AOPA AGM at Hawera 09-03-2025

 Yesterday I did an early morning trip up to Hawera as AOPA (Aircraft Owner and Pilot Assocation) NZ were holding their AGM and fly-in there. I had noted quite a few south island aircraft heading up on the Thursday and Friday and thought it would be a good trip up.

As it was dark most of the way I couldn't see how the weather was holding up, but as the sun rose just after I got through Whanganui I could see it was going to be a beautiful day.

I got to Hawera and could see most of the aircraft were still there, not long after i arrived the pilots started getting shuttled in and started prepping for departure to Centennial Park via Taupo.

Was great to be able to meet a few new pilots and some photos of new aircraft.

Here is the aircraft I saw whilst there:

Local Aircraft:
ZK-CAW EAA Acro Sport II
ZK-CJE Bolkow Junior
ZK-DGQ Piper PA-28-140
ZK-MAG Cessna 172P
ZK-PHL Vans RV-10
ZK-SHN Vans RV-7

Visiting Aircraft:
N63PH Cessna T206H
ZK-BHP Cessna 182B
ZK-BFV Piper PA-18A-150
ZK-CJK Bolkow Bo 208 C Junior
ZK-CNR Cessna 182R
ZK-COL Cessna 172G
ZK-DIH Cessna 177B
ZK-DWX Cessna U206F
ZK-DXA Cessna 180J
ZK-EBG Cessna 182S
ZK-EOF Cessna 172N
ZK-EQQ Piper PA-28-236
ZK-JBT Cessna 182Q
ZK-KLA Piper PA-28-181
ZK-KRM Cessna 180H
ZK-KTB Cessna 172P
ZK-MAY R & B Bearhawk Patrol
ZK-MBU Piper PA-46-310P
ZK-NOK Cessna T206H
ZK-NSB R & B Bearhawk
ZK-OFC Cessna 182R
ZK-OMR Cessna 172E
ZK-RMX Cessna 172M
ZK-RNT Beech A36
ZK-SCH Cub Crafters CC11-160
ZK-SID Cessna 182T
ZK-SJK Cessna 170B
ZK-SMP Cessna R172K
ZK-VQU Cessna U206F
ZK-WIW Piper PA-34-220T

Was lovely to see this foreign registered aircraft again after so long!

One of the 6 new ones for me!

New one for me!

The only time the mountain poked out sadly, a new one for me!

Was great to finally see Bearhawk Bravo, a new one for me!

A lovely looking CubCrafters, new one for me!

On the way home I stopped at Whanganui for lunch. Not much was happening, but did note these aircraft there:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-CBA Fletcher FU24-950M
ZK-CNR Cessna 182R
ZK-DMK Alpi Aviation Pioneer 300
ZK-ROC Piper PA-34-200

Local Aircraft:
ZK-ATS Auster J1N
ZK-DAF Diamond DA20-C1
ZK-EGK NZ Aerospace FU24-950
ZK-FRS Piper PA-38-112
ZK-JFY Cessna 152
ZK-JIP Cessna 172S
ZK-JMG Cessna 172S
ZK-MDK Cessna 152
ZK-NFO Cessna 152
ZK-NPJ Cessna 172R
ZK-TAD Cessna 172R
ZK-WHC Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200
ZK-WUB Cessna 172R
ZK-WUE Cessna 172R
ZK-WUI Cessna 172R
ZK-WUJ Diamond DA20-C1
ZK-WUM Cessna 172M

A very good day out, even as a last-minute thing. Looking forward to the next trip out!

Hood Aerodrome Open Day 2025

 Hood Aerodrome in Masterton held an open day today, the weather was stunning, little cloud and little wind, but meant it was extremely hot!

Also on today was the conclusion of the National Aerobatics Comps which has been on this week, so some of the aircraft were still around, most left but some came over to be looked at for the open day.

There were many aircraft of all shapes and sizes present during the day, so this will be a big list!

