Heavy and not-so-heavy metal

The weather was fantastic in Wellington today, and the Club was kept busy flying all day. Visitors today included a number of light aircraft from various parts of the country, plus the following. The first is an RNZAF Boeing 757, NZ7571. This is the largest aircraft to regularly use Wellington [although not the largest aircraft to ever land here].

Next is a Sounds Air Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-TZR, followed by an Aerospatiale AS 350BA, ZK-HZN, registered to Search And Rescue Services Ltd of a Taupo address. Last is a Beech 76 Duchess, ZK-JED, registered to Ardmore Flying School of Ardmore airfield.

Next weekend I'm planning to do some flying for myself, so here's hoping for good weather next Sunday...!

Other visitors to Wellington today

I spent most of today at the Aero Club, but unfortunately, due to the weather, it wasn't much good for flying... However, I did get to see a number of visitors [including the RNZAF B757 - previous post] coming and going.

The first two images are of a Kawasaki BK117 B2, ZK-IBK, registered to Skyline Aviation Ltd of a Napier address and used as a rescue helicopter/ air ambulance.

The next three are of a CTC Diamond DA42 Twinstar [also known as the "Death Star" in some circles...], ZK-CTM. This is pictured tied up for the evening and included my first opportunity to photograph the cockpit of one of these aircraft. The final picture is of an Aerospatiale AS350 BA, ZK-HZN, registered to Search and Rescue Services Ltd of a Taupo address. This is also used as a rescue helicopter/ air ambulance.

Enjoy the pictures!

Yesterday's Wellington visitors

Before the flight with Pete in the Nanchang, I took photos of a number of aircraft visiting Wellington, and the aero club's apron area.

The first photos are two pictures of the Akrotech Giles G200, ZK-LGT, which is undergoing it's test flight programme. The second is a Piper PA28-140, ZK-DNE, registered to a Papakura address. The most exciting aircraft would have to be the Cessna P210N Centurion, ZK-VIR. This aircraft is registered to Air West Coast, and is a pressurised model. Nice.

Lastly is an Aerospatiale AS350BA, ZK-HZN. This helicopter is registered to Search and Rescue Services Ltd of a Taupo address.

More visitors

Here are a couple more photos from the weekend.

Firstly, another one of ZK-HZN, an Aerospatiale AS 350BA rescue helicopter which has made a few trips in recently. Apparantly we can expect to see a few more rescue helicopters landing at Wellington as single-engined helicopters are no longer permitted to use the hospital roof-top heliport, except in an emergency [as distinct from a regular patient transport trip].

The second aircraft is ZK-MAP, a Cessna 402B, registered to a Nelson address.

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.