Fri 27 - Sun 29 March 2009

Friday 27 March 2009

Citation 650 VII VH-DHN flew from Christchurch to Wellington around lunchtime today.

Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB spent a few hours in Wellington, arriving from and returning to Auckland as JPS97.

Westwind II ZK-RML arrived back at Auckland from Christmas Island and Apia.

Saturday 28 March 2009

United Airlines operated Boeing 747-400 N105UA for the fourth weekend in a row on the Air Pacific service from/to Nadi.

Citation 650 VII VH-DHN departed Wellington for Essendon.

Air NZ introduced the Boeing 777-200ER to its NZ39 Auckland-Hong Kong-London/Heathrow service from tonight with ZK-OKG being the first to operate on this service. 777's have been flying the Auckland-Los Angeles-Heathrow run however this has switched to a 747-400 operation.

Sunday 29 March 2009

Arriving at Auckland in the early hours of this morning was United States Navy Douglas C9B Skytrain 160048. The twinjet, based with VR52 "Taskmasters" at Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, arrived at Auckland from Guam and Port Moresby. It spent the day in Auckland before departing shortly after 1700 for Port Moresby, and presumably onwards to Guam.

Mike Condon photos

Also arriving early this morning at Auckland was locally based Global Express N57LE from Honolulu and points east.

Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB departed Auckland for Nadi early this afternoon.

Citation 650 VII VH-ING arrived at Hamilton today from its Bankstown home via Sydney.

Wed 25 - Thu 26 March 2009

Wednesday 25 March 2009
Gulfstream 5 N50KC arrived at Auckland from Kailua-Kona mid afternoon.

Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB made a round trip from Auckland to Sydney and back as JPS96.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KAH continued its delivery flight departing Coolangatta for Emerald and Cairns.

Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM departed Kerikeri for Auckland and Christchurch while Westwind ZK-RML moved from Nadi to Apia.

Round the world traveller Cessna 210 G-SEEK departed Palmerston North for Coolangatta.

BK117 ZK-IMN was noted leaving Proserpine for Hamilton Island and Cairns.

Thursday 26 March 2009
Gulfstream 5 N50KC departed Auckland for Los Angeles.

Gulfstream 450 VP-CFB departed Auckland for Sydney.

Cessna 210 Centurion VH-WSQ arrived into Auckland from Norfolk Island.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KAH flew from Cairns to Horn Island and Sentani.

BK117 ZK-IMN flew from Cairns to Port Moresby.

Aero Commander ZK-PVB flew from Darwin to Manado as "Aircorp 1".

Balloons Over Waikato 2009

Hamilton's Innes Common was the venue yet again for the annual Balloons Over Waikato event, staged from 25Mar thru until 29Mar.

For the first event, the hounds hunting a hare, a total of 29 balloons were involved. The hare was the massive "Birthday Cake" balloon adorned with special markings to signify the 10th anniversary. Other special shapes this year were Mr Bup from Belgium and Lucy the Ladybird, a repeat visitor, from the USA. http://www.balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz/

Herewith is a list of attendees noted on 25Mar

N1764E "The Cake"

N996LB "Lucy the Ladybird"

OO-BUP "Mr Bup"

VH-BIS, VH-DEN, VH-FRE, VH-FTL, VH-JPG, VH-VDU, VH-ZOZ

ZK-RYB, ZK-CAF, ZK-WHS, ZK-VLI, ZK-SCR, ZK-FAC, ZK-OOH, ZK-LAR, ZK-FAN, ZK-UPP, ZK-WON, ZK-MIZ, ZK-MJC, ZK-KKH, ZK-FBE, ZK-WBC, ZK-LAR, ZK-TEA, ZK-PHX.

Sat 21 - Tue 24 March 2009 - photos added

Saturday 21 March 2009
Embraer Legacy N53NA departed Queenstown today for Pago Pago, Honolulu and Boeing Field.
United Airlines Boeing 747-400 N105UA visited Auckland for the third week in a row on the Air Pacific flight from Nadi.

Beech Baron VH-JJX departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island having spent a few days in NZ.

Chathams Pacific/Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIE arrived at Palmerston North from Tonga via Auckland for maintenance with Field Air.

First Choice/Thomsonfly Boeing 757-200 G-OOBC departed Hamilton for Cairns today as TOM960 while arriving at Christchurch from Tonga was Boeing 757-200 G-OOBD.

Sunday 22 March 2009
Air National Westwind ZK-RML flew from Auckland to Nadi then to Wellington.

Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM made the run from Gisborne to Kerikeri.

