Must not fly again in January...

... because I've already done about 15 hours this month...

This evening's chariot was Wellington Aero Club's latest acquisition, Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-EQX. What can I say. It is a Tomahawk. It flies like a Tomahawk. Take-off was fine, stalls were fun, turns good, landing about perfect.

I promise, no more flying in January 2022. I'm done for the month!

Piper PA38-113 Tomahawk, ZK-EQX, operated by Wellington Aero Club

Today's visitors

Here are a couple of today's visitors to Wellington. The first is a rescue helicopter. ZK-HZN is an Aerospatiale AS 350BA and I think this is operated by Helicopters Services (BOP) Ltd for the Phillips Search and Rescue Trust, based in Tauranga or Taupo.

ZK-EQS is a Piper Warrior PA28-161 and was previously based at Wellington Aero Club, albeit with quite a different paint scheme [this one is much nicer :-)]. I flew this aircraft to Nelson and remember it as a nice aircraft that was a pleasure to fly.

Finally, ZK-KAP is a Partenavia P68C and based with Kapiti Aero Club [at Paraparaumu airfield]. The aircraft was flown down [a 20 or so minute flight each way] for a 1 hour stop over by another Wellington Aero Club member.

Trip to Nelson

I went on a trip from Wellington to Nelson today. Mainly, this was an excuse to get out of town, but also to test my navigation skills. All went well, and as you'll see from one of the pictures, it was very sunny in Nelson [as it was in Wellington]. Nelson is barely a 1 hour flight [each way] so it is perfect for a day out - it also gets the close to the most sunshine of any place in New Zealand.

Unfortunately the aerial shots are not much good as they were taken through cruddy perspex windows, but such is life - they still show some of the beauty of the Marlborough Sounds area [one of the best parts of the country].

The first shot is of EQS [my transport for the day] outside Nelson Aero Club. The second is looking north with Pelorus Sound in the foreground up to Beatrix Bay in the center-right. The third is half way across Cooks Strait looking towards Cape Terawhiti then to Wellington. Both of the aerial shots were taken at around 5000'.