Here is what I saw:

Visiting Aircraft:
N115MF Dassault Falcon 50EX
ZK-ADM Yakovlev Yak-52
ZK-BAC BAC BAC-168 Strikemaster Mk88
ZK-CIY Saab-Scania SAAB SF340A
ZK-COR Goodyear FG-1D
ZK-CSP Tecnam P92 Echo Super (Heavy Maintenance)
ZK-EGK NZ Aerospace FU24-950
ZK-EMK Cessna 180K
ZK-EOS Cessna 172N
ZK-ETJ Cessna A152
ZK-FMP Cessna 172M
ZK-GSF Molino PIK-20E II (De-Registered)
ZK-INZ Hughes 369E
ZK-JMV NZ Aerospace CT/4B Airtrainer
ZK-JSG Cessna 172M
ZK-KWK Neico Aviation Lancair 320
ZK-LFA Beech B200
ZK-MXS MX Aircraft MXS
ZK-NUT Akrotech G.202
ZK-PCC Air Tractor AT-402B
ZK-SLN Sling Aircraft Sling 4 TSi
ZK-UPF Waco UPF-7
ZK-VCC Alpha R2160
ZK-XLX Extra EA 300/LC
ZK-XSG DR-107 One Design
ZK-YRA YakovlevYak-52

Local Aircraft:
N861WP De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk 21
ZK-ACU Avro 504K
ZK-AHD Piper J3C-50
ZK-ANL De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-ANQ De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BCZ De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BEX De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth (De-Registered, on a rebuild)
ZK-BFS De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BRI Bristol Fighter F2B
ZK-BUC Gardan GY-20 Minicab
ZK-BZR Cessna 180
ZK-CAQ Druine Turbulent
ZK-CBE The Vintage Aviator BE2c-1L
ZK-CGT Denney Kitfox IV
ZK-CJG Bolkow Bo 208 C Junior
ZK-CXB Gardan GY-20 Minicab
ZK-DHA De Havilland American DH-4 Replica
ZK-DKL Just Aircraft SuperSTOL XL (De-Registered)
ZK-DKL Just Aircraft SuperSTOL XL
ZK-DOS Piper PA-28-180
ZK-DOY Tecnam P2002 Sierra
ZK-DPS Cessna A150L
ZK-DVA The Vintage Aviator Albatros DVa-1
ZK-EAY Hanriot HD.1
ZK-EER Jodel D.11
ZK-END North American Harvard 3*
ZK-FEE The Vintage Aviator FE2b-1
ZK-FES Fokker D.VIII Replica
ZK-FEV Fokker D.VIII Replica
ZK-FLY EAA Acro Sport II
ZK-INK Brantley B-2B
ZK-JAB Jabiru J230
ZK-JCX Quad City Challenger II (Under Rebuild)
ZK-JIM ICP Savannah S
ZK-JIY Fisher FP-404
ZK-JJF Cavalier SA.102
ZK-JMA Micro Aviation Bantam B22J
ZK-JNB Albatros D.II Replica
ZK-JOK Fokker Triplane Replica Scout
ZK-KKQ TL-Ultralight Tl-3000 Sirius
ZK-LEZ Rutan Long-Ez
ZK-LVG L.V.G. C.VI Replica
ZK-MAA Air Tractor AT-502B
ZK-MLE Titan T51 Mustang
ZK-MNT Vans RV-7
ZK-NWM Europa Aviation Europa Tri-Gear
ZK-OTU North American Harvard 2A*
ZK-PPY The Vintage Aviator Sopwith Pup
ZK-REK The Vintage Aviator RE8-1
ZK-SBY The Vintage Aviator Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe
ZK-SDP Micro Aviation B22 Bantam
ZK-SEV The Vintage Aviator SE5a-1
ZK-SGQ North American Harvard 2A*
ZK-SKD Cessna A185F
ZK-SOP Sopwith Triplane Replica
ZK-SVA ICP Savannah S
ZK-SVH ICP Savannah
ZK-SVN ICP Savannah S
ZK-TBI Fokker D.VII Replica
ZK-THG Piper PA-46-500TP
ZK-TSC Tecnam P96 Golf
ZK-TUX Just Aircraft SuperSTOL
ZK-WRA Tecnam P2002-JF
ZK-WWM Titan T51 Mustang
ZK-ZEP The Vintage Aviator BE12-1

Surprise of the day, New Zealand's only Brantley B2

ZK-TBI

ZK-FEV

A truly awesome day and worth the $5 entrance fee. I walked away with 5 new ones from it.

Not much going on in aviation events in New Zealand, there is Life Flight open day in 3 weeks time, which I should be going to!

Hawkes Bay visit 16-02-2025

 Yesterday I ventured out to Hawkes Bay for a couple of aviation events on out there.

First stop was Waipukurau for the national gliding comps on there. Weather wasn't the best, but there was a fair few gliders there and some locals out.

