Nice [slow] trip in a Tomahawk

Last weekend I had a quick trip to Whanganui for a couple of hours.

The only aircraft that was available for the timeframe I wanted it was a Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-FML. It's a nice machine [like all the PA38's operated by Wellington Aero Club]. I have good memories of learning to fly in the Tomahawk... but... it is a bit slower than what I usually fly these days.

For a Tomahawk, it's reasonably quick at around 95knots at normal cruise power, but that's still quite a bit slower than the C172 at around 110knots, and the CJ6A at 135knots. Still, there are worse ways to travel around 😃

Another reason for taking this aircraft is that it needed to be left at Paraparaumu airport [NZPP] that evening for some planned maintenance. So, on the way back, I stopped at NZPP and left it there. I was fortunate enough to find another pilot driving back to Wellington, so I didn't even need to get the train home [not that the train is a bad way to get home either...]. All up, it was 2.3 hours of flying [instead of well under 2 hours in any of the other aircraft] and a car ride back to Wellington.

While in NZPP I got a couple of photos on my phone. First up is ZK-FML all tied up the for evening.

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

Next up is the resident Aviat Aircraft A-1C-180 Husky, ZK-USK. This is operated by Kapiti Districts Aero Club on behalf of the owner and is a fabulous looking aircraft. Everyone who has flown it seems to rave about it also!

The last aircraft I photographed is definitely not a usual resident. It is a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, ZK-MCL, which is operated by Milford Sounds Flights of a Queenstown address. Before you ask, I have no idea what it is doing up this way, but still a nice aircraft to see.

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, ZK-MCL, operated by Milford Sounds Flights

Anyway, that's the flying done for another day. Hopefully I have something this coming weekend. Something a bit faster and maybe across to a different island.

Kapiti Airport at risk of closure!

Kapiti Airport is at risk of closing. This would be a travesty for the local community, the local aero club, aircraft owners, maintenance providers, and airline operators!

The loss of Kapiti Airport may reduce safety as it is usually the best-placed airport before or after heading across Cook Strait. Closing the airport puts locals out of work and irreparably impacts Kapiti Districts Aero Club!

Let's stop this by supporting the retention of the airport, saving local jobs and employers!

Unfortunately I can't embed the video, but here's a link to watch the recent news article.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/seven-sharp/clips/locals-have-concerns-over-future-of-kapiti-airport 

Cessna 152 aerobat online at Wellington

Just a quick announcement that Wellington Aero Club has, for a couple of months or so, a Cessna A152, ZK-ELS, online for training and members to hire.

The aircraft is owned by Kapiti Aero Club and we're happy to have it around. Being an aerobat, I suspect that there might be a bit of that turning upside down thing involved also for some members.

Cessna A152, ZK-ELS, operated [for a limited time!] by Wellington Aero Club

Want to know more? Contact Wellington Aero Club.

Visits to Kapiti and Wanganui Aero Clubs

This past weekend I went up to Whanganui. On the way there I popped into Kapiti Aero Club for a brief "hello", followed by some time at Wanganui Aero Club.

Kapiti Aero Club is based at the airport in Paraparaumu and has a core fleet of 5 Cessna 152's [from memory, 3 aerobats] plus some C172's and  a few other aircraft. The visit was brief,  but I was shown around the site, including into one of their very tidy and well presented C152's.

Here are a couple of pictures from Kapiti Aero Club.

Cessna 152's, ZK-ELS, ZK-JEN and others, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Cessna A152, ZK-ELS, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Most of the weekend was spent in Whanganui and I did have a couple of visits out to the Wanganui Aero Club [more on these visits in later posts], but here are the core of the Club's training fleet.

Piper PA38-112, ZK-FRS, operated  by Wanganui Aero Club

Cessna A152, ZK-JDB, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Cessna 172S, ZK-RQA, operated by Wanganui Aero Club

Fun Flying Day and Competitions at Masterton - 2

Following on from the previous post, here are some pictures of the Kapiti Aero Club-related aircraft. I don't think I got photos of the all, but here's what I got.