Coastwatch Dash 8-300 VH-ZZE departed Whenuapai for Norfolk Island.

French Army Casa 235 66/52-IG departed Whenuapai for Noumea.

3M Corporation Gulfstream 5 N73M departed Auckland for Sydney.

Monday 23 March 2009
Global Express N57LE departed Auckland late afternoon for Wellington where it spent a few hours before embarking on a 12hr 1min flight to San Diego/Brown Field direct.

Citation 501 N800DT crossed the Tasman for maintenance today leaving its Ardmore home for Sydney/Bankstown via Auckland, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island.

Virgin Blue shuffled Boeing 737's at Christchurch first thing today with -800 series VH-VOG arriving from Melbourne and -700 series VH-VBI departing for Melbourne.

Boeing 757-200 G-OOBD departed Christchurch for Hobart as TOM978.

Graham Weatherby photo

USAF Boeing C17 Globemaster 99-0167 departed Whenuapai for Pago Pago and Hawaii as POGO97.

RAAF Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-465 departed Whenuapai for either Richmond or Williamtown along with the two RAAF F18's (A21-11 and A21-33).

Tuesday 24 March 2009
Air NZ terminated its freighter operation effective today with Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 freighter N418MC operating from Chicago via Honolulu to Auckland, Melbourne and then to Hong Kong.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KAH departed from Hamilton to Kerikeri, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Coolangatta.

Sunair Piper PA23-250 Aztec ZK-TDM departed from Hamiltonf or Norfolk Island direct.

Heliworks (Queenstown) BK117 ZK-IMN, registered on o3Mar this year, was noted flying from Coffs Harbour to Maroochydore.

Westwind ZK-RML departed Wellington for Tonga where it spent a few hours before crossing to Nadi.

Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIF departed Auckland for Tonga replacing ZK-CIE which arrived over the weekend.

Thu 19 - Fri 20 March 2009

Thursday 19 March 2009
Global Express N57LE and Gulfstream 450 VP-CFB both spent the day in Sydney today, arriving from and returning to Auckland.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew Hastings-Kaitaia-Hamilton-Ardmore-Kaitaia-Hastings during the course of the morning.

First Choice/Thomsonfly Boeing 757-200 G-OOBC arrived at Hamilton around 1600 from Papeete and Tonga as TOM960.

Embraer Legacy N53NA returned to Queenstown from Wellington mid afternoon.

Coastwatch Dash 8-300 VH-ZZE flew a 'mission' from/to Wellington taking down off the South Island West Coast for a few hours.

Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM arrived at Gisborne from Queenstown.

French Army Casa 235, coded 52-IG/66 arrived at Queenstown this evening from Noumea and Norfolk Island as "Cotam 1160".

Royal Australian Air Force Challenger 604 A37-001 arrived at Wellington from Norfolk Island as "Ausy 330" on a training detail.


Royal Australian Air Force FA18's, A21-11 and A21-33, arrived at Whenuapai from Williamtown this evening.

USAF Boeing C17 99-0167 "Pogo 97" carried out a display practise mid afternoon.

Friday 20 March 2009
3M Corporation Gulfstream 5 N73M made an early morning arrival to Auckland from Honolulu.
Mike Condon photo

Piper PA32R-300 Saratoga VH-JMT departed Auckland late morning for Tairei, near Dunedin. It however diverted enroute to Christchurch for a brief stopover before continuing its journey south.

Falcomposite's Furio demonstrator ZK-LLG returned home to Ardmore from its Australia visit, arriving from Norfolk Island via Kerikeri.

Coastwatch Dash 8-300 VH-ZZE departed Wellington for Whenuapai via a 'mission' taking off the North Island west coast, around North Cape then back south via the Kaipara Harbour for an instrument approach to land at Whenuapai a little after 1700.


Peter Van Dyk photo

French Army Casa 235 52-IG/66 departed Queenstown for Wellington and onwards to Whenuapai arriving just behind the Coastwatch Dash 8.

Peter Van Dyk photo

Royal Australian Air Force FA18 A21-11 carried out a display practise from Whenuapai late afternoon as "HORNET".

Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-465 arrived at Whenuapai from Richmond as "Ausy 534".

Royal Australian Air Force Challenger 604 A37-001 departed Wellington for Christchurch and Canberra.

Wednesday 18 March 2009 - updated

Citation 750 VH-XCJ flew from Wellington to Auckland and onwards to Melbourne.

Piper PA32R Saratoga VH-JMT arrived at Auckland mid afternoon from Norfolk Island where it had arrived a couple of days earlier from Lord Howe Island.

