More Rice Rockets

The remaining 'order' of Mitsubishi MU2's for the RNZAF ground training school at Woodbourne arrived mid afternoon 24Aug at the conclusion of their long ferry flight from the USA. N12RA, N755Q and N720JK flew from Bali to Broome and Alice Springs 23Aug spending just a few hours rest in the Outback before arriving into Sydney on curfew this morning then across to Wellington arriving in formation. They cleared formalities at the Capital before making their final flights, again in formation, to Woodbourne.

Thanks to Peter Van Dyk for these photos, perhaps the only time these aircraft will be captured in New Zealand.

Cardrona Ski Field

A couple of shots taken last week from a vantage point at Cardrona Ski Field near Wanaka.

BK117 ZK-HJK made two visits in one day from Dunedin on medivac duties. This helicopter has most recently been noted operating around the Auckland area on high transmission power line inspection work and was minus the Heli Otago titles during this period of work.

Inclement weather at airport level unfortunately saw little "fly past" activity by the scheduled carriers in and out of Queenstown, however ZK-NGJ operating as NZ639 from Auckland 14Aug made a nice fly past on a visual approach to runway 23 at Queenstown.

Cherokee 6 ZK-PDX, registered to a skydive operation, made a low pass over the skifield heading north-northwest.

All photos Mike Condon

Sunday 09 August - Friday 21 August 2009 (big catchup!)

Sunday 09 August 2009
Air NZ Boeing 767-300 ZK-NCL departed Auckland for Kansai as NZ97 before then positioning to Hong Kong for the blended winglet work with HAECO.

Gulfstream 5 N991LF departed Dunedin around lunchtime for Honolulu and Van Nuys.

Monday 10 August 2009
Air NZ Boeing 767-300 ZK-NCK arrived at Auckland from Hong Kong and Kansai fitted with blended winglets.

Tuesday 11 August 2009
As mentioned in the previous blog entry, the RNZAF took delivery of their first MU2 ground training aid at Woodbourne early this morning with the arrival of N107SB from Sydney via Wellington.

Wednesday 12 August 2009
Citation 680 Sovereign N121TL was delivered to Auckland this afternoon, arriving from Maui via a techstop at Pago Pago. The aircraft will be based out of Auckland.

Pictured during a brief visit to Taupo 21Aug, Mike Davidson photo

Thursday 13 August 2009
Gulfstream 550 N888HK arrived at Auckland today from Sydney as did Beechjet 400 VH-IPG.

Friday 14 August 2009
Gulfstream 550 N888HK departed Auckland returning to its Hong Kong home.

Beechjet 400 VH-IPG departed Auckland returning to Sydney.

Saturday 15 August 2009
Nil signifcant activity

Sunday 16 August 2009
TBM700 VH-KFT made a brief stop at Auckland on its way from Lord Howe Island to Queenstown.

Falcon 900C VH-LAL arrived at Auckland from Sydney.

Monday 17 August 2009
Falcon 900C VH-LAL departed Auckland for Sydney.

Tuesday 18 August 2009
Citation Sovereign N121TL carried out a training flight today departing Auckland for New Plymouth, Nelson, Wellington and back to Auckland.

Gulfstream 450 VP-BMV arrived at Auckland this afternoon from Sydney.

Wayne Grant photo

Vincent's Dash 8 ZK-VAC departed Wellington for Auckland, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Sydney for operations with Air Crusing Australia.

Wednesday 19 August 2009
Nil significant activity

Thursday 20 August 2009
TBM700 VH-KFT flew back to Auckland from Queenstown.

Jetcity Learjet 35 VH-LJJ arrived at Dunedin shortly after sunrise from Essendon. It crossed the Tasman back to Essendon during the early afternoon.

Careflight Learjet 36 VH-CMS arrived at Auckland late today from Coolangatta via Nadi.

Gulfstream 450 VP-BMV departed Auckland for Honolulu where it overnighted and continued to Long Beach 21Aug.

Air National BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO made what is thought to be its first commercial flight since March today when it flew a group of people from Auckland to Rotorua.

Vincent Aviation Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH continued a series of training/famil type activities and is captured here poised for departure from Wellington's runway 16 today.

Phil Craig photo

Friday 21 August 2009
Lots of NZ local bizjets flying, including N121TL, ZK-LCA, ZK-PGA and ZK-MUS. In addition to these TBM700 VH-KFT departed Auckland for Norfolk Island and Brisbane.

Learjet 36 VH-CMS departed Auckland for Coolangatta.

Gulfstream 550 HB-IGM arrived at Auckland direct from Hong Kong. This machine visited a number of NZ locations during Feb 2007 including an arrival into Rotorua direct from Thailand's Chang Mai!

Mike Condon photo

Embraer Legacy 600 PT-TKD arrived at Auckland early afternoon from Essendon as part of its world demonstration tour. It then flew from Auckland to Taupo and return.

Mike Condon photos

Air National Whisperjet ZK-ECO returned to Auckland from its Rotorua overnight.

