This Month in History

Rambling through some odds and ends today I stumbled across some interesting aircraft movements from 20 years ago.

Airwork/Air Post took delivery of their first Metroliner III on 04 December 1990 when D-CABF arrived at Auckland from Brisbane and was subsequently registered ZK-POA.  The aircraft was tragically lost in the skies of Taranaki in May 2005.  Their second Metroliner D-CABG/ZK-POB arrived in the same livery on 05 January 1991.

At Nelson 05 January 1991, Mike Condon photo

Air Nelson's third Saab 340A arrived at Nelson from Brisbane and Norfolk Island on 04 December 1990 as HB-AHN and became ZK-FXD a few days later before entering service as PG703 from New Plymouth to Wellington on 10 December.

Above and below on its arrival at Nelson, Mike Condon photos

Another Air Nelson arrival took place the following day, 05 December 1990, when brand new Metroliner III N27521 arrived from Pago Pago and later became ZK-NSJ.  It entered service 15 days later as PG218 from Nelson to Auckland and flew its final service for the airline as NZ8139 from Wellington to Nelson on 15 September 2002.  It became N767FA and left Nelson for Pago Pago on 28 December 2002.

Moments after engine shutdown at Nelson 05 December 1990, Mike Condon photo

An interesting departure from our skies on 08 December 1990 was Cessna U206G DQ-FEX, nee ZK-FHE.  It launched from Auckland on a direct flight to Tonga however enroute a problem developed with the ferry tank system and the pilot elected to divert to a basically disused airstrip on Raoul Island.  On arrival at Raoul a more significant problem was discovered with the oil filter and as luck would have it a Flightline engineer from Ardmore was dispatched via a NZ Navy vessel, the HMNZS "Monowai", on a scheduled supply run to the island manned by NZ metservice staff.  After a 'fix' the 206 departed on a brief test flight before continuing its journey to Nadi 13 December. 
The 206 was placed on floats in Fiji and operated with Turtle Airways however was noted in February 2009 back on wheels but undergoing significant maintenance activity.

Some interesting military movements during the December of 1990, namely the arrival at Christchurch on the 5th of RAAF Lockheed P3C A9-660 wearing the current low visibility scheme minus any external serial number markings making identification difficult and on the same date a RAAF Hawker Siddeley 748 A10-604.  A couple of days later on the 7th US Navy Lockeed EC130Q Hercules 156170 arrived at Chistchurch for maintenance with Air NZ.  At Auckland between the 15th and 18th was Armee de l'Air Caravelle 251.  Bargeld01 provides the following fantastic shots of 251 taken at Christchurch during September 1994!

Other noteworthy bits for the month was the visit to Christchurch between the 3rd and 8th of American Transair Lockheed L1011 Tristar N31022, Antonov Airlines AN124 CCCP-82038 uplifting a cargo of meat bound for Brussels and another Russian visitor at Christchurch from 22nd to 24th was IL62MK CCCP-86510 on a fishing boat crew change which still takes place several times a year using Uzbekistan Airlines Boeing 767-300 equipment.

Festive Fizzjets

As has become the norm for this time of the year, a number of visiting business jets have escaped the cooler weather of the Northern Hemisphere and drifted south to what should be warmer and more settled conditions.

Gulfstream 5 N50KC is a regular to this country and arrived at Auckland from Napier 26Dec and was met by Advanced Flight's Eurocopter EC130 ZK-IKC which is operated on behalf of the Gulfstream's owner.

Above and below Noel Jones photos

Gulfstream 5 N508QS, operated by Netjets, arrived at Auckland 26Dec from Papeete, Wellington and Palmerston North.


Above arriving at Wellington and belwo parked at Auckland



Falcon N693SH arrived at Nelson from Kona, Pago Pago and Wellington on Christmas morning with the owner's heading for their Adventurer Yacht "SuRi" which has AS350 Squirrel N801KF and Searay LSX N609MK as support aircraft (all at Nelson Airport 27Dec).

Arriving at Wellington on a clear Christmas morning

Gulfstream 550 VT-BRS, as previously blogged, made its way to Dunedin on Christmas Day from Queenstown and on 26Dec flew Dunedin-Christchurch-Sydney. 



Taxiing for departure from Christchurch, Tony McFarlin photo

Challenger  N650LG flew from Rotorua to Queenstown on Boxing Day and is seen here on its arrival at Cairns earlier in the month.

