OFF AIR

We're taking a break for a few weeks and should be back sometime mid August.

Air NZ to Mexico

It was noted these past few days the visit to Cancun, Mexico, of Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400

ZK-NBV.  The aircraft embarked from Auckland on the morning of 12 July on a direct, 12hr 15min flight to the Mexican resort city as NZ1941 and returned to Auckland direct from Cancun in the early hours of 16 July as NZ1942 in 13hr 45min.

In addition to ZK-NBV, Virgin Australia Boeing 777-300 VH-VOZ also paid a visit to Cancun carrying members of the same charter group from Sydney via Los Angeles.

Would this be the first visit to Mexico by an Air New Zealand aircraft, other than perhaps those on export from the fleet?

End of the road?

During the small hours of 17 July (NZ time), Air Pacific/Fiji Airways Boeing 747-412 DQ-FJL "Island of Veti Levu" was expected to embarked on what was possibly her final flights as she winged across the Pacific Ocean from Nadi to Los Angeles and then headed to the birth place of Elvis, Tupelo in the state of Mississippi.   (actual departure date TO BE CONFIRMED). 

Tupelo is home to one of ARC Aerospace Industries aircraft recycling facilities so it seems DQ-FJL is set to be broken up after 24 years of service.   She first flew February 1989 and was delivered to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SMB the following month.  Just over ten years later the -400 was delivered to Ansett Australia where she was registered VH-ANA and was returned to Singapore Airlines, after the collapse of the Australian airline, in November 2001 and reverted to 9V-SMB.  In June 2003 Singapore Airlines leased the aircraft to Air Pacific and as DQ-FJL it arrived at Nadi from Singapore as FJ001 on 26 June 2003 and entered service the next as as FJ911 to Sydney, returning as FJ910.

It appears the aircraft's final passenger carrying services where flown on 08 July 2013 when DQ-FJL flew from Nadi to Auckland as FJ411 and returning north as FJ410.  

Deep South Visitor

Premier Jets of Portland, Oregon, specialise in aeromedical evacuation missions and Learjet 36 N363PJ has been in NZ these past couple of days on exactly one of these trips.

It arrived at Invercargill on the afternoon of 14 July from Honolulu via Pago Pago and departed from NZ southern most city late on the evening of 15 July for a tech stop at Auckland before continuing onto Pago Pago, Christmas Island and Hawaii.

N363PJ most recently visited our shores in October 2012 when it arrived at Hamilton on the 22nd from Hilsboro via Oakland, Honolulu and Pago Pago and departed on the 23rd for Pago Pago, Honolulu, Oakland and Centennial (south of Denver).   It was in the South Pacific as recently as late May this year when it arrived at Papeete 24 May from Kona and returned to Kona the next day.  

File photo - N363PJ departing Hamilton in October 2012, S Wall photo

NASA Boeing 747SP N747NA Montage Video Footage

SOFIA Arrives

SOFIA, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

NASA's airborne observatory, SOFIA, is a Boeing 747SP-21 registered N747NA "Clipper Lindbergh".
It is fitted with a 20000kg 2.5 metre diameter infrared telescope and the aircraft operates at altitudes between 39000ft and 45000ft.  

This heavily modified SP arrived at Christchurch 14 July from its Palmdale, California base via Honolulu /Hickam and Auckland using the callsign "NASA 747" and is expected to be operated from Christchurch until early August carrying out upto nine observation flights.  The 747 had planned to operate from Hickam direct to Christchurch however enroute the crew elected to make a techstop at Auckland due to inclement weather conditions at Christchurch which included the expectation of passing snow showers.

(news article at Stuff)

N747NA started its life in 1977 and flew initially for Pan Am as N536PA before moving to United Airlines in 1986 and reregistered N145UA.  

