The KAT

Last Sunday afternoon I got to take the Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO, across to Omaka aerodrome for a maintenance check. As it was going to be there for a few days, a ride was organised to bring me back [thanks Malcolm!]. That ride was a Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT, which is also operated by the Wellington Aero Club.

The ride back was a great opportunity to play with Avplan on my iPad mini, since I don't get to do this as much when I'm actually flying the aircraft. It was good fun and I learned a couple of things, particularly about how the terrain map works [short version: it's pretty good, although I sometimes had the impression the terrain was further away than in real life, not that we ever got that close!].

Anyway, here are a couple of photos from the 16 City Arrival back into Wellington. First up we are approaching the city from the west with the camera pointed south.

Here's the panel of ZK-KAT.

Piper PA28-161, ZK-KAT, the panel

Here's a really nice photo looking south over Mount Victoria to Island Bay and with the Miramar Peninsula and the airport on the left.

ATR72 on the Western Apron

Just a quick couple of photos today with the arrival of an Air New Zealand ATR-72-600, ZK-MVE, to the Western Apron at Wellington today.

Rumour has it, the aircraft was transporting people subject to Covid19-related quarantine from Auckland to Wellington.

ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVE, operated by Air New Zealand

ATR-GIE ATR72-600, ZK-MVE, operated by Air New Zealand

Nanchang flying

It had been about 5 weeks since I last flew the Nanchang, so with good weather yesterday I took the opportunity to go for a quick flight. I had a spare seat, so rather than waste some perfectly good space, Gareth, one of the Wellington Aero Club students, came for a ride.

After a 34 Ward Departure, we headed to Mana Island, did a few orbits of that, then headed back for a 34 Owhiro Arrival. It wasn't as turbulent on the arrival as I thought it could have been - just a couple of gentle lumps every now and then.

All up, 42 minutes from start to finish.

Many thanks to Gareth who took these really nice photos! I'm quite impressed with how the first one came out as a monochrome image [and yes, I really need a pair of prescription sunglasses].

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO

This next photo is of one of the steep turns near Mana Island. I think that counts as looking into the turn.

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO

This was just before turning onto final approach and is a really nice shot of the rear cockpit. The rear cockpit has most of the instruments and buttons from the front, but is missing a few controls and is laid out quite differently. This photo also shows the weird artificial horizon [AH], which shows the ground on top and the sky underneath. I never did work out why the Russians and Chinese did that.

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO

Last up is a photo from about a 1/2 mile final. For the smart-alecs out there, yes the PAPI shows 4 white lights, but that's normal as I tend to have quite a steep approach in the Nanchang [mainly as I really want to be able to see where I am heading...].

Nanchang CJ6A, ZK-MAO

British Aerospace Jetstream 31

Origin Air is back up and running [after Covid19 and preceding that, a loooooong period of other troubles] with their British Aerospace Jetstream 31, ZK-JSH.

I think they have a very nice livery - possibly one of the nicest around New Zealand.

British Aerospace Jetstream J31, ZK-JSH, operated by Origin Air

British Aerospace Jetstream J31, ZK-JSH, operated by Origin Air

For those blog visitors from outside of New Zealand, welcome!

We are very fortunate to have no Covid19-related restrictions in place, aside from isolation/ quarantine for [almost] everyone entering the country and limits on who can arrive [citizens, permanent residents and a few other exceptions].

There are no travel restrictions within New Zealand, no social distancing requirements, no business restrictions. It has been tough, but it seems a lockdown for 7 or so weeks [which was well complied with], followed by gradually loosened restrictions, has worked well so far. It will continue to be tough for some business for a while, but I would suggest, not as tough as the ongoing partial lockdowns in some other nations.

Sorry you are unable to travel here right now, but it's keeping us safe, and as other countries catch up* to us, I'm sure that restrictions on travel will be loosened.

* yes, I'm aware that Taiwan, along with Fiji, the Cook Islands, Samoa and several other of our Pacific neighbours have done very well also.