Global Express XRS N57LE flew from Auckland to Sydney and back.

Coast Watch/Survelliance Australia Dash 8-315 VH-ZZE arrived at Wellington from Norfolk Island this afternoon via a meandering route. The aircraft had arrived at Norfolk Island 17Mar from Brisbane as "Coastwatch 645" but used its registration as callsign for its flight into Wellington. The only other known visit of a Coast Watch aircraft to NZ was back on 10Dec 2000 when Dash 8-202 VH-ZZA spent a couple of days at Auckland on demonstration to local authorities. Media releases today advise that VH-ZZE will be on static display at the Whenuapai Air Show this coming Saturday.

VH-ZZA at Auckland back in December 2000, Mike Condon photo

On the subject of the air show, United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster 99-0167 callsign POGO 97, arrived at Whenuapai from points north just on sunset. It will be a major draw card for the show on Saturday. I understand this aircraft is stationed at Alaska's Elmendorf AFB with the 517th Airlift Squadron.

Embraer Legacy N53NA made the hop from Queenstown to Wellington around the middle of the day.

Thu 12 March - Tue 17 March 2009

Thursday 12 March 2009
Challenger 300 N296SB continued its NZ visit by flying from Christchurch to Queenstown,.


At Christchurch, Tony McFarlin photo

Citation 500 N800DT flew from Ardmore to Wellington, then the short hop to Woodbourne before returning to Ardmore.

Citation 650 VII VH-DHN arrived at Christchurch form Melbourne/Essendon.

Friday 13 March 2009

Citation 500 N800DT continued its stint around the countryside by departing Ardmore for Rotorua, back to Ardmore then south to Wellington.

Saturday 14 March 2009

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Hastings to Ardmore and back today.

Global Express XRS N57LE arrived back at Auckland from Honolulu.

Hawker 900XP N96SK arrived at Queenstown from Melbourne/Essendon.

United Airlines Boeing 747-400 N105UA for the second week in a row, operating the Air Pacific service from Nadi to Auckland and return.

Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM flew from Christchurch to Auckland and Queenstown.

Falcon 900EXE N146EX returned home to Auckland from Avalon via Brisbane. The aircraft was on static display for the manufacturer at the Avalon Airshow.

Sunday 15 March 2009

Aerocommander 690 ZK-PVB, using the callsign "Aircorp 1", departed Auckland for Lord Howe Island. It was planned to continue to Brisbane however become unservicable with expertise from Essendon flown up on 16Mar in the form of Aerocommander VH-YJP.

Citation 650 VH-VRC and Hawker 850XP VH-SGY both visited Christchurch during this afternoon, VH-VRC flying from/to Sydney and VH-SGY from/to Brisbane on medical related missions.

Gulfstream 450 VP-CFB arrived at Auckland from Perth this evening. The aircraft has been resident in Australasia since 31Dec and was in Auckland from 05Jan until 26Jan.

Monday 16 March 2009

Singapore Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter 9V-SFA flew from Auckland to Sydney and return as SQC7218/7217. The aircraft had arrived in Auckland during the early hours of Sunday from Sydney on the regular SQC7298 service but terminated at Auckland. It departed Auckland in the early hours of Tuesday for Singapore.
Citation 650 VII VH-DHN flew from Christchurch to Wellington and Sydney.

Citation 500 N800DT flew Ardmore-Kerikeri-Rotorua-Ardmore today.

Citation 750 / X VH-XCJ arrived at Auckland from Melbourne.

Hawker 900XP N96SK flew from Queenstown to Sydney, and then 17Mar flew to Pago Pago and Kailua-Kona.

Learjet 35A ZK-XVL returned home to Ardmore from Avalon via Sydney and Auckland.

Tuesday 17 March 2009

Citation 750 / X VH-XCJ flew from Auckland to Wellington.
Falcon 900EXE N146EX flew Auckland-Christchurch-Wellington-Auckland over the course of the day.

Challenger 300 N296SB departed Queenstown for Auckland and Papeete, leaving Embraer N53NA and Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM still both parked at Queenstown.

Cathay Pacific operated Airbus A340 B-HXG sporting "One World" titles to Auckland for the first recorded time today on their CX107/108 service from/to Hong Kong.

Holding for departure at Auckland, Mike Condon photo

Jetconnect's Boeing 737-400 ZK-JTS was flying Qantas domestic services today with Spirit of Australia titles. At the same time, Boeing 737-400 ZK-JTP exited the Christchurch paint shop in the revised Qantas livery and also sporting Spirit of Australia titles. Note the different location of the Spirit of Australia titles!