First MU2 for RNZAF Arrives in NZ

1972 Mitsubishi MU2B-20 N107SB c/n 226 arrived at Wellington just after curfew 11Aug from Sydney. After clearing formalities the MU2 made the its final short flight to Woodbourne where it was to be inducted to the RNZAF Ground Training Wing. It is the first of four MU2’s purchased by the Air Force to replace the well and truly outdated De Havilland Devon airframes. The RNZAF have also purchased 6 Kaman SH2F Seasprite helicopters, all of which have been in storage in the Arizona desert for the last 14 years and are due to be shipped to NZ late 2009. N107SB flew from Bali to Broome and Alice Springs 09Aug then continued to Sydney 10Aug. It is understood the other three aircraft are N12RA, N720JK and N755Q.

Readying for departure from Wellington heading to Woodbourne, Peter Van Dyk photo
And carrying out a flypast on arrival at Woodbourne, Gavin Conroy photo

Thu 06 August - Sat 08 August 2009

Thursday 06 August 2009

Careflight Learjet 36 VH-CMS spent the day at Auckland, arriving in the early hours from Apia and later continuing to Coolangatta.

Kiwi Air Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-XLA departed Auckland for Gisborne.

Friday 07 August 2009

Gojet Hawker 800XP VH-EJL arrived at Dunedin around 0130 this morning from Essendon and Sydney. It departed before sunrise heading back to Sydney and Essendon. It was met by Air National J32 ZK-ECN which flew from Auckland to Dunedin and back.

Pel-Air Learjet 36 VH-SLJ made a rare Tasman crossing, spending just an hour on the ground at Auckland arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Wayne Grant photo

Inglis Aircraft/Vincent Aviation Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH flew a local flight from/to Nelson.

Saturday 08 August 2009

Interlease Aviation Corp Gulfstream 5 N991LF arrived at Dunedin just prior to midnight from Van Nuys via Honolulu.

Captured at Auckland 30Nov06, Wayne Grant photo

Sunday 26 July - Wednesday 05 August 2009

Sunday 26 July 2009

Brisbane based Learjet 60XR VH-THG made its first visit to Auckland today arriving from its home town. It was delivered to Australia in October 2008 and made its first NZ visit 27Oct with a day trip to Queenstown.

Wayne Grant photo

Air NZ Boeing 737-300 ZK-FRE was retired from the airline this evening when it flew as NZ557 from Auckland to Christchurch. It will head to Brazil sometime in late Sept/early Oct for service with Webjet. ZK-FRE was delivered to NZ in 1999 and entered service with Freedom Air on 04Dec out of Hamilton to Brisbane. It transferred to Air NZ in Sept 2000 and its first revenue flight for the parent company was on 03Sept when it departed Queenstown for Brisbane having earlier positioned in from Christchurch. It was repainted in the distinctive green livery during October 2007.

Avwest Hawker 800XP VH-ZUH departed Auckland for Queenstown, Sydney and Perth.

Crown Casino's Gulfstream 5 VH-CCC arrived at Queenstown late this afternoon from Melbourne.

Monday 27 July 2009

Chathams Pacific/Air Chathams Convair 580 ZK-CIF arrived at Auckland from Tonga and continued to Palmerston North the following day for maintenance with Field Air.

Crown's Gulfstream 5 VH-CCC left Queenstown for Tahiti.

Tuesday 28 July 2009

Visa Corp Gulfstream 550 N107VS arrived at Wellington early this morning from Oakland via a techstop at Nadi.

Wednesday 29 July 2009

Visa Corp Gulfstream 550 N107VS departed Wellington for Sydney using the callsign "Bayjet 37".

Thursday 30 July 2009

Gold Coast based Citation 650 VII VH-DHN arrived at Auckland from Adelaide at 0530 today. It departed for home at midday.

Friday 31 July 2009

Nil significant

Saturday 01 August 2009

Sold to Malaysian interests in May of this year was Socota TB10 Tobago ZK-MBR. The aircraft has been undergoing predelivery work at Ardmore and departed from there for Kerikeri and Norfolk Island where it overnighted before continuing to Lord Howe Island and Kempsey and no doubt all stops to 9M land.

At Ardmore March 2008, Mike Condon photo

Sunday 02 August 2009

Nil significant

Monday 03 August 2009

Virgin Blue/Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 VH-VOX arrived at Christchurch this morning from Melbourne as "Blue Bird 9070" before entering service on domestic flights in lieu of ZK-PBM which is out for planned maintenance.

Tuesday 04 August 2009

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBD departed Christchurch for Melbourne.

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KAK arrived back at Taupo tonight having commenced its journey very early in the morning departing from Moree for Lord Howe and Norfolk Island's then Kerikeri before finally arriving at Taupo. The previous day it was noted flying from Kupang to Darwin and Tennant Creek and appears to have continued its journey almost without interruption. Interestingly, the NZCAA website reports the aircraft's undercarriage was damaged in a landing accident on a new airstrip in Cambodia around 27Jul. ZK-KAK had only departed NZ 06Jul.

Wednesday 05 August 2009

Ardmore based Mooney M20R ZK-VVB departed its home for Kerikeri and Lord Howe Island this morning, most likely on a touristy trip with its owners.

Kiwi Air Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-XLA arrived at Auckland late afternoon from Bourke and Lord Howe Island. This machine, featuring a stinger tail, was noted flying from Bali to Broome 02Aug. Back on 26Jul 2008 the aircraft flew from Male to the Seychelles and has been operating in Africa on seismic activities.