Interesting sighting

At Auckland's Ardmore Airport today, in a state of yet to be reassembled, where four ex UAE Police Bolkow BO105 helicopters.

The numbers on two airframes are P-789 and P-791. 

P-789 equates to a construction number of S-386 and is a 1978 CBS-2 variant previously registered D-HDLV and then A6-HEH.  It has been operated by the UAE Police since 1980.

P-791 has a construction number of S-591 and is a 1982 CB-2 variant which as D-HDQN was operated as a demonstration machine for the manufacturer.  It joined the Dubai Police Air Wing in 1983.

The indentity of the other two airframes is to be advised.

Deliveries for the last day of June 2011

Head across to http://galonghaulnews.blogspot.com/2011/06/deliveries-for-last-day-of-june-2011.html for some news and photos from today.

USAF C17 Globemaster

Arriving at Christchurch just on 1400 today, 29 June, was USAF Boeing C17 Globemaster 08-8197 from the McChord Air Force Base.  As "Reach 5E2",  the C17 staged via Hickam/Honolulu and is apparently down under to conduct a winter medivac flight from Antarctica.  It will be interesting to see when this takes place considering the ash cloud conditions forecast over the very southern latitudes down to around 5000ft.

Matt Hayes photo

Corporate Connections

Some more shots supplied from Melbourne's Essendon Airport on a gloriously fine 29 June.



Execujet New Zealand's Gulfstream 550 ZK-KFB headed off to Wellington.



Business Jets Falcon 900EX N146EX departed for Auckland.



Pal Aviation Falcon 900C VH-LUL arrived from Coffs Harbour.



Walker Air Global Express VH-LAW made the short hop from Avalon.



Linfox Global Charter Global 5000 VH-LEP headed off to Sydney.


Joining the Essendon ramp later today was Citation X HS-KCS and across at Tullamarine Global Express N86TW arrived from Sydney. 

Also about today where three Gulfstream 5's.  The first, N677F, departed from Christchurch mid morning and headed as far south as 55S before tracking north to Hobart.  N128GV departed from Sydney for Honolulu and N605CH flew from Hamilton Island to Cairns.

Around NZ it was fairly quite, the only activity noted was that of N146EX and ZK-KFB as per the photo captions, N677F as above and CJ3+ ZK-TBM flying from Nadi to Auckland and Christchurch.

Rare Helicopters

Well, rare for New Zealand but not so rare for the location these two beauties were taken today. 

At Melbourne's Essendon Airport S-61V N45917 arrived from Sydney and will continue to the Melbourne docks to embark on its return journey to the USA.

CHC Helicopters Super Puma VH-LYI arrived at Essendon on the back of a truck back in February on the Canadian register and was spotted on the move today.

Thanks to Gordon R for these great shots.

Boeing 767-33AER V8-RBF - Now (and then)

Royal Brunei have all but disposed of their Boeing 767-33AER fleet having replaced them with Boeing 777-200's sourced from Singapore Airlines.

V8-RBF is the last aircraft to be re-homed and was rolled out at Brunei this week in the livery of its new operator.

On the subject of Royal Brunei, the carrier has announced its intention to terminate services to a number of cities from October this year and unfortunately Auckland is one of them.

V8-BUF, what a scheme.  JM photo

Departing Auckland on one of its scheduled trips to Brunei direct, or via Brisbane, Wayne Grant photo

Few from 28th

As a wintery blast moves up the country there have been some moments of sunshine at Auckland so while waiting for ZK-ZQG to arrive a few other arrivals were snapped:

9M-MRF

9V-SYG

HS-TJS

ZK-SJB

ZK-SJE

heavy shower just to dampen things down...................

Boeing 737NG's

Its been a busy start to the day for Virgin Australia aircraft crossing the Tasman either heading to or away from maintenance at Christchurch, no doubt disrupted as a result of the ash cloud.

Brand new Boeing 737-800 VH-YVA arrived from Brisbane before 5am for induction work.  This was meant to have arrive at Christchurch back on 23 June however it was delivered to Brisbane from Boeing Field via Lihue and Nadi.

Boeing 737-800 VH-VOK has arrived at Christchurch this morning at 0646 from Melbourne as "Bluey 9254" while heading in the opposite direction are Boeing 737-800 VH-VOT (departed 0924) and 737-700 VH-VBM (departed 0732), both using their registrations as callsigns.

In addition to the Virgin activity, Qantas/Jetconnect have introduced the latest Boeing 737-800 to the fleet into service with ZK-ZQG "Ernest Rutherford" departing Melbourne for Auckland as QFA25.  This aircraft was to have staged through Auckland on its delivery flight last week however the ash cloud prevented this and it flew from Boeing Field to Melbourne via Honolulu, Nadi and Brisbane, arriving Melbourne 24 June.