Here is what I saw:

Local Aircraft:
ZK-BVV Cessna 180C
ZK-CHB Rans S-6S Coyote II
ZK-DJQ Jodel D.11
ZK-ETJ Cessna A152
ZK-JDP Rans S-6S Coyote II
ZK-KSS Piper PA-18S-105
ZK-POR Porterfield 35-70
ZK-REQ Auto Flight Dominator II
ZK-YAT Cessna R172K

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-CPD Champion 7ECA
ZK-FNT Cessna 172E
ZK-GBE Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3F
ZK-GCW Schleicher ASW 27-18E
ZK-GGR DG Flugzeugbau DG-1000S
ZK-GHB Grob G 103 C Twin III SL
ZK-GKP Rolladen-Schneider LS 4-a
ZK-GLZ Glaser-Dirks DG-200/17
ZK-GML PZL-Bielsko SZD-48-1 Jantar Standard 2
ZK-GNM Schempp-Hirth Discus CS
ZK-GNR AMS Flight Apis 13
ZK-GOM Glaser-Dirks DG-400
ZK-GTD Schleicher ASW 27-18E
ZK-GVA Glaser-Dirks DG-400
ZK-TZB Robin DR400/180

Next stop on the agenda was Napier where the Art deco was on with a few vintage aircraft around. Saturday was better for the aircraft and as I got there a lot of them were preparing to depart back home due to the incoming weather.

Here is what I got anyway:

Local Aircraft:
ZK-AJP De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-CEY Cessna 172D
ZK-EUD NZ Aerospace FU24-954 (Long Term rebuild)
ZK-ICJ Bell 47G-3B-1
ZK-ICS Guimbal Cabri G2
ZK-MSL Piper PA-34-200T
ZK-NPR Piper PA-31
ZK-PLK Beech B200C
ZK-ROW Piper PA-46-500TP
ZK-WRB Piper PA-38-112
ZK-YDZ Cessna 510

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-AXI De Havilland DH 84 Dragon
ZK-BOE Boeing-Stearman E75
ZK-EMW NZ Aerospace FU24-954
ZK-ENF North American Harvard 3*
ZK-ENJ North American Harvard 3*
ZK-MJN North American Harvard 2A*
ZK-MTY Piper PA-23-250
ZK-OTU North American Harvard 2A*
ZK-TDM Piper PA-23-250
ZK-TZV Robin R 3000/160
ZK-WAR North American Harvard 3*
ZK-YNZ Yakovlev Yak-52

Now with titling on the tail

One to rarely see, glad to finally get a photo of!

Highlight of the day! Was awesome to watch take off

Next stop was Hastings where the field was pretty much dead. But did manage to see a few aircraft around:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-DON Maule M-4-210C
ZK-ENE North American Harvard 3*
ZK-HBM Hughes 269C

Local Aircraft:
ZK-BSP Cessna 180
ZK-CDK Aero Commander 680-F
ZK-EQB Piper PA-38-112
ZK-KCW Cessna 177RG
ZK-LNU Cessna 172R
ZK-MRD ICP Savannah S
ZK-NEX Sonex
ZK-SMB Vans RV-12
ZK-TJK Micro Aviation Bantam B22J
ZK-TUT Cessna 152

Last stop of the day was Dannevirke where it was also dead, but did notice these locals:

ZK-DAL Cessna 150G
ZK-DGL Piper PA-28-180
ZK-RIT Neil Hintz Tandem Dominator
ZK-RJW AutoGyro MTOsport
ZK-RKK Paul Scherrer KB3

Was an awesome day today despite the weather. Got 3 new ones out of. Next event on is Masterton open day on 2nd March, looking forward to it!

RNZAF C-130H Hercules farewell flight

 Today the last 3 remaining RNZAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules did their last flight round the north island. I was in Kapiti for their flight past in the afternoon and what a sight it was to see.

Grabbed a few photos of them as they went past.

They will be missed, but they did a fantastic job. Now looking forward to seeing one of the new C-130Js!

Fleeting Christchurch visit

 Today I did a last-minute trip down to Christchurch for a few hours and had some time at the airport. My main reason for down there was to catch the United Aircraft, which was a 787-10 which I haven't seen one of before. Plus got a fair few other aircraft whilst there.

Here are some photos from the day:

Was awesome to finally see a 787-10!

Singapore Airlines A350-900 9V-SMT

Desperation shot of USAF Lockheed LC-130H taxiing out. One of 5 USAF C-130s present.

Global 7500 N1111G parked up

As was Gulfstream G650 T7-688NJ

I ended up getting 8 new ones, so well worth the trip. looking forward to the next trip.