Perhaps it is nothing too special, but it is one of the last photos I managed to get prior to the lockdown.
 |
| Dassault Falcon 50, N115MF |
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Dassault Falcon 50 at Wellington
From last week [before the Covid19 lockdown], I was at the aero club and saw this Dassault Falcon 50, N115MF, departing Wellington.
Perhaps it is nothing too special, but it is one of the last photos I managed to get prior to the lockdown.
As previously flagged, until this lockdown is lifted, I'll try and find some interesting posts to keep us all entertained. I'm thinking of a few youtube videos which I have liked. Hopefully, they will be interesting to you also!
Perhaps it is nothing too special, but it is one of the last photos I managed to get prior to the lockdown.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
The Lock Down
Like where much of the rest of the world is heading, the Prime Minister of New Zealand announced on Monday 23 April 2020 that New Zealand had moved to Covid19 Alert Level 3, with a move to Level 4 on Wednesday [yesterday]. My understanding of Level 4 means the shutdown of all non-essential services and people remaining at home [with a few exemptions], including, working from home.
Clearly, this means there will be a massive reduction in air traffic over the next four weeks [minimum], and no opportunity to get out and fly myself around or to easily observe air traffic.
All aero clubs and other flight training/ recreational flying organisations must be closed by now and all private/ recreational flying is also prohibited.
So, there will obviously be a big reduction in the usual posting on this blog until this is lifted.
I will try and find some interesting posts from time to time. I do have content for one or two more posts after this one. I am thinking of a small series of interesting online videos that I have found from time to time and if you have any thoughts on that matter, please let me know!
I have already heard of people who seem either oblivious to, or who don't care about, the lockdown.
If you are like this, please don't be a dick. The lives of people are dependant on a few weeks of lockdown. There are very few people in this fine land who will tolerate that level of selfishness! If the lockdown is not obeyed, it is likely there will need to be an even longer period of lockdown. Be a #GreatNewZealander and we get through this much easier and faster.
For authoritative sources of information, I can recommend the following NZ Government sites:
[clearly this list does not include Twitter, Facebook other media sites, or your mates 2nd cousin's aunty...!]
Clearly, this means there will be a massive reduction in air traffic over the next four weeks [minimum], and no opportunity to get out and fly myself around or to easily observe air traffic.
All aero clubs and other flight training/ recreational flying organisations must be closed by now and all private/ recreational flying is also prohibited.
So, there will obviously be a big reduction in the usual posting on this blog until this is lifted.
I will try and find some interesting posts from time to time. I do have content for one or two more posts after this one. I am thinking of a small series of interesting online videos that I have found from time to time and if you have any thoughts on that matter, please let me know!
I have already heard of people who seem either oblivious to, or who don't care about, the lockdown.
If you are like this, please don't be a dick. The lives of people are dependant on a few weeks of lockdown. There are very few people in this fine land who will tolerate that level of selfishness! If the lockdown is not obeyed, it is likely there will need to be an even longer period of lockdown. Be a #GreatNewZealander and we get through this much easier and faster.
For authoritative sources of information, I can recommend the following NZ Government sites:
[clearly this list does not include Twitter, Facebook other media sites, or your mates 2nd cousin's aunty...!]
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Kawasaki BK117 B-2
This Kawasaki BK117 B-2 was quite a way from home recently.
ZK-HGW is registered to Helilink of a Papakura address and is seen here parked on the western apron at Wellington, outside the rescue helicopter base.
ZK-HGW is registered to Helilink of a Papakura address and is seen here parked on the western apron at Wellington, outside the rescue helicopter base.
 |
| Kawasaki BK117 B-2, ZK-HGW, operated by Helilink |
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Aerostar 601
Topping off a fine weekend for flying [including just over 2 hours in the Nanchang], there was a visit from this beautiful looking Aerostar 601, ZK-JOS, on Sunday. This aircraft is operated by Matrinair Ltd and is based in Feilding.
I've never flown into Feilding, so it might be a nice place to take the Nanchang one weekend :-)
I've never flown into Feilding, so it might be a nice place to take the Nanchang one weekend :-)
 |
| Aerostar 601, ZK-JOS, operated by Matrinair |
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Vans RV4 at Wellington
Last weekend this really nice RV4 visited Wellington. It's the second time I have seen ZK-RVV at Wellington. The first time was two years ago on 1 April 2018.
 |
| Vans RV-4, ZK-RVV, operated by Tauranga Aeroplan Co |
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Rockets and rubber bands
The last three or four weeks I have been looking at a Youtube channel called Flite Test. It's a channel with a lot of really cool radio-controlled aircraft [don't groan too loud!], with everything from what you might expect to flying hammers, kayaks and more.
It's pretty awesome!
I saw a video the other day which was a bit different. The Flite Test team did an episode on free flight models, some of which are rocket launched with spring-loaded wings and others which are powered by rubber bands. This includes an eight-engined monster right down to an extremely light inside-only model.
It's a pretty cool video, so I thought I would share it.
This may end up being a small series on model aircraft... I'll see how I feel and what reaction to get to this one. Let me know what you think in the comments!
