Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 #8: Airport/ Security Services

The Club open days would never happen without a great deal of assistance from the airport company and they would not be complete without airport based services being in attendance.

WIAL [Wellington International Airport Ltd] was once again generous in the provision of crowd barriers [not to mention help with setup and clear up] and the attendance of the Airport Fire Service. Also, Avsec [Aviation Security] came along with staff, displays and an explosive detector dog.

Pictured below are an airport fire engine and rescue boat, one of the fire displays and the Avsec stand. Unfortunately I didn't get pictures of some other airport company bits and bobs during the day.

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 #7: Gyrocopters!

In what is perhaps a first for Wellington International Airport and the Aero Club, a gaggle of 5 gyrocopters descended on Wellington to join in on the open day. These aircraft are all on the Classic Hits Around New Zealand Air Safari, and it's certainly quite different to what we would normally expect to see around here!

The five aircraft were all AutoGyro Europe MT03 eagle's and the same except for one with an enclosed cockpit. The five were ZK-ZEE, ZK-YOG, ZK-MTA, ZK-OTM and ZK-KIW. ZK-KIW then put on a demonstration for the visitors, which as you will see, showed quite impressive maneuverability :-)

For more information, you could look at the Gyrate website.

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 # 6: DH Devon: Departure

Here's the second post on the DH Devon, ZK-XNZ. The three picture sin this post show the start up of each of the Gypsy Queen 70 engines and a picture just after takeoff.

Enjoy!

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 # 5: DH Devon: Static

This [and the next] post are photos of the de Havilland DH 104 Dove/ Devon. This aircraft [registration ZK-XNZ] previously served with the RNZAF as registration NZ1828. While in RNZAF service, the aircraft's primary role was as a navigation trainer. The aircraft is still painted in the RNZAF trainer scheme but is now registered to a Christchurch address.

Pictures start with an early morning shot as the sun was still low in the sky, followed by some external pictures, then the interior.

Looking at the interior, the panel is surprisingly "sensible" for a British design :-) The final picture is of the "very much pre-GPS" navigation equipment located in the perspex roof. If anyone can explain how to use a sextant etc, I'd be interested to know, although I'm somewhat unlikely to ditch eyes, charts and GPS :-)

The next post will show the startup of those Gypsy Queen 70 engines and the departure.

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 #4: North American T28C Trojan

OK, I was only going to put up a couple of posts this evening, followed by some more tommorrow... I obviously have little self-control :-)

In this post is a North American T28C Trojan...! The aircraft uses callsign "Trojan 63" and is registered ZK-JGS.

This is an impressive aircraft! While only a 2-seater it is a large aircraft with a big engine and an impressive sound. The pilot [sorry - didn't get his name] was showing people in and around gthe aircraft. The pictures include a cockpit shot I toook while sitting in it, followed by one where I was standing along the wing [yay!].

The final shot is of the departure.

One thing that struck me was the logical layout of the panel and other systems. It almost looked "familiar", even through I had never been in this cockpit before.

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 #3: Westpac Rescue Helicopter

The next pictures are of the Westpac Rescue Air Ambulance. The helicopter is a Kawasaki BK117-B2, ZK-HLF. Unfortunately the chopper was called away on a mission during the day, but it was certainly good to have it there while it was available!

I've also included a picture of the Lifeflight Air Ambulance Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-LFT starting up. The Metro was not part of today's event, but it does share a hanger complex with the helicopter... so close enough :-)

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 #2: Helipro

For the second post from the Open Day, here are three shots of two Helipro helicopters which were conducting scenic rides for the punters.

The first two are of a Robinson R44, ZK-IBJ. The last picture is of a Eurocopter EC120B, ZK-IJK.

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 #1: Preview

The Wellington Aero Club's annual Open Day for 2010 has come and gone, and as expected it, was an absolutely stunning day, and complete with a couple of surprises.

