Fiji Airways departure from Wellington

It's been a while since I posted anything about Fiji Airways, so here's a picture of one of their Boeing 737-808, DQ-FJN departing Wellington. This is the aircraft with the UN Climate Change Conference livery - an issue which I imagine Fiji [along with many South Pacific nations] would be particularly interested in.

As you can see, it was quite windy today, with the aircraft being airborne prior to Mike 5 on a runway 34 departure.

Boeing 737-808, DQ-FJN, operated by Fiji Airways

Business Jets at Wellington

Here are three business jets seen at Wellington on Saturday.

The first is a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger, N360SL. The registration goes back to a generic registrant.

Bombardier CL-600-2B16, N360SL

The second is also a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger, VH-LEF. The registered operator is Air National Australia, although it appears to be owned by Linfix Express Charter.

It's unusual to have any Challengers at Wellington, but very unusual to have two at one time!

Bombardier CL-600-2B16, VH-LEF, operated by Air National Australia

Last up is a Cessna 525B Citation Jet, ZK-RJZ. This aircraft is operated by Tirohanga Holdings Ltd, but is basically Robert Jones's personal transport.

Cessna 525B Citation Jet, ZK-RJZ, operated by Tirohanga Holdings

Temporary arrival at Wellington Aero Club

Wellington Aero Club has temporarily leased another Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-FML. This is to cover maintenance of another of our fleet. I'm not sure how long it will be on line, so if you're interested in flying it, I suggest making a booking sooner rather than later.

This is not the first time ZK-FML has been part of our fleet - we also leased it a few years ago. I'm led to believe that this is the original colour [not sure if it has been repainted though]. I think it looks quite nice!

Piper PA38-112, ZK-FML, registered to a Blenheim address

Cirrus SR22 [G6] at Wellington

A really nice looking visitor from earlier today was this Cirrus SR22, registered N438NZ.

The FAA registration for this aircraft goes back to a generic name in the USA although recent flight records seem to confirm it is based at Feilding Aerodrome..

Cirrus SR22, N438NZ

Visit to Auckland and Air NZ Dreamliners

I was in Auckland yesterday and while returning to the airport, I got this snap of an Air NZ operated Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, ZK-NZH.

This is one of several Air NZ Dreamliners which are laid up following the discovery of problems with the engines [two of them in flight...]. Given what appears to be latex covers over the windows of this and [I think] two others, it appears they will be out of the air for some time.

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, ZK-NZH, operated by Air NZ

Apologies for the photo quality - it was taken on my phone camera.

Beech 76 Duchess

The following picture was taken at Wellington last weekend. The aircraft is a Beech 76 Duchess, ZK-EZX, which is registered to Ardmore Flying School and has been since at least December 1991. It certainly was there, along with ZK-JED in 1998-1999 when I did my PPL there.

Beech 76 Duchess, ZK-EZX, operated by Ardmore Flying School

Beech D18S at Wellington

Today's very interesting visitor was this Beech D18S, N43927, which, despite being an US registration and being operated in New Zealand, is registered to a UK address??

Anyway, here are the photos. They were taken on my phone camera, so not great, but ok pictures.

Beech D18S, N43927

Beech D18S, N43927

Air Chathams and Heliworx

Following on from last week's visit to Whanganui [and much nicer weather than the past few days!], here are photos of three other aircraft.

The first two are from Air Chathams and their scheduled Whanganui to Auckland route. The Convair arrived while I was doing solo circuits on Sunday afternoon and departed a while later.

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

Air Chathams SF340A is pictured departing on Tuesday morning. Interestingly, Air Chathams have just received two more SF340's - it'll be interesting to know what work these get put to in the near future.

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

The final picture is a Robinson R44 II, ZK-IDO, which is operated by Kapiti Heliworx. Note the Newstalk ZK decals on the side.

Robinson R44 II, ZK-IDO, operated by Kapiti Heliworx

Commonality...

Here are three photos from Sunday afternoon. Like Saturday, there were disruptions for fog, but the flights were arriving and departing by the time I took these [obviously...!].

