Golden Bay Dawn Raid

 An early wake up of 6am was in store today, but since it was to fly over to a dawn raid, I can live with it. My ride over was the Kapiti Districts Aero Club's Cessna 182R ZK-NML and we got airborne just after 7am.

Was a bit of cloud going over the sounds, but otherwise was a very good flight, the return being even better. We joined the overhead at Takaka just at 8am and was down a few minutes later. We were the first to arrive which meant we got to watch the other 36 aircraft arrive from as far north as Whanganui, as far east as Masterton and as far south as Franz Josef and Ashburton.

Here is everything I saw whilst I was at Takaka:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-CEO Cessna 172S
ZK-CFT Gardan GY-80
ZK-CQF Cessna 172G
ZK-CUZ Alpi Pioneer 300
ZK-DES Van's RV-7
ZK-DIH Cessna 177B
ZK-DWX Cessna U206F
ZK-DXL Cessna 172M
ZK-EKE Cessna 172N
ZK-ETR Cessna 152
ZK-EWW Aerospool WT-9
ZK-FML Piper PA-38
ZK-FMS Piper PA-28
ZK-FNA Piper PA-28
ZK-KAT Piper PA-28
ZK-LDR Van's RV-4
ZK-LPE Alpi Pioneer 200
ZK-LPS Alpi Pioneer 300
ZK-MGB Cessna 182H
ZK-MWL Alpi Pioneer 300
ZK-NAG Cessna A152
ZK-NAH Piper PA-44 (Missed Approach)
ZK-NAI Cessna 152
ZK-NAJ Cessna FA152
ZK-NAK Cessna 152
ZK-NAO Cessna 172R
ZK-NAQ Cessna 152
ZK-NAS Cessna 172S
ZK-NML Cessna 182R
ZK-PJM Alpi Pioneer 300
ZK-REX Van's RV-7A
ZK-RJE R&B Bearhawk
ZK-SJK Cessna 170B
ZK-TCV Titan T-51
ZK-VQM Piper PA-32R
ZK-WAC Piper PA-38
ZK-ZNR Zenair CH.601XL

Local Aircraft:
ZK-DAZ Cessna 172L
ZK-JDK Micro Aviation Bantam
ZK-MJB Zenair Tri-Z CH.300
ZK-TKA Zenair CH.601XL
ZK-TRT Titan Tornado I
ZK-TTE CFM Shadow Series B-D
ZK-WRB Piper PA-38
ZK-ZOG Piper PA-28
ZK-ZUG Gippsland GA-8

And a handful of my favourite photos:

A very awesome day, I look forward to next years Golden Bay Dawn Raid!

Feilding visit 17-7-2022

I ventured out and did a morning trip to Feilding, hoping with the good weather that there would be some interesting stuff out, it was good weather when I arrived, but it sadly quickly changed to overcast for the rest of the time I was there so not much was happening, although I did get to see a few aircraft movements.

Here is what I saw:

Visiting Aircraft
ZK-CES Cessna A185F

Local Aircraft:
ZK-BVF Champion 7EC
ZK-CBM Cessna 172S

ZK-EJV Cessna A152
ZK-EOJ Cessna 152
ZK-EYI Ultralight Mirage
ZK-FWB Light Miniature LM-1
ZK-JBU Cessna 152
ZK-JSG Cessna 172M
ZK-MBI Piper PA-34
ZK-MEJ Piper PA-22
ZK-OFC Cessna 182R
ZK-RWS Piper PA-25
ZK-SVG ICP Savannah VG
ZK-SXN Air Tractor AT-502B

And I took a few pics:

First time I have seen ZK-SVG outside!

Doing engine runs

Some nice sun came out!

Taxiing back in after doing some local training

Also coming back in after local training

Taxiing to the pumps after arriving from Taupo

Wairarapa and Manawatu visit 03-07-22

 A visit out to Masterton and Feilding today saw a nice variety of aircraft out for a flight.

First up was Masterton and an absolute stunner of a day greeted me and a few aircraft on show at the field. Even if they were all locals, here is everything I saw:

ZK-AHD Piper J.3
ZK-ANL De Havilland Tiger Moth
ZK-BEW De Havilland Tiger Moth
ZK-CJG Bolkow Bo 208C
ZK-DES Van's RV-7
ZK-DKD Cessna 172M
ZK-DOY Tecnam P2002
ZK-DPS Cessna A150L
ZK-END North American Harvard
ZK-GYJ Schleicher ASH-25M
ZK-JBX Piper PA-38
ZK-JIM ICP Savannah S
ZK-KKQ Tl ultralight TL-3000 Sirius
ZK-MBO Piper PA-44
ZK-MLE Titan T-51
ZK-RMA Van's RV-10
ZK-SXM Air Tractor AT-502
ZK-TBD Sequoia Falco F.8L
ZK-UAE Stoddard-Hamilton SH-3R Glasair III
ZK-WRA Tecnam P2002JF

And the pics:

A new local, haven't seen this one since 2013!

Then went on to Feilding where the weather wasn't nearly as good. But still a few aircraft outside, including the nice surprise of an OriginAir's Jetstream coming in for local maintenance base AvCraft.

Here is everything I saw:

Visiting Aircraft:
VH-PGU Gippsland GA-8
ZK-AST Tecnam Astore
ZK-FNA Piper PA-28
ZK-JSH BAe Jetstream 3102
ZK-PTP Rans S-7S Courier
ZK-SXS Air Tractor AT-602

Local Aircraft:
ZK-CBM Cessna 172S
ZK-DUQ Piper PA-28
ZK-EOJ Cessna 152
ZK-EZY Cli-mate 100
ZK-FSM Hovey Delta Hawk
ZK-JBU Cessna 152
ZK-LLY Tecnam P2004
ZK-MBI Piper PA-34
ZK-MMC X-Air Hanuman
ZK-PMD SPA Panther
ZK-RWS Piper PA-25
ZK-SKO Sky Arrow 480T
ZK-STG TL Ultralight TL-2000 Sting
ZK-TRD Tecnam P92
ZK-UPX Piper PA-34 (Unregistered)
ZK-VHS ICP Savannah S
ZK-XPA Maxair Drifter XP503
ZK-ZOT Zenair CH.601UL

And the pics:

The biggest aircraft i've ever seen land at Feilding, but not the biggest i've seen there! That would go to Cessna 650 N163JM

ZK-SXS arrives into Feilding all the way from Canterbury area for maintenance.