A Portuguese registered Dassault Falcon 7X!

Today's photos are of a Dassault Falcon 7X, CS-EFG. It appears to be registered to a company called EJME Aircraft Management, of Portugal. It appears that the aircraft uses a single callsign of "Jetman 707G" which is pretty cool :-)

Anyway, here it is departing Wellington for Queenstown earlier today.

Dassault Falcon 7X, CS-EFG, operated by EJME Aircraft Management of Portugal

Dassault Falcon 7X, CS-EFG, operated by EJME Aircraft Management of Portugal

The Wilga!

A chocolate fish to anyone who can pronounce the name of the next aircraft, the PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35!* This aircraft is a Polish design and there have been a few of them on the NZ register over the years [at least 3 at the moment, but I haven't had a good look].

The Wilga is a pretty aircraft [not!] but it is rather awesome! It's got a big motor [as in the Nanchang from what I unerstand] and doesn't take long to get off the ground. I had the chance to go flying as crew for a banner tow [I let the hook out :-)]... a lot of fun!

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the aircraft and the flying around Whanganui! Thanks Nathan for the ride! First up is the outside view of the aircraft. Beautiful!

PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35, ZK-PZM

Next is the overhead panel in the aircraft.

PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35, ZK-PZM, overhead panel

Good to see the recommended towing speed of 115 km/hr [62 knots] is clearly placarded!

PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35, ZK-PZM, towing speed placard

This is the view towards the aero club as we attempted to hook the banner.

The Wilga's panel, with most of the instruments, knobs and dials.

PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35, ZK-PZM, panel

Next up are two scenic pictures of Whanganui. The Durie Hill War Memorial Tower followed by the Bastia Hill Water Tower.

Durie Hill War memorial Tower, Whanganui

Bastia Hill Water Tower, Whanganui

* not really any chocolate fish on offer :-(

Wanganui Aero Club open day

Last weekend I was up in Whanganui. It was Whanganui's annual Vintage Weekend which meant a lot of vintage vehicles including cars trains and [dare I say it] people :-). Ha ha.

The airport was somewhat busier than usual with Air Chathams bringing their awesome Douglas DC3, ZK-AWP, down for scenic flights and on Sunday the aero club had an open day. Of particular fun was riding in the PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35, ZK-PZM, during a banner tow. Fun times!

Here are a few pictures of the open day, with the Wilga pictures following tomorrow :-)

Piper PA18 Cub, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Piper PA22-160 Tri Pacer, ZK-FJD

De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-AUZ

AESL Airtourer T6, ZK-LDG

Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A, ZK-KRA, operated by Air Chathams

Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A, ZK-KRA and Douglas DC3C-S1C3G, ZK-AWP, operated by Air Chathams

 Douglas DC3C-S1C3G, ZK-AWP, operated by Air Chathams

Three landings

This second video from last Sunday's flying has three landings - two at Masterton and one back home at Wellington.

As usual, the aircraft is a Wellington Aero Club operated Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT.

The thing I like about landing at Masterton is that on a hot day [and it was around 30 degrees celsius] are the thermals which make every approach a little more challenging. Combined with a gentle crosswind, it's just a bit more fun!

Anyway, here's the video.

Crossing the Rimutaka Saddle and diverting around a glider

This brief video from last Sunday afternoon is the final part of crossing the Rimutaka Saddle on the way back to Wellington [from Masterton]. Crossing the saddle, we [two of us on board] saw a glider at about out 11 o'clock and higher than us circling beneath a cloud.

We diverted well wide of the glider and the airfield it was operating from. Despite keeping an eye out for it [and making a radio call that was unanswered], we never saw it again, but we were happy onc past the landing strip it operated from.

I suppose it pays to keep an eye out, especially when you don't expect to see anything!

BTW - you won't see the glider in this video - it wasn't that close [there was no collision risk] and it was just out of the video frame.

Sunday's visitors

Here are a couple of visiting aircraft to the Aero Club on Sunday.

First up is a Piper PA28-181, ZK-FQQ, which is operated by Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club.

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

The second aircraft is a Diamond DA42, ZK-CTH, which is operated by L3 CTS Airline Acadamy in Hamilton. L3 was formerly known as CTC.

Diamond DA42, ZK-CTH, operated by L3 CTS Airline Acadamy

Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound video & the Flying NZ Video Competition!

This year is off with a hiss and a roar. Just four days in and I'm on to my fourth post already!

This video was from my 2 January flight, when I took a trip over to the South Island's Marlborough Sounds. I entered at Tory Channel [following the route of the Cook Strait ferries], then a right turn into Queen Charlotte Sound. Look closely and you'll see a ferry on its way to Picton.

Definitely a lovely place to fly around!



BTW - if you fancy yourself as a bit of a movie producer, and are a member of an Flying NZ affiliated aero club, check out this awesome opportunity on the Flying NZ facebook page! There are a few T's & C's but a prize is worth it! Check out the Flying NZ Video Comp!

A brief look at Wellington City

This video is a brief look at Wellington City as I flew overhead on Tuesday afternoon. I was originally cleared for a Sinclair Departure [hence the turn south down Adelaide Road towards Island Bay], but was then re-cleared on a more direct route via the the Karori Sector.

What a lovely day to be flying!

New Year's Day and nothing much happening at Wellington

Yesterday was a quiet day at Wellington airport. I went out to a good spotting location I haven't been to in a while, an elevated location in the hills behind Strathmore [location "C" on my Spotting Locations map]. Aside from few aircraft movements, the weather has gotten a little worse, with low cloud around.

Anyway, here are three pictures I took.

First up is an Airbus A320-232, ZK-OXG, which is operated by Air NZ.

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

Next up is an ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVN. This aircraft is operated by Mount Cook Airline [part of the Air NZ group].

ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVN, operated by Mount Cook Airline/ Air NZ

Last up is one of the local Flying Trash Cans :-)

Happy New Year

Another year done and another one started!

I spent a bit of time in Whanganui over the break. No flying [unfortunately, due to the gift of a nasty cold right on Christmas...] but I did get out to Wanganui Aero Club for a couple of hours. This are looking good there with the usual ab-initio training, plus tailwheel, aeros training and more. I'll be heading back for some fun :-)

Anyway, here are a couple of photos from the visit. First up is a privately owned and locally operated Denney Kitfox II, ZK-KIT.

Denney Kitfox II, ZK-KIT

Second up is a Cessna 182Q, ZK-WSJ, which is registered to an Ashburton address. The aircraft appeared to be just passing through for a refuel.

Cessna 182Q, ZK-WSJ4