A quick trip to Kaikoura

I had a quick trip down to Kaikoura airfield today [NZKI] with another club pilot, Lawrence, in our Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT. The trip was planned a few days ago, then the weather started looking a wee bit rubbish. It was rubbish this morning, but this afternoon, while a little windy around Wellington, was good enough to fly and very nice everywhere but Wellington. No surprise there!

Anyway, I did the flight down to Kaikoura and Lawrence flew back. The departure from Wellington was a little different, with takeoff on runway 34 into the right-hand circuit, followed by a clearance to "fly overhead the aerodrome at 1500', then the Sinclair sector at 1500' and below". An easy way to get us out of the way and a quick way for us to be on our way. Awesome!

Anyway, the flights down and back were fairly uneventful and I did enjoy doing a couple of extra circuits at Kaikoura when we arrived. I think you'll agree from the photos that it's a beautiful part of the country!

Scenery from on NZKI airfield

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

Lined up and ready to go

Turning crosswind [after takeoff]

Turning left base in the circuit

On approach to NZKI

Kaikoura ranges

Kaikoura township and peninsula

Finally, pictures of a couple of local resident aircraft.

Bell 206B, ZK-HBO, operated by South Pacific Helicopters

Gippsland GA8, ZK-KBZ, operated by Wings over Whales

A ride as a passenger today

Today I got to go on a flight from Wellington to Omaka and back as a passenger. The weather was surprisingly good [albeit rather cold!] and despite winds gusting up with 30 knots at Wellington, there were smooth flying conditions everywhere we went.

As I was a passenger, it was a good day to take photos. The aircraft was Wellington Aero Club's Cessna 172N, ZK-FLT. Thanks to Lawrence for taking me along for the ride!

Anyway, here are some photos from the trip.

Just after takeoff from Wellington

Just after takeoff, looking back to Wellington Airport

Island bay looking north, with a bit of rain

Over Cook Strait, looking north

"White Bluffs" reporting point approaching Omaka aerodrome

Looks like a bit of snow on the hills from the cold of the past few days!

Omaka Aerodrome [NZOM]. Runway 07 goes right to left, middle of the airfield

Final approach to NZOM, runway 07

Gippsland GA8, ZK-KBZ, operated by Wings over Whales of a Kaikoura address

Wellington City looking north as we came back

Wellington City, looking South East as we returned

Looking west towards the sun, rain showers and wind turbines

Another view of Wellington Airport [NZWN] and the Mirimar Peninsula

Looking west again over Wellington City

Many thanks to Lawrence and Jelle for allowing me to come along for the ride!

Wings Over Whales parked overnight in Wellington

A Wings Over Whales-operated Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-KBZ, was parked up overnight in Wellington on Sunday night. The aircraft flew in from Kaikoura with people and equipment  to assist in rescuing a humpback whale which was in difficulty around Wellington. This operation also involved the local Police who provided their launch, the Lady Elizabeth IV, to transport the rescuers to the site.

Anyway, here's the aircraft parked up and tied down for the night.

Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-KBZ, operated by Wings Over Whales from Kaikoura

P.S. - having written the article, here's one I found on the Dompost website.

Today's flight from Kaikoura back to Wellington

I only planned a short stop in Kaikoura, and so spent a few minutes in the Wings Over Whales building. There were a couple of English tourists waiting for their whale watching flight, so I had a quick chat with them before heading back to the plane for the flight home.

Photos in this post start with the aircraft lined up on Kaikoura's runway 05 [yes, I put the camera away before taking off!] - this is noticeably narrower than Wellington... followed by some of the scenery I got to see flying north. I'm particularly pleased with the last photo which is looking south-west along the Kaikoura ranges [I took a quick detour inland for a few minutes to have a look].

The middle three photos were taken with the side window open, at around 5500 feet. Some of the hills had a little snow on them, so an open window made for a cold breeze!

Today's flight from Wellington to Kaikoura

Yippee! I got to go flying again today, and what a cracker of a day! Normally, if I plan a flight somewhere, the wind picks up, the clouds come down and flying is cancelled. Today however, the winds didn't get much above 5-6 knots at Wellington and the skies were basically clear! Awesome!

Wellington Aero Club has a Cessna 172N, ZK-EJT, online at the moment [this aircraft was online with the Club some years ago also] and it was this that I went across to the South Island then down to Kaikoura in. No particular reason, except that it's close [about an hour away], and different [shorter and much narrower than Wellington] and the scenery is fantastic.

Photos today include Lake Grassmere [used for salt production?], then looking south along the coastline, then towards to west. My phone has GPS in it and this was put to good use. Last two photos are of ZK-EJT at Kaikoura, then a Wings Over Whales Gippsland GA8, ZK-KBZ taking off.

Enjoy the photos - the next post has the trip home!