Tuesday, May 26, 2020

A320 at the Bridge St mound

Following on from last week's posts, here's another picture from the Bridge St mound of an Air NZ operated Airbus A320-232, ZK-OXB, departing on runway 34. It's nice to see a bit more air traffic around, even though it is still very quiet.

Airbus A320-232, ZK-OXB, operated by Air New Zealand

Lastly, with the reduction in COVID 19-related restrictions, I'm trying to get back into a Tuesday/ Thursday publishing pattern, with photos from the previous week or two. It won't always work out that way 😀 but we'll see how I go!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Cessna 182

Here's that nice Cessna 182T I saw a few days ago, this time departing Wellington on a fantastic autumn day.

This was photographed at the "Bridge St mound" which is a mound of dirt that provides a great view of the runway. It's located on Bridge St [obviously] and is a great place for photographing aircraft, particularly of arrivals onto runway 16.

Cessna 182T, ZK-WYT

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The latest jet on FR24?

Wellington Aero club's latest installation of ADSB has been in one of our Piper PA38-112 Tomahawks, ZK-TAW, which is a good prompt to get updated photos onto Jetphotos, which then appear on Flightradar24.com.

Of course, this also means it appears on FR24 as a medium-sized jet, so probably a chance to get that corrected also 😀

Go for it, plane spotting team!

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

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Currency flight in a Cessna 172

I hadn't flown a Cessna 172 for just over 3 months, so last Sunday afternoon I had a dual currency flight in Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE.

Fun times! Included was a max performance takeoff from Wellington, some strip flying at Battery Hill, a bit of low flying and a rejoin into Wellington via the East Arrival [from the south east], finishing with a flapless approach. 1.2 hours of fun!

No photos from the flying [I was having too much fun!] but here's one of ZK-EKE in the evening just prior to being put in the hanger.

It was, of course, another perfect day of flying in the Wellington region!

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

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Cessna 182T

Today's picture is this nicely polished Cessna 182T, ZK-WYT, which is registered to a Penrose [Auckland] address.

Cessna 182T, ZK-WYT

Friday, May 15, 2020

I did that aviation thing again!

Apologies for the mug in front of the plane, ruining the shot... but I got to do that aviation thing again today [Saturday], after our Covid 19 restrictions on flying ended last Thursday.

It was great to get up for a few crosswind circuits in the Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO after around two months of not being able to fly. I managed 4 circuits in 0.6 hours, this included a brief hold at one point and a deliberate go around from 500' on one of the approaches [great practice].

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO
Oh yeah - I really do need a haircut.

Also, if anyone makes this the KP banner image, there'll be trouble!!

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

Airplanes!

Not normally something to get excited about, but with the recent loosening of rules, this was the first day I have been able to get out and see a couple of aircraft flying around.

First up is an Air New Zealand-operated Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-XXX. As has been noted elsewhere, these are now using Air NZ callsigns, so instead of Link 1234, it's now New Zealand 1234 Lima [and ex Mount Cook flights being NZ1234 Mike].

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NEO, operated by Air New Zealand
The second aircraft os a Cessna 510 Citation Mustang, ZK-VXM. This aircraft is operated by Skyline Aviation of Hawkes Bay. Given the restrictions on travel, my guess is it would have been operating an essential services charter or air ambulance.

Cessna 510 Citation Mustang, ZK-VXM, operated by Skyline Aviation
Lastly, it's great to be out and seeing some aviation happening! Hopefully it won't be too long until I can get back into the cockpit myself. I'm sure the Nanchang is feeling a bit lonely these days...!