The spectacle of seeing these hot air balloons is well worth the early morning get up, so check out http://balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz/ for more information on a schedule of events.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Balloons over Waikato 2011
Magic! That would describe the conditions greeting balloonists and spectators at the 12th annual Balloons over Waikato event staged at Innes Common, Hamilton. With wispy high cloud, no wind and equally important, no FOG, the balloons commenced lift off just after 7.45am with the "Hamilton" balloon leading the charge. A total of 29 balloons registered in New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, USA and Brazil were on display. Three special shapes made their way to NZ for the festival.
The spectacle of seeing these hot air balloons is well worth the early morning get up, so check out http://balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz/ for more information on a schedule of events.
The spectacle of seeing these hot air balloons is well worth the early morning get up, so check out http://balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz/ for more information on a schedule of events.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Lockheed "Spy" Plane visits Christchurch - 1994
Thinking back over my years of interest in aviation and that of overseas visitors, I would have to say one of the more exotic aircraft to grace our skies would be the Skunk Works designed Lockheed U2 spy plane of which one spent time 'down under' from March of 1994.
There has only been two recorded visits of the type to New Zealand and Phil Craig elegantly documented these visits in the December 1997 Aviation Historical Society Journal (http://ahsnz.tripod.com/ for those interested in becoming a member).
With Phil's permission I will attempt to provide but a snippet of information surrouding these two visits to accompany the photos:
The first visit to NZ of one of these 'spy' planes saw a Lockheed U2 aircraft operate out of Christchurch during June and July 1966. U-2C 56-6722 was accompanied to Christchurch by a six-engine Boeing JB-47E-BW Stratojet 52-514, with additional support from Boeing C-135A Stratolifter, 60-374.
While the three aircraft were temporarily based in Christchurch they were associated with the global project "Hi-cat". This project was designed to collect data relating to high altitude clear air turbulence (hi-cat). All three aircraft were operated by the USAF, and the first touched down in Christchurch on 13 June 1966 having flown in via Nadi. The U-2 was operated out to a radius of up to 1000nm from Christchurch on several missions that each lasted between four and six hours. The U-2 and C-135 departed Christchurch for RAAF Laverton near Melbourne on 14 July 1966 to continue work on the same project while the B-47 left for Honolulu.
The second visit to NZ was a U-2 variant was also centered around Christchurch with the arrival on 29 March 1994 of Lockheed ER-2 80-1097 "NASA 709" with the aircraft touching down at 1700 from Nadi.
the ER-2 has departed Moffett on 18 March 1994 and undertook stratosphere sampling duties on the way to Barbers Point Naval Air Station near Honolulu. from Barbers Point, 80-1097 completed three further such research flights before heading south to Nadi and on to Christchchurch.
The ER-2 was engaged on a research project run by NASA between March and October 1994. The ER-2 was administered by NASA and run chiefly in association with a NZ organisation known as the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) through their research facilities located in Central Otago. The project was to measure the stratospheric ozone layer from the northern mid-latitudes to the Antarctic region. The sole purpose for the flights from Christchurch was to study and monitor the ozone 'hole', attempting to determine whether the low ozone air is transported from the Polar region or whether the ozone depletion is localised to certain areas.
The first flight of 80-1097 from Christchurch took place on 31 March 1994 with five missions being undertaken during April on the 4th, 6th, 9th, 14th and 15th. A further three flights were operated on 24, 25 and 29 May with four more flown in June on the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th. Two sorties were undertaken on 29 and 31 July. Four flights in August on the 2nd, 7th, 9th and 11th and an additional seven mission during October on the 4th, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 21st!
Most of the flights conducted during this seven month period ventured south of Christchurch to an area between 67 00S 160 00E and 70 00S 170 00E, while the missions undertaken to the north were to a point around 19 00S 173 00E. The ER-2 would typically cruise at an altitude of up to 68000ft. About three-quarters of the missions out of Christchurch headed south and the remainder were to the north. Each mission lasted for about 8 hours and the ER-2 would return with approximately 2 hours of fuel remaining, sufficient to allow a diversion to its first designated alternate airport of Ohakea, or secondly Wellington.
