King Air 200 VH-ZMQ

NZ's population of resident Beech King Air's increased by one 28 April with the arrival at Wellington of 1993 model King Air 200 VH-ZMQ (BB-1466).  The aircraft had earlier in the day embarked from the Gold Coast and made a fuel stop at Lord Howe Island.  Following the clearance of formalities at the capital the King Air continued to Paraparaumu where it understood to be on delivery to Helipro/Air-2-There for a joint venture air ambulance operation for the Manawatu district so will most likely end up based out of Palmerston North.

VH-ZMQ has been on aeromedical operations out of Darwin on behalf of Careflight and it arrived at Broome from Bali in formation with 3 other King Air's as LN-MOH on 30 May 2010.  It, along with LN-MOC, LN-MOE and LN-MOI then continued to Essendon via Alice Springs on 31 May.  It became VH-ZMQ on 09 June 2010. 

Arriving at Wellington 28 April 2013. 

At Essendon on 01 June 2010. 

Falcon 7X LX-AMB heads south

NBLV Ltd Falcon 7X LX-AMB departed from Rotorua mid morning on 26 April as SVW27MB destined for Dunedin and after a brief stop over continued to Queenstown joining Global 5000 N3389H on the damp ramp.

First two photos at Dunedin, the remainder at Queenstown. 

Global 5000 N3389H

Listed with the nondescript Wells Fargo Bank, Global 5000 N3389H arrived at Queenstown 24 April 2013 from Sydney where it had arrived two days earlier from its Hong Kong home.

Parked at Queenstown 25 April 2013. 

Bizjets Depart

Oman Royal Flight Gulfstream 550 A4O-AE departed Wellington on the morning of 25 April for Bali as "Oman 4" concluding the visit to NZ by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Gulfstream 550 N773MJ, callsign "Jetspeed 773", also departed Wellington 25 April for Papeete.  Its departure coincided with the arrival at the port of Wellington on the same morning of motor yacht "Archimedes".

Aerosmith Activity

Rock group Aerosmith touched down at Christchurch on the evening of 23 April using what has become the regular mode of transport for musicians visiting the region, Marcplan's Embraer Legacy VH-VLT.  It arrived from Sydney and transported the lead musician and entourage to Dunedin for their one and only NZ concert on the evening of 24 April before returning to Christchurch in the early hours of 25 April.  It then embarked on its return journey to Essendon later Anzac Day.

Incidentally, Marcplan had the honours of flying Black Sabbath from Auckland to Brisbane 23 April utilising their Gulfstream 450 VH-MBP which arrived earlier the same day from Essendon.

In addition to VH-VLT, Westfield's Gulfstream 5 N36GV made what is believed to be only its second NZ visit arriving at Dunedin from Sydney on the evening of 23 April carrying support band The Dead Daisies..  The Gulfstream seems to spend 50% of the time based out of Sydney and 50% of Newark and sits beside two Global Expresses in the Westfield Group, N18WF and N36LG.
It departed Dunedin on Anzac Day morning for Sydney.

Where are they now - Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCE

N387AX (ex ZK-NCE). 

Air New Zealand's first Boeing 767-319ER was ZK-NCE (c/n 24875) and the aircraft was delivered to the airline during the winter of 1991.  It operated with the airline until a "damp" lease and ultimate handover to Air Niugini took place in August 2002 with the aircraft initially remaining on the ZK operating in the new operator's colours.  It was cancelled from the ZK register on 12 August 2003 and became P2-ANG.  

On 30 October 2007 P2-ANG arrived at Auckland from Port Moresby as ANG6003 at the conclusion of its lease after having initial pre delivery work carried out in Hong Kong.  It was then registered CX-PUG for Uruguay carrier Pluna and was first noted carrying its new registration on 15 November and departed the following afternoon direct to Montevideo as "Pluna 6404".  

It then moved to Viva Macau as B-MAY in February 2009 and was in service with the Asian carrier for just over 12 months before the airline ceased operations and it was returned to the lessor, AWAS, where it became N875AW.  By late 2010 the aircraft had found a new home with Omni Aviation and was registered N387AX with whom it still operates.   

N387AX arrived at Darwin 21 April as "Omni 226" from Hickam via Guam in support of US military exercises and departed Darwin 22 April for Honolulu using the same callsign. 

Auckland 06 March 1993

Auckland 03 February 2000

Auckland August 2002

Arriving at Sydney as B-MAY in October 2009. 

Ex Kiwi Airliner arrives at Christchurch

http://www.planespotters.net/Aviation_Photos/photo.show?id=347060

Australian Air Express Boeing 737-376 (SF) VH-XML (23486)  has this evening arrived at Christchurch from Melbourne as QFA7423 for maintenance with Air NZ.  This converted passenger jet is no stranger to the hangar's of Christchurch as it once flew for Jetconnect/Qantas as ZK-JNF. 

