The latest Air NZ route cancellations...

In today's news, from the Stuff website, is the news that Air NZ is cancelling their Auckland - Whanganui and Blenheim - Christchurch flights from the end of July.

Details here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/80555743/air-nz-cancels-aucklandwhanganui-christchurchblenheim-regional-flights 

A DHC8 and an ATR72

Last Saturday, in between the brief excitement of the returning ATR72, I shot these pictures of a Eastern Australia Airlines-operated DHC8 and a Mount Cook Airline/ Air NZ-operated ATR72.

As you can see, it was a bit gloomy all day, although until you went north, the cloud was high enough for most of the Aero Club's activities, with only a light breeze and the threatened rain not eventuating. All-in-all, a nice day for a fly for those that did get up.

First up is an Eastern Australia Airlines-operated [Jetstar branded] Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-TQL taking off.

Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-TQL, operated by Eastern Australia Airlines on behalf of Jetstar

Next up is an ATR-GIE ATR72-212A, ZK-MVD, which is operated by Mount Cook Airline [Air NZ].

ATR-GIE ATR72-212A, ZK-MVD, operated by Mount Cook Airline/ Air NZ

Fiji Airways B737 departs

Here is a quick picture of today's Fiji Airways Boeing 737-8X2, DQ-FJG, departing this afternoon. Not a bad picture I suppose since it was fast moving, the camera was hand held and as you can see it's rather gloomy...

Boeing 737-8X2, DQ-FJG, operated by Fiji Airways

Beech 300LW

Today's interesting visitor was the previously-featured Beech 300LW, VH-WCN, which is operated by AVCAIR. In effect thought it's a privately operated aircraft, which arrived from Auckland and was on route to Dunedin.

Despite the Australian registration and contact address, I understand that this aircraft is now based at Ardmore airport [NZAR] in Papakura, Auckland.

Beech 300LW, VH-WCN, operated by AVCAIR of a Queensland, Australia address

Beech 300LW, VH-WCN, operated by AVCAIR of a Queensland, Australia address

Emergency response at Wellington Airport today

Today there was an emergency response at Wellington Airport, with a Mount Cook-operated ATR72 turning back from a flight to Christchurch. According to media reports [not that I put much stock in those], this was due to a chlorine smell in the cabin, which apparently resulting from bleach leaking from a bag in the cabin.

Anyway, here is a picture from across the other side of the airport.

The aircraft was one of Mount Cook's newest ATR72's, ZK-MVE, along with emergency vehicles from the airport, NZ Fire Service and an ambulance from Wellington Free Ambulance service.

ATR-GIE ATR72-212A, ZK-MVE, operated by Mount Cook Airline [Air NZ] with emergency vehicles

Sounds Air PC12's

Today's pictures are of two of Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12/45 aircraft, ZK-PLS and ZK-PLT. These were taken as they departed from runway 34.

Pilatus PC12/45, ZK-PLS, operated by Sounds Air

Pilatus PC12/45, ZK-PLT, operated by Sounds Air

A little Turkish Delight

A surprise visitor at Wellington today is this Airbus A319/115CJ, TC-ANA, which is operated by the Turkish Government.

I wasn't at the airport when it arrived, but it appears there was quite a delegation awaiting the arrival, so there must have been important people on board. By the time I arrived at the airport, it was all tucked up and quiet.

Airbus A319/115CJ, TC-ANA, operated by the Government of Turkey

Minatur Wunderland in Hamburg!

The Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg is one very interesting place. It is nominally a very very large train set with some very detailed models, but in reality it's much more.

Of particular interest to airplane people would be the Knuffingen Airport display, which I understand it loosely based on Hamburg airport. Of course the aircraft move, but also many of the vehicles, aircraft tugs, terminal gates and more! very, very flash!

What follows are a few of the pictures and video I took while visiting. Keep in mind that this is only a small part of the whole model setup, which will keep you occupied for several hours [possibly the best 13 euro you'll spend in Hamburg! :-)].

See the Air Chathams aircraft???

Holding for departure

Arrivals and departures board.... note the top one

Yes, they both "flew" in and taxied to their stands!

Moving by itself!

Twilight

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

Once back in the UK, I made a trip [curtesy of my sister] to Tangmere. Tangmere was a rather famous airfield in World War Two, although it dates from the around World War One and was closed in the 1960's. Nowadays, about the only reminder of the airfield I saw was the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.

This small museum houses a number of aircraft [including several outside] and a reasonable collection of memorabilia and artefacts from it's time as an operational RAF base. If you're in the area, it's probably worth a good couple of hours to visit, although it's not one of the big museum, like the RAF Museum at Hendon or the museum at Duxford.

The staff are very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and helpful. In fact, I was given a brie fintroduction to the museum and later a guided tour through the two hangers and a sit inside a basic replica of an SE5A cockpit. A really nice touch!

Here are a few photos from the visit.

Hawker Hunter

Supermarine Swift

Gloster Meteor, EE549

Harrier jumpjets

Engine from a crashed Hawker Hurricane

Cockpit from a crashed Hawker Hurricane

Searchlight

Radio set from a Lancaster