In addition to the ozone hole research the project team intended to conduct an analysis on the effect of exhaust efflux emission levels on the ozone layer of a high-altitude supersonic jet aircraft. This opportunity came on 8 October 1994 when Concorde F-BVFF flew into Christchurch from Papeete as AFR4843 touching down at 1608. Clear skies and light winds made for ideal conditions. Before the Concorde left Papeete and the ER-2 Christchurch, the intercept was planned and co-ordinated between key stakeholders. The ER-2 departed Christchurch at 1418 and the aircraft flown to intercept the Concorde off the east coast of the North Island as the ER-2 pilot was able to see the aircraft but not the efflux plume. The Concorde was requested to fly to "NOKAK" (79nm southeast of the Napier VOR) then south towards the coast off Kaikoura. Concorde was flying at 53000ft at the time of the intercept while the ER-2 cruised at 57000ft. The ER-2 flew along the track of the efflux three times, southbound first, then north, then south again, taking twelve samples in total.
The following weekend saw another Concorde, G-BOAD of British Airways, also from to Christchurch. It was hoped that another series of air samples could be taken by the ER-2, but weather conditions on the day precluded this.
Lockheed ER-2 80-1097 departed from Christchurch at 1100 on 23 October 1994 bound for Nadi, destined ultimately for Moffett later that month. The flight from Christchurch to Nadi saw the ER-2 continue north beyond Fiji until abeam Rotuma and then toward Fuafuti and Nui, islands of the Tuvalu group. This indirect routing was required to allow a Starlifter carrying both equipment and personnel connected with the ER-2 project to land and disembark before 80-1097 touched down!
There has only been two recorded visits of the type to New Zealand and Phil Craig elegantly documented these visits in the December 1997 Aviation Historical Society Journal (http://ahsnz.tripod.com/ for those interested in becoming a member).
With Phil's permission I will attempt to provide but a snippet of information surrouding these two visits to accompany the photos:
The first visit to NZ of one of these 'spy' planes saw a Lockheed U2 aircraft operate out of Christchurch during June and July 1966. U-2C 56-6722 was accompanied to Christchurch by a six-engine Boeing JB-47E-BW Stratojet 52-514, with additional support from Boeing C-135A Stratolifter, 60-374.
While the three aircraft were temporarily based in Christchurch they were associated with the global project "Hi-cat". This project was designed to collect data relating to high altitude clear air turbulence (hi-cat). All three aircraft were operated by the USAF, and the first touched down in Christchurch on 13 June 1966 having flown in via Nadi. The U-2 was operated out to a radius of up to 1000nm from Christchurch on several missions that each lasted between four and six hours. The U-2 and C-135 departed Christchurch for RAAF Laverton near Melbourne on 14 July 1966 to continue work on the same project while the B-47 left for Honolulu.
The second visit to NZ was a U-2 variant was also centered around Christchurch with the arrival on 29 March 1994 of Lockheed ER-2 80-1097 "NASA 709" with the aircraft touching down at 1700 from Nadi.
the ER-2 has departed Moffett on 18 March 1994 and undertook stratosphere sampling duties on the way to Barbers Point Naval Air Station near Honolulu. from Barbers Point, 80-1097 completed three further such research flights before heading south to Nadi and on to Christchchurch.
The ER-2 was engaged on a research project run by NASA between March and October 1994. The ER-2 was administered by NASA and run chiefly in association with a NZ organisation known as the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) through their research facilities located in Central Otago. The project was to measure the stratospheric ozone layer from the northern mid-latitudes to the Antarctic region. The sole purpose for the flights from Christchurch was to study and monitor the ozone 'hole', attempting to determine whether the low ozone air is transported from the Polar region or whether the ozone depletion is localised to certain areas.
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| Mike Richardson photo |
Most of the flights conducted during this seven month period ventured south of Christchurch to an area between 67 00S 160 00E and 70 00S 170 00E, while the missions undertaken to the north were to a point around 19 00S 173 00E. The ER-2 would typically cruise at an altitude of up to 68000ft. About three-quarters of the missions out of Christchurch headed south and the remainder were to the north. Each mission lasted for about 8 hours and the ER-2 would return with approximately 2 hours of fuel remaining, sufficient to allow a diversion to its first designated alternate airport of Ohakea, or secondly Wellington.
