More Super Cubbing - Crosswind takeoff and landings

Today was another Super Cubbing day at Whanganui. Chris [another Club pilot] and I flew up this morning and back this afternoon in WAC's Cessna 172, ZK-FLT. The rest of the flying though was in Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub, ZK-BKN.

For me, the flight was some crosswind takeoffs and landings, dual then solo. Fun times! What remains is the paperwork then I'm signed off. Still so much to learn though :-)

This first picture is of me flying the Super Cub in the circuit. At this point, we're mid-downwind for runway 14.

Me flying the Super Cub!

Next up is Chris about to touch down, again on runway 14.

Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub, ZK-BKN

Last up is the view as we headed south/ east back to Wellington. I could do with some help with this one... if you click on the photo for a larger one, there are some thin, dark, almost arrow shaped clouds in the foreground... what are these and how do they form? They are quite distinct from the cumulus clouds in the background.

View to the south-east

Other aircraft at Whanganui last weekend

Here are some of the other aircraft that were at Whanganui last weekend.

First up is an Air Chathams-operated General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF. Very nice! I got to see one of these land with a front row seat on Saturday when I was doing solo circuits in the Super Cub [a nice excuse to land and hold short of the sealed runway for a couple of minutes!].

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

Next up is a Cessna 172N, ZK-ELH, operated by Challenge Aviation of a Whanganui address.

Cessna 172N, ZK-ELH, operated by Challenge Aviation

Last up is a Piper PA44-180 Seminole, ZK-NAH, which is operated by Nelson Aviation College. This aircraft appeared to be operating out of Whanganui for a few days.

Piper PA44-180 Seminole, ZK-NAH, operated by Nelson Aviation College

A Yak 3M at Whanganui

Last weekend, while at Whanganui for some Super Cub fun, there were a few other interesting aircraft around. One of them was this Yakovlev Yak-3M, ZK-VVS, which is operated by the Yak 3 Fighter Syndicate of an Auckland address.

Very very nice!

Yakovlev Yak-3M, ZK-VVS, operated by Yak 3 Fighter Syndicate

What a SUPER weekend of flying!

I think I should probably call in sick for work tomorrow*. It's a genuine reason - I've had far too much fun to be able to concentrate on work for at least another four days!

This weekend started with another trip up to Whanganui with another flight in the Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub, ZK-BKN on Saturday morning! This time it was a lot of dual circuits at Whanganui, followed by an offer [which I couldn't refuse] to let me go solo for the first time! Yay! Looks like my feet are starting to work as they are supposed to [well, close at least!].

Piper PA18A-150, ZK-BKN

That was a LOT of fun! I lost count of how many circuits I got in [probably 6 or 7 at least] before Air Chathams turned up in a Convair, which was a great excuse to land, hold short and watch their landing. Once they had landed I did a couple more circuits before calling it a day. WHAT A DAY!

Then, earlier today [Monday morning] was another dual flight to get me used to three-point landings. Again more circuits, followed by another unrefusable [is that a made up word???] offer to do the same solo. I even managed to cope with the slight crosswind that crept in during the solo circuits.

Piper PA18A-150, ZK-BKN

What an awesome weekend! I'm almost there - I just need a decent session of crosswind landings and to do the paperwork and I'll be all done. Fun times!

Speaking of crosswind landings, here are a couple of pictures of someone else having fun with a decent crosswind.

Piper PA18A-150, ZK-BKN

Piper PA18A-150, ZK-BKN

* No, I'm not a numpty. I WILL be at work tomorrow!

Cessna C510 Citation Mustang

Today's photo is from last weekend and is the arrival of a Cessna 510 Citation Mustang, ZK-YDZ. This aircraft is now operated by Skyline Aviation of a Napier address, having had a change of operator to Skyline in late July 2016.

Cessna 510 Citation Mustang, ZK-YDZ, operated by Skyline Aviation

Ticket. Booked.

I've booked my ticket to the RNZAF's 80th anniversary air pageant on 25 February 2017. Hopefully a good show!

I'm not sure if there will be approval to fly in [does anyone know for sure???], but if not, it'll be a very early start to the day! It does look as though they have thought long and hard about parking this time which is good :-)

Details on the RNZAF FB page: 80th Anniversary Air Pageant

See you there?

Can you spot the difference???

Last Sunday afternoon I saw the arrival and departure of the regular Fiji Airways flight from/ to Nadi, Fiji.

This time the flight was operated by their Boeing 737-8X2, DQ-FJG. Nothing unusual in that, except this time the aircraft has a small addition to the paintwork. I'm not quite sure how long it has been there... but probably not that long.

Take a look at the photo, and if you're not sure, scroll down for the detail.

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

Did you spot the change? It's pretty small... - just the addition of a Fijian flag ahead of the forward door :-)

More of Singapore

Today's post are photos of today's Singapore Airlines arrival at Wellington. You can see that the day itself looks lovely [even the wind wasn't too bad!]. The aircraft used today by Singapore Airlines was a Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRM.

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

Traumahawk time

After 5.5 years [!!], I finally got back into a left hand seat of a Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk for a quick dual flight. The flight consisted of a flight out to the southern Wairarapa area, for some stalls, turns, a simulated forced landing then back for a couple of circuits. Throw in a surface breeze gusting up to 30 knots with a bit of crosswind at times, it was a lot of fun and a good workout after so many years of not flying this type.

Technically I need to do a few solo circuits to be considered current, but that can wait for another day [the weather was not flash in the circuit]. Anyway, here's a picture of ZK-TAW after it was parked up in the hanger after the flight.

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

A quick trip to Kaikoura

I had a quick trip down to Kaikoura airfield today [NZKI] with another club pilot, Lawrence, in our Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT. The trip was planned a few days ago, then the weather started looking a wee bit rubbish. It was rubbish this morning, but this afternoon, while a little windy around Wellington, was good enough to fly and very nice everywhere but Wellington. No surprise there!

Anyway, I did the flight down to Kaikoura and Lawrence flew back. The departure from Wellington was a little different, with takeoff on runway 34 into the right-hand circuit, followed by a clearance to "fly overhead the aerodrome at 1500', then the Sinclair sector at 1500' and below". An easy way to get us out of the way and a quick way for us to be on our way. Awesome!

Anyway, the flights down and back were fairly uneventful and I did enjoy doing a couple of extra circuits at Kaikoura when we arrived. I think you'll agree from the photos that it's a beautiful part of the country!

Scenery from on NZKI airfield

Cessana 172N, ZK-FLT, operated by Wellington Aero Club

Lined up and ready to go

Turning crosswind [after takeoff]

Turning left base in the circuit

On approach to NZKI

Kaikoura ranges

Kaikoura township and peninsula

Finally, pictures of a couple of local resident aircraft.

Bell 206B, ZK-HBO, operated by South Pacific Helicopters

Gippsland GA8, ZK-KBZ, operated by Wings over Whales