Cessna C172F, ZK-CHN, operated by a private owner

Cessna A152, ZK-JEN, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Cessna A152, ZK-KID, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Cessna A152, ZK-KID, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Also, there were a number of local aircraft out flying, including a couple of Tiger Moths! These are operated through the Sport and Vintage Aviation Society and one of them was doing dual flights for our visiting pilots! Unfortunately, having a cold, I didn't go up, but maybe another day!

De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-ANL

De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-ANL

Cessna A152

Today's less common visitor was this Cessna A152, ZK-JEN, which is operated by Kapiti Aero Club. The "A152" means it is an aerobatic version.

Cessna A152, ZK-JEN, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

More from the Flying NZ regional competitions at Paraparaumu

Here are a few photos of some of the aircraft at the weekend's competition activities at Paraparaumu aerodrome.

First up is one of Kapiti Aero Club's Cessna A152, ZK-ELS. This is an aerobatic model. The C152 is the mainstay of Kapiti's flight training fleet. Int he background is the aero club's rooms.

Cessna A512, ZK-ELS, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

This next aircraft is a privately operated TL-Ultralight TL3000 Sirius. The aircraft is based in Whanganui and was flown in by a Wnaganui Aero Club competitor.

TL-Ultralight TL3000 Sirius, ZK-EBG

The following aircraft is also from Whanganui. ZK-JQY is a Maule MXT-7-180.

Maule MXT-7-180, ZK-JQY

Next we have two aircraft from Hawkes Bay, and the Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club. First up is a Cessna 172N, ZK-EKG, which is operated by Skybird Aviation.

Cessna 172N, ZK-EKG, operated by Skybird Aviation

Last up for this post is a Piper PA28-181, ZK-FQQ, which is operated by Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club of Hastings.

Piper PA28-181, ZK-FQQ, operated by Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club

Flying NZ Regional competitions at Paraparaumu

Today was the day for Flying NZ's Cook region, regional flying competitions. This year they were hosted by Kapiti Aero Club, just up the road at Paraparaumu airport.

Competitors came from aero clubs in Wellington, Paraparaumu, Whanganui and Hawkes Bay and the weather [perhaps surprisingly] was about perfect all day! The morning session was mainly the circuit competitions and the afternoon, mainly the liferaft and bombing competitions.

I did compete, in the bombing competition ["Rotorua Trophy"], which involves dropping some 500 gram containers from 300 feet, into a target. I'm still awaiting the results, but I was rather inaccurate [although fairly accurate flying], so I'm not expecting to win!

Anyway, in this first post, here are a few photos from the event. First up are two photos of a few of the aircraft, and third is the Kapiti Aero Club rooms.

Competing Aircraft

Competing Aircraft

Kapiti Areo Club rooms

There will be more photos in the next few days, I didn't get out to the landing grid this year, but I do have some more photos of the competing aircraft.

Robbie visits

There was a very unfamiliar visitor at the Aero Club today - unfamiliar as this type is very rarely seen in Wellington and unfamiliar because I don't know a lot about helicopters!

This aircraft is a Robinson R22 Beta, ZK-HNS, which is operated by Kapiti Aero Club. The one time I have previously seen this aircraft was at Otaki, last September.

Robinson R22 Beta, ZK-HNS, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Robinson R22 Beta, ZK-HNS, operated by Kapiti Aero Club

Kapiti District Aero Club's aircraft at the competitions

Further to my previous post, here are the Kapiti Districts Aero Club aircraft which were present for the competitions.

Cessna 152, ZK-ELA, operated by Kapiti Districts Aero Club

Cessna 152, ZK-FLC, operated by Kapiti Districts Aero Club

Cessna A152, ZK-JEN, operated by Kapiti Districts Aero Club

Cessna 172S, ZK-KAZ, operated by Kapiti Districts Aero Club

Yep, Kapiti have a helicopter on line also. The guy in the left hand seat is waving :-)

Robinson R22 Beta, ZK-HNS, operated by Kapiti Districts Aero Club

Competitions at Otaki airstrip!

Today we had some friendly competitions with Kapiti Aero Club. These were held at the nearby Otaki airstrip [NZOT], as we can't really hold any competitions at Wellington or Paraparaumu aerodromes.

