Waipukurau Dawn Raid 2025

 Today the Central Hawkes Bay Aero Club held their annual dawn raid at Waipukurau.

So, it was an early start of 4am, got there about 6:30am and there were tiny bits of fog around. Once the aircraft started arriving the sun was just arriving, after a little while heavy fog rolled in halting the arrivals for a bit, this thankfully didn't last too long and they all started coming back in and it turned into a stunning day.

Around 50 aircraft flew in for the event and a fair few locals showed themselves.

Here is what I saw:

Local Aircraft:
ZK-ARL De Havilland Canada DHC-1A-1
ZK-ATO Auster J1B (De-Registered)
ZK-BQL Auster J5
ZK-CBN Druine Turbulent
ZK-CHB Rans S-6 Coyote II
ZK-DJQ Jodel D11
ZK-EDA Evans VP-1 (De-Registered)
ZK-ETJ Cessna A152
ZK-FEQ Ultralight Mirage (De-Registered)
ZK-FJC Aerodyne/Raven Vector 610
ZK-IXE Innovator Mosquito XE
ZK-JDP Rans S-6S Coyote II
ZK-JFT Johnston Sky Bird (De-Registered)
ZK-JLD Micro Aviation B10 Bantam
ZK-JVW First Strike Bobcat (De-Registered)
ZK-KSS Piper PA-18S-105
ZK-LTX Pacific Aerospace 08-600 Cresco
ZK-MYT Bruce Walker Custom/Skylark
ZK-ODO Robinson Pteranodon Trike (De-Registered)
ZK-POR Porterfield 35-70
ZK-RDL First Strike Bobcat
ZK-REQ Auto Flight Dominator II
ZK-WYZ TEAM-Hi-Max
ZK-XIX Micro Aviation B20 Bantam (De-Registered)

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-ADT De Havilland DH 60G Gipsy Moth
ZK-BEF De Havilland DH 82A tiger Moth
ZK-BPM Piper PA-18A-150
ZK-CDR Cessna 182T
ZK-CES Cessna A185F
ZK-CHG Nanchang CJ-6
ZK-CHL Cessna 185C
ZK-CKZ Cessna 182J
ZK-CPP Mooney M20C
ZK-CSL Sonex
ZK-CWJ Alpi Aviation Pioneer Jay Hawk
ZK-DAN Cessna 177B
ZK-DKL Just Aircraft SuperSTOL XL
ZK-DLI Grumman American AA-5A
ZK-DRU Cessna 177B
ZK-DSK Piper PA-28-151
ZK-DXL Cessna 172M
ZK-EBG Cessna 182S
ZK-EKG Cessna 172N
ZK-EMK Cessna 180K
ZK-EPA Europa XS
ZK-EYH Cessna 180K
ZK-FNT Cessna 172E
ZK-FQQ Piper PA-28-181
ZK-FWK Cessna A152
ZK-JDL Stoddard-Hamilton SH-2 Glasair TD
ZK-JIP Cessna 172S
ZK-JPC Cessna TU206A
ZK-JSG Cessna 172M
ZK-JTC Piper PA-38-112
ZK-KEA Falconar F-11
ZK-KTF Just Aircraft SuperSTOL
ZK-LDL Gardan GY-20 Minicab
ZK-LHC L M Harris CASH Aviation Model 3
ZK-LLY Tecnam P2004 Bravo
ZK-LMG Zenith Zodiac CH 650
ZK-MMC X-Air Hanuman
ZK-MNT Vans RV-7
ZK-PTP Rans S-7S Courier
ZK-RCI Bensen B8M
ZK-RGG AutoGyro Europe MT03 Eagle
ZK-RJK Gardan GY-20 Minicab
ZK-SCA Zlin Aviation Savage
ZK-SKO Sky Arrow 480T
ZK-SLN Sling Aircraft Sling 4 TSi
ZK-SMB Vans RV-12
ZK-SNW Monnett Sonerai IILS
ZK-SPD Zenith Zodiac CH 601-HD
ZK-SPO Glasair Sportsman 2+2
ZK-STG TL-Ultralight TL-2000 Sting
ZK-SVN ICP Savannah S
ZK-TEC Cessna 177B
ZK-THK Tim Bygate Tiger Hawk
ZK-ULL Cavalier SA.102.5

A nice surprise to find at the back of the hangar, new one for me!

