Goodwood Aerodrome #1

Two days ago I visited Goodwood Aerodrome [ICAO code: EGHR] - mostly to have a brief look, although we had a bite to eat at the Goodwood Aerodrome cafe also.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but as it turns out, quite a number of vintage/ historic aircraft, as well as the "normal" trainers - in fact, microlights to warbirds as well as helicopters.

The following series of posts will show a few of the aircraft visible from the cafe. It's by no means complete...!

Top to bottom we have:

View of the "historic" flightline - loads of taildraggers in there...
Piper PA22-150 Tri Pacer, G-AWLI
Piper PA17 Vagabond, G-ALEH
Piper PA28-161, OY-PHK - and a reminder that in Europe, aircraft can easily cross national boundaries!
Thruster T-600N 450, G-CBKG
Unknown type, G-CEKC
Scottish Aviation Bulldog 101, G-RNRS
Extra EA300L, G-IIDI
Both of these last two are available for aerobatic trial flights :-)

Visit to Auckland, Ardmore

For the second weekend in a row I am up in Auckland, this time for the whole weekend. This brief getaway was planned for some time, as a time to get out of town and to catch up with some friends.

After flying up on Air NZ then collecting a rental car, I headed out to Auckland Aero Club at Ardmore airfield. Ardmore is where I learnt to fly back in 1998/ 1999 and I was Club Captain for 3 years before leaving for Wellington.

I'm planning on heading back there tomorrow afternoon, where I have a flight booked in the Clubs Cessna 162 Skycatcher, ZK-AAC. here's hoping that the weather plays nicely :-)

Anyway, just a few photos from Ardmore,the next post will have some from Auckland. Enjoy! Top to bottom are:

Extra EA 300/L, ZK-XRA, registered to X Flight Ltd

Cessna 162 Skycatcher, ZK-AAC, registered to Auckland Aero Club

Bell 206L, ZK-ICV, registered to Workstore NZ Ltd

Auckland/ Ardmore visit - Post 1: X-Flight and the Warbirds Dakota

After a bit of an absence, I made another visit to Auckland last weekend. This was an opportunity to catch up with some people I hadn't seen for a while [more details on my other blog, Rodney's WTAOG Stuff - Andrew, Anita and Tahi will be making an appearance shortly :-)].

My first visit was to see Rob and Helena at Rob's Patisserie in the suburb of Ponsonby. Well worth a visit if you're looking for a bite to eat, or a fancy cake for a special occasion!

After this I went out to Ardmore airport to visit Auckland Aero Club [where I am still a member], and got to catch up with Wayne of X-Flight fame [and winner of a national aerobatic flight competition earlier this year]. Wayne provides aerobatic adventure flights and from the videos I have seen, it would be a real experience! Well worthwhile checking out! www.xflight.co.nz or phone 0800 XFLIGHT [New Zealand callers only].

The first two pictures are of X-Flight's Extra EA300/L, ZK-XRA. The last is a picture of the NZ Warbird's Douglas DC3, ZK-DAK taking off. More pictures from my visit to Auckland Aero Club tomorrow.