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