VGT, taking off.
Next is an Air Nelson-operated Bombardier DHC-8-311.
While there I thought this cloud looked a bit different and interesting. Ok, maybe I don't look up enough and it's common :-)
First up, Sounds Air. Sounds Air just seems to keep getting bigger and better, with the company adding more C208's to the fleets over the past couple of years, plus the addition of the awesome PC12 for their Westport to Wellington, Taupo to Wellington and Napier to Blenheim sectors. They have recently had a nice little write-up in Stuff.co.nz. Click here for the writeup.
Anyway, on to the aircraft. First up is one of their Pilatus PC12/45's, ZK-PLT.
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| Pilatus PC12/45, ZK-PLT, operated by Sounds Air |
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| Cessna C208 Caravan, ZK-SAN, also operated by Sounds Air |
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| Airbus A320-232, ZK-OJQ, operated by Air New Zealand |
Now the competition, a Jetstar-operated A320-232, VH-VGT, taking off.
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| Airbus A320-232, VH-VGT, operated by Jetstar Airways |
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| Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEM, operated by Air Nelson/ Air NZ |
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| The weather |
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
United Arab Emirates Dreamliner at Wellington!
There have been a lot of unusual and interesting movements at Wellington recently. Several of them have been large aircraft, which, if you follow this blog, includes an Airbus A340-313!
I haven't managed to capture photos of all of them - often it is a case of being in the right place at the right time, although it helps that some of the flights are also published on the likes of Flightradar24.com and FlightAware.
This evening was one of those cases with multiple reports of a United Arab Emirates-operated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, A6-PFC, inbound to Wellington, with confirmation on the above websites. As it happens, this is the same aircraft that visited Wellington back on 18 February 2015.
Just fortunate then that I was also due at the Aero Club for a meeting, so the timing worked out really well for getting some photos :-)
I haven't managed to capture photos of all of them - often it is a case of being in the right place at the right time, although it helps that some of the flights are also published on the likes of Flightradar24.com and FlightAware.
This evening was one of those cases with multiple reports of a United Arab Emirates-operated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, A6-PFC, inbound to Wellington, with confirmation on the above websites. As it happens, this is the same aircraft that visited Wellington back on 18 February 2015.
Just fortunate then that I was also due at the Aero Club for a meeting, so the timing worked out really well for getting some photos :-)
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| Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, A6-PFC, operated by the United Arab Emirates |
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| Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, A6-PFC, operated by the United Arab Emirates |
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| Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, A6-PFC, operated by the United Arab Emirates |
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
More visitors from Saturday
After a busy Saturday, I've just gone through my photos and found another couple of interest. First up is a Cessna 180A, ZK-JMH, which is registered to Johnston Motors of a Haast address. I wonder if that is how the registration was created?
Next up is an RNZAF-operated Beech B200 Super King Air, NZ7124. This arrived shortly after the USAF C37A. In the background is another picture of the Meraj Air-operated Airbus A340-313, EP-AJA, of the Islamic Republic of Iran, having its engines covered up for the stay in Wellington.
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| Cessna 180A, ZK-JMH, registered to Johnston Motors of Haast |
Next up is an RNZAF-operated Beech B200 Super King Air, NZ7124. This arrived shortly after the USAF C37A. In the background is another picture of the Meraj Air-operated Airbus A340-313, EP-AJA, of the Islamic Republic of Iran, having its engines covered up for the stay in Wellington.
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| Beech B200 Super King Air, NZ7124, operated by the RNZAF |
Sunday, March 13, 2016
USAF C17 at Wellington!
It has been an unusually "busy" week or so for military and four-engined aircraft at Wellington.
The latest is a Boeing C17A Globemaster III, registered 09-9212 and operated by the US Air Force which arrived this evening!
Unfortunately it was getting quite gloomy around 7:30pm when it turned up, but some of the photos worked out ok, so here are some of the better ones. The first two are as it landed, the last two as it taxied onto the RNZAF Air Movements Base apron.
The latest is a Boeing C17A Globemaster III, registered 09-9212 and operated by the US Air Force which arrived this evening!
Unfortunately it was getting quite gloomy around 7:30pm when it turned up, but some of the photos worked out ok, so here are some of the better ones. The first two are as it landed, the last two as it taxied onto the RNZAF Air Movements Base apron.
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, 09-9212, operated by the USAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, 09-9212, operated by the USAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, 09-9212, operated by the USAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, 09-9212, operated by the USAF |
Women of Aviation Week at Wellington Aero Club
Last Saturday at Wellington Aero Club was our special aimed at celebrating women in aviation and encouraging more to get into aviation, as part fo Women of Aviation Week [WOAW]. Luckily for us, we have a number of very capable female pilots - both instructors and private pilots - who were able to do most of the work to set this up.
With awesome weather, we were able to get a number fo women though for trial flights and also several teams into the Cindy Lauper Challenge (girls just wanna have fun). The results of the challenge will be published by the aero club in the near future.