Mike Condon photo


Graham Weatherby photo

Tue 10 March - Wed 11 March 2009

Tuesday 10 March 2009
Atlas Air, operating on behalf of Air NZ, operated Boeing 747-400 freighter N496MC on the scheduled around the world service in lieu of the normal N418MC. It is captured here arriving at Auckland and would have to be the scruffiest aircraft to visit these parts in a long time!



Beech Baron VH-JJX departed Kerikeri via a scenic route over Great Barrier Island, eastern side of the Coromandel to Taupo.


Citation Mustang ZK-MUS made a return trip from Wellington to Napier.


Wednesday 11 March 2009
Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB flew from Queenstown to Nadi and back to Auckland.


Citation Mustang ZK-MUS flew from Wellington to Kerikeri while N2243W departed Wanaka on its return to Hastings.

Challenger 300 N296SB arrived at Christchurch from Wanganui mid afternoon.

Fri 06 - Mon 09 March 2009

Friday 06 March 2009

Air National BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO departed Auckland for Woodbourne mid afternoon as NTL146.

Citation Mustang ZK-MUS flew from Wellington to Hamilton and back.

Gulfstream G150 N150GV departed Auckland for Sydney and continued to Avalon 09Mar.

Cessna 210 G-SEEK was noted arriving at Nelson today from the north.

Global Express XRS N57LE crossed the Tasman from Auckland to Essendon and return.

Saturday 07 March 2009

United Airlines Boeing 747-400 N105UA visited Auckland today on behalf of Air Pacific.

Citation 500 N800DT spent a few hours at Queenstown this afternoon, arriving from and returning to Dunedin.

BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO returned to Auckland today from Woodbourne.

Hawker 900XP N96SK arrived at Auckland this evening from Kona via Pago Pago.

Transwede Falcon 900EX SE-DJM departed Auckland this evening for Honolulu.

Sunday 08 March 2009

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N584HA departed Auckland for Sydney as ANZ107 following maintenance with Air NZ.

Cessna 210 G-SEEK departed Nelson for Christchurch.

Learjet 35A ZK-XVL flew from Ardmore to Auckland, Sydney and Avalon. The Lear had been conducting target tow operations from Whenuapai last week.

Global Express XRS N57LE departed Auckland for Honolulu this evening.

Citation 500 N800DT arrived home at Ardmore from Dunedin.

Embraer Legacy N53NA arrived at Queenstown this evening from Pago Pago.

Parked at Queenstown 10Mar, Mike Stead photo

Monday 09 March 2009

Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N586HA arrived at Auckland from Sydney as ANZ100 for maintenance with Air NZ.

Hawker 900XP N96SK flew from Auckland to Napier and Gisborne.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew Hastings to Dunedin and later onwards to Wanaka.

Falcon 900EXE N146EX departed Auckland for Brisbane and Avalon.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-JHM departed Hamilton for Lord Howe Island and Moree.

Vans RV7 VH-VSR departed Kerikeri for Lord Howe Island while arriving at Kerikeri from Norfolk Island was 1964 Beech 95-B55 VH-JJX.

Virgin Blue swapped maintenance aircraft at Christchurch today with Boeing 737-700 VH-VBI arriving from Melbourne and Boeing 737-800 VH-VOB departing for Melbourne.

Air National's Gulfstream 4SP ZK-KFB flew from Auckland to Napier and Queenstown.

Thursday 05 March 2009

Busy day for corporates around our part of the world today.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Christchurch to New Plymouth, Hamilton and Hastings.

Citation 501 N800DT flew from Ardmore to Dunedin while Beech 60 Duke N60TE also flew south from Ardmore however headed to Wanaka. While on the subject of Ardmore, Vans RV7 VH-VSR was tied down in the gusty breeze blowing across the Auckland region.

Gulfstream demonstrator G150 N150GV flew just the one local flight from/to Auckland around the middle of the day. Another Gulfstream demonstrator, G200 N200GA, arrived at Brisbane from Maui and Nadi today heading for the Avalon Airshow. And by the looks of it another demo machine, Gulfstream 550 N550GA, is also heading for Avalon with the jet arriving at Maui from Dallas/Love Field 06Mar.

Ranger Corp Challenger 300 N296SB arrived at Wanganui late afternoon from Papeete via Auckland. The Challenger had arrived at Papeete from Maui 02Mar our time.

Global Express N57LE arrived back at Auckland from Sydney late tonight while arriving about an hour before it was Transwede Falcon 900EX SE-DJM from Melbourne.

