Christchurch visit

Today was my first visit to Christchurch in many years. I will update my WTAOGS blog at some stage to put up the pictures from the CBD, but this post contains a few images form Christchurch Airport [ICAO code: NZCH].

Just a couple of notes. Firstly, most of the views from around the terminal, carparks and ground are rubbish. I did get a reasonable picture of a Singapore Airlines B777 departing from runway 20, but mostly the others were obscured by buildings, poles, layers of glass and fences.

Anyway, here's what I did get, top to bottom:

Christchurch Air Traffic Control Tower
Lockheed LC130H, 83-0493, of the US Air Force on the US Antarctic Programme apron
Douglas DC3C-S1C3G, ZK-AMY, registered to Southern DC3 limited, and soon to be retired
ATR-GIE ATR72-212A, ZK-MCB, registered to Mount Cook Airline / Air NZ [unfortunately this had to be shot through 2 sets of thick glass...]
Boeing 777-212ER, 9V-SVK, registered to Singapore Airlines

Enjoy!

At and out of Christchurch

Continuing the series from my Christchurch trip, here are a few of the pictures from Christchurch International Airport itself.

The first two pictures are various Air New Zealand branded Boeing B737, Airbus A320 and ATR72 aircraft. The third was just after takeoff showing a US Antarctic Program C130 Hercules that had landed a few seconds earlier, the fourth a US Air Force C17 Globemaster and finally an aerial shot back to Christchurch as we departed.

As much as I love flying out of Wellington [and I really do!], it is nice to see some of the variety of different types that fly into other airfields.

Post # 100! All the way from Christchurch

Yes, this is post #100... OK, I'm over it!

I flew to Christchurch this afternoon for a quick visit [I was rushed for time, so only spent about 45 minutes there - all at the Canterbury Aero Club]. The flight itself was a load of fun [2.1 hours each way], although I was by myself so no pictures from the flight itself. That's a real shame, because the scenary is AMAZING!!

I managed to get to Christchurch Airport and land without too many issues. After a quick look around, a refuel [guess who left his fuel card behind in Wellington!] and a few photos I came home.

Flight back was uneventful, just some moderate turbulance coming back into Wellington, and a mad rush to get in before the B737 a few seconds after me... Anyway, here are some photos from Christchurch Airport. I'll have to go for a few days next time...

Top to bottom are:

A small number of the Canterbury Aero Club fleet looking towards the main terminals
A Jetstar A320 [Qantas budget airline offshoot] taxying for takeoff
Two C130's from the US Antarctic Programme