Christchurch has been the base of other NASA airborne observatories with their now retired Lockeed C141 Starlifter N714NA being a frequent visitor during its time as the Kuiper Airborne Observatory in the 80's and 90's.   With sincere thanks to Falcon135, records show N714NA made its first visit to Christchurch from 09 March 1986 through until 10 May 1986 and almost every year there after until its final visit from 13 May 1995 until 08 June 1995.  This airframe had visited NZ in a previous life as a demonstrator for Lockheed and flew from Sydney to Christchurch 02 September 1966 as N4141A.  The next day it flew to Wellington and back conducting demonstration flights from the Capital.  It then departed Christchurch for Honolulu 04 September 1966.

NASA have also had a Convair 990 visit Christchurch a few moons ago and Douglas DC8-72, N817NA, with it arriving at Christchurch 11 August 2000 and departing a week later for Adelaide.

And perhaps the most exotic NASA visit to NZ was the appearance of the U2, see an earlier post by clicking the link below:

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2011/03/lockheed-spy-plane-visits-christchurch.html

Poseidon's Spear

We know, an oddball post title!  But all will be quickly revealed...

The United States Navy Lockheed P3C AIP Orion 161763 made a pleasant "surprise" visit to Christchurch on the afternoon of 11 July and presumably arrived from Whenuapai using the callsign "TRIDENT 26".  (Hence the post title!).

The Orion departed mid afternoon initially southwest bound and arrived back at Whenuapai a little after 1630 after cruising visually up the North Island's western shore line.

Can anyone confirm the last time a USN Orion visited New Zealand?  Could it have been 1989?

Departing Christchurch, M Hayes photo

New Caledonian Visitor in NZ

Spotted scooting north from the Canterbury region towards Nelson this morning, 11 July, was Noumea/Magenta domiciled Dynamic Aerospool WT9 F-JSUB!  This aircraft is a true globetrotter as can be seen by their website, www.spiritofnoumea.com.  However it posed an interesting question of how the aircraft came to be in New Zealand!  Looking through the website it was found to have been shipped to Christchurch from its most recent trip to Europe and reassembled by Bruce Drake who is the Dynamic agent in NZ.  The aircraft is now on its return trip to Noumea.

Earlier post:
http://fnqskies.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/dynamic-wt9-f-jsub.html

Arriving at the Gold Coast in November 2011, T Magee photo

Billy the KID returns

Metrojet Hong Kong's Gulfstream 550 B-KID has returned to NZ arriving at Auckland on the morning of 10 July from Hong Kong.  B-KID most recently visited our shores in March/April this year.

File photo - B-KID parked at Hokitika during a December 2010 visit, M Hutchison photo

Global Express VH-ICV - First NZ visit

Execujet Australia Global Express XRS VH-ICV has made its first NZ visit with an arrival at Auckland during the early hours of 10 July from its Sydney base.

VH-ICV was delivered to Sydney from Honolulu on 16 December 2011 and joins Global Express VH-OCV with both aircraft primarily employed in flying casino goers between Australia and Asia but are also available for charter through the Execujet global network.

At Cairns 30 March 2013, Photo thanks to FNQ Skies. 

China Southern to be first Dreamliner operator to New Zealand

China Southern Airlines have formally announced their intentions to add additional flights to Auckland during the Northern Hemisphere winter and will be first airline to fly the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to New Zealand.

Auckland will see China Southern's Boeing 787s in its skies over the coming summer. From the 4th of December 2013 until the 1st of March 2014 the airline will operate three Boeing 787 services a week between Guangzhou and Auckland. These flights are in addition to  the airline's daily Airbus 330 flights. The 787 flights will depart Guangzhou on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday afternoons arriving in Auckland at 7.00am the following day.  The return northbound services will depart Auckland on Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10.00am.

For a review of current 787 schedules check out http://airlineroute.net/2013/07/01/787current/

"New" King Air enters service

Having been delivered to NZ in late April this year, King Air 200 ZK-MYM made its first visit to Auckland 09 July when it arrived from and returned to its Palmerston North Base.  The aircraft had flown its first aeromedical mission from Palmerston North to Tauranga and back on 26 June.  The aircraft arrived in NZ on 28 April as VH-ZMQ and was registered to Air-2-There of Paraparaumu on 27 May.  