Citation 650 VH-DHN departed Auckland late morning for Essendon.

Westwind ZK-RML flew from Auckland to Gisborne and return over the course of the afternoon.

Out in the Pacific, Challenger 850/CRJ VH-LEF was out of Rarotonga for Tonga, Brisbane and Hamilton Island while Challenger 300 N933ML departed Tonga for points unknown having arrived there the previous day from Kuala Lumpur via Port Moresby.

Fri 27 Feb - Wed 04Mar 2009

Friday 27 February 2009
Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM departed Queenstown for Kerikeri and Auckland. The aircraft was subsequently hangered at Auckland for a few days.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Gisborne to Auckland, back to Gisborne and south to Hastings. Other activity at Gisborne today included Convair 580 ZK-CIF flew from there to Wellington, back to Gisborne, then to Wellington, Gisborne and Timaru. Boeing 737-200QC ZK-NQC was also a Gisborne visitor flying from Auckland to Palmerston North, Gisborne, Auckland, Gisborne, Palmerston North and back to Auckland. And yet another 'heavy' jet for the East Coast city with BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO flying Auckland, Gisborne, Woodbourne, Auckland, Gisborne and back to Auckland.

Falcon 7X VP-BZE departed Auckland for Cairns and Hong Kong.

Saturday 28 February 2009
BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO flew Auckland-Palmerston North-Auckland-Palmerston North-Woodbourne-Rotorua, Boeing 737-200QC ZK-NQC flew Auckland-Woodbourne-Palmerston North-Christchurch-Dunedin. Two more jet movements for Palmerston North with Citation X VH-XCJ flying Gisborne-Palmerson North-Christchurch and Citation Mustang N2243W flying Hastings-Gisborne-Palmerston North-Christchurch.

Sunday 01 March 2009

BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO flew Rotorua-Queenstown-Palmerston North-Auckland and Boeing 737-200QC ZK-NQC flew Dunedin-Christchurch-Auckland.

Air National Gulfstream G200 ZK-RGB departed Auckland for Apia as JPS37.

Vincent Aviation's Dash 8 ZK-VAC returned to Wellington from Norfolk Island following its stint flying for Solomon Airlines.

Piper Malibu N9099Z departed Ardmore for Rangiora.

Sunair Piper Aztec VH-MTY arrived at Hamilton from Norfolk Island on delivery to the Tauranga based company.

Cessna 210 G-SEEK was noted departing Queenstown for Christchurch.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew from Christchurch to Timaru and back.

Jetconnect introduced their 4th Boeing 737-400 ZK-JTS to their operation with the aircraft flying from Sydney to Wellington as QFA117. It had positioned from Melbourne the previous day where it undergone maintenance following its exit from the Qantas mainline fleet where it flew as VH-TJZ.

Jetstar Airbus A320 VH-VQA made a brief visit to Auckland this evening, arriving from Coolangatta as JST980 carrying the NZ Warriors before positioning to Sydney as JST7992.

Monday 02 March 2009

Citation X VH-XCJ departed Christchurch for Sydney.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew Christchurch-Wanganui-Hastings-Wellington-Christchurch-Hastings.

Tuesday 03 March 2009

Asiana Boeing 747-400 HL7428 arrived at Auckland just on sunrise from Seoul AFB as "Asiana 6057" carrying South Korean President and First Lady.

Fugro Diamond Twin Star VH-FGO departed Hamilton for Norfolk Island and later arrived at Coolangatta 04Mar.

Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM flew Auckland-Kerikeri-Auckland-Christchurch.

Global Express XRS N57LE flew from Auckland to Essendon and return.

Wednesday 04 March 2009

Asiana Boeing 747-400 HL7428 departed Auckland mid morning for Sydney.

Rotate! Wayne Grant photo

Gear Up! Mike Condon photo

Global Express XRS N57LE crossed the Tasman again departing Auckland for Sydney.

Vans RV7 VH-VSR was noted arriving at Ardmore from the south while Beech Duke N60TE was also back at Ardmore.

Piper PA28 VH-VIQ, ex ZK-VIC, departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island and was later noted flying from Coffs Harbour to Kempsey the same day.

Citation 650 VH-DHN arrived at Auckland from Essendon early evening.

Gulfstream demonstrator G150 N150GV arrived at Auckland from Brisbane where it arrived the previous night from Manila via Darwin.

Citation Mustang N2243W flew Hastings-Hamilton-New Plymouth-Dunedin-Christchurch over the course of Wednesday.