Auckland Quick Visit Sep 2010 #1: Ardmore

Last weekend was spent in Auckland catching up with friends. This included a trip out to Auckland Aero Club [AAC] at Ardmore Airfield [ICAO: NZAR] for a few hours. Highlights were catching up with several club pilots, and looking at some old pictures from my time there as the Club Captain.

Here are a few of the pictures I took. Top to bottom are:

Entrance way to the aero club

Grumman American AA-1C, ZK-FVR, registered to AAC

Cessna 172SP, ZK-JRA, registered to AAC

Cessna 172N, ZK-JAZ, registered to AAC

[I have loads of hours on each of the above three aircraft... awesome memories!]

Cessna 182R, ZK-SAR, registered to the Coastguard Northern Region

Schweizer 269C-1, ZK-IMX, registered to Ardmore Helicopters Ltd

Bristol Type 170 Freighter, NZ5911, ex RNZAF.. clearly not airworthy!

Invasion of Auckland Aero Club aircraft!

After thinking it was going to be a quiet day for visitors, there was a pleasant surprise in store as three aircraft from Auckland Aero Club turned up.

The first was Partenavia P68C, ZK-SMB. This aircraft was flown by "Captain Jase" and one of his students. The second was Cessna 172N, ZK-JAZ. The last was another Cessna, C172SP ZK-JRA.

The occupants of these aircraft were originally going to visit Queenstown, but when that didn't work out, it was a trip to various places at the top of the South Island, such as Karamea, Omaka, Nelson and the like.

I was especially pleased to see these aircraft as I flew from Auckland Aero Club for several years, including a 3 year period where I was Club Captain. I have flown ZK-JAZ and ZK-JRA myself - in fact I first flew ZK-JRA when it was brand spanking new with around 30 hours on the clock.

First picture is of Captain Jase and his student, followed by the Partenavia then the Cessnas.

Auckland Aero Club

Here's a few pictures from Auckland Aero Club [AAC]. This is where I spent the past few years flying [prior to moving to Wellington]. As you can see, the weather was perfect! I was also the Club Captain at AAC for 3 years from Dec 2002 - Dec 2005.

Top to bottom, the photos are:

Auckland Aero Club clubhouse and apron
C172N ZK-JAZ in which I did most of my flying on my last visit
Grumman AA1C basic trainers - the core of the AAC fleet
PA28-140 Warrior ZK-CNI
PA28-200R Arrow II ZK-EBE [135kt cruise, retractable gear and CSU]