We had a wide variety of aircraft, from our basic trainers through to gyrocopters, helicopters and some pretty flash warbirds! Last, but certainly not least, the Club annouced the winners of the Flying Scholarship [including an award of $5000 worth of flight training!]. My intention is to put together a series of posts, mostly concentrating on one or two aircraft types at a time.

I won't give everything away just yet :-), but here are a few sample pictures of the visitors. Top to bottom are:

Cessna 208, ZK-TZR, registered to Sounds Air
Pacific Aerospace CT4/E, NZ1991, registered to the RNZAF
Airport Fire, fire engine and rescue boat
North American T28C Trojan, ZK-JGS ["Trojan 63"], of the Trojan 63 Syndicate
Consolidated Vultee PBY-5A Catalina, ZK-PBY, registered to the Catalina Company

Yak, Dash, Airbus

There was no flying for me today, but I did pop out to the club for a few hours and captured a few pictures.

The first was a visiting Yakovlev Yak 18T, ZK-SSR. This aircraft is registered to a Nelson address.

Also registered to a Nelson address :-) is this Air Nelson Bombardier DHC-8, ZK-NEC, part of the Air New Zealand group.

Lastly is this Air New Zealand Airbus A320, ZK-OJH in the Star Alliance livery. Nice :-)

Helipro at Queens Wharf, Wellington

I was out and about yesterday evening and saw a couple of Helipro helicopters at their Queens Wharf helipad [ICAO: NZQW] base. The first is a Kawasaki BK117, ZK-HYZ. The second is a Robinson R44, ZK-IBJ.

The Helipad itself is located within the Wellington Control Zone, and so all movements require a clearance from the control tower.

Another quick flight

I had another quick flight today. The intention was to fly to Masterton for a few circuits then come back. Unfortunately, the Hutt Valley was covered in cloud and there was not going to be any way through. I did not want to spend the time to go south and around the southern end of the North Island, so we came back to Wellington for a few circuits.

The circuits included a couple of "short approaches" where we fly a closer base leg and a fairly "normal" circuit. The final landing was a nice short roll out thanks to a short field approach technique.

The aircraft was Cessna 172 ZK-ETK from the club. Pictures are takeoff, the Hutt Valley [yuk!] and a couple of pictures from the last circuit.

One last thing - don't forget the Wellington Aero Club Open Day next Saturday 27 March, starting at 10am! There are going to be a wide variety of aircraft here, so we look forward to seeing you!

Another World Record!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the Kiwi Thunder Mustang syndicate, and especially to Rob and Chris on another World Record! This time the record involved a trip from Auckland International [NZAA] to Norfolk Island [YPNF] and back in their Thunder Mustang, ZK-TMG.

An awesome job guys!

I hope to have more details in the next few days, and maybe a picture or two :-) In the meantime, check out the official website, http://www.kiwithunder.com/.

Again, congrats!

ATC "simulator"

Here's your chance to become the world's best Air Traffic Controller... well, maybe not, but it's fun none the less!

Just click here and follow the instructions!

Don't look too closely... whoever created this game thought that landing with a massive tail-wind is a good idea. Doh! Anyway, enjoy!

After the storm... a [near] perfect day plus some renovations

After yesterday's stormy conclusion to the day, today dawned bright and fine. A typically [??] lovely autumn day in Wellington!

In preparation for the Club's open day on Saturday 27 March, we had a working bee to do some renovations to the club hanger. This involved removing some old storage rooms at the rear of the hanger, to make more room for the aircraft.

I was also invited to go on an all-up-weight check ride for a Cessna C172 check ride [ZK-ETK]. That was a bit of fun - I always enjoy the opportunity to become freight of the self-loading variety :-) and take a few photos.

Anyway, on to the photos. First is the renovation mess and the last is the finished result. The remainder are from the check ride, including a look at the RNZAF's Air Movement Base at Wellington and a couple of ships in the harbour entrance area.

Enjoy!