Lower North Island round trip 16-4-22

 Having seen the weather was looking good, decided on doing a nice trip up to Feilding and down to Masterton.

I had pre-arranged meeting with some of the local aircraft owners, but was nice to see a load of activity at Feilding, here is what I saw:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-DSK Piper PA-28-151
ZK-WBL Cessna A185F

Local Aircraft:
ZK-AWH Auster J1B
ZK-BZB Piper PA-28-160
ZK-CBM Cessna 172S
ZK-CPP Mooney M20C
ZK-CWJ Alpi Aviation Pioneer Jay Hawk
ZK-DUQ Piper PA-28-180
ZK-DXL Cessna 172M
ZK-EBR Meteor S.p.A Sky Arrow 480T
ZK-EJV Cessna A152
ZK-EMK Cessna 180K
ZK-ENB North American Harvard 3*
ZK-EOJ Cessna 152
ZK-EYI Ultralight Mirage
ZK-FWB Light Miniature LM-1
ZK-FXG Micro Aviation B22 Bantam
ZK-JBU Cessna 152
ZK-KFA Tecnam P2002 Sierra
ZK-KOS Rans S-9 Chaos
ZK-LJI Piper PA-28-181
ZK-LLY Tecnam P2004 Bravo
ZK-MBI Piper PA-34-220T
ZK-MMC X-Air Hanuman
ZK-PGU Cirrus Design SR22
ZK-PMD SPA Panther
ZK-RVT Vans RV-10
ZK-SKO Meteor S.p.A Sky Arrow 480T
ZK-SLH Jabiru J160
ZK-SLN Sling Aircraft Sling 4 TSi
ZK-SMJ Rand KR-2 (Unregistered)
ZK-SPO Glasair Sportsman 2+2
ZK-STG TL Ultralight TL-2000 Sting
ZK-SVG ICP Savannah
ZK-THK Tim Bygate Tiger Hawk
ZK-TRD Tecnam P.92 Echo
ZK-TRO Cessna T210R
ZK-UDY Zenair Zenith CH-200
ZK-USK Aviat A-1C-180
ZK-XPA Maxair Drifter XP503
ZK-ZOT Zenair Zodiac 601

And a few photos from today:

Recently moved over from Takaka. A very nice looking Auster!

First time getting a proper look at this Light Miniature!

A pleasant surprise to see being moved in to the Flying Club hangar, soon to be flying again!

After a couple of hours of catching up with people, decided to see what was going on at Masterton. Sadly there wasn't anything happening, but did see these local aircraft:

ZK-CJG Bolkow Bo 208 C Junior
ZK-DOY Tecnam P2002 Sierra
ZK-JBX Piper PA-38-112
ZK-LGT Akrotech G200
ZK-LTQ Pacific Aerospace Cresco 08-600
ZK-MBO Piper PA-44-180T
ZK-WRA Tecnam P2002-JF

Last stop was the nearby Glider strip at Papawai, where a bit of activity was happening. Here's the gliders I saw:

ZK-GMB Grob Astir CS 77
ZK-GNB Glaser-Dirks DG-100G ELAN
ZK-GTR Stemme S 10-VT
ZK-GUS Schempp-Hirth Arcus T
ZK-GVA Glaser-Dirks DG-400
ZK-GZY Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2cT

Not too bad a day, no new aircraft for me, but nice to catch up with a few people.

Wairarapa Balloon Festival

 Originally, I was planning on going to Classic Fighters at Omaka over the weekend, sadly those plans fell through.

So, for the last week, I have been keeping an eye on the weather for the Wairarapa to judge if it would be good enough for the Balloon festival to go ahead. It was very on and off, but yesterday it looked promising for today and the organizers announced their intentions to let them fly.

So, I risked it and got up at 4am this morning for the drive over to Martinborough, where they were planning on lifting off at the golf course. At 6:30am the go ahead was given, so everyone got to work inflating the balloons. The first one lifted off just before 7am.

Was nice to see a total of 18 balloons get up and head towards Featherston way.

Here are the ones I saw:

G-OPAW Cameron Z-105
N9129V Aerostar S-52A
ZK-FAA Kubicek BB30Z
ZK-FAI Boland 38-8
ZK-FAN Thunder and Colt AX8-90 Series II
ZK-FBA Kavanagh C-77
ZK-FRE Kavanagh D-84
ZK-KKH Cameron O-65
ZK-LAR Cameron C-80
ZK-LOP Boland 52-12
ZK-OAK Cameron Z-275
ZK-PNG Ultramagic H-77
ZK-PPI Cameron C-70
ZK-RYZ Kavanagh C-77
ZK-SEL Cameron N-90
ZK-UCF Kubicek BB20E
ZK-WBC Cameron Z-90
ZK-ZVE Cameron N-133

The only special shape, buster the dog! G-OPAW, a new one for me!

