Life Flight Wellington's latest Air Ambulance

Last Saturday I got my first photos of Life Flight Wellington's latest Air Ambulance. Like their other aircraft, it's a British Aerospace J32 Jetstream, registered ZK-LFT. also like the other aircraft, this is operated by [and therefore registered to] Air Freight NZ of a Palmerston North address.

From what I can tell, the last ZK-LFT was a Fairchild Metroliner, also operated on behalf of Life Flight Wellington.

British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3200, ZK-LFT, operated by Air Freight on behalf of Lifeflight Wellington

Night flight last Sunday

Here's a quick video of a night flight I undertook last Sunday. Unfortunately the GoPro Hero 5 Session doesn't do justice to what I could see [I could see much more than than the video indicates, such as the entire panel and many surface features], but still it was rather dark in places.

Aircraft, as usual, was Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT. You'll notice I'm trialing a new standard header and ending for the video... let me know what you think!

Virgin Australia

This picture from last Saturday is a Virgin Australia-operated Boeing 737-8FE, VH-YIO.

Boeing 737-8FE, VH-YIO, operated by Virgin Australia

Ridge Air Piper Seneca

Taken a few days ago were these pictures of a Piper PA34-220T Seneca, ZK-BJM. This aircraft is operated by Ridge Air of a Blenheim address.

Piper PA34-220T Seneca, ZK-BJM, operated by Ridge Air

First visit to Cloudy Bay aerodrome!

Last Saturday was my first visit to the [relatively] new Cloudy Bay aerodrome [NZCL]. NZCL is located right by the mouth of the Wairau River in Marlborough. The aerodrome is located within the Woodbourne Control Zone [albeit only just!], so a clearance to operate is required, but WB Twr made that easy.

The strip itself is well-formed, around 800 meters long and with plenty of parking off the side if needed. It even has solar-power lighting, although with the power lines and trees around, I'm not sure I would be that keen on night flying from here.

Anyway, here's a quick video of one of my circuits and the first stage of the departure back to Wellington.

More aircraft from last weekend...

Here are three more aircraft from last weekend. Nothing too different, just 2 Boeings and 1 Airbus.

First up is the Jetconnect [Qantas]-operated Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQG. Jetconnect of course is the Qantas subsidiary which operates most of their trans-Tasman services.

In the background is the new parking building being put up by the airport company. Could be a good photography site, although I don't know whether the airport company will object. probably not - other airports don't seem to mind :-)

Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQG, operated by Jetconnect [Qantas]

Next up is a Virgin Australia-operated Boeing 737-8FE, VH-YIS.

Boeing 737-8FE, VH-YIS, operated by Virgin Australia

Last up is the Air New Zealand-operated Airbus A320-232, ZK-OAB. This is now one of Air NZ's older A320's, having been on the register since 28 January 2011 and one of their most recognisable aircraft, since it's in the All Blacks livery. Speaking of All Blacks, pity about the game last Saturday, but I guess there'll be a lot of very happy British and Irish Lions fans still celebrating almost a week later! :_)

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

Strikemaster 72 at Wellington

Last Sunday saw the arrival of of a BAC BAC-167 Strikemaster, registered ZK-BAC [formerly with the RNZAF as NZ6372]. What a nice machine!

BAC BAC-167, ZK-BAC [ex NZ6372], operated by RNZAF Strikemaster Ltd

Airbus and Boeing

Here are are three pictures from last Saturday at Wellington.

First up is a departing Virgin Australia-operated Boeing 737-8FE, VH-YIT.

Boeing 737-8FE, VH-YIT, operated by Virgin Australia Airlines

Next up is an Airbus A320-232, ZK-OJK, which is operated by Air New Zealand. This aircraft had just arrived from Nadi, Fiji.

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

Lastly, here is another Boeing, a B737-838 model, ZK-ZQE, which is operated by Jetconnect [part of the Qantas group of airlines].

Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQE, operated by Jetconnect on behalf of Qantas

Air Chathams Metroliner at Wellington

An unusual visitor to Wellington today is this Air Chathams-operated Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CIC, which is painted in their really-quite-awesome Whakātane livery applied.

While I say the aircraft is an unusual visitor, many of you will realise that these aircraft used to be very common at Wellington - firstly operated by Air Nelson and then as the Lifeflight Air Ambulance, amongst a host of other freight, passenger and air ambulance operators. The last time I photographed this aircraft was also in Wellington, back in April 2015 and it was a very boring plain white at the time.

I'm assuming that the aircraft is here on a charter related to the rugby match between the British & Irish Lions and the mighty, victorious All Blacks [who says I can't be a little biased??! 😃].

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CIC, operated by Air Chathams

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CIC, operated by Air Chathams

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express

Today's interesting visitor is the Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express, VH-CCV, which I understand is operated by Crown Casinos of a Melbourne, Australia address.

As you can see, it's a gloomy day which makes it hard to get good photos, but I do my best!

Bombardier BD-700-1A10, VH-CCV, operated by Crown Casinos

Bombardier BD-700-1A10, VH-CCV, operated by Crown Casinos

Bombardier BD-700-1A10, VH-CCV, operated by Crown Casinos