VH-XML first entered service with Australian Airlines as VH-TAU in 1986 and with the airline takeover moved to Qantas in 1993.  It remained plying its trade across the domestic network for Qantas until October 2002 when it was moved to their NZ subsidiary Jetconnect.  Still registered VH-TAU, the 737-300 positioned from Melbourne to Christchurch on 25 October 2002 as QFA6015 where it was to then take up its kiwi identity, ZK-JNF.  Its first revenue service was 4 days as QFA4124 from Christchurch to Auckland.  The jet remained in service until 28 August 2006 when it flew its final passenger revenue flights as QFA54/53 Auckland-Adelaide-Auckland and then positioned to Christchurch as QFA6171.  ZK-JNF was then positioned to Melbourne on 31 August 2006 as QFA6172 where it was then inducted for freighter conversion and rolled out as VH-XML with Australian Air Express, another Qantas subsidiary.

ZK-JNF at Auckland 13 February 2003.

Boeing BBJ HL7227 departs

Boeing 737-7HF BBJ HL7227, operated by the Hanwha Chemical Corporation, departed Christchurch at 0720 24 April for Saipan and Seoul/Gimpo at the conclusion of its maintenance visit with Air NZ which had commenced 06 April when the aircraft arrived at the Garden City from Gimpo via Auckland.
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/boeing-bbj-hl7227.html
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/boeing-bbj-hl7227-part-two.html

Arriving at Christchurch 06 April 2013. 

Omani arrives at Wellington

The Oman Royal Flight Gulfstream 550 A4O-AE concluded its Auckland visit 23 April and departed shortly after 1600 for its journey south to Wellington where Lanzi was on hand to catch its arrival.

The Gulfstream joins another 550 on the western apron at Wellington, N773MJ, which featured in a blog post here

Falcon 7X LX-AMB

MRC Aviation mentioned on Monday the arrival at Rotorua of Falcon 7X LX-AMB http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/stunner-arrives-at-rotorua.html

Thanks to Eye'n the Sky here are some shots of her on the ramp at Rotorua.

Odd Virgin.......

Virgin Australia are of course a regular sight across NZ flying international services with their VONZ (Virgin of  New Zealand nee Pacific Blue) fleet of ZK registered Boeing 737-800's with the periodic use of VH-VOX when maintenance requirements remove a ZK aircraft from service.  And then there are the regular visits to Christchurch by both -700 and -800 NG's visiting the Air NZ maintenance facility.

But the arrival at Wellington 23 April of Boeing 737-800 VH-YIB was noteworthy as it not only originated from Melbourne from where Virgin do not operate flights to Wellington from but also it has remained at Wellington since arriving mid afternoon.  It seems the aircraft, using the flight number VOZ4170, is on an Australian Football League charter with the Melbourne St Kilda Saints and Sydney Swans set to play at the Cake Tin on Anzac Day.

VH-YIB has only visited NZ once before, and that was on its delivery flight.  It arrived at Christchurch on 02 September 2011 from Boeing Field via Lihue and Nadi and departing 5 days later for Brisbane.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2011/09/brand-spanking.html

Arriving at Wellington 23 April 2013

Gulfstream 550 N773MJ revisited

As mentioned in an earlier post here, Gulfstream 550 N773MJ has been parked at Invercargill for a number of days and finally departed 22 April for Queenstown, Woodbourne and onto Wellington where it was caught up by our intrepid photographer who braved wet conditions to bring us these great shots!

Global Express VH-VDX

Pratt Aviation of Melbourne/Essendon operate two Global Express aircraft, VH-VGX since February 2006 and more recently VH-VDX since August 2011.  VH-VDX arrived at Essendon from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah on 16 September 2011 with the aircraft coming ex a South African operator.  It made its first visit to NZ on 21 November the same year with a visit to Auckland in company with sistership VH-VGX.

The aircraft was repainted in 2012 and is now identical to VH-VGX and we believe today's arrival at Auckland from Essendon is its first visit since repaint.

Arriving Auckland today. 

Departing Auckland on 14 June 2012 destined for Tauranga. 

Stunner arrives at Rotorua

MRC Aviation covered off the recent proliferation of Dassault Falcon jet visitors to New Zealand in a recent blog post - click here.

One of the most spectacular schemes to adorn a Falcon must surely be that displayed on 7X LX-AMB operated by Global Jet Luxembourg on behalf of its owners NBLV Ltd and this stunner arrived at Rotorua on the morning of 22 April from Broome, Western Australia where it arrived on the evening of 19 April from the Maldives using the callsign SVW27MB. 

Locally sourced photos to follow. 

http://www.jetphotos.net/

Oman Royal Flight Gulfstream 550 A4O-AE (updated with photo)

An interesting arrival into Auckland between torrential rain showers on the evening of 21 April was Oman Royal Flight's Gulfstream 550 A4O-AE.  The jet arrived direct from Jakarta/Halim using the callsign "Oman 4".