As part of this day, the folks at Lifeflight sent their Air Ambulance and rescue helicopter over for a few hours, giving visitors a chance to see this inside of these aircraft. A lot of people don't realise that Lifeflight is a charity, and so any financial support you can give them would be much appreciated! Check out the Ways You Can Help section on their website.
The airport company also sent over an airport fire engine. Anyway, here are a few of the photos form the day. I have specially excluded all the photos with our visitors - both for privacy reasons, but also as they will be sent to the aero club shortly for their use.
So, here we go with the photos!
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| Kawasaki BK117 B2, ZK-HLF, operated by Helilink on behalf of Lifeflight |
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| Cockpit of Kawasaki BK117 B2, ZK-HLF, operated by Helilink on behalf of Lifeflight |
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| Rear view of Kawasaki BK117 B2, ZK-HLF, operated by Helilink on behalf of Lifeflight |
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| British Aerospace Jetstream J32, ZK-LFW, operated by Air Freight on behalf of Lifeflight |
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| British Aerospace Jetstream J32, ZK-LFW, operated by Air Freight on behalf of Lifeflight |
And finally... that fire engine!
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| Wellington Airport Fire Engine |
Saturday, March 12, 2016
USAF Gulfstream Aerospace C37A/ G-V
A short time after the arrival of the Iranian A340, this US Air Force-operated Gulfstream Aerospace C37A [G-V], registration 01-0065, arrived at Wellington and stoped at the RNZAF Air Movements Base apron, before being towed to the Execujet hanger.
Pictures are of the arrival, with the final photo being of the C37A taxing past the Iranian A340.
Pictures are of the arrival, with the final photo being of the C37A taxing past the Iranian A340.
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| Gulfstream C37A/ G-V, 01-0065, operated by the USAF |
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| Gulfstream C37A/ G-V, 01-0065, operated by the USAF |
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| Gulfstream C37A/ G-V, 01-0065, operated by the USAF |
Islamic Republic of Iran [Meraj Air] at Wellington!
Today's "very interesting, very rare, very exciting" series of photos is of an Airbus A340-313, EP-AJA, operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran/ Meraj Air!!!
I think the last A340 at Wellington would have been a Gulf Air flight way back in November 2009 [someone correct me please if I'm wrong]! Aside from that, I'm not sure when the last Iranian-registered aircraft would have flown into New Zealand.
Anyway, on to the photos. I took a lot of them, but these are some of the best I have. I might publish a few more later on...
I think the last A340 at Wellington would have been a Gulf Air flight way back in November 2009 [someone correct me please if I'm wrong]! Aside from that, I'm not sure when the last Iranian-registered aircraft would have flown into New Zealand.
Anyway, on to the photos. I took a lot of them, but these are some of the best I have. I might publish a few more later on...
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| Airbus A340-313, EP-AJA, operated by Meraj Air/ Islamic Republic of Iran |
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| Airbus A340-313, EP-AJA, operated by Meraj Air/ Islamic Republic of Iran |
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| Airbus A340-313, EP-AJA, operated by Meraj Air/ Islamic Republic of Iran |
Wednesday, March 09, 2016
RNZAF at Wellington
Last Sunday saw the arrival and departure of a Lockheed C130H Hercules, NZ7005, which is operated by the RNZAF. This made Sunday a fairly interesting day for military movements, with this and the previously blogged arrival and departure of the RAAF C17A Globemaster III.
If you click on this second image, you can see some condensation trails behind the props.
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| Lockheed C130H Hercules, NZ7005, operated by the RNZAF |
If you click on this second image, you can see some condensation trails behind the props.
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| Lockheed C130H Hercules, NZ7005, operated by the RNZAF |
Monday, March 07, 2016
Pelorus Air
Following on from my last post and the arrival of the RAAF C17A Globemaster III into Wellington yesterday, there was another arrival, at almost the opposite end of the size and load carrying scale.
This is a Cessna A185F, ZK-PRM, which is operated by Pelorus Air. The background of the first image gives a hint as to when this aircraft arrived :-)
This is a Cessna A185F, ZK-PRM, which is operated by Pelorus Air. The background of the first image gives a hint as to when this aircraft arrived :-)
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| Cessna A185F, ZK-PRM, operated by Pelorus Air |
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| Cessna A185F, ZK-PRM, operated by Pelorus Air |
Sunday, March 06, 2016
Aussie C17 visited Wellington this evening
The big news this evening was the very brief [about 1.5 hours only] visit of a Royal Australian Air Force-operated Boeing C17A Globemaster III, registered A41-211.
This is one big, very impressive, looking aircraft! I'll let the pictures do the talking, although they hardly do justice to it! First up are some photos of the arrival.
Next up is the departure. This was equally impressive with the very little amount of runway required to get airborne again!
In short, very very impressive. Thanks to those who provided a heads up of the pending arrival!
This is one big, very impressive, looking aircraft! I'll let the pictures do the talking, although they hardly do justice to it! First up are some photos of the arrival.
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
Next up is the departure. This was equally impressive with the very little amount of runway required to get airborne again!
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
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| Boeing C17A Globemaster III, A41-211, operated by the RAAF |
In short, very very impressive. Thanks to those who provided a heads up of the pending arrival!
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