Global Express N618WF remains parked at Auckland and King Air 300 F-GICA arrived at Auckland on Boxing Day from Noumea/Magenta.

Boeing 777-300ER ZK-OKM arrives Down Under

After four years of planning Air New Zealand's first Boeing 777-300ER ZK-OKM touched down at Auckland at 0831 this morning from Los Angeles as NZ6393 where it collected a contingent of Air NZer's and media representitives keen to sample the new aeroplane and its innovative seats and inflight entertainment options.   Once clear of the overcast cloud base of 5000ft the 777 was met by Helitranz AS350 Squirrel ZK-HST which conducted air to air photography for Air NZ and media outlets until the 777 climbed back to 3000ft and carried at an ILS to land on runway 23L where it was again met the Squirrel to film the landing and taxi sequence.  The 777 proceeded direct to the Air NZ hanger facilities where a formal welcoming party had gathered to greet the aircraft.

ZK-OKM is set to enter service as ANZ123 from Auckland to Melbourne on 10Jan.

All photos Mike Condon

More Jets at Queenstown

As history shows (previous posting), Queenstown has always drawn overseas visitors thanks to its wonderful array of high end accomodation options, outstanding scenery and action packed adventures.

Gulfstream 550 VT-BRS arrived at Queenstown 20Dec from Singapore and is one of just a few Indian registered corporates to have made it to NZ.

At Queenstown 23Dec10

Falcon 900 N5VJ arrived 23Dec from Invercargill after an aborted attempt to arrive 22Dec from Rotorua, thwarted by inclement weather.  It had jetted into Rotorua from Nadi 20Dec.

At Queenstown 23Dec10

Global Express XRS VH-OCV made a brief visit to Queenstown 21Dec when it arrived from Sydney and departed a short time later for Nelson and then back to Sydney marking the aircraft's first visit to Nelson.  The owners, Goodmans, are from the Nelson region and their previous aircraft of the same markings, a Learjet 60 and Challenger 604 were both frequent visitors to the South Island city.

Nelson 21Dec10

Also contributing to the action at Queenstown, Gulfstream 5 N50KC departed for Napier 22Dec, Beech Baron VH-ITL departed for Napier 23Dec as did Citation CJ3+ ZK-TBM.

From the shoebox......................................

One to wet the whistle from winter 1993 is Gatari Air Services Boeing 737-2S9(A) PK-HHS arriving at Queenstown in the month of July.

Note the lack of security fences, cones and dayglo vests! 

Above and below thanks to Bargeld01

All Black A320 on the move

Air New Zealand's first dedicated domestic Airbus A320-232 ZK-OAB has been snapped whilst on the move at Toulouse in the last 12 hours.  It is set to arrive at Auckland on the afternoon of 31Jan from Toulouse via Gander, Denver, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Apia.

Thanks to http://www.airliners.net/ for the below image:

Vanuatu Bound, Cessna A185F YJ-CCM

Outside Ardmore's Flightline maintenance facility 21Dec was this nicely presented 1977 Cessna A185F YJ-CCM.  Its construction number 185-03403 thankfully solves the issue of its previous identity of N18TK and it most recently resided in Minnesota.

Mike Condon photo

Biz-iness returns to our skies

After a lull in activity visiting aircraft have started to frequent NZ skies. 

Harking back a few days:

16 December
Locally based Global Express XRS N18WZ arrived at Auckland from Hong Kong.
Also from Auckland Falcon 900EX N146EX flew from to Essendon and Citation 501 ZK-NBR flew south to Dunedin.
Gulfstream 5 N85V departed Wellington for Papeete and South America.

17 December
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 N588HA departed Auckland for Honolulu after a brief visit with Air NZ maintenance.  The next aircraft is not due until early January.

Air New Zealand's first Boeing 777-300ER ZK-OKM carried out an acceptance flight today NZ time when it flew from Paine Field to Moses Lake and back as "Boeing 051".  It is due to arrive into Auckland on the morning of 24 Dec.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/38619847@N05/5267936590/

NZ's three Citation Mustangs all took flight today with ZK-LCA flying Hastings-New Plymouth-Hastings, ZK-MUS arriving at Ardmore from Wellington and ZK-PGA flying Auckland-Whangarei-Woodbourne-Auckland.

Beech 58 Baron VH-ITL arrived at Invercargill this afternoon from Moorabbin and Hobart.

