Something a little different tonight...

Here's something a little different than the usual... this evening I got to watch a guy and a RPAS [drone] doing their thing this evening. The aircraft operator was getting some video of a soon-to-be-demolished building, and yes, in case you're wondering, had a clearance from ATC.

Maximum bonus points if you know where this was :-)

Saturday in Whanganui

Last weekend I headed up to Whanganui for another lesson in Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub, ZK-BKN. Being very very new to tailwheel aircraft [I have about 3 hours total now], I've still got a huge amount to learn, but I am having a lot of fun!

Like the last lesson, there were a lot of circuits at a local strip and we finished off with a forced landing/ glide approach from the circuit at Whanganui. Fun time, but oh so much work! :-)

Piper PA18A-150, ZK-BKN

It wasn't all just fun in the air though, with a chance to see Air Chathams bring a General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF into Whanganui in place of their SAAB 340A which picked up a load of people on a charter earlier in the day.

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

Perhaps the most exciting visitor though was this Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk26 Replica, ZK-SPT, which is registered to a Whanganui address. The aircraft had just landed after it's first flight in about a year and it looked great, on the ground and in the air! I understand that it's an approximately 90% replica of the original.

Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk 26 Replica, ZK-SPT

Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk 26 Replica, ZK-SPT

Singapore Airlines arrival at Wellington

After missing the original arrival last week, I was able to be at Wellington airport earlier today to capture the arrival of Singapore Airline's Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRM.

In case you've been living in a cave recently, Singapore Airlines have started a short haul/ regional flight from Wellington to Canberra [Australia]. This links both capital cities for the first time, and after refuelling continues on to Singapore.

Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRM, operated by Singapore Airlines

Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRM, operated by Singapore Airlines

Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRM, operated by Singapore Airlines

More photos from Sunday

Here are two more photos from last Sunday. The first is another photo of Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12/45, ZK-PLX heading across to the Eastern Apron.

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

Next up is the Air NZ-operated Airbus A320-232, ZK-OAB, taking off on the wet.

Airbus A320-232, ZK-OAB, operated by Air NZ

Jets landing in the wet

It has been another rainy day in Wellington, so here are pictures of three aircraft landing in the wet.

First up is a Jetstar Airways-operated Airbus A320-232, VH-VGF.

Airbus A320-232, VH-VGF, operated by Jetstar Airways

Next up a QANTAS-operated Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQD landing after another trans-Tasman flight.

Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQD, operated by QANTAS

Last up is an Air New Zealand-operated Airbus A320-232, ZK-OJK. The effect of the thrust reversers is quite evident in this image.

Airbus A320-232, ZK-OJK, operated by Air New Zealand

Sounds Air and Air Chathams

The weather around the country could be best described as a wee it yuk, so no Super Cub training this weekend. Instead here are a couple of pictures from a wet Wellington.

First up is another Sounds Air-operated Pilatus PC12/45, ZK-PLX. This aircraft has fairly recently returned from Australia after being painted.

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

Next up is a General Dynamic Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF, which is operated by Air Chathams.

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

A very very funny "Honest Airline Advertisement"!

Hard work and lazy feet!

Today was my second training flight in a Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub, ZK-BKN, up in Whanganui. Today's session was circuits, circuits and more circuits, with an ever-so-slight crosswind.

The flying itself is fun, but I clearly have a huge amount of work to do to get on top of the whole takeoff and landing bit... it seems my feet are very lazy after years of nosewheel-only flying :-( I think the theory is ok, but I need to get the feet moving and the stick in the right place [and preferably in a coordinated fashion!].

I have no photos from today, but for "fun", the following video shows what I am trying to avoid doing! Yes, it's a different aircraft, but the principles are still the same :-(