Eastern Australia Airlines/ Jetstar departure

Here is another picture from last Wellington Airport last Sunday. This is an Eastern Australia Airlines-operated Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-SBI, which is operated on behalf of Jetstar Airways,

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

VIP arrival at Wellington

As I was leaving for home today, I noticed a large number of motorcycle police hanging around the Execujet hanger. On further investigation, there were other Police and crown limos waiting inside the Execujet hanger.

After a bit of a wait, this Beech 200C, ZK-PLK arrived. This aircraft is operated by Skyline Aviation of a Hawkes Bay address. This flight itself arrived from the South Island.

Beech 200C, ZK-PLK, operated by Skyline Aviation

Very shortly after arrival, the appropriate civil and military officials assembled and the passengers on the aircraft went into the wait crown limos to be whisked off. I'm not sure who the VIPs were, but clearly important enough to warrant a significant welcome...

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 business jet at Wellington

I saw this Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express parked up at Wellington today. VH-CCD appears to be registered to Crown Casinos in a Melbourne address.

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express, VH-CCD, registered to Crown Casinos

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express, VH-CCD, registered to Crown Casinos

US Navy aircraft at Wellington

After the recent [and ongoing] earthquakes near Kaikoura, there have been a number of unusual movements at Wellington. I haven't managed to photograph them all, but here are a couple of photos.

First up is an MH-60R Sea Hawk, HSM-73, which is attached to the USS Sampson.

MH-60R Sea Hawk, HSM-73, operated by the US Navy on the USS Sampson

MH-60R Sea Hawk, HSM-73, operated by the US Navy on the USS Sampson

Next up [and I don't know if related to the earthquake recovery at all] is a US Navy-operated Gulfstream G-V/ C37B, 16-6376.

Gulfstream GV/ C37B, 16-6376, operated by the US Navy

Attempt to get to Palmerston North yesterday

Yesterday another club pilot and I attempted to fly up to Palmerston North to collect another aircraft. It was always going to be marginal, but as it turned out, too marginal to be worth while pushing on. 

Here are a few photos from the weather around Wellington. It's a wee bit unusual with all the cloud hugging the coast [there was a 20+ knot westerly at around 2000'], but worse further north as we could not even get as far at Paraparaumu safely.

Oh well, better to wait for a better day. Aircraft for this flight was a Piper PA38-112, ZK-TAW.

RNZAF NHI NH90 at Wellington

Today's pictures are of an RNZAF-operated NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 helicopter, NZ3305. This helicopter was about to depart, presumably to Kaikoura as part of the earthquake recovery efforts.

NHI NH90, NZ3305, operated by the RNZAF

NHI NH90, NZ3305, operated by the RNZAF

Agusta AW139

Following on from my previous post about the USAF C-32A/ Boeing 757-200, at about the time the Secretary of State was departing, an Agusta AW139, ZK-HNZ, was arriving. This large helicopter is operated by HNZ New Zealand of a Nelson address.

I don't know where is came from, but the occupants were all wearing what looked like immersion suits, so maybe offshore somewhere.

Agusta AW139, ZK-HNZ, operated by HNZ New Zealand

Agusta AW139, ZK-HNZ, operated by HNZ New Zealand

USAF Boeing 757-200/ C-32A at Wellington

Today saw to departure of US Secretary of State John Kerry aboard his USAF-operated C-32A/ Boeing 757-200, registration 98-0002. the Secreatary of State has been to Antarctica for a brief visit.

First up is the aircraft parked up on the RNZAF Air Movements Base apron at Wellington.

Boeing 757-200/ C-32A, 98-0002, operated by the USAF

Next is after the arrival of the entourage.

Boeing 757-200/ C-32A, 98-0002, operated by the USAF 

Last up is the aircraft taxying out for departure. That's one great looking aircraft!

Boeing 757-200/ C-32A, 98-0002, operated by the USAF

Singapore Airlines arriving last Sunday

My final photo to share form last weekend is the regularly scheduled Singapore Airlines B777 arrival on Sunday afternoon.

The aircraft used this time was Singapore Airline's Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SQN.

The B777-200 appears to have good brakes [and I guess it was lightly loaded] as it appeared to have decelerated quickly before about half way, then stowed the thrust reversers and calmly taxied down the far end of the runway to vacate [this is mandatory for an aircraft of this size].

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

Dutch royal visit to New Zealand

Over the next few days, there is a Dutch royal visit to New Zealand, starting in Wellington but encompassing Christchurch then Auckland. The schedule for the visit is in here if you are interested.

The King and Queen are travelling in a Fokker F70 [F28-0070], registered as PH-KBX. This aircraft is operated by the Netherlands Government as a VIP transport. I doubt we have had many of this type of aircraft in New Zealand before, and certainly less that are operated by governments!