Late to the event, but welcome nonetheless! Another new one for me!

Always nice to see a Europa Monowheel, a new one for me!

Next on the agenda was up to Hastings, sadly not much happening, but did note these aircraft:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-DJU Cessna 172M
ZK-FGJ Cessna 172P
ZK-GNK Rolladen-Schneider LS 4
ZK-ICJ Bell 47G-3B-1
ZK-LMG Zenith Zodiac CH 650

Local Aircraft:
ZK-ADT De Havilland DH 60G Gipsy Moth
ZK-BSP Cessna 180
ZK-CDB Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200
ZK-CDK Aero Commander 680-F
ZK-CDR Cessna 182T
ZK-CHG Nanchang CJ-6
ZK-CPD Champion 7ECA
ZK-CSL Sonex
ZK-DAD Cessna A152
ZK-EIR Piper PA-38-112
ZK-EQB Piper PA-38-112
ZK-EYH Cessna 180K
ZK-FCO Cessna 152
ZK-FGD Cessna 152
ZK-FLH Cessna A152
ZK-FLT Cessna 172N
ZK-FQQ Piper PA-28-181
ZK-FTQ Piper PA-38-112
ZK-FWK Cessna A152
ZK-GHB Grob G 103 C Twin II SL
ZK-GMX Grob G103 Twin II
ZK-GYP PZL-Swidnik PW-5 Smyk
ZK-HLQ Hughes 269A
ZK-JBX Piper PA-38-112
ZK-JHF Piper PA-38-112
ZK-JIC Cessna 152 (De-Registered)
ZK-JKA Cessna 172R
ZK-JMR Cessna 172S
ZK-JSD Cessna 172S
ZK-JTC Piper PA-38-112
ZK-JVC Piper PA-38-112
ZK-KCW Cessna 177RG
ZK-MAP Cessna 402B
ZK-MBI Piper PA-34-220T
ZK-NAN Cessna 152
ZK-NPK Cessna 152
ZK-PCL Avid C/Mk.IV STOL
ZK-RJK Gardan GY-20 Minicab
ZK-SHB Diamon DA 42
ZK-SVQ Cessna 402B
ZK-TUT Cessna 152
ZK-WAG Piper PA-38-112
ZK-WAJ Piper PA-38-112

Next stop of the day was at Napier, nothing happening there but did note these aircraft:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-DGS Piper PA-23-250
ZK-RMW Air Tractor AT-402B
ZK-TDM Piper PA-23-250
ZK-XLR Pacific Aerospace 750XL
ZS-MYN Beech V35A Bonanza (Believed to be an import)

Local Aircraft:
ZK-EFI Cessna U206G
ZK-EUD NZ Aerospace FU24-954 (Heavy Maintenance)
ZK-ICS Guimbal Cabri G2
ZK-MSL Piper PA-34-200T
ZK-NPR Piper PA-31

Whilst going into the town to grab lunch I went past Hastings hospital and noticed a surprise visitor in the form of ZK-HQC Sikorsky S-76C!

Last stop of the day was at Dannevirke after checking out Hastings and Waipukurau with no change at either. Dannevirke was dead and just noted these locals:

ZK-DAL Cessna 150G
ZK-DAN Cessna 177B
ZK-DGL Piper PA-28-180
ZK-EBL Piper PA-28-140

A really awesome day and i got 7 new ones for it!

I don't know how much i'll be posting for the next few weeks as i'll be in Europe for a big trip round 6 different countries with the family. There are a few aviation things i'll be doing, so hopefully can post on those!