N9129V, also new for me.

ZK-FAA, new one for me!

ZK-FAN new one for me!

ZK-FRE, remember seeing that registration on a 737! New one for me

ZK-UCF, new one for me!

ZK-WBC, new one for me!

ZK-ZVE, my last new one!

Just had to get this shot, just through the trees, showing 12/18 of the attending balloons!

Was fun chasing them to Featherston, but an incredible sight to see in the sky as I was driving home. I didn't see where they landed, but at a guess it was towards Lake Domain reserve at the top of Lake Wairarapa.

Currently i'm planning on going up to Whanganui on Monday in hopes of catching the Classic Fighters aircraft on their way home. Most of the aircraft dropped in for fuel there on way down to the airshow, so hope they do same on the reverse!

Bill Bennett Memorial Fly-In at Turangi

 Today the Turangi Aero Club held a BBQ lunch fly-in in association with the late Bill Bennett's memorial.

The weather was really good at Turangi and the drive up was mostly fine all the way up. Apparently cloud and rain most likely heeded aircraft arriving from up north, but there was still a number of aircraft that flew in for the event.

Here is what I saw:

Local Aircraft:
ZK-FCW Cessna 172H
ZK-HKH Aerocopter AK1-3M
ZK-OFB Bowers Flybaby (Unregistered)
ZK-XRD Vans RV-3

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-CDY Cessna 180A
ZK-DAN Cessna 177B
ZK-DKM Cessna 172M
ZK-DUQ Piper PA-28-180
ZK-DXL Cessna 172M
ZK-DYC Cavalier SA.102.5
ZK-FRS Piper PA-38-112
ZK-JAB Jabiru J230
ZK-JIP Cessna 172S
ZK-OHF AutoGyro Cavalon
ZK-OUZ Zenair CH701
ZK-MAL Ultravia Pelican Club GS
ZK-RBE AutoGyro MTOsport
ZK-RKK Paul scherrer KB3
ZK-SLN Sling Aircraft Sling 4 TSi
ZK-SXR Sonex
ZK-THK Tim Bygate Tiger Hawk
ZK-WHC Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200
ZK-YGG AutoGyro Calidus
ZK-ZOT Zenair Zodiac 601 UL

And then some photos from the day:

Nice to finally see ZK-DYC, also in a new scheme, note the registration on tail coming off due to it only being tape

My only new one from the event, certainly a unique helicopter!

Masterton 26-02-2023

 This weekend was supposed to be Wings over Wairarapa, but due to the focus on relief efforts post Cyclone Gabrielle the Decision to postpone the event till November was made this week. 

Despite this, I saw the weather was nice so decided to head out anyway and it paid off, since the Vintage Aviator collection was out and plenty of action was happening.

Here is what I saw:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-EBH Piper PA-28-151
ZK-FRJ Pitts S-1S
ZK-HKR Bell 206B
ZK-PUG Pitts S-1S

Local Aircraft:
ZK-ACU Avro 504K
ZK-ANQ De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BAT De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BCZ De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BFR Royal Aircraft BE2F
ZK-BFS De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth
ZK-BRI Bristol Fighter F2B
ZK-CBE The Vintage Aviator BE2c-1L
ZK-CHJ Micro Aviation B22 Bantam
ZK-CIM Stoddard-Hamilton Glastar
ZK-COR Goodyear FG-1D
ZK-CXB Gardan GY-20 Minicab
ZK-DHA De Havilland American DH-4 Replica
ZK-DOY Tecnamm P.2002 Sierra
ZK-DVA The Vintage Aviator Albatros DVa-1
ZK-EAY Hanriot HD.1
ZK-FEE The Vintage Aviator FE2b-1
ZK-FEV Fokker D.VIII Replica
ZK-FLY EAA Acro Sport II
ZK-FOD Fokker D.VII Replica
ZK-HHN Rotorway Exec 162F
ZK-JAB Jabiru J230
ZK-JBX Piper PA-38-112
ZK-JEE Micro Aviation B22 Bantam
ZK-JIM ICP Savannah S
ZK-JMU Sopwith Camel Replica
ZK-JNB Albatros D.II Replica
ZK-JOE Taylor Monoplane
ZK-JOF Pacific Aerospace Cresco 08-600
ZK-JOK Fokker Triplane Replica Scout
ZK-LEZ Rutan Long-Ez
ZK-LGT Akrotech G200
ZK-LVG L.V.G. C.VI Replica
ZK-MBO Piper PA-44-180T
ZK-NIM Nieuport XI Replica
ZK-PPD The Vintage Aviator Sopwith Pup
ZK-PPY The Vintage Aviator Sopwith Pup
ZK-REK The Vintage Aviator RE8-1
ZK-RMA Vans RV-10
ZK-SBY The Vintage Aviator Sopwith 7F1 Snipe
ZK-SDL Sopwith Camel F.1
ZK-SOP Sopwith Triplane Replica
ZK-SXM Air Tractor AT-502B
ZK-TUX Just Aircraft SuperSTOL
ZK-WRA Tecnam P2002-JF
ZK-ZEP The Vintage Aviator BE12-1