Mike Condon photo

Pilatus Porter Demonstrator ...... Looking Back Forty Years

Extract from AHSNZ Journal Volume 14 - number 9  16 August 1971

The Pilatus PC-6-B1-H2 Porter c/n 628 arrived at Auckland on 06 June 1971 on a four week demonstration tour of New Zealand but primarily to be shown to Mount Cook Airline management as a suitable aircraft for mountainous regions.  It was registered to its Australian owners Forrester-Stephen Pty Ltd, Melbourne, for the tour, but it was allocated the NZ registration ZK-DFJ, an unusual occurrence when the aircraft was not destined to remain in this country.

The aircraft's colour scheme was red and cream, and the pilot for the tour was Mr Emil Wick.  The Porter was seen at Wellington on 11 and 13 June where it was displayed before Defence officials, and on 22 June it carried out numerous trials on the Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.  A number of flights was made from Christchurch on 23 June, when it was een to be capable of incredibly tight turns and high manouverability.  It took off in less than 120 yards and landed in less than 60 yards.  Its cruising speed at 10000ft was quoted as being 130kts, and its minimum speed around 38kts.  It is quite a large aircraft with a wing span of 49ft 10.5in and a length of 36ft 4in.

The Porter staged through Wellington again on 26 June and left Auckland for Norfolk Island and on home on the 30th.  Its registration was cancelled on 07 July.

Mount Cook Skiplanes initially operated one PC6, ZK-FZB, from October 1981 until it was damaged beyond repair during a storm at Mt Cook on 17 July 1982.  It then took on charge three Porters in 1987 (16 years after the initial evaluation) and all three remain in service with Aoraki Mount Cook Skiplanes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A little more history on this machine indicates it was delivered to Australia as HB-FCO in 1967 and became VH-FSB.  It spent time in Antarctica during 1969 through 1971 before making its evaluation trip to NZ as ZK-DFJ.  On return to Australia the PC6 became VH-FSB again and in January 1975, while on deployment in Antarctica, it was destroyed beyond repair during a storm at Mawson base.

http://www.pc-6.com/history/628.htm#

Thanks to Bluebus from the NZ Civil Aircraft blog for the following great slides taken at Wellington in June/July 1971:

RNZAF Boeing 727 NZ7273 - Thirty Years Ago today

Excerpt from AHSNZ Newsletter 1981 number 4 July-August 1981

The short career of NZ7273 as an airworthy RNZAF aircraft came to an end on the afternoon of 25 June 1981 when it was flight delivered to Woodbourne where it will be used as a source of engineering spares for the two aircraft that will make up the RNZAF Boeing 727 fleet.  The aircraft had served with United Airlines as N7436U until 9 December 1980 when it was flown from San Francisco to Las Vegas into the care of the Boeing Equipment Holding Company, being officially handed over three days later.  On 28 April 1981 the aircraft was transferred to the Boeing Finance Company and, in the course of the 2.1 hour flight from Las Vegas to San Francisco (Via Oregon), RNZAF personnel on board satisfied themselves as to the condition of the aircraft.  Formal acceptance by the RNZAF was carried out at San Francisco on the following day, 29 April, and NZ7273 made its first flight under RNZAF ownership on the 30th.  This was a test flight to establish fuel flow data.  On 3 May, with a United Airlines crew at the controls, NZ7273 left for New Zealand via Honolulu and Pago Pago, arriving at Christchurch about 1300 on 6 May.  At Christchurch the aircraft was used for training Air New Zealand maintenance engineers and the opportunity was taken to size up the modifications that would be carried out on the other two aircraft.  On 25 June RNZAF crews - who had completed their training with United Airlines earlier in the month - carried out almost two hours of training at Christchurch, completing a dozen landings, before picking up project team personnel and flying to Woodbourne mid-afternoon. 

In RNZAF "service" NZ7273 flew approximately 21 hours!

Pics of it here :
 http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Postwar&thread=2048&page=1#15832

HIPPO headed Down Under

The National Center of Atmospheric Research Gulfstream 5 N677F is making its way south to New Zealand this weekend and arrived at Rarotonga 22 June (local date) from Kailua-Kona carrying out a research project as it went.  The aircraft is flying as part of the HIPPO project, for more on this check out their website at http://hippo.ucar.edu/.

N677F last visited our region in April 2009.

Thanks to Ewan Smith for these great shots of N677F at Rarotonga this morning.

Local Bizjets - updated 24 June

The NZ local bizjet population have seen some 'action' in the last couple of days after a reasonably quiet period.

Late 22 June Pacific Jets Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM arrived at Auckland from Sydney/Bankstown via Coolangatta.  Its been across at Bankstown since late May.  It departed Auckland for Norfolk Island and Nadi 24 June. Earlier on 22 June the Wellington based Citation Mustang ZK-MUS was noted transitting from Masterton to its home town.

