The Royal New Zealand Air Force are always a treat to watch, especially the larger aircraft, such as this Lockheed Martin C130H Hercules. Unfortunately due to weather, the Kiwi Blue parachute team were unable to perform, but the Herc still did a nice demonstration, showing it's speed, ground handling, steep approach and the "wheelbarrow".
People were also able to walk through the aircraft between demonstrations and have a nosey around.
You'll see from the photos that this is one of the "old style" cockpits. One of the Hercs has already been updated to a modern cockpit. The other aircraft are and will be undergoing this change over the next year or so. It will be good to get a photo or 2 of the new cockpit at another airshow - it should make for an interesting comparison.
There was an interesting demonstration of helicopter operations during the show. The following four helicopters performed a synchronised display, particularly [and understandably] highlighting their ability for slow and hovering flight.
Unfortunately, the pictures are not great, but do highlight some of the contrast problems I was having during the day... Anyhow, helicopters in this demonstration were:
Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil [Squirrel], ZK-HWF, registered to Anatoki Helicopters
Hughes 500D, ZK-HRI, rgeistered to Wairarapa Helicopters
Robinson R44, ZK-IZA, registered to Izard Aviation
Schweizer 269C, ZK-HEU, registered to Wairarapa Helicopters
The NZ Warbirds Association is a regular at Wings Over Wairarapa with the Roaring 40's team consisting of North American Harvards. I've seen most of these aircraft in the past, although ZK-WAR with it's new Navy livery is new to me and looks great.
First and last photos are during their displays and the third picture is of ZK-WAR.
Wings Oer Wairarapa is one of my favourite airshows... partly because of it's proximity to Wellington [around 1.5 hours drive or 40 minutes flight], but also because of the mix of aircraft and the friendly atmosphere. Usually the weather is very nice [often too hot].
This years show was a little different. Unfortunately the weather did not play ball, and with 9 aircraft or events [that I counted] missing, including both Spitfires, a crashed Venom and patches of rain it was not up to the usual standard, but still well worth going to [where else can you get a day's high-octane entertainment for around NZD$30?]!
Over the next few days I'll make a number of posts which I hope you'll find interesting! I don't have registrations for all aircraft, so apologies if you are one of those people who like all the details [feel free to update me with the details]! Anyway, first up are:
Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross
Pacific Aerospace Corp CT4/E, NZ1996, operated by the RNZAF
North American Harvard 3*, operated by NZ Warbirds Association
Curtis P40 Kittyhawk
de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-BLI
Just the one photo for day, another of the Eurocopter EC120B, ZK-HTV. This aircraft was leaving Wellington to Queens Wharf heliport [ICAO: NZQW]. It was confirmed today that this aircraft is filming for an ocean race.
The first of today's visitors is a Gulfstream GV-SP, ZK-KFB, registered to Execujet New Zealand Ltd, of a Wellington address. I understand that eventually the aircraft will be based in Wellington.
The second is a Cessna 177B Cardinal, ZK-DNX, registered to a Taupo address.
Today's first post consists of two helicopters that I had not seen before. The first is a Robinson R22 beta, ZK-HHQ and is parked in the Wellington Aero Club hanger. This helicopter is registered to Heliflite in Auckland, although I understand that it will be based in Wellington from now on. The extra bit of yellow in the first picture is the wing of another aircraft, not some stray appendage :-)
The second helicopter is a Eurocopter EC120B, ZK-HTV, registered to Helitranz in Albany [Auckland]. This helicopter has a high-def movie camera under the nose.
Just a quick note to say that the tickets for the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow have arrived in the mail. A good response from Ticketek since I only ordered them on the weekend.
Today I arrived at the aero club around 12 noon, just in time to see this Bombardier BD700-1A10 Global Express, VH-LAW, depart to Sydney [ICAO: YSSY]. My understanding is that it arrived in Wellington from Auckland mid-morning today.
Looks like my next trip will be to Masterton on 23/ 24 January for the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. This will be my 3rd visit to this airshow, and the mixture of reproduction World War I era aircraft from the Vintage Aviator stable, through to fighter jets and other more modern aircraft makes this airshow well worth attending.
Leave me a message if you're going and want to catch up. If you're from Wellington Aero Club, looks like I'll have limited room in the Club's C172 if you want a ride - just let me know asap [I'm going for both days].
There was not much seen at the airport today. The club was flying, but I've been spending time helping [I think I'm helping!] to redecorate my home, so not as much time at the club.
One aircraft that did pop in was this Beech 58 Baron, ZK-WLV. Formally registered to a Wellington address, this aircraft is now operated by New Plymouth Aero Club/ Air New Plymouth and today was being operated as an air ambulance.
Just a quick note to state the obvious - I've changed the format/ styling of the Blog somewhat. I hope you approve!
The new format is lighter, brighter and, I think, a little easier to read.
I would appreciate your comments, whether you like the changes or not! There is one issue I will try and sort out of the next week or so... currently, the template uses fixed widths for the two columns - I am trying to get these changed to be a percentage of the browser page width, which will make it easier to read on screens of different sizes.
Here is a picture of a US-registered Eurocopter AS-350B-2 Ecureuil, N801KF, seen at Wellington earlier today. The photo is pretty poor - the result of humid atmospheric conditions and the distance to the aircraft... What is interesting is that this AS350 is a support helicopter for a luxury motor yacht called the SuRi. The SuRi in turn is a support vessel for a superyacht called the JeMaSa.
In case you're interested in chartering this vessel [presumably including the helicopter... or you just want more details...]... click here :-)
Much like yesterday I was not expecting to get up to anything today. After a lazy start, I got out to the club with the intention of sitting around. Like yesterday, I ended up being offered another ferry flight, this time to take a Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk, ZK-FML, up to Masterton [NZMS].
After confirming that I had a ride back :-) I set off in the bright sunshine to Masterton. It was a quick trip there I got to tie down the aircraft and wait for the club's Cessna 172 [ZK-FLT] to arrive to take me back.
The trip back was fairly uneventful and, as a passenger, it was another good chance to pull out the camera and get a few snaps, and to try out the basic video on my new Android powered phone.
Top to bottom, the photos are the towns of Carterton, Greytown and Featherston [with Lake Wairarapa in the background], then, wait for this mouthful... the Tauherenikau River. The final photo is a visiting Cessna 180, ZK-BDD, registered to a Blenheim address.
The video is from right-base for runway 34 at Wellington, at the end of the flight.
Another awesome day, temporarily detached from the ground :-)
One of my Christmas gifts [another was a cookbook!] was Highest Duty, My search for what really matters, a book written by Chesley "Sully" Sullenburger of Cactus 1549/ US Airways A320 into the Hudson River fame.
I was expecting to get Sully's viewpoint of the ditching and the book contained that, but in a sense that was only a small part of the book. This is more an autobiography of one persons life growing up in Texas, through to his military and civilian flying, then after the event. The book covers a lot of his family life and is a very interesting insight into his "make up". It is an awesome read and I think it will appeal to non-aviation types almost as much aviation types like myself.
The book should be available on line and from any decent bookstore. Go buy it and read it! I know you'll be impressed.
