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.

Lower North Island road trip

Yesterday I ventured out on a little road trip involving a few aviation events all happening across the lower north island.

First stop Was Dannevirke where The NZ Autogyro Assocation were having their annual fly-in and AGM. Sadly a few had already left by time i got there, but a few stuck around. Usually, they do a fly away to the Woodville strip, but I think the impending weather put them off and they drove down instead.

Anyway, here is what I saw at Dannevirke:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-RBE AutoGyro MTOsport
ZK-RCI Bensen B8M
ZK-RCR Magni Gyro M16
ZK-REQ Auto Flight Dominator II
ZK-RJW AutoGyro MTOsport
ZK-RSL AutoGyro Europe MT03 Eagle
ZK-YGG AutoGyro Calidus

Local Aircraft:
ZK-DAL Cessna 150G
ZK-DAN Cessna 177B
ZK-DGL Piper PA-28-180
ZK-EBL Piper PA-28-140
ZK-RIT Neil Hintz Tandem Dominator
ZK-TFP Vans RV-12

Once everyone left for Woodville, I ventured down to Masterton where they were having their monthly vintage flying weekend. Sadly, again the weather seemed to be putting people off and the vintage stuff was being put away shortly after I got there, so wasn't able to see much.

Here is what I saw anyway:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-STV Cessna 421C
ZK-SUY Cessna TU206G

Local Aircraft:
ZK-ANL De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BFS De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BRI Bristol Fighter F2B
ZK-DKD Cessna 172M

ZK-DOS Piper PA-28-180
ZK-DOY Tecnam P2002 Sierra
ZK-KTF Just Aircraft SuperSTOL
ZK-LGT Akrotech G200
ZK-NWM Europa Aviation Europa Tri-Gear
ZK-OTU North American Harvard 2A*
ZK-REK The Vintage Aviator RE8-1
ZK-SOP Sopwith Triplane Replica
ZK-WRA Tecnam P2002-JF

This is a very striking new scheme, I must say!

The last stop of the day was back home to my home airfield of Kapiti, where they were holding an open day. Weather seemed to have ended it early as the aero club was all locked up by time I got there. Also happening was Air Chathams DC-3 doing local scenic flights for the weekend. Sadly, this would be its last visit to Kapiti as it is heading over to Darwin next Monday, such a shame to lose this one!

Not many aircraft were there, but i'll still list what I saw:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-AWP Douglas DC3C-S1C3

ZK-CIZ Saab Aircraft AB SAAB 340B
ZK-MLO Cessna 208B
ZK-MLP Cessna TU206F
ZK-SAA Cessna 208B

Local Aircraft:
ZK-CJL Bolkow Bo 208 C Junior
ZK-LDY Cirrus SR22
ZK-MYF Partenavia P 68B

Not too bad a day out despite the weather, was glad to get 2 new Gyrocopters for my efforts. Aviation events are a bit quiet for next month but hoping to get out on another road trip in a couple of weeks' time. So, keep an eye out!

Whanganui Airport Open Day 2025

 After so many days of strong winds, it was great to have a week of nice weather and today that didn't stop for the yearly Whanganui Airport open day which is held in conjunction with the town's vintage weekend.

There was plenty of aircraft around of all shapes and sizes and all in all was a very nice day out and I enjoyed it very much.

Here is a list of the aircraft I noted during the day:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-AUZ De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-AWP Douglas DC3C-S1C3G
ZK-BAC BAC BAC-167 Strikemaster Mk88
ZK-BEB Cessna 195
ZK-BFS De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BUE Cessna 172
ZK-BVF Champion 7EC
ZK-CAW EAA Acro Sport II
ZK-CHP De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk 22
ZK-CIZ Saab Aircraft AB SAAB 340B
ZK-CJE Bolkow Junior
ZK-CKH De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Mk 1
ZK-COR Goodyear FG-1D
ZK-CPP Mooney M20C
ZK-CWJ Alpi Aviation Pioneer Jay Hawk
ZK-DGO Piper PA-28-180
ZK-DUQ Piper PA-28-180
ZK-EOS Cessna 172N
ZK-FCW Cessna 172H
ZK-JAB Jabiru J230
ZK-JSG Cessna 172M
ZK-LDJ Pitts S-2C
ZK-LME Vans RV-12
ZK-LTW Pacific Aerospace Cresco 08-600
ZK-LTX Pacific Aerospace Cresco 08-600
ZK-MNT Vans RV-7
ZK-NPT Evektor-Aertechnik Sportstar Plus
ZK-OTU North American Harvard 2A*
ZK-PEG Pitts S-1E Special
ZK-PMD SPA Panther
ZK-RCI Bensen B8M
ZK-RCR Magni Gyro M16
ZK-RCT Rotor Flight Dynamic Sub 4 Single Dominator
ZK-RKK Paul Scherrer KB3
ZK-SKO Sky Arrow 480T
ZK-SLN Sling Aircraft Sling 4 TSi
ZK-SMC Piper PA-28R-200
ZK-SMH Avid Heavy Hauler
ZK-SPT Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk 26 Replica
ZK-THK Tim Bygate Tiger Hawk
ZK-USK Aviat A-1C-180
ZK-YRA Yakovlev Yak-52

Local Aircraft:
ZK-AGD Piper J-2
ZK-ATS Auster J1N
ZK-BAQ Auster J1B
ZK-BEF De Havilland DH 82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BTU Piper PA-18
ZK-CAA Cessna 172S
ZK-CTQ Cessna 172S
ZK-DAE Diamond DA 40
ZK-DAV Diamond DA20-C1
ZK-EGK NZ Aerospace FU24-950
ZK-EWU Micro Aviation Bantam B22S
ZK-FCQ Cessna 152
ZK-FJD Piper PA-22-160
ZK-FLN Zenair STOL CH750
ZK-FRS Piper PA-38-112
ZK-GSI Stemme S 10-V
ZK-HFD Schweizer 269C
ZK-JDL Stoddard-Hamilton SH-2 Glasair TD
ZK-JIP Cessna 172S
ZK-JJN Skycraft Scout Mk.IV
ZK-JMI Micro Aviation Bantam B22J
ZK-JQY Maule MXT-7-180
ZK-KIT Denney Kitfox II
ZK-KOL Cessna 172S
ZK-LDG AESL Airtourer T6
ZK-LJG Cessna A185E
ZK-LTJ Pacific Aerospace Cresco 08-600
ZK-NFO Cessna 152
ZK-NPJ Cessna 172R
ZK-PMJ Beech B200
ZK-RWW Skycraft Scout Mk.III
ZK-SLF Skycraft Scout Mk.III
ZK-TAD Cessna 172R
ZK-TTC Diamond DA 40
ZK-VNM De Havilland DH 112 Venom Mk 1
ZK-WHC Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200
ZK-WJB Jabiru J160
ZK-WUB Cessna 172R
ZK-WUE Cessna 172R
ZK-WUF Scottish Aviation Bulldog Series 120 Model 121
ZK-WUI Cessna 172R
ZK-WUJ Diamond DA20-C1
ZK-WUK Cessna 172R
ZK-WUM Cessna 172R
ZK-YGG AutoGyro Calidus

Nice surprise to see in a new scheme, looks very smart now!

Still in its former owners colours (Singapore flying college). There was also ZK-WUK in same scheme there but not in a good spot for a photo sadly.

A shock to me seeing this one in a new scheme, looks very tidy now!

Definitely worth the trip up today and $10 entrance fee. Walked away with 2 new ones as well, bonus! Next weekend hoping the weather continues the same for the Dannevirke Gyro AGM Fly-in.