It's pretty awesome!
I saw a video the other day which was a bit different. The Flite Test team did an episode on free flight models, some of which are rocket launched with spring-loaded wings and others which are powered by rubber bands. This includes an eight-engined monster right down to an extremely light inside-only model.
It's a pretty cool video, so I thought I would share it.
This may end up being a small series on model aircraft... I'll see how I feel and what reaction to get to this one. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Thursday, March 05, 2020
Flying NZ National Championships and International Wings Trophy #4
In this last post from the Flying NZ Nationals, I just wanted to show a couple of awesome aircraft I spotted during the competitions.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't spend a lot of time taking photos at these events, but I did get photos of a couple of interesting Cessnas.
First up is a Cessna 172, ZK-REV. Now to be clear, it is a Cessna 172. Not a 172A, or N or M or R or anything, but a 1957 Cessna 172A. From memory, it has a 6 cylinder Continental developing 145 Hp [but happy to be corrected]. There won't be many of these left flying anywhere.
Second up is a Cessna 195, ZK-AZK. This has a 7 cylinder radial engine and it looks amazing! Again, there won't be many of these flying around anywhere.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't spend a lot of time taking photos at these events, but I did get photos of a couple of interesting Cessnas.
First up is a Cessna 172, ZK-REV. Now to be clear, it is a Cessna 172. Not a 172A, or N or M or R or anything, but a 1957 Cessna 172A. From memory, it has a 6 cylinder Continental developing 145 Hp [but happy to be corrected]. There won't be many of these left flying anywhere.
 |
| Cessna 172, ZK-REV |
Second up is a Cessna 195, ZK-AZK. This has a 7 cylinder radial engine and it looks amazing! Again, there won't be many of these flying around anywhere.
 |
| Cessna 195, ZK-AZK |
Tuesday, March 03, 2020
Flying NZ National Championships and International Wings Trophy #3
After all the fun, games and serious competition, we end up at the presentation dinner. This is where we find out if we did as well as we thought. It's also another chance the let the hair down without worrying about competing.
The evening starts with a welcome, then into presenting scholarships to the Young Eagles to support and encourage them in their flight training. Following this, we intersperse results with dinner and dessert.
The food was great, so was the band, everyone was having a good time and it didn't take long for the paper airplanes to start flying. Everywhere. All directions. I wish I had videoed it [some others did]. the following picture shows the scene, although somehow all the paper airplanes were on the ground at this point!
For the second year, I had the honour of announcing the results which is a fairly serious activity, especially as many competitors had spent a lot of time and money to practice, come and compete. I did hand over these duties for the Wigram Cup announcements [since I was in it and for many it is the main event].
As for my results?
Second in the liferaft competition [that's a nice surprise] and a very surprising first in the Wigram Cup Instrument Flying event! Absolutely stocked with that! The win came with a cup [which has to be handed back next year] and a plaque which I get to keep. There are also certificates for the win and the Wigram Cup second place.
Overall, Wellington came second in the Wigram Cup [congratulations to Whenuapai Aviation Sports Club who took out the Wigram this year!].
Tauranga Aero Club did a fantastic job of organising much of the event in conjunction with Flying NZ. I think the set the standard [or at least, kept it very high], which is a great effort!
Anyway, that's about it. Competitions are a lot of fun. The social side is great fun also [at one stage, a certain CFI was supplying paper for the paper airplanes..!]. I can't recommend this enough. The only requirements are you must be a member of a Flying NZ club and for some event, you must have won at your regional competition. Simple, eh?!
The evening starts with a welcome, then into presenting scholarships to the Young Eagles to support and encourage them in their flight training. Following this, we intersperse results with dinner and dessert.
The food was great, so was the band, everyone was having a good time and it didn't take long for the paper airplanes to start flying. Everywhere. All directions. I wish I had videoed it [some others did]. the following picture shows the scene, although somehow all the paper airplanes were on the ground at this point!
 |
| 180 people in a hanger for a party! Paper airplanes lying around everywhere! |
For the second year, I had the honour of announcing the results which is a fairly serious activity, especially as many competitors had spent a lot of time and money to practice, come and compete. I did hand over these duties for the Wigram Cup announcements [since I was in it and for many it is the main event].
As for my results?
Second in the liferaft competition [that's a nice surprise] and a very surprising first in the Wigram Cup Instrument Flying event! Absolutely stocked with that! The win came with a cup [which has to be handed back next year] and a plaque which I get to keep. There are also certificates for the win and the Wigram Cup second place.
 |
| The Cup |
 |
| The plaque |
Overall, Wellington came second in the Wigram Cup [congratulations to Whenuapai Aviation Sports Club who took out the Wigram this year!].
Tauranga Aero Club did a fantastic job of organising much of the event in conjunction with Flying NZ. I think the set the standard [or at least, kept it very high], which is a great effort!
Anyway, that's about it. Competitions are a lot of fun. The social side is great fun also [at one stage, a certain CFI was supplying paper for the paper airplanes..!]. I can't recommend this enough. The only requirements are you must be a member of a Flying NZ club and for some event, you must have won at your regional competition. Simple, eh?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)