If our memory serves us correctly, the last corporate jet from Oman may well have been a Gulfstream 2 at this time of the year back in 1991!

There had been Oman Aviation Fokker F27 visitors subsequent to the Gulfstream 2 :
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/this-week-20-years-ago.html

A4O-HA at Christchurch on Anzac Day 1991, Falcon135 photo

USAF Globemaster arrival at Christchurch

United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 00-0179, callsign "Reach 5E4", arrived at Christchurch during the first hour of 21 April direct from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.  

The last record of a USAF C17 Globemaster III in NZ was on 28 February this year with the departure from Christchurch of 09-9209 direct to Hickam at the conclusion of the 2012/2013 Antarctic program.

00-0179 is from McChord Air Force Base, Washington State who have expertise in Antarctic operations as the aircraft is believed destined for a medivac flight to the frozen continent within the next 48 hours or as weather conditions permit.  At present there is roughly 3 to 4 hours of daylight at McMurdo so a small window of opportunity exists for standard operations however night vision assisted flights have taken place.

Winter 2012 saw the Skytrader Airbus A319 VH-VHD carry out a medivac flight from Christchurch to Pegasus and back on 09 August.

2012 post on VH-VHD's trip south.

We wish all involved a safe and speedy journey. 

File photo

Classic Aircraft Waco YMF ZK-CFL

Unveiled at Ardmore earlier this week and test flown for the first time from NZ soil on the evening of 18 April was this 1988 edition of the Waco bi-plane  manufactured by Classic Aircraft of Battle Creek, Michigan.

Registered ZK-CFL on 16 April to Classic Flights, Wanaka, the Waco has been on flight operations out of Van Nuys, California where it was registered N60JG and carries the serial number F5-019.

King Air 200 N831XP

MRC Aviation featured the arrival at Ardmore of King Air 200 N831XP back in February (click here).

The aircraft was noted carrying out engine runs 19 April and on comparing snap shots it has had the registration font modified and the name and logo on the tail removed.

Ardmore 19 April 2013 - noted revised font.

And again at Ardmore on 17 February 2013

Piper PA30 Twin Comanche D-GPEZ

German registered Piper PA30-160 Twin Comanche D-GPEZ was an interesting arrival at Wellington early on the afternoon of 18 April as it staged through the Capital city to clear formalities on its way from Lord Howe Island to Omaka where it is understood it will be based over the coming months. 

Thanks to http://www.earthrounders.com/ we can advise that the Peterborough, UK based aircraft departed from there around 31 March local date and first popped up in our coverage area on 11 April when it touched down at Darwin from Bali.  It then flew onto Ayres Rock 13 April and to Birdsville and Gold Coast Airport 14 April before crossing to Lord Howe Island 15 April.  

The aircraft is owned and piloted by Trevor Laundy who has held the rank of Group Captain in the Royal Air Force with his expertise in the medical field.  For more see the RAF website here

The last German registered light aircraft to visit NZ that we can recall was globe trotting Partenavia 68 D-GHAN.  This aircraft arrived at Christchurch on 02 January 2008 from Sydney and flew to Wellington on 08 January.  Then three days later it was onto Auckland where it overnight and departed 11 January for Noumea.

http://www.geier-flyer.com/GeierFlyerUK/index2.php

D-GHAN was to again visit the Pacific region and arrived at Guam from Chukk 08 May 2011 then on 14 May flew from Majuro to Lihue. 

Parked at Wellington 11 January 2008. 

Incidentally, the last German registered aircraft to visit our shores will have been the Citation 680 Sovereign D-CBAY in March of last year with the jet arriving at Auckland from Essendon on the last day of that month and departing for Sydney 13 April 2012. 

Busy days for Falcons

As French aircraft manufacturer Dassault prepares to celebrate 50 years of flight for the ever popular Falcon range of corporate jets, NZ skies have been busy with the various models currently in service.

Already parked at Auckland was Falcon 2000 VH-CRW, this aircraft arrived from Brisbane 16 April.

We've already covered off the  brief visit of Falcon 2000 VH-WIO at Auckland on 17 April (see here).

Auckland based Falcon 2000 N818BH spent a long weekend in Australia and returned home from Sydney 14 April.

And the other Auckland based Falcon, 900EX series N146EX has had a couple of days across the Tasman and arrived home from Sydney 18 April.

In addition to the above, visiting Falcon 900LX C-GTLA flew from Queenstown to Napier 16 April and onto Auckland on the morning of 18 April. 

As a side note, the first flight by a Mystere-Falcon 20 took place on 04 May 1963 and since then some 2,250 Falcon's have been delivered to 82 countries amassing in excess of 16.2 million flight hours. 

http://www.dassaultfalcon.com/en/MediaCenter/News/Pages/50th-Anniversary.aspx#mystere-falcon-twenty