Fokker F28-0070/ F70, PH-KBX, operated by the Netherlands Government

Final post from the Flying NZ Cook region competitions

Here is the final post from the regional competition sat Paraparaumu this past weekend. In hindsight, I should probably have gone to the grid in the morning to watch the landings, but never mind!

Congratulations to all who competed on the weekend, especially the winners and placegetters! From a team of six competitors, Wellington had one win and three other placegetters, so a good result overall [I think I have counted correctly]!

Well done to Flying NZ and the Kapiti Districts Aero Club for putting on a great event, and well done to everyone for a friendly, yet competitive environment and a fun day! :-)

Anyway, on to the aircraft. First up is a Wellington Aero Club aircraft, a Piper PA38-112, ZK-ESG. In addition to this, we took another PA38, a PA28 and a C172. The Nanchang CJ6 came along to visit also.

Piper PA38-112, ZK-ESG, operated by Wellington Aero Club

The next aircraft is a Piper PA18, ZK-BQX. This is very similar to the Super Cub I have started flying, except I understand it has a 90hp engine, instead of the 150hp in the Super Cub. It would be very interesting to fly this some day. This aircraft is operated by Cub Partners and I believe it is based at Paraparaumu aerodrome.

Piper PA18, ZK-BQX, operated by Cub Partners

This Vans RV6, ZK-VRV, is registered to a Porirua address, but also based at Paraparaumu aerodrome.This aircraft and pilot flew across the Tasman Sea to Australia earlier this year [click here for info]!

Vans RV6, ZK-VRV

Last up is a cool looking machine from Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club, a Rans S-6ES Coyote II, ZK-KIX. This is a class 2 microlight [meaning it has two seats]. This looks like a really nice aircraft and I wouldn't mind having a fly one day... maybe I should have asked on Saturday :-) Still, there's always the chance of a trip to visit.

Rans S-6ES Coyote II, ZK-KIX, operated by Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club

More from the Flying NZ regional competitions at Paraparaumu

Here are a few photos of some of the aircraft at the weekend's competition activities at Paraparaumu aerodrome.

First up is one of Kapiti Aero Club's Cessna A152, ZK-ELS. This is an aerobatic model. The C152 is the mainstay of Kapiti's flight training fleet. Int he background is the aero club's rooms.

Cessna A512, ZK-ELS, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

This next aircraft is a privately operated TL-Ultralight TL3000 Sirius. The aircraft is based in Whanganui and was flown in by a Wnaganui Aero Club competitor.

TL-Ultralight TL3000 Sirius, ZK-EBG

The following aircraft is also from Whanganui. ZK-JQY is a Maule MXT-7-180.

Maule MXT-7-180, ZK-JQY

Next we have two aircraft from Hawkes Bay, and the Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club. First up is a Cessna 172N, ZK-EKG, which is operated by Skybird Aviation.

Cessna 172N, ZK-EKG, operated by Skybird Aviation

Last up for this post is a Piper PA28-181, ZK-FQQ, which is operated by Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club of Hastings.

Piper PA28-181, ZK-FQQ, operated by Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club

Flying NZ Regional competitions at Paraparaumu

Today was the day for Flying NZ's Cook region, regional flying competitions. This year they were hosted by Kapiti Aero Club, just up the road at Paraparaumu airport.

Competitors came from aero clubs in Wellington, Paraparaumu, Whanganui and Hawkes Bay and the weather [perhaps surprisingly] was about perfect all day! The morning session was mainly the circuit competitions and the afternoon, mainly the liferaft and bombing competitions.

I did compete, in the bombing competition ["Rotorua Trophy"], which involves dropping some 500 gram containers from 300 feet, into a target. I'm still awaiting the results, but I was rather inaccurate [although fairly accurate flying], so I'm not expecting to win!

Anyway, in this first post, here are a few photos from the event. First up are two photos of a few of the aircraft, and third is the Kapiti Aero Club rooms.

Competing Aircraft

Competing Aircraft

Kapiti Areo Club rooms

There will be more photos in the next few days, I didn't get out to the landing grid this year, but I do have some more photos of the competing aircraft.

RNZAF B757 at Wellington

Following on from the other photos from last weekend, here are three pictures I took of the Royal New Zealand Air Force [RNZAF] operated Boeing 757-2K2, NZ7571, departing Wellington.

Boeing 757-2K2, NZ7571, operated by the RNZAF

Boeing 757-2K2, NZ7571, operated by the RNZAF

Boeing 757-2K2, NZ7571, operated by the RNZAF

I am wondering if these will be on static display at the RNZAF's 80th Anniversary Air Pageant next year, or if we will get to see a display... a display would be really nice - I'm pretty sure the RNZAF could put on a spectacular performance in one of these if asked to :-)

Sounds Air at Whanganui

While visiting Whanganui last Saturday, Sounds Air flew in their latest Pilatus PC12/45, ZK-PLZ in on a charter flight.

This is a great looking aircraft [inside and out!].

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