More testing of my new camera

Last Sunday I took a few more photos with the "new" [to me] Canon EOS 700. I think I have the hang on it now, so here are a few photos.

Boeing 738-838, VH-XZJ, operated by Qantas

Boeing 737-86J, DQ-FJM, operated by Fiji Airways

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

Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SQN, operated by Singapore Airlines

Bombardier DHC8-311, ZK-NEU, operated by Air Nelson/ Air NZ

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive in NZ

Earlier today Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived in Wellington for the start of the New Zealand leg of their tour down under.

The aircraft was one of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Boeing 757-2K2 aircraft, NZ7571. It was using the callsign Royal 1. Also on the plane were a number of competitors from the recent Invictus Games, held in Australia.

Here are a few of the pictures of their arrival. Irrespective of what you might think about these two, we are so fortunate in New Zealand to be able to get this close to celebrities/ VIPs with little of the nonsense that occurs in some other countries!

It must almost be time...

Boeing 757-2K2, NZ7571, operated by the RNZAF

Boeing 757-2K2, NZ7571, operated by the RNZAF

Prince Harry and Meghan exit the aircraft

Diamond DA42

Today's very interesting visitor is this Diamond DA42 Twinstar, ZK-EAP. This aircraft is operated by Ardmore Flying School. Ardmore Flying School has two of these, plus a Beech 76 Duchess as their twin trainers.

Diamond DA42 Twinstar, ZK-EAP, operated by Ardmore Flying School

Qantas Boeing at Wellington

It's been rather windy and not a lot happening today. Hopefully, the wind will die down tomorrow or Monday and I get to go flying.

Here's one photo of a Qantas-operated Boeing 737-838, VH-XZB, landing earlier today.

Boeing 737-838, VH-XZB, operated by Qantas Airways

Taming the Kat

Or perhaps that should be tamed by the Kat? There's always something to learn after all :-)

Anyway, a couple of weekends ago, I went on a solo flight in Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. It was a chance to do some stalls, turns, a simulated FLWOP before returning to Wellington. Everything went well and I had a bit of fun. I also managed to get a little bit of video, and here it is.

The flight out was via the Pencarrow Departure and the return was via the Hutt Valley and an Eastbourne Arrival. All in all, it was a fun flight in a really nice aircraft.

Brief visit to Wanganui Aero Club

Here are a few photos and a video of my brief visit to Wanganui this past weekend.

First up is a recently completed Titan T51 Mustang, ZK-LSD. This is a class 2 microlight and is still undergoing its test flying period. The aircraft has a 100hp Rotax engine. Check out the bottom of this post for a brief video of the startup.

Titan T52 Mustang, ZK-LSD

The next two pictures are of an Air Chathams-operated General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF. It looks like Air Chathams are going well in Whanganui, with a nearly full load of passengers hoping off this Sunday afternoon flight.

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

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

The final picture is an AESL Airtourer, ZK-LDG.

AESL Airtourer, ZK-LDG

Here's the promised video. It's only about 35 seconds long but you get to listen to the "meaty" sound of the 100hp Rotax :-)

Flying and passengering

Last Sunday afternoon was a day for being a pilot and for being a passenger. Both were fun flights.

First up was a flight in Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT. This was a solo flight where I went up and did a couple of turns, stalls and a simulated FLWOP.

I don't have photos from that trip, but I hope to have a small video up in the next week or so. I also had a play with some different power settings to see the effect on fuel consumption [having a fuel flow meter is awesome] and checked out the heading hold on the autopilot.

Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT, operated by Aviators Anonymous

Next up was a trip to Omaka as a passenger. A couple of people were going to pick up another aircraft and I was able to go for the ride.

The aircraft was a Piper PA28-181, ZK-FHQ. Many years ago, this aircraft was online with the club. It has had a major refurb since then!

Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Leaving Wellington behind

Approaching Omaka, runway 12

Piper PA28-181, ZK-FHQ

Douglas DC3 parked up at Omaka

Piper PA28-181, ZK-FHQ, the panel

A "new" camera

I picked up a "new to me" camera the other day, and this was my first weekend playing with it.

The camera is a Canon EOS 700D DSLR and is a small step up from my other one - an EOS 450D. There is still a huge amount to learn, especially about the various settings and getting some default values to provide a good result in the common well-lit, daytime conditions I usually shot in. I do like the quite autofocus in the new lenses though.

Here are a few from today. There's nothing special in them, but they are OK. More playing in the next few weeks :-)