18 December
Global Express N618WF arrived at Auckland from Westchester County Airport and Honolulu.



Shortly after its arrival at Auckland, Wayne Grant photo

 Gulfstream 5 N50KC jetted into Queenstown mid morning from its Waterbury/Oxford home via Teterboro, Los Cabos and Papeete.

Sovereign ZK-JTH returned home to Auckland ex Maui via Apia while Mustang ZK-MUS flew Ardmore to Rotorua and Citation 501 ZK-NBR flew Dunedin-Rotorua-Auckland.

Beech 58 Baron VH-ITL flew from Invercargill to Christchurch.

At Christchurch, Tony McFarlin photo

19 December
Sovereign ZK-JTH flew to Napier from Auckland while Citation CJ3+ ZK-TBM flew Christchurch-Napier-Auckland-Queenstown and rounding out the aircraft available for charter through Pacific Jets Mustang ZK-PGA flew Auckland-Taupo-Auckland.  Falcon 900EX N146EX returned to Auckland ex Essendon.

As previously blogged, Beechcraft 350i King Air N80427 touched down at Auckland from Sydney where it cleared formalities before heading south to Nelson.

Our Airline / Norfolk Air Boeing 737-300 VH-NLK diverted to Auckland from Norfolk Island following an unsuccessful attempt to arrive from Brisbane.  The island has been shrouded in low cloud and fog on and off for a number of days now.

20 December
Gulfstream 550 VT-BRS arrived at Queenstown from Singapore this morning.
http://alexpeake.fotopic.net/p65937505.html

Beechcraft King Air 350i N80427 arrived at Ardmore's Hawker Pacific hanger from Nelson where it will be registered ZK-MMM/2 for Golden Wings Ltd.

Execujet NZ Gulfstream 550 ZK-KFB departed Auckland for its Essendon home having arrived at Auckland on 15Dec from Hong Kong.

Three bizjet movements at Rotorua today with the arrival from Nadi of Falcon 900 N5VJ, departure of Mustang ZK-MUS to Queenstown and the brief visit of Citation 501 ZK-NBR from/to Auckland.

Pilatus PC12 VH-OOI arrived at Kerikeri from Norfolk Island where it seems the aircraft has been based from since 09 October.

Our Airline/Norfolk Jet Boeing 737-300 VH-NLK departed Auckland for Norfolk Island as RON5331 following its weather diversion the previous day.

Departing from Auckland runway 05R, Wayne Grant photo

Beech 58 Baron VH-ITL departed from Ashburton for Queenstown.

Cessna 180K N6TK was noted at Rangiora.
http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2010/12/yet-more-cessna-180s.html

First King Air 350 for NZ Register arrives

Arriving at its new Nelson home on the afternoon of 19Dec for Golden Wings Ltd was Beechcraft 350i King Air N80427, soon to be registered ZK-MMM/2 replacing King Air C90GTi of the same registration that was only in NZ for a few months earlier this year. It was flown to NZ by Range Flyers and was noted flying Broome to Sydney 18Dec then to Auckland and Nelson 19Dec. It arrived at Hawker Pacific's Ardmore hanger on the morning of 20Dec for certification and associated work.


In addition to the arrival of ZK-MMM, there are apparently two additional twin Beech variants due for delivery to our shores within the coming weeks.

Peter Campbell photo

Above and below Ben Carmine photos

Billy the Kid visits Hokitika

Hokitika Airport has been the focus of a great deal of aviation activity in recent weeks following the Pike River Mine accident. 
The most recent 'exotic' to visit the small West Coast airport(http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZHK_51.1_52.1.pdf) was Hong Kong based Gulfstream 550 B-KID on 09Dec when it spent just under 1 hour on the ground arriving from Taupo and departing to Queenstown after its passengers alighted to travel by helicopter southbound to the Glaciers.  This would be the largest aircraft (by wingspan) to have visited Hokitika and the first of the Gulfstream 5 family of aircraft to have made its way to the "Coast".   Boasting a wingspan of 28.5m it would have been an interesting sight on the 30m wide Hokitika runway!

Pending the arrival of photos from Hokitika via snail mail:

Auckland November 2006, Mike Condon photo

Cessna 180 N6TK Spotted!

Cessna 180K N6TK (http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2010/12/more-on-cessna-180k-n5tk.html) was spotted inflight early last week heading to Slipper Island off the Coromandel and has since been reported to have visited Wellington, Nelson, Hokitika and Franz Josef Glacier and most likely since headed to Queenstown.

