Flying NZ Cook Strait regional flying competition

Last weekend I was up in Whanganui for the Flying NZ Cook Strait region competitions.Unlike the previous four years, I wasn't the Competition Director [Thanks Leroy for doing that this year. Well done!], but I was given the role of Chief Ground Judge [so LOTS of time out on the landing grid], as well as competing in the Wigram Cup Basic Panel Instrument Flying competition.

A fun day and one that was well organised by Flying NZ and the Wanganui Aero Club.

For me, the weekend started with a flight to Whanganui in Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-EKE on Friday. My competition was done in a Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-TAW on Saturday and the flight home on Sunday was again in EKE.

I didn't get any pictures during the competitions - I was too busy with managing safety on the grid and ensuring the judging was up to standard, but I did get some on Saturday evening and on the flight home.

First up is the de Havilland DH112 Venom, ZK-VNM. This was pulled out of its hanger and turned some Jet A1 into noise and kinetic energy. Nice!

de Havilland DH112 Venom, ZK-VNM, operated by Wanganui Sea and Air Charters

This Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk 26 Replica, ZK-SPT, was pushed out of it's hanger to make room for the competition presentation dinner. What an awesome machine!

Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk26 Replica, ZK-SPT

It looked great in the dark also!

Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk26 Replica, ZK-SPT

I am always impressed at the quality of photos on my new iPad Mini 6. here are a couple as we passed over Paraparaumu airport and a cockpit photo of EKE.

NZPP - Paraparaumu airport

NZPP - Paraparaumu airport

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

Oh yeah... competition results. I managed a First Equal in my competition. I'm quite stocked with that! I guess the practice helped. Well done to Mads from HBECAC who was also first equal - a great guy and friendly rivalry [rumour has it, I might has tried to convince Mads that I was so bad, that he would win even if he didn't compete... 😁😁😁 ... didn't work!].

Saturday in Whanganui

Last weekend I headed up to Whanganui for another lesson in Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub, ZK-BKN. Being very very new to tailwheel aircraft [I have about 3 hours total now], I've still got a huge amount to learn, but I am having a lot of fun!

Like the last lesson, there were a lot of circuits at a local strip and we finished off with a forced landing/ glide approach from the circuit at Whanganui. Fun time, but oh so much work! :-)

Piper PA18A-150, ZK-BKN

It wasn't all just fun in the air though, with a chance to see Air Chathams bring a General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/580, ZK-CIF into Whanganui in place of their SAAB 340A which picked up a load of people on a charter earlier in the day.

General Dynamics Allison Convair 440/ 580, ZK-CIF, operated by Air Chathams

Perhaps the most exciting visitor though was this Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk26 Replica, ZK-SPT, which is registered to a Whanganui address. The aircraft had just landed after it's first flight in about a year and it looked great, on the ground and in the air! I understand that it's an approximately 90% replica of the original.

Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk 26 Replica, ZK-SPT

Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk 26 Replica, ZK-SPT