Things might be a little slow for a few days, but I'll be back to normal in the new year. I'm hoping for some exciting inflight videos in addition to the pictures!
Thanks for your continued support and encouragement!
This is an accidental video which very nearly didn't happen!
I was flying the Aero Club's Cessna C172N, ZK-FLT. I didn't take my suction mount with me, and the aircraft had no solid place on the dashboard to mount the GoPro which would also hold the Blutack to hold the whole thing steady...
Anyway, after a trip to Paraparaumu and then to the Southern Wairarapa, I decided to see if I could just make it work. It sorta did work, although it's not great. Rather wobble and some weird artefact at around 21 seconds...
The video itself is of the return the Wellington. The flight starts be going past Mount Matthews on the Rimutaka Range, then on to the Eastbourne Arrival procedure to Wellington. Don't look too hard at the landing... it was a wee bit rubbish!
Today's flight was from Wellington [NZWN] to Paraparaumu [NZPP] and back, with 3 circuits at NZPP. The main reason was to get current in the Piper PA38-112 Tomahawk. It was also an excuse to try out my new GoPro Hero 5 Session camera.
The video isn't great - despite how it looks, the camera was attached firmly [using Blutack no less!] to the dashboard - next time I'll leave the camera's software image stabilisation off.
The weather was a little worse for my return, although perhaps not quite as bad as it looks here...
Just one boring photo :-) today after a couple of fun flights in Piper PA18A-150 Super Cub, ZK-BKN, up at Whanganui today.
It turns out that Whanganui can be a busy little place with the aero club busy all day, Air Chathams arriving, local helicopters buzzing around, a DH Venom departing and three visitors to Auckland Aero Club coming and going.
Fun times with goodness knows how many circuits flown. I think I'm getting the hang of it :-)
Here is another picture from last Wellington Airport last Sunday. This is an Eastern Australia Airlines-operated Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-SBI, which is operated on behalf of Jetstar Airways,
Bombardier DHC-8-315, VH-SBI, operated by Eastern Australia Airlines on behalf of Jetstar
As I was leaving for home today, I noticed a large number of motorcycle police hanging around the Execujet hanger. On further investigation, there were other Police and crown limos waiting inside the Execujet hanger.
After a bit of a wait, this Beech 200C, ZK-PLK arrived. This aircraft is operated by Skyline Aviation of a Hawkes Bay address. This flight itself arrived from the South Island.
Beech 200C, ZK-PLK, operated by Skyline Aviation
Very shortly after arrival, the appropriate civil and military officials assembled and the passengers on the aircraft went into the wait crown limos to be whisked off. I'm not sure who the VIPs were, but clearly important enough to warrant a significant welcome...
I saw this Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express parked up at Wellington today. VH-CCD appears to be registered to Crown Casinos in a Melbourne address.
Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express, VH-CCD, registered to Crown Casinos
Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express, VH-CCD, registered to Crown Casinos
After the recent [and ongoing] earthquakes near Kaikoura, there have been a number of unusual movements at Wellington. I haven't managed to photograph them all, but here are a couple of photos.
First up is an MH-60R Sea Hawk, HSM-73, which is attached to the USS Sampson.
MH-60R Sea Hawk, HSM-73, operated by the US Navy on the USS Sampson
MH-60R Sea Hawk, HSM-73, operated by the US Navy on the USS Sampson
Next up [and I don't know if related to the earthquake recovery at all] is a US Navy-operated Gulfstream G-V/ C37B, 16-6376.
Gulfstream GV/ C37B, 16-6376, operated by the US Navy
Yesterday another club pilot and I attempted to fly up to Palmerston North to collect another aircraft. It was always going to be marginal, but as it turned out, too marginal to be worth while pushing on.
Here are a few photos from the weather around Wellington. It's a wee bit unusual with all the cloud hugging the coast [there was a 20+ knot westerly at around 2000'], but worse further north as we could not even get as far at Paraparaumu safely.
Oh well, better to wait for a better day. Aircraft for this flight was a Piper PA38-112, ZK-TAW.
Today's pictures are of an RNZAF-operated NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 helicopter, NZ3305. This helicopter was about to depart, presumably to Kaikoura as part of the earthquake recovery efforts.
Following on from my previous post about the USAF C-32A/ Boeing 757-200, at about the time the Secretary of State was departing, an Agusta AW139, ZK-HNZ, was arriving. This large helicopter is operated by HNZ New Zealand of a Nelson address.
I don't know where is came from, but the occupants were all wearing what looked like immersion suits, so maybe offshore somewhere.
Today saw to departure of US Secretary of State John Kerry aboard his USAF-operated C-32A/ Boeing 757-200, registration 98-0002. the Secreatary of State has been to Antarctica for a brief visit.
First up is the aircraft parked up on the RNZAF Air Movements Base apron at Wellington.
Boeing 757-200/ C-32A, 98-0002, operated by the USAF
Next is after the arrival of the entourage.
Boeing 757-200/ C-32A, 98-0002, operated by the USAF
Last up is the aircraft taxying out for departure. That's one great looking aircraft!
Boeing 757-200/ C-32A, 98-0002, operated by the USAF
My final photo to share form last weekend is the regularly scheduled Singapore Airlines B777 arrival on Sunday afternoon.
The aircraft used this time was Singapore Airline's Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SQN.
The B777-200 appears to have good brakes [and I guess it was lightly loaded] as it appeared to have decelerated quickly before about half way, then stowed the thrust reversers and calmly taxied down the far end of the runway to vacate [this is mandatory for an aircraft of this size].
Boeing 777-212/ER, 9V-SQN, operated by Singapore Airlines
Over the next few days, there is a Dutch royal visit to New Zealand, starting in Wellington but encompassing Christchurch then Auckland. The schedule for the visit is in here if you are interested.
The King and Queen are travelling in a Fokker F70 [F28-0070], registered as PH-KBX. This aircraft is operated by the Netherlands Government as a VIP transport. I doubt we have had many of this type of aircraft in New Zealand before, and certainly less that are operated by governments!
Fokker F28-0070/ F70, PH-KBX, operated by the Netherlands Government