ZK-PGA arriving at Auckland 23 June, Mike Condon photo

On 23 June Gulfstream 200 Galaxy ZK-RGB departed from Auckland and headed for Apia and then to Honolulu.  Hastings based Citation Mustang ZK-LCA was busy with an early departure from its home to Auckland, then to Hamilton and back to Auckland before heading back to Napier.  Citation Mustang ZK-PGA was also out flying today carrying out a training flight which took it from Auckland to Hamilton and back.  At the same time ZK-PGA was returning to Auckland Citation 501 ZK-NDT launched out of Ardmore on a training detail which took it overhead Auckland, to Great Barrier Island, Whenuapai, Auckland and back to Ardmore with intermediate instrument approaches.

Arriving at Ardmore, Wayne Grant photo

Antarctic Supply Drop - 1981

The Aviation Historical Society of NZ Newsletter of July-August 1981 records the following interesting fact:

The USAF made a winter supply drop to men at McMurdo and the South Pole on 22 June using C-141B 66-0128 (a "stretched" Starlifter).  Although winter supplies had been dropped at McMurdo before, this was the first time that the South Pole had been included, a move made possible by air-to-air refuelling of the Starlifter on its way south.  This task was carried out by three KC-135As which left Auckland an hour ahead of the Starlifter leaving Christchurch to enable them to be on station when required.  It was necessary for them to use Auckland because of its longer runway, a move that resulted in a number of complaints from nearby residents about the noise of their taking-off at 3.00am.

This was the first Antarctic supply drop made from the "petal" doors at the rear of the Starlifter, earlier drops having been made out its side doors, and the crew were worried that the extreme cold may stop the hydraulic system working.  This would prevent the doors from being closed agai, in which case it would turn back from McMurdo and not go on to the South Pole.  However, all went well and the rear doors closed properly.  The Starlifter then carried on to the Pole where the drops were made out of the side doors.  All pallets, 26 at McMurdo and 6 at the Pole, landed undamaged.  Being mid-winter it was pitch dark at both drop zones but these were well lit on the ground and the weather was perfect, with clear skies and light winds.

Boeing 747-400 ZK-SUJ flies

Air New Zealand's Boeing 747-400 ZK-SUJ last flew on 26 March and was retired from the fleet pending its redelivery overseas.  Today, as NZ6004, the -400 has conducted a test flight from/to Auckland and is expected to exit the country before months end.

RNAF DC10 departs

Royal Netherland Air Force Douglas DC10-30CF T-255 departed Auckland mid morning 21 June heading for Honolulu.

Rare by Type, Rare by Origin!

The visit of a Douglas DC10 to NZ is now a rare event, and an aircraft visiting from the Netherlands of a military nature even rarer!

Touching down at Auckland on the evening of 18 June from Melbourne/Tullamarine was Royal Netherland Air Force Douglas DC10-30CF T-255 using the callsign "Netherland Air Force 67".  The DC10 had flown into Melbourne from Male during the early hours of 17 June.

Thanks to Falcon135, a brief of previous Dutch military visitors is just that, brief:

23 April 1942 (!) - Auckland Harbour Board records (researched by J Geelan) has arrival of Dutch flying boat, and departed 25 April.  Auckland was quite busy with various USA types in and out on mail runs.  The records are scant on detail and no confirmed type nor serial number was recorded for this visit.  It is probable the aircraft was a PBY of Rathmines.

15 May 1970 - Westland Wasp AH-12A serial 243 c/n F9688 came ashore at Wellington from HMNS Van Speijk.  Was only a short visit.

And there endeth the records!

At Auckland 19 June 2011, VJB photo

RNZAF TA4K Skyhawk NZ6254!

Outside in the sunshine at ex RNZAF Base Wigram, Christchurch on 16 June was TA4K Skyhawk NZ6254, recently arrived from RNZAF Base Woodbourne where it, along with the rest of the retired Skyhawk fleet, have been lurking awaiting 'disposal'.    As part of this 'disposal' and following the conclusion the aircraft were not going to be sold, a number of interested parties expressed interest in obtaining these aircraft for display purposes so it is apt that one has gone to the RNZAF Museum at Wigram to join another example that had been sourced direct from the USA without serving in the RNZAF.

Excerpt from http://www.adf-serials.com/

Bu157917/NZ6254. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 21 February 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 20 May 1970, the first of the type to be flown in New Zealand, before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Prototype Project Kahu 2 seater. Crash landed at Ohakea on 16 March 1994. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to return to Ohakea. During the landing roll the aircraft left the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Repaired and returned to service on 01 February 1995. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 19 October 2001. On arrival it had completed 6584.3 airframe hours.