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/king-air-200-vh-zmq.html

As can be seen in the photos below, the King Air remains in the same colours as worn during its time in Europe and Australia and now features small Air 2 There titles on the tail.

United States Navy Orion

A United States Navy Lockheed P3 Orion arrived at Whenuapai on the evening of 06 July from Australia using the callsign "Navy PE101". 

The Orion has been identified as 161763 operated by VP-69 "Fighting Totems"

 

Can anyone assist with its point of origin?

File photos - USN P3's at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii 25 July 2010. 

Freighters

Tasman Cargo Airlines Boeing 757 VH-TCA took to the skies for the first time since taking up its new identity on 06 July with a local flight from/to Auckland.

Airwork/Toll Boeing 737-300 freighter ZK-TLE departed Auckland 06 July on its return to Brisbane concluding a maintenance visit with its parent company.  It had conducted at least one if not two test flights on 05 July and had arrived at Auckland from Brisbane on 29 May. 

Replacing ZK-TLE in the Airwork hangar was another Boeing 737-300 freighter ZK-TLC and it arrived 06 July from Brisbane.  ZK-TLC last visited Auckland in October 2012, arriving on the 12th and departing just three days later. 

Bombardier movements

Bombardier Global Express 9H-BGL departed a damp and blustery Wellington 06 July for the short flight north to Auckland.

Bombardier Challenger 604 N604CD lifted off from Auckland early afternoon 06 July destined for Kona via a techstop at Nadi.

Final NZ visit from a Fijian Queen? No, it wasn't!

The visit to Auckland by Air Pacific/Fiji Airways Boeing 747-400 DQ-FJK on 29 June was planned to be the type's final scheduled run to NZ by the Fijian national carrier as its long haul fleet is replaced with the Airbus A330's.  However "operational requirements" saw the same service a week later on 06 July operated by DQ-FJK again, so we'll put a stake in the sand and say this was the final visit - until either it or DQ-FJL makes another "unscheduled" visit!

And as anticipated by some, DQ-FJL ended up operating in lieu of a Airbus A330 on the carrier's Nadi-Auckland-Nadi run 08 July.


A recent blogpost on the Air Pacific Jumbo's can be found here:
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2013/05/air-pacific-boeing-747-400-10-years-in.html

DQ-FJK climbs away from runway 23L at Auckland 29 June, MRC photo

Islander heads off shore

Britten Norman BN2 Islander ZK-ZQN has today departed Kerikeri for Norfolk Island, no doubt following in the footsteps of sistership ZK-MFN with this aircraft having departed NZ back in 08 March on export.

ZK-ZQN was delivered to NZ in 2002 and arrived at Auckland from Lord Howe Island on 18 December as G-BLNW and it departed early the next day for Wellington and Queenstown where it was then registered using the airport's IATA code ZQN on Christmas Eve and was operated by Real Journey's on scenic flight operations.

ZQN arriving at ZQN 23 March 2008, MRC photo

Tasman Cargo Airlines Boeing 757 VH-TCA - updated with new photo

Auckland based Tasman Cargo Airlines took delivery of Boeing 757-236PCF G-CSVS during the early hours of 14 August 2011 when the jet arrived at Auckland from Singapore via Sydney.   Operating in the colours of the primary operator, DHL Cargo, and replaced another Boeing 757 freighter G-BMRJ which had been stationed at Auckland following the departure of Boeing 727 freighter VH-DHE with the three holer departing 25 February 2011 on its delivery to K Mile Air as HS-SCK. 

G-CSVS entered service on the night of 20 August 2011 operating the carrier's regular scheduled service from Auckland to Sydney and back as TMN1/2.   Under its UK marks the 757 is known to have visited Noumea, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin and Guangzhou (from late December 2012 through until mid January 2013 for maintenance).  