And the pics:

ZK-DHA taxiing in

ZK-FEV getting towed back in

ZK-JNB taxiing back in

ZK-SOP taxiing back in

ZK-ANQ taxiing back in

ZK-BRI taxiing out for a flight

ZK-ZEP taxiing out for a flight

ZK-SBY taxiing out for a flight

A wonderful day out and a big thanks to the team for allowing me through the hangar, was awesome to see the corsair again!

South Island Trip #7

 Another nice day here in Blenheim, so a day watching the action from the National Comps at Omaka.

Sadly, spectators at the grid were not allowed, so photos were very limited. I did get a few and here is everything different I saw from previous Omaka visits on this trip:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-BJX Cessna 180
ZK-EZG DR-107 One Design
ZK-KPD Alpi Aviation Pioneer 300
ZK-LTW Pacific Aerospace Cresco 08-600
ZK-RVF Vans RV-6A
ZK-UNB Cessna A152
ZK-VMC Europa Europa XS

Local Aircraft:
ZK-DMN Isaacs Fury II
ZK-DOG Cessna O-1G
ZK-HJI Bell 206B
ZK-IDS Hughes 369E
ZK-ITJ Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B2
ZK-PPG Tecnam P96 Golf

A very nice surprise to see outside, looking absolutely stunning!

Also nice to see outside, Avro Anson ZK-RRA

Last surprise of the day, coming in very briefly for a drop off before returning home to Nelson.

Plan for tomorrow is to have one last look at Omaka in morning before heading over to Nelson and Motueka.

South Island Trip #6

 A beautiful day in Canterbury greeted me when I got up this morning. So it was straight off to Christchurch to see what was about.

Local Aircraft:
ZK-EBM Piper PA-28-161
ZK-HNV McDonnell Douglas 500N
ZK-HSC Hughes 369E
ZK-HTV Eurocopter EC 120 B
ZK-LJC Piper PA-28-181
ZK-LJF Piper PA-28-161
ZK-LJJ Piper PA-28-161
ZK-LJT Piper PA-28-181
ZK-LJX Piper PA-28-181

Next stop of the day was Rangiora where people were just getting ready to aviate. A few people kindly showed me through their hangars which was great! Here is what I saw:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-PJB Cessna U206G
ZK-TJT Tecnam P2008-JC

Local Aircraft:
ZK-CCV Tecnam P2002-JF
ZK-CGT Denney Kitfox IV
ZK-DUR Zenair STOL CH750
ZK-EEZ Corby CJ1 Starlet
ZK-HLV Robinson R44 II
ZK-JOR Rans S-6ES Coyote II
ZK-LPJ Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200
ZK-LTF Tecnam P92 Echo Super
ZK-KIV Denney Kitfox IV
ZK-KTN Australian Av Works Karatoo J6 C
ZK-PLC Ibis Magic GS-700
ZK-RGA Tecnam P92 Echo Classic
ZK-RGC Tecnam P92 Echo Classic de Luxe
ZK-RGE Tecnam P92 Echo Mk II
ZK-RTI Zenair Mono-Z CH-100
ZK-SDR ICP Savannah S

Next stop was Kaikoura where the only thing different from before was the local AS350 ZK-IOP was outside.

Then as I was passing the Parikawa strip, noticed GA200 ZK-DPC parked up and GA200 ZK-EMD just arriving, nice!

FInal stop of the day was Omaka and oh yes there was a lot of visiting aircraft in for the comps, here is the load of visitors there:

ZK-CAJ Nanchang CJ-6
ZK-CHG Nanchang CJ-6
ZK-CRT Champion 7GCBC
ZK-CTB Cessna 150H
ZK-CTF Cessna 150H
ZK-DEK Piper PA-28-140
ZK-DEL Piper PA-28-140
ZK-DFL Piper PA-28-180
ZK-DGY Pacific Aerospace CT/4 Airtrainer
ZK-DKE Cessna 180J
ZK-DKM Cessna 172M
ZK-DKP Cessna 180K
ZK-EBC Piper PA-28-161
ZK-EBS Piper PA-28-151
ZK-EIP Piper PA-28-181
ZK-EJS Cessna 172N
ZK-EKG Cessna 172N
ZK-ELS Cessna A152
ZK-ERW Cessna 172N
ZK-ETT Cessna 172P
ZK-ETU Cessna 172P
ZK-FRS Piper PA-38-112
ZK-FWK Cessna A152
ZK-JCI Cessna 172N
ZK-JEN Cessna A152
ZK-JIP Cessna 172S
ZK-JKA Cessna 172R
ZK-JPN Cessna 182R
ZK-JRG Cessna 172S
ZK-JTC Piper PA-38-112
ZK-JQY Maule MXT-7-180
ZK-MBZ Piper PA-38-112
ZK-RAD Cessna 180J
ZK-SMB Vans RV-12
ZK-TAB Cessna 172N
ZK-TAI Cessna 172S
ZK-TAK Cessna 152
ZK-TDL Piper PA-38-112
ZK-TEL TRI-R KIS TR-4 Cruiser
ZK-TUG Aeropro EuroFox 3K TOW
ZK-TUT Cessna 152
ZK-VAX Robin DR400/500
ZK-VCA Alpha R2160
ZK-VCF Alpha R2160
ZK-VNE Cessna 182Q
ZK-WWW Piper PA-28-161
ZK-YKV Yakovlev Yak-55M

And photos from the day:

Nice surprise to see down from Tauranga!

Canterbury Aero Club at Christchurch

Kapiti Districts Aero Club at Paraparaumu

From Whakatane

South Canterbury Aero Club at Timaru

Wanganui Aero Club from Whanganui

Mid Canterbury Aero Club at Ashburton

RNZAF Base Auckland Aviation Sports Club from Whenuapai

Kaikoura Aero Club from Kaikoura

Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club from Hastings

Nelson Aero Club from Nelson

Tauranga Aero Club from Tauranga

Very nice to see these aircraft from all over the country, looking forward to seeing more action tomorrow!

South Island trip #5

 Well, I did the plan I had put forth on Sunday for yesterday. Only trouble is nothing was really happening so didn't bother with a post.

Instead, I'll do a collective of what I saw at Taieri with what I also saw today.

So, here is everything I saw at Taieri which differs from what I saw on Sunday:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-HAI Robinson R22 Beta

Local Aircraft:
ZK-CZM Jodel D.11
ZK-FOP Piper PA-31-350
ZK-HWK Bell 206B
ZK-HWN Bell 206B
ZK-HWQ Bell 206B
ZK-ICU Airbus Helicopters MBB-BK117 D-3
ZK-IOD Guimbal Cabri G2
ZK-IWG Kawasaki BK117 B-2
ZK-IWM Bell 206B
ZK-JSS Piper PA-28R-201
ZK-LSP Piper PA-34-220T
ZK-LXB Sisler SF-2A Cygnet
ZK-MMK Rand Kar Xair
ZK-WFC SkyStar Kitfox IV
ZK-XAS Rans S-6S Coyote II
ZK-YAT Cessna R172K
ZK-ZLB Bushby Midget Mustang

So after spending a good portion of the morning at Taieri, I headed back up north towards Christchurch. Didn't bother with checking Oamaru and Waimate as not much was happening at either. So next stop was Timaru where there was quite a bit going on. Here is everything I saw that differs from what I saw on Sunday, including a look inside the local Museum:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-EOI Cessna 172N

Local Aircraft:
ZK-CFB Bowers Fly Baby
ZK-DAW Cessna 172L
ZK-DDG Beech V35
ZK-DUH Ibis Magic GS-700
ZK-JPZ Rans S4 Coyote
ZK-NJC Just Aircraft SuperSTOL
ZK-WOT Tom Cadet Boorabee Mk.1

Museum:
C-GTSX Robinson R.22HP
VT-NED Fokker F.27 Friendship 500
ZK-EJB First Strike Bobcat
ZK-EYN Ultralight Mirage
ZK-FWA Easy Riser
ZK-GLY Elliots EoN Olympia 2
ZK-JKE Sopwith Camel Replica

And some pics from around the place:

Afterwards I trekked up to Ashburton where again there was nothing happening, so last stop was Christchurch and here is what I saw that differed from Sunday:

Visiting Aircraft:
ZK-HAR Robinson R44
ZK-HMZ Hughes 369HS
ZK-HTF Robinson R44 II
ZK-IME Kawasaki BK117 B-2
ZK-ROC Piper PA-34-200

Local Aircraft:
ZK-EYG Piper PA-38-112
ZK-HYI Guimbal Cabri G2
ZK-IGI Airbus Helicopters MBB-BK117 D-2
ZK-LJD Piper PA-28-161
ZK-MBE Piper PA-28-161
ZK-TZZ Partenavia P 68C

Not too bad of a day, plan tomorrow is to head up to Omaka where the National Comps start tomorrow. Looking like a good few days ahead for the comps, looking forward to it!