Another video of a D'Urville Island landing

Here is another video of the D'Urville Island landing from over the saddle, on 25 April.

This video combines the ground-based camera and the in-cockpit camera. Look closely at the in-cockpit video and you'll see that I was basically gliding with 40 deg of flap from just past the saddle, with just a tiny bit of power near the end of the glide.

The aircraft is Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT.

A new [to me] Kawasaki BK117

Here's a new one for me - a Kawasaki BK117 B2, ZK-IFY. This helicopter is operated by Specialist Helicopter Solutions of a Palmerston North address. While the aircraft itself might be common enough, the nose appears slightly different to what I have seen before. I could be wrong though, I'm hardly a heli expert!

I do like the logo on the side though - Command Aviation - no someone I have heard of previously.

Kawasaki BK117 B2, ZK-IFY, operated by Specialist Helicopter Solutions

Virgin Australian planes

Here are a couple of Virgin Australia aircraft which I have photographed recently. The first is their all-white aircraft, a Boeing 737-8FE, VH-VOR. This was photographed a couple of weeks ago, but I've just gotten around the posting it... I'm still not sure why it hasn't been painted into their regular livery. Ideas anyone?

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

The second is another B737-8FE, VH-YIY. This was photographed earlier today from opposite the runway 16 threshold.

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

D'Urville Island again

After a fun flight around Petone, Mana Island and Island Bay this afternoon, I got to head back to D'Urville Island with another club pilot.

It was a fantastic day for flying [as you'll see shortly]. After flying there and doing a few circuits, Pete got out with my camcorder and took some video of some of the action. Here are two of the landings. The other videos will take some time to process... so maybe over the next week or so if I find anything interesting to publish.

Anyway, both videos are well done, although next time I'll suggest to Pete he stands a little further away from the grass :-)

Wellington's new control tower

Wellington airport is getting a new control tower. It is not open as yet, but it shouldn't be too long now.

The new tower is located within the Lyall Bay shopping centre [also owned by the airport company]. The existing tower is a couple of streets away in a residential suburb.

Anyway, it looks like an architect got paid a lot of money to design this one, as it appears to lean into the prevailing northerly winds and away from the bitterly cold southerlies!

The pictures were taken from the carpark of the shopping centre. The red sign at the bottom is actually a shopping trolley return point :-)

New Control Tower

New Control Tower

For comparison, here's an old photo showing the location of the existing tower.

Existing Control Tower at Wellington

Strip flying at Nopera airstrip

This past weekend was an exciting time for me, with a dual check out to Nopera Airstrip!

Nopera is located in the Kenepuru Sound [part of the Marlborough Sounds] and the airstrip is located in a quiet bay within the Sound. It is the second time I have flown into Nopera, the previous time was a few years ago with Marlborough Aero Club.

Nopera is a one-way strip, with an uphill slope, gentle undulations along the length of the strip and trees and terrain at the far end.

The strip itself is a clearly defined grassed area in the paddock, surrounded by what looks like some low lying cattle feed. This is quite obvious in the photos and video which follows.

The weather on the day was OK. Gentle breezes and a wee bit of turbulence when level with the tops of the hills and clouds low enough that we fly around some of the hilltops instead of over them. On the airstrip itself, the winds were light, although with a slight southerly breeze and some tailwind on landing a later on.

All in all, fun times! I'm hoping to visit some more strips in the next few weeks and months. It is good for skill building and is a lot of fun!

Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT, operated by Wellington Aero Club

Looking down Nopera Airstrip

The aircraft photographed from a lump of dirt beside Nopera Airstrip

The following video includes just two of my landings. The video is sped up eight times normal speed. It gets a bit boring otherwise!

Cessna 525B Citation Jet

The photos in this post are of the departure of Cessna 525B Citation jet, ZK-RJZ. This aircraft is registered to Tirohanga Holdings of a Wellington address.

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

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

Airliners at Wellington

Here are photos of three airliners at Wellington earlier today.

First up is the arrival of a Jetconnect-operated Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQH. Jetconnect is a subsidiary of Qantas, hence the livery.

Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQH, operated by Jetconnect/ Qantas

Next up is a departing Air Nelson Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEK.

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEK, operated by Air Nelson/ Air New Zealand

Lastly, and stretching the definition of airliner somewhat :-), is this Cessna U206G, ZK-ENT. This is operated by Pelorus Air. In this case, it was heading off to Takaka - I understand that Pelorus Air is filling in for Golden Bay Air.

Cessna U206G, ZK-ENT, operated by Pelorus Air

A flying doctor's aircraft and a bit of trauma[hawk]!

Photos of today's aircraft were both taken inside the Wellington Aero Club hanger, so are not quite as nice as others.

The first is a Cessna 172R, ZK-MED, which is registered to an Auckland address. It's often used by a doctor with CAA medical delegations, hence the registration. I understand the aircraft has a history - previously having been ZK-OUI which had the misfortune to "land" in the sewage ponds at the end of a Thames airfield runway some years back... it has also been upgraded to a 180hp engine.

Cessna 172R, ZK-MED, registered to an Auckland address

The second is one of Wellington Aero Club's Piper PA38-112 Tomahawks, ZK-WAC. For the first time in several years, I had a flight in it [dual this time of course]. With the rubbish weather around, it was the perfect day for 30 minutes of simulated instrument flight [fun times... the leans!], followed by some low flying in the local LFZ. Fun times indeed. Unfortunately, there are no photos or video of the flight.

Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-WAC, operated by Wellington Aero Club

Wellington based air ambulance and rescue helicopter

Here are two pictures from last weekend.

First up is the newest [albeit in operation for several months now] Lifeflight Air Ambulance, a British Aerospace J32 Jetstream, ZK-LFT. This is operated by Air Freight NZ as an air ambulance on behalf of Lifeflight.

British Aerospace J32 Jetstream, ZK-LFT, operated by Air Freight NZ on behalf of Lifeflight

Next up, and not a great photo unfortunately, is an Helicopters Otago-operated MBB BK117 B2, ZK-IWL. I assume that this is here in place of Westpac Rescue's regular BK117 to cover routine maintenance, or some such reason.

MBB BK117 B2, ZK-IWL, operated by Helicopters Otago

Mount Cook Airline arrival into Wellington

This following is a brief video of a Mount Cook Airline [Air NZ]-operated ATR-GIE ATR72-500 [ATR72-212A], ZK-MCJ, arriving at Wellington on a typically gusty day!

Singapore Airlines arrival into Wellington

Here is a quick video of a recent Singapore Airlines arrival into Wellington. This is a short-haul arrival from Canberra, Australia, and was operated by Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SRM. The outbound flight goes to Canberra than on to Singapore.

Beech 76 Duchess

Today's visitor is a Beech 76 Duchess, ZK-SMI. This aircraft is operated by Auckland Aero Club.

Beech 76 Duchess, ZK-SMI, operated by Auckland Aero Club

Light aircraft at Wellington

Today's light visitors to Wellington are an RV4 and a DA42.

The Vans RV4, ZK-RVV is is a new aircraft to me and is registered to a Tauranga address.

Vans RV-4, ZK-RVV

The second aircraft is a Diamond DA42, ZK-MTB, operated by Massey University School of Aviation.

Diamond DA42, ZK-MTR, operated by Massey University School of Aviation