Can you see the common factor in all of these flights? Can you perhaps explain why? You might need to click on the pictures and look closely.

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

Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-TQL, operated by Eastern Australia Airlines/ Jetstar

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

Fog at Wellington

Saturday was one of those particularly foggy days at Wellington. The morning was OK with some Aero Club flying until about 11am, then it all closed down.

What follows are a few photos of what rolled in. Keep in mind that this was not the worst of it with almost every aircraft that tried getting in. later int he day there were all sorts of diversions, including an A320 to Palmerston North.

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

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, ZK-SAW, operated by Sounds Air

ATR-GIE ATR72-212A, ZK-MCX, operated by Mount Cook Airline/ Air NZ

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

ZK-OXB a few seconds later!

WAX at Wellington

If you've followed the news, there has been a fair amount of fog around [Saturday], so very little GA flying from Wellington today.

I did see this Cessna 172M, ZK-WAX parked up alongside some of the Wellington Aero Club fleet. It's a nice paint job. If you look at the background you'll see some fog. I'll have more photos of the fog and related activities up on Sunday.

Cessna 172M, ZK-WAX

Piper PA18-90, ZK-BTU, solo circuits

This video has some of the solo circuits I undertook on 4 February 2018 in Wanganui Aero Club's Piper PA18-90 Super Cub, ZK-BTU.

Having not flown a Super Cub for 12 months, this was preceded by an hour of dual circuits. Although legally current, I think a bit more dual time for some 3-point landings and a bit more crosswind practice might be in order. Still, it was a LOT of fun! :-)

Piper Super Cubbing at Wanganui Aero Club

Part of of weekend trip to Whanganui involved spending time at the Aero Club. It was a good weekend for it, with a refresher on the Piper Super Cub and the Club having a landing competition for their members.

The last time a flew a Super Cub, it was a PA18A-150, this time it was a PA18-90, ZK-BTU, so a little less power and no flaps, but a lot of fun! Given I hadn't flown a Super Cub for about a year, it started with an hour of dual circuits [surprisingly good fun!] and then 36 minutes of solo circuits. Fun times!

Later in the day, I was asked to air judge the flying component of two members doing circuits in the Super Cub. That was an experience! There's basically no forward visibility from the back seat [how do instructors do that???!] but both pilots were licenced and current, so I was mainly there to record numbers and enjoy the ride!

Anyway, first up are a few pictures of the aircraft. Enjoy!

Piper PA18-90, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Piper PA18-90, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Piper PA18-90, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Piper PA18-90, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Piper PA18-90, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Piper PA18-90, ZK-BTU, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

I hope to have some video up of the refresher circuits in the next few days - it's nothing too exciting, but it was fun!

Anyway, here are a few photos from the competition circuits. If anyone is thinking about judging anything from the back of a PA18, perhaps take a camera - I'm tall, but it was the only way to see the instruments :-)

Seated int he back, judging sheet ready!

The view with no front seater!

The view with a front seater.

Wider angle with an elevated camera

Elevated camera

The view just after takeoff!

Visits to Kapiti and Wanganui Aero Clubs

This past weekend I went up to Whanganui. On the way there I popped into Kapiti Aero Club for a brief "hello", followed by some time at Wanganui Aero Club.

Kapiti Aero Club is based at the airport in Paraparaumu and has a core fleet of 5 Cessna 152's [from memory, 3 aerobats] plus some C172's and  a few other aircraft. The visit was brief,  but I was shown around the site, including into one of their very tidy and well presented C152's.

Here are a couple of pictures from Kapiti Aero Club.

Cessna 152's, ZK-ELS, ZK-JEN and others, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Cessna A152, ZK-ELS, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Most of the weekend was spent in Whanganui and I did have a couple of visits out to the Wanganui Aero Club [more on these visits in later posts], but here are the core of the Club's training fleet.

Piper PA38-112, ZK-FRS, operated  by Wanganui Aero Club

Cessna A152, ZK-JDB, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Cessna 172S, ZK-RQA, operated by Wanganui Aero Club