Airliners from last weekend

For this last post for January, here are three "random" airliners from last weekend.

First up is the Singapore Airlines operated Airbus A350-941, 9V-SME, seen here departing to Melbourne, then to Singapore.

Airbus A350-941, 9V-SME, operated by Singapore Airlines

Next up is a Virgin Australia-operated Boeing 737-8FE, VH-YIR. For a short time there were three Virgin B737's parked up at Wellington.

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

Lastly we have an Air New Zealand operated Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEZ.

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEZ, operated by Air New Zealand

What a beautiful machine!

Ok, I might be a tad biased, but what a great machine!

This Nanchang CJ6A is owned by Wellington Warbirds Ltd and is operated through Wellington Aero Club.

Anyway, I have close to 20 hours on type now since starting to fly it late last year. It starts off as hard work with a lot going on, but once you have a few hours, it's not hard at all - just a few more considerations around starting the engine, taxying and general engine handling with the 285hp supercharged engine.

Are you interested in flying it? Well, there may be some shares available in a couple of months. Contact me know if you want to know more! It is a great introduction to warbird flying, fairly economical to run and a lot of fun! Insurance requirements are pretty basic also, requiring a PPL, a minimum of 100 hours total time and five hours on type [which would be worked off through the type rating].

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO / Nanchang 55, operated by Wellington Aero Club

RAAF Falcon 7X

This post is of a Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] operated Falcon 7X, A56-001, which departed Wellington last weekend.

The RAAF operated [or very soon will operate] three of these aircraft, replacing the CL604 Challengers [such as this one] which are getting rather old...

Dassault Falcon 7X, A56001, operated by the RAAF

Dassault Falcon 7X, A56001, operated by the RAAF

Vintage weekend in Whanganui

Last weekend was the annual vintage weekend in Whanganui. Unfortunately I didn't get up [I was busy flying the Nanchang CJ6A instead 😃], but I heard that the weather was fantastic.

In addition to everything happening in town, there were a number of visitors to the airport. This included the Air Chathams operated DC3 and the Consolidated Vultee PBY-5A Catalina, ZK-PBY, which is operated by The Catalina Company!

I've only got one photo, but it's a good one [thanks mum!] of the Catalina.

Consolidated Vultee PBY-5A Catalina, Zk-PBY, operated by The Catalina Company

Also, note how nice the weather was, compared by Wellington from my previous post!

Sunday's no-fly day

Sunday's weather was "interesting".

Just a few miles north of here, the weather was really nice. In Wellington, however, it was cloudy and wet. When I say cloudy, I mean, some of it was on the ground and the met reports were, at one stage, saying overcast at 200'.

Clearly no flying for me on Sunday.

Here are a few photos of the day. I think you'll see what I mean!

View across to the western apron

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

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEZ, operated by Air New Zealand

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

Wellington Anniversary Weekend flying

Last weekend was a busy time for flying, even with the terrible weather on Sunday.

Saturday, I collected Nanchang CJ6A ZK-MAO from Omaka [NZOM]  and then took it on another flight later that afternoon with Rhys The Pilot. We took the Owhiro departure then tracked north to have a look around Kapiti Island and came back on a City Arrival procedure. Fun times.

Sunday was a write-off with the weather.

Monday was a public holiday and so I got to take the Nanchang up again, this time for some circuits at Kapiti. After refueling, I took off again around Kapiti Island and back for another City Arrival.

On Monday evening, I took Cessna 172S, ZK-CEO up to Kapiti [NZPP] to collect someone else who was flying a C172N, ZK-EKE, up for a 100 hr maintenance check.

All in all, a good few hours of flying for the weekend. Despite all the flying though, there's only one photo... of the Nanchang after it was put to bed in the club hanger this afternoon.

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO, operated by Wellington Aero Club [for Wellington Warbirds]

Cessna 172M

Just trying to catch up on photos...

I was hanging around the aero club a few weeks ago when this Cessna 172M, ZK-ZZC, arrived from Taupo.

Cessna 172M, ZK-ZZC

I'll get sick of them soon, perhaps. Another A350

Ok, maybe I will get sick of photographing these soon [probably not], but here is another Airbus A350-941 departing Wellington. Singapore Airlines operated 9V-SMD on their Sunday 5 January flight to/from Melbourne.

Airbus A350-941, 9V-SMD, operated by Singapore Airlines

Cessna 208 Caravan

Yesterday's new (to me) aircraft was this Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV, which is operated by Evander Aviation. The aircraft is a brand new Caravan and was only registered in New Zealand in early December 2019.

Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV, operated by Evander Aviation

Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV, operated by Evander Aviation

Nelson Marlborough rescue helicopter

The Nelson Marlborough rescue helicopter, operated by GCH Aviation of a Christchurch address, has been in and out of Wellington recently.

Here are two pictures of the arrival and departure last Sunday.

Kawasaki BK117 B-2, ZK-IMN, operated by GCH Aviation

Kawasaki BK117 B-2, ZK-IMN, operated by GCH Aviation

As a bonus [and rather easy] question, take a look at the white object on the right skid [second picture, indicated by the arrow]. What is it and how might this be useful for a rescue helicopter?

Correct answers in the comments section on the blog. The prize is the respect and admiration of your peers 😁

Air Chathams ATR72

Following on from my last post's Air Chathams theme, here are Air Chathams' ATR-GIE ATR72-500, ZK-MCO departing Wellington.

ATR-GIE ATR72-500, ZK-MCO, operated by Air Chathams

ATR-GIE ATR72-500, ZK-MCO, operated by Air Chathams

Air Chathams Convair

The General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580 [no wonder everyone just calls it a Convair!] is one of the types of aircraft I have not yet flown on, but would very much like to.

Time is, unfortunately, running out, as I hear that they will not be used for much longer than another year or so. With Air Chathams starting to use SAAB 340's and ATR72's and the recent parking out and disposal of another Convair, that is perhaps little surprise. I have been inside one before when it was parked up at Whanganui, where legroom was amazing!

Anyway, here is ZK-CIB departing from Wellington.

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

Pelorus Air

Yesterday I finally got to see Pelorus Air's new Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-PEL. From the outside, it is a really nice aircraft. I haven't seen inside this one as yet, but other GA8's I have seen have been somewhat utilitarian but quite nice.

Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-PEL, operated by Pelorus Air

Earlier today., I also got around to photographing their Cessna 172, ZK-MGR. When I say "172", I don't mean an M, N, R, S or other later models, this is a very nicely presented, and very early model, C172.

Cessna 172, ZK-MGR, operated by Pelorus Air

In both cases, these are the first. pictures I've published of these aircraft - surprising for ZK-MGR since it has been around for a while...!