Out and about commercially

Over the past couple of weeks I have had some commercial flights between Auckland and Wellington. Here are a few random photos from those flights.

On one of the flights, there was a lot of cloud over most of the North Island. It's only a phone camera image, but this is one of Mount Taranaki as we headed north.

Next up is an approach into Auckland, looking south east.

The following image is of Clarks Beach, with the southern point of the Manukau Harbour below the aircraft.

Next is an image of the Makara wind farm, looking east towards Wellington city as we got closer to Wellington. It's always a nice day in Wellington 😁!

Lastly, I seemed to get lumped in the back of the plane on these trips. On one flight I was all the way back - row 29, seat A. At least I had no one beside me... It also gave a good view of the rear of the cabin and fast entry and exit with the rear stairs being used on all flights. Ha!

Another Challenger

I arrived at Wellington airport today to see this Swiss registered Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger, HB-IKS. Swiss registered aircraft are very rare in New Zealand, so this was good to see.

Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger, HB-IKS

Military action at Wellington today

It was a very busy day for military aircraft movements at Wellington today.

Firstly, an RNZAF operated B757-2K2 departed towards Australia, but no photos of this unfortunately.

There were also a couple of NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 helicopter movements. The following are NZ3303 and NZ3304.

NATO Helicopter Industries NH90, NZ3303, operated by the RNZAF

NATO Helicopter Industries NH90, NZ3303, operated by the RNZAF

The other RNZAF-operated aircraft I photographed was this Lockheed C130H Hercules, NZ7004.

Lockheed C130H, NZ7004, operated by the RNZAF

Last up on the military front was this RAAF-operated Canadair CL600-2B16 Challenger 604, A37-003. I'm not sure if this is related to the election, or the deporting of Barnaby Joyce :-)

Canadair CL600-2B16, A37-003 Challenger 604, operated by the RAAF

More photos from the Kaikoura trip

Here are three more photos from yesterday's trip to Kaikoura.

The first is from east of Kaikoura peninsula, looking northwest towards the township itself and the ranges.

Kaikoura peninsula and township, maintain ranges

Next up are the ranges to the west as we flew north back to Wellington.

Mountain ranges to the west

Last up is a picture of the Bluebridge ferry just a few miles from the Wellington harbour entrance. By this stage we have experienced a bit of turbulence around Wellington's coast line, but I still would prefer to have been in the aircraft than the ferry on this day...

Bluebridge ferry

Trip to Kaikoura!

I've been doing a fair amount of flying recently. There was the BFR a week ago, a bit of additional forced landing training yesterday and, today, I had a trip to Kaikoura [NZKI] with Iain and Poochie [sorry Peter!]. Aircraft for the day was the Club operated Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO. This is a really really nice machine, with 180Hp, GPS, autopilot, various nav instruments and airbags in the front seatbelts. Oh yeah, it goes reasonably fast also.

Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO, operated by Wellington Aero Club

Kaikoura is a lovely place, although that might be something to do with only going there on nice days!

Anyway, I got to fly down and pax back up. The weather in Wellington was "interesting" with the wind gusting from about 20 up to 30 knots and the direction variable. It was particularly lumpy downwind... just a pity I didn't have a video camera operating at the time!

South of Wellington it all smoothed out and was lovely all the way down. Obviously the weather coming back was the exact opposite which made for a lot of work for Peter during the arrival then landing.

Here are a few pictures at and around Kaikoura on the way home.

First up are the scenic photos from around Kaikoura. Take a look at the second and third of these and notice all of the extra land that rose up out of the sea in the big earthquake!

Looking to the west from mid-downwind for runway 05 at Kaikoura

Eastern tip of the Kaikoura peninsula

Kaikoura peninsula looking west

This photo from at the Clarence River Mouth, north of Kaikoura.

I'm not quite sure where this is, but you can clearly see the road and rail. The rail is open., and it is hoped the road to Kaikoura from Blenheim will be reopened by Christmas.

Last up, we are back to Kaikoura with a couple of helicopters.First up is a Eurocoper AS350 BA, ZK-HNX. This helicopter is operated by Kaikoura Helicopters.

Eurocopter AS350 BA, ZK-HNX, operated by Kaikoura Helicopters

Next up is a Hughes 369E, ZK-HMO, operated by Combined Helicopter Services of a Christchurch address.

Hughes 369E, ZK-HMO, operated by Combined Helicopter Services

Jetstar logo jet at Wellington

This picture is of a Jetstar-operated Airbus A320-232, VH-VFU, with a rather distinctive picture on the side.

The image advertises needabreak.com which appears to be associated with a hotel chain.

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

Canadian registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10

A very unusual visitor at Wellington this past few days is this Canadian registered Bombardier BD-700-1A10, C-GNRS, pictured outside the impressive Execujet hanger at Wellington airport. This aircraft is operated by Chartright Air of an Ontario, Canada address.

Bombardier BD-700-1A10, C-GNRS, operated by Chartright Air

Fokker F27 Mk 50 and an all black DHC8

It looks like Alliance Airlines from Australia are back in New Zealand undertaking one of their tours. As usual, the aircraft is a Fokker F27 Mk50, VH-FKO. Here it is departing Wellington this morning.

Fokker F27 Mk50, VH-FKO, operated by Alliance Airlines

Next up is an Air Nelson operated Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEM. This aircraft has recently returned from Australia where it was repainted into this [almost] all black livery. Air NZ now have one of every type they operate in an all black livery except for the B777-200's.

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEM, operated by Air Nelson/ Air NZ

Aircraft at Christchurch

Here are a couple of aircraft of interest from yesterday's brief trip to Christchurch.

First up [and much anticipated] is an Airbus A380-800, A6-EUK, which is operated by Emirates. The first photos shows how humid the air was with condensation forming on the upper wing surface. Pretty sure that a chap called Bernoulli had something to say about this.

Airbus A380-800, A6-EUK, operated by Emirates

Airbus A380-800, A6-EUK, operated by Emirates

The second aircraft of interest was this all white Boeing 737-8FE, VH-VOR. This aircraft is operated by Virgin Australia International Airlines. Yes, this was at the limit of my lens...

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

Flight to Christchurch

Yesterday I had a quick trip to Christchurch for a Flying NZ meeting. It was planned as an 8:05am departure to Christchurch, then a 6:05pm return to Wellington.

The aircraft for the flight to Christchurch was an ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVH, which is operated by Mount Cook Airline [part of the Air NZ group]. The first photo is obviously of the aircraft, the second of the view the entire way to Christchurch :-)

ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVH, operated by Mount Cook Airline [Air NZ]

Scenic views :-)

The flight home was a Bombardier DHC8-311. No photos of this, although the view was much the same...

USAF C17 Globemaster III at Wellington

I took this photo of a Boeing C17A Globemaster III, 08-8202, of the USAF today. It was parked on the RNZAF apron at Wellington airport. It's not a great photos as it was a dull and gloomy morning and I was across at the terminal.

Boeing C17A Globemaster III, 08-8202, operated by the USAF