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| Mike Richardson photo |
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| Mike Richardson photo |
The following weekend saw another Concorde, G-BOAD of British Airways, also from to Christchurch. It was hoped that another series of air samples could be taken by the ER-2, but weather conditions on the day precluded this.
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| NASA pilot Jim Barrilleaux prepares for departure on 21 October 1994, Mike Richardson photo |
Lockheed ER-2 80-1097 departed from Christchurch at 1100 on 23 October 1994 bound for Nadi, destined ultimately for Moffett later that month. The flight from Christchurch to Nadi saw the ER-2 continue north beyond Fiji until abeam Rotuma and then toward Fuafuti and Nui, islands of the Tuvalu group. This indirect routing was required to allow a Starlifter carrying both equipment and personnel connected with the ER-2 project to land and disembark before 80-1097 touched down!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Around and About 27 March 2011
Southern Air Transport, operating on wet lease to Malaysia Airlines, flew Boeing 747-200 freighter N760SA to Christchurch with the aircraft arriving before sunrise from Pudong and Darwin. Following crew rest the classic Jumbo flew to Auckland for a fuel top up and departed for Kuala Lumpur.
Gulfstream 5 N914J arrived at Auckland from Kona 26 March and is set to depart for Rotorua 28 March.
Korean Airlines operate Boeing 777-200 HL7733 on its regular KE129/130 service through Auckland 27 March with the aircraft wearing the Skyteam livery.
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| At Christchurch, Graham Weatherby photo |
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| Arriving Auckland, Noel Jones photo |
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| Wayne Grant photo |
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| Wayne Grant photo China Airlines re-introduced the Airbus A330-200 to Auckland following a period of A340 operations. B-18312 wears a large decal on the rear fuselage commerating 50 years since the airline was launched (in 1959), so its adorned this bird for a couple of years now! |
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| Wayne Grant photo |
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Four Years ago This Week
Four years ago this week NZ skies were graced with the visit of Polish Air Force Tupolev TU154M 101. The jet arrived at Wellington from Darwin and Brisbane on 20 March 2007 carrying the Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller and entourage. It flew to Ohakea and Auckland 23 March 2007 then to Melbourne 24 March 2007.
This aircraft was tragically lost at Smolensk, Russia on 10 April 2010 killing the Polish President and a number of high ranking officials.
http://www.avherald.com/h?article=429ec5fa/0023&opt=0
This aircraft was tragically lost at Smolensk, Russia on 10 April 2010 killing the Polish President and a number of high ranking officials.
http://www.avherald.com/h?article=429ec5fa/0023&opt=0
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| At Wellington, Bob Leask photo |
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| Rotate! Departing Wellington, Bob Leask photo |
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| Departing Auckland for Melbourne, Wayne Grant photo |
Thursday, March 24, 2011
More on the Defiant N57KS
See previous blog post:
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2011/03/sorenson-defiant-n57ks.html
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2011/03/sorenson-defiant-n57ks.html
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| Under wraps at Dunedin 22 March, Alistair Bevin photo |
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Other Airshow Participants at Avalon 2011
Bob Carlton's Super Salto Sailplane powered by a jet engine flew an interesting routine.
http://www.vertigoairshows.com/jet.html
Kent Pietsch was back with his 1942 Interstate Cadet performing twice on the Saturday of Avalon 2011, and I presume twice on the Sunday. On the Friday evening he successfully landed and took off from the pickup truck however Saturday's attempt was thwarted by a breezy crosswind.
http://www.pietschaircraft.com/airshows/
Another couple of high performance aerobatics aircraft also participated.
http://www.vertigoairshows.com/jet.html
Kent Pietsch was back with his 1942 Interstate Cadet performing twice on the Saturday of Avalon 2011, and I presume twice on the Sunday. On the Friday evening he successfully landed and took off from the pickup truck however Saturday's attempt was thwarted by a breezy crosswind.
http://www.pietschaircraft.com/airshows/
Another couple of high performance aerobatics aircraft also participated.
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