Matt Hayes photo

NZAV8 photos

Gulfstream 550 XA-SKY

Arriving at Rarotonga from Papeete this morning for a one hour visit to drop off passengers was Mexican based Gulfstream 550 XA-SKY.  The 550 made its way back to Papeete.

Arriving at Rarotonga 15Jun local time, MRC Collection (photo supplied).

Samsung Global Express HL7749

Samsung's Global Express HL7749 arrived at Auckland on the evening of 12 June from Seoul/Gimpo and departed early the following afternoon for Sydney.

Wayne Grant photo

Boeing 737-800 VH-YFF

Virgin Australia's newest Boeing 737-800 VH-YFF is set to arrive at Christchurch on the evening of 10 June from Honolulu and Nadi for pre delivery modifications prior to its entry to service.

At Honolulu, photo thanks to HNL Rarebirds blog

Chilean Navy heads home

Chilean Navy Lockheed P3 Orion 407 has been on heavy maintenance with Safe Air at Woodbourne since 03 October 2010 when it arrived from Wellington having overnighted at the Capital following an arrival from Tahiti the previous day. 

The Orion underwent an aborted test flight 02 June when it was forced to return to Woodbourne with one engine shutdown creating some media attention at the time.  A circumnavigation of the South Island was conducted on 06 June and it departed Woodbourne for Wellington and Papeete 07 June.

At Wellington 07 June 2011, photo supplied.

Farewell to Ultra ZK-AWK

It would appear Airwork Flight Operations Citation 560 Ultra ZK-AWK has left New Zealand on its return to the United States.   As "Airwork 01", the Ultra departed from Auckland for Coolangatta and Cairns on 03 June and continued north to Guam via Port Moresby the next day.  On 05 June it was noted flying from Guam to Naha and has no doubt subsequently crossed the northern Pacific Ocean via the Kamchatchka Peninsula and Alaska.

ZK-AWK initially arrived in Australia registered N596VP on 02 September 2009 arriving at Maroochydore from Narita via Saipan, Port Moresby and Cairns having earlier departed from Wichita at the end of August and staged via Boeing Field, Anchorage and Anadyr.  The Ultra was subsequently used as a demonstration aircraft and it visited Western Australia and Papua New Guinea.  It was set to be delivered to NZ during the latter part of 2009 and was registered ZK-AWK on 20 November of that year before being cancelled on 08 January 2010 and being re-registered N3937E without having visited NZ on its ZK register!  It is understood the aircraft remained in Australia and returned to the N register to have avionics work carried out at Maroochydore. 

As N3937E the Ultra arrived at Auckland 28 January 2010 from Maroochydore and Brisbane and was placed back on the ZK register on 22 February.   On 27 February it made its first flight under its ZK markings flying from Auckland to Palmerston North, Napier and back to Auckland.   During its time in NZ the Ultra was seldomly flown and it was recorded as having visited Tauranga, Hamilton, Gisborne, Taupo, Wellington, Woodbourne, Christchurch, Norfolk Island, Tonga, Apia, Nadi, Port Vila and Sydney on what were primarily medical type flights.

Photos MRC Collection

Busy Skies Across NZ

A large church group has kept the charter operator's and Air New Zealand busy over the last few days as they travel the length of the country. Aircraft used have included Boeing 777-200's ZK-OKA and ZK-OKC, 737-300's ZK-NGI, ZK-NGJ and ZK-SJC, Airbus A320 ZK-OJB, BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO (operated by Vincent Aviation), Dash 8 ZK-VAC, Boeing 737-200 ZK-NQC, King Air 90 ZK-MKG, Cessna 402 ZK-VAD, Reims/Cessna 406 ZK-CEC, plus Metroliner's from Airwork and Jetstreams from Vincent Aviation.


In addition to these locally based aircraft the group have been using Challenger 604 N604AU. This aircraft arrived at Timaru 04 June from its Essendon base via Sydney and Christchurch and on 07 June it spent the day in Nelson, arriving from and returning to Timaru.

At Nelson, PC photos

And gone already.................

The German Air Force Airbus A319CJ 15+01 spent little time in NZ with it departing mid morning 03 June heading to Darwin and Vietnam.

Taken 02 June at Auckland, VJ photo

German Air Force Airbus A319

German Air Force/Luftwaffe Airbus A319CJ 15+01 touched down at Auckland just before 1400 02 June from Sydney carrying the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and entourage. 

The A319CJ had arrived at Sydney from Singapore/Changi on 31 May and yesterday made a day trip to Canberra and back.

Centennial of US Naval Aviation - Naval Air Station North Island

Coronado, adjacent to San Diego, is home to Naval Air Station North Island, a sprawling complex of runways and hangers next door to the home of the Pacific Fleet along with normally one nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_North_Island

Any time, any day, any number of US naval aircraft and civilian support aircraft can be seen flying in and out of the base and the beach at Coronado is the perfect spot to watch the action.