Over the Firth of Thames, photo supplied

USAF Boeing C17

Travis AFB Boeing C17 Globemaster III 06-6158 made a brief stop at Christchurch 15Dec arriving from Amberley (near Brisbane) and departing for Honolulu.  It is understood this aircraft delivered parts for 02-1105 which had been laid up at Christchurch since 13Dec having flown a mission to Antarctica the previous day.

06-6158 on approach to runway 02 at Christchurch, BJH photo

Wellington Visitors 12/12/10

Jetstar A320 VH-VGP on a domestic service from/to Christchurch



Gulfstream 5 N85V arrived from Hobart.  This aircraft has visited the Capital a number of times in the last 2 years.



Foreign Flyables in NZ - update

Beech Baron N146WA has been a resident at North Shore since July 2008 however it departed  from their for Kerikeri, Lord Howe Island and Bundaberg 15Jun10 and flew south to Bankstown on 08Oct10 where it has subsequently become VH-CUY with Curly Cattle Transport P/L.
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2010/09/foreign-flyables-in-nz-part-one.html

Kuwaiti Departure

Gulfstream 550 9K-GFA departed Wellington on the afternoon of 07Dec heading for Sydney and later onto Canberra.

V1, VR, rotate.  Departing Wellington 07Dec, photo supplied.

Kuwaiti Arrival

The Arabian state of Kuwait operate a fleet of VVIP aircraft including three Gulfstream 5's, an Airbus A319CJ and this Gulfstream 550 9K-GFA.  as KAC029, the G550 slipped into Wellington just after 1300 today from Kuala Lumpur.  

Photos : supplied

Global Express N18WZ

Global Express XRS N18WZ was delivered to its Auckland home on Oct 13 this year and had until today remained elusive with mostly night time departures and arrivals on its trips to and from the USA.

Dec 4 saw the Global arrive in daylight, albeit under gloomy skies, from Honolulu and Wayne Grant was on hand to catch up with it.

Pike River Mine Tragedy Memorial Service

2 December 2010 was the date set for perhaps the largest gathering of people on the South Island's West Coast with a memorial service held for the 29 miners who lost their lives at the Pike River Coal mine in November.  Omoto Racecourse, located inland from Greymouth in the shadow of the Paparoa Ranges, was chosen as the venue for this sombre occasion.

Thousands of people attended including dignitaries from across the country, namely the Governor General, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Mayor's from the cities of Auckland and Christchurch.

A significant number of aircraft were involved in support of the movement of people with the RNZAF having four aircraft at Greymouth.  King Air's NZ1882, NZ1884 and NZ1885 plus Hercules NZ7005 made the small Greymouth Airport bustle with activity.

At Hokitika, Air New Zealand provided flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with a range of aircraft, namely:
ATR72 ZK-MCY as NZ5616 from Christchurch departing as NZ5617 back to Christchurch after a quick turnaround
Q300 ZK-NEU as NZ8161 from Wellington departing as NZ8166 back to Wellington after 5 hours on the ground.
Q300 ZK-NEQ as NZ8195 from Auckland departing as NZ8196 back to Auckland after almost 5 hours ont he ground.
Q300 ZK-NES as NZ8172 from Christchurch departing as NZ8983 back to Christchurch after a quick turnaround
ATR72 ZK-MCO as NZ5618 from Christchurch departing as NZ5619 back to Christchurch after a quick turnaround. 
These were in addition to the scheduled services operated by Air National's J32 ZK-ECR and Eagle Air's Beech 1900D's ZK-EAA, ZK-EAJ and ZK-EAK.
A total of 8 flights were flown between Christchurch and Hokitika on top of a special train service that delivered mourners directly to the racecourse venue.

Christian Aviation flew Piper PA31-350 ZK-CAL from Hastings to Hokitika and back.

Additional Air NZ Link services will operate again 03 December with 7 return flights from Christchurch to Hokitika planned.

Not mentioned previously was the visit to Hokitika 24 November of RAAF C130 Hercules A97-006 direct from RAAF Pearce (near Perth) as "Ausy 723" carrying a mine robot and departing the following day for Hobart.  In addition to this international visit, RNZAF C130 Hercules NZ7001 arrived at Hokitika from Mackay in Queensland carrying the GAG modified jet engine employed to renew the air supply in the mine's tunnel system.

Ian Coates provides the following images from today's visitors at Greymouth.