A brief visit to Paraparaumu, with video

I had a brief visit to Paraparaumu aerodrome [NZPP] on Saturday. It was part of a dual flight in a Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. I hadn't flown a PA28 in just over 5 years, but it mostly just came back. Fun times!

Somewhat surprisingly, the weather was nicer at NZPP than Wellington, with a fairly lumpy approach on each of my four approaches at Paraparaumu. After a brief stop for tea and coffee at the Kapiti Districts Aero Club, we headed back to Wellington. All up, it was 1.5 hours of fun flying!

First up is a picture of my takeoff from Wellington, kindly supplied by Paul Le Roy [Thanks Paul!].

Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. Photo supplied and (c) Paul Le Roy

Next up is the video. It's one of the approaches into NZPP, starting as I turned final approach through to landing. Fun times!

Air NZ B777 and other aircraft at Wellington

Pictures from today are [mostly] a little different.

First up is an Air NZ-operated Boeing 777-19, ZK-OKA, which arrived and departed this morning. I understand it was on a charter.

Boeing 777-219, ZK-OKA, operated by Air NZ

Next up is a Mount Cook Airline [Air NZ] operated ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVC.

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

A rather unusual visitor operating around Wellington was this Royal New Zealand Navy-operated Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite, NZ3617.

Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite, NZ3617, operated by RNZAF/ RNZN

Last up is something completely different - a Beechcraft B300, ZK-PWL, operated by Cubro Ltd of a Tauranga address.

Beechcraft B300, ZK-PWL, operated by Cubro Ltd

A gaggle of A330's

This post is a bit of a catch up from a few weeks ago and consists of three Airbus A330 aircraft seen at Auckland. The A330 is a popular aircraft for regional and long-haul flights. These aircraft were taken over a few minutes and were just some of the larger aircraft seen.

First up is an Airbus A330-243, B-5962, and operated by China Eastern Airlines.

Airbus A330-243, B-5962, operated by China Eastern Airlines

Next up is a China Southern Airlines operated example, an A330-223, B-6135.

Airbus A330-223, B-6135, operated by China Southern Airlines

Last up is a relatively local operator. Qantas was operating this A330-202, VH-EBJ on a trans-Tasman route.

Airbus A330-202, VH-EBJ, operated by Qantas

Emirates A380 "Zoo" at Christchurch

Last Sunday I was at Christchurch airport. While there, I was able to obtain pictures of an Emirates-operated Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, as it landed on a lovely Canterbury day.

First up is the A380 on short final approach, with a special extra [retired] aircraft, a Fokker F27 Friendship, which is used as an airport fire rescue training tool.

Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, operated by Emirates

Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, operated by Emirates

Lastly, here's the zoo!

Airbus A380-861, A6-EEQ, operated by Emirates

Visit to Christchurch

I was in Christchurch last Sunday. The day was spent in a Flying NZ meeting, at Canterbury Aero Club. I did get some time to take photos, and here are a few of them.

First up are three Canterbury Aero Club aircraft. ZK-EYF is a Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk.

Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-EYF, operated by Canterbury Aero Club

Next up is one a Piper PA28-181 Archer, ZK-LJC. This aircraft was first registered to Canterbury Aero Club in 2006, which likely makes it one of the newer Archers in the country.

Piper PA28-181 Archer, ZK-LJC, operated by Canterbury Aero Club

Last up is another PA38-112. I missed the registration, although I'm sure someone will leave a comment...!

Piper PA38-112, operated by Canterbury Aero Club

Last up is something completely different. I don't have much information, but it's a Boeing 757-200F freighter of Pacific Air Express. The photo is rather rubbish, but it does serve to as a demonstration of what I don't like about Christchurch airport... rubbish photography options [unless you visit the club, as above!]

Boring 757-200F, operated by Pacific Air Express

Keep posted, as tomorrow evening, I'll have pictures of something rather larger and much more interesting!

Beechcraft Beechjet 400A

Last weekend I saw this Beechcraft Beechjet 400A, ZK-NXJ departing. This aircraft is operated by Skyline Aviation as an air ambulance. This is an awesome looking aircraft!

Beechcraft Beechjet 400A, ZK-NXJ, operated by Skyline Aviation

Helicopter at Masterton

I had a very brief visit to Masterton last Saturday... not much happening at the time, but I did get to see this Agusta-Bell AB206A, ZK-HMA, departing.

Agusta-Bell AB206A, ZK-HMA

More pictures of a Qantas Boeing special livery

Following on from my post last Tuesday of a Qantas-operated Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, here are some more from this aircraft's visit today. The more I look at the aircraft, the more detail I notice in it - click on the images for a higher resolution version and see what you can find!

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Sunsets and a Mountain

I was out of town for a couple of days this past week, flying back home on Thursday evening.

At this time of the year, a 17:30 - 18:30 flight from Auckland to Wellington produces some really nice views towards the setting sun. Here are a few of them.

First up, we popped up through the cloud after takeoff.

Next we have Mount Taranaki poking up with a really nice sunset.

Here's another image of the sunset a little later.

Here's that same sunset zoomed in. All of these images were taken on my cellphone camera, so it's only a digital zoom. Still, I think it looks really nice!

This is the Marlborough Sounds as we descend towards Wellington.

I think I might need to get current at night one everything then go for a sunset flight...

A bit of TLC and more

I'm helping to organise the Flying NZ Cook Strait Region competitions, which this year will be held in Whanganui. As part of this, I visited the aero club to work on a couple of the competition organisational things with them and saw a few interesting aircraft.

First up where a couple of Cessnas. ZK-TLC is a Cessna 182T and is registered to a Drury address.

Cessna 182T, ZK-TLC

ZK-EOG is a Cessna 172N and is registered to a North Harbour [Auckland] address.

Cessna 172N, ZK-EOG

It's always good to see an Air Chathams operated Convair - they are a rather rare aircraft these days. This was waiting for passengers to Auckland.

General Dynamic Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIE, operated by Air Chathams

After Whanganui, I had a brief visit to Feilding. I've never bene to the Feilding Aerodrome before. This aircraft is a Cessna A152, ZK-JDB, which is registered to North Taranaki Aero Club.

Cessna A152, ZK-JDB, registered to North Taranaki Aero Club

Qantas Boeing at Wellington

Last Sunday I saw a rather unusual Qantas-operated Boeing at Wellington. Not that Qantas is that unusual, or that Boeings are unusual, but as you'll see from the picture, this one has a rather unusual livery applied.

This aircraft is a Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ and has Qantas' Mendoowoorrji Aboriginal livery which actually looks quite nice! Also, being VH- registered, it's actually a mainline Qantas jet, rather than their local subsidiary, Jetconnect.

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas