Farewell

After yesterday's fun flying, the weather was not much good today. Apart from a twin returning, there wasn't any club flying at all, which is a pity.

There was still plenty happening through, with a brief refresher on aviation law, a couple of photos and a farewell to one of our instructors in the evening.

The photo is of an Air NZ operated Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGJ departing. As has been well covered in the blogosphere and other media, these aircraft are being phased out. By the end of the year, Air NZ will have completed their replacement of B737's with A320's.

Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGJ, operated by Air NZ

As it started to get dark, some of us headed down to the Spruce Goose. I wouldn't normally put any photo up from such a social event, but I thought this one would be particularly relevant for the audience of this blog!

Spruce Goose cafe sign... it even has the right number of engines :-)

A dying breed and... I crashed my brand new helicopter...

A wild and windy day at Wellington today meant no aero club flying, although the wetaher is forecast to be better tomorrow, so we'll see.

One photo from today is a Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGJ, registered to Air New Zealand. By my count, Air NZ only has about 7 B737's still in service, as they are retired in favour of an all Airbus [all A320 at this time] single-isle fleet.

Next photo is my new helicopter. I purchased it today, and so far I've already crashed it a few times - nothing that a quick repair won't fix and practice makes perfect :-)

Boeings and Airbuses from today

Following on from my last post, here are a few examples of the Boeing and Airbus aircraft at Wellington today [apart from those in the previous post]. These ones aren't looking like impending doom :-), they are just pictures that I like.

Top to bottom we have:

Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGI, registered to Air New Zealand
Airbus A320-232, VH-VGT, registered to Jetstar Airways
Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGJ, registered to Air New Zealand
Airbus A320-232, ZK-OXA, registered to Air New Zealand
Boeing 737-838, ZK-ZQB, registered to Jetconnect [Qantas]
Boeing 737-8FE, VH-VUY, registered to Virgin Australia Airlines

Photography at Christchurch airport?

Mid January I will have a couple of hours spare at Christchurch airport [domestic only]. I haven't been to Christchurch in ages, so I'm not so familiar with the airport.

Can anyone advise of places in the airport offering good views of airside so I can get a few photos? I don't want to be intrusive or do anything dodgy, and it will need to be in the vicinity of the terminal...

Many thanks!

Just one photo today. It's not too windy, but is wet in Wellington today. Here's Air NZ's Boeing 737-319, ZK-NGJ getting airborne.

Various other movements

Along with the more "unusual" movements today, I captured a number of "run-of-the-mill" aircraft.

Top to bottom are:

Cirrus SR22, ZK-YUG
Air New Zealand Boeing 737-300, ZK-NGJ
Air Nelson Bombardier DHC-8, ZK-NEU
Polynesian Blue Boeing 737-800, ZK-PBF
Helilink Agusta A119, ZK-ITR