Otaki is a grass strip located on the southern edge of [naturally] Otaki town. It's an awesome strip which is long enough to be safe, challenging enough to keep you on your toes and, close to everything, but not directly on any main arterial air traffic routes, so quite.

Despite some pretty grotty weather at Wellington in the morning [and cloudy and hazy most of the way from Wellington to Otaki], we managed to get two aircraft from Wellington Aero Club to Otaki [a privately owned Cessna 206 and the Club's C172], plus a number of members who drove up to Otaki for the day. Kapiti took 4 of their aircraft and a sizeable number of instructors and members along for the day, and we all had fun! After some passing showers, the weather cleared up nicely just before lunch so we could make a start.

Competitions held were Bombing, Precision Circuits, Forced Landings, Low Flying and two Navigation comps. We are awaiting the results, but as I may have been the only competitor in the low flying... I'm in with a chance in that :-) I think i was fairly competitive in the Bombing competition also [RNZAF - if you're looking for someone to drop 250g containers out a window from 300', I'm here - I'll do it in exchange for a type rating in something...!].

Anyway, on to some pictures:

The view from NZOT, looking south-west

A gentle crosswind on a 15 knot windsock

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

Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT, operated by Wellington Aero Club, about to drop a bomb on the target!

Cessna T206H, ZK-JWH, about to land

Two pistons and three turbines

Today's pictures are of two light piston powered aircraft, and of three turbine powered aircraft.

The lighties are of Wellington Aero Club's Piper PA28-161, ZK-MBG and a Cessna 172S, ZK-KAZ, registered to Kapiti Aero Club.

The heavier aircraft are Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGH from Air New Zealand, another Boeing 737-8FE, ZK-PBB of Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) and a Mount Cook Airline Aerospatiale Alenia ATR72-212A, ZK-MCY.

In other news, updates might be a little less frequent over the next few weeks, as I head off to the UK on holiday. On the plus side, I hope to get photos from new airports and to be able to share these with you!

 

Flying NZ "Cook area" regional comps: Post 2 - the grid

In a flying competition, the "grid" is a marked [in our case, mown into the grass runway and indicated by marker boards] out in 10 meter intervals, and a "fence" 1.2 meters high off the end. The idea is that the aircraft pass over the fence then land in the middle segment on the grid for maximum points.

Easier said than done? Perhaps, but there were really impressive landings anyway! The grid is used for circuit competitions as well as for simulated forced landing competitions.

The photos in this post consist on a photo of the fence, down the grid and the "sweet spot" in the middle of the grid. Following this, are several photos of competition aircraft trying to get onto the grid. Top to bottom are:

Cessna 172M, ZK-DKD, registered to a Masterton address

Cessna 152, ZK-JIA, registered to Kapiti Districts Aero Club

Tecnam P2002 Sierra, ZK-MVT, registered to Wairarapa & Ruahine Aero Club

Cessna 172N, ZK-KAS, registered to Kapiti Districts Aero Club

TL TL-3000 Sirius, ZK-EBG, registered to a Marton address

Flying NZ "Cook area" regional comps: Post 1

The past weekend was a very busy one with the Flying NZ "Cook area" regional competitions being held at Masterton [Hood] aerodrome. The competitions were officially hosted by Wellington Aero Club, but with a lot of work also done by Flying New Zealand and the Wairarapa-Ruahine Aero Club.

Competitors came from Hawkes Bay & East Coast, Wanganui, Kapiti, Wairarapa-Ruahine and Wellington aero clubs and competed in a range of competitions including circuits and landings, aerobatic, forced landing, navigation, low flying, and my two favourite comps [which I competed in], bombing and liferaft dropping :-)

Arrival for officials, competitors, supporters and their aircraft was Friday with the competitions themselves occurring on Saturday. The competition dinner and awards presentation occurred on Saturday night.

In this first post, there are pictures of the aircraft I competed in and a small selection of other photos. The remaining posts will have various other pictures from the comps.

Anyway, on to the pictures. Top to bottom are:

Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT, registered to Wellington Aero Club
Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-WAC, registered to Wellington Aero Club

Piper PA18-150 Super Cub, ZK-BPM, registered to Air Hawkes Bay

Bolkow Junior, ZK-CJB, registered to a Napier address

Lastly... it's got to be good for you... Yeah Right!