The aircraft was cancelled from the UK register on 28 June 2013 and was inducted at Auckland for pre Australian certification work before rolling out of the Air NZ jet base marked as VH-TCA on the afternoon of 03 July 2013.  During its period out of service Tasman flights have been operated by Qantas Boeing 767-300's.

VH-TCA is the third 757 to feature the Australian registration prefix with VH-NOF and VH-AWE being the forerunners.

Click here for link to post on G-CSVS arrival.

Be sure to check out http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/tasman-cargo-airlines-express-trans.html

At Auckland 04 July 2013, Agairnz photo

Global Express XRS 9H-BGL

Comlux Malta operated Global Express XRS 9H-BGL touched down at Wellington just before sun-up 04 July 2013 direct from Hong Kong as MLM056.  This aircraft visited NZ during April/May 2012 with it arriving at Wellington from Hong Kong on 28 April, then proceeding to Auckland 30 April where it then remained until 08 May when it departed for Kansai.

File photo.

Escaping the heat!

Scottsdale, Arizona based Challenger 604 N604CD, registered to Lonpar LLC, arrived at Christchurch on the afternoon of 02 July from Sydney.  Temperatures at Scottsdale, on the northern fringe of Phoenix, have reached 48C these past few days! 

The Challenger first popped up in our region arriving at Melbourne 28 June from Sultan Abul Aziz Shah and flew onto Sydney 30 June.  

After a few hours on the ground at Christchurch N604CD made her way north to Auckland.

Resting at Christchurch. 

LAN Delivery Flight

LAN Airbus A340-313X CC-CQE made a brief appearance at Auckland during the early hours of 03 July on its way from Santiago, Chile to Singapore arriving as LAN9993 and departing as LAN9992.  Sources indicate the aircraft has exited the LAN fleet and was heading to Singapore for maintenance before redelivery/disposal.  Can anyone shed light on its future?

The departure of -CQE from the fleet now sees just three A340's left with LAN; CC-CQA, CC-CQc and CC-CQF.  This will see the South American carrier adjust their schedules through NZ over the coming months with a reduction in frequency and some Tasman services suspended.

CC-CQE, msn 429, was first flown on 12 October 2001 and delivered to LAN later the same month. 

File photo of CC-CQE arriving at Auckland, J Rankin Snr photo

Gulfstream 650 N650PH crosses the Pacific

New Zealand's first brush with a Gulfstream 650 was back in February of this year when N650PH, on a demonstration visit to Australasia, stopped off at Auckland and Wellington.  The aircraft was at the time leased back to the manufacturer for the purposes of a demonstrator and it was subsequently seen across the planet.

The aircraft has in the last few hours swept across the Pacific Ocean, albeit north of the equator.   It ducked into Guam during the early hours of today as it flew from San Diego/Brown Field and onto Al Maktoum in Dubai cruising along at mach .90.

File photo.  N650PH lifts off runway 16 at Wellington 25 February heading to Melbourne.  Lanzi photo

First Full Day

MRC Aviation has already posted information and snaps of Air New Zealand's most recent addition to the fleet, Airbus A320-232 (SL) ZK-OXA.  Yesterday, 01 July, marked the aircraft's official entry to service with a full day of flying undertaken up and down the main trunk routes of the national carrier's domestic network.

Many photographers took the opportunity to "chase" the thus far unique sharklet sporting aircraft under mostly fine winter skies and we are delighted to be able to share just some of them here:

The first six amazing shots are thanks to Lanzi who climbed up the hill to catch its arrival into Wellington as ANZ407.  

Colin H was at Auckland to catch her departure to Christchurch as ANZ525. 

And Graeme W was at Christchurch to get her arriving.

John R was at Auckland to meet her arriving back from Christchurch.

And Mike M was about with his video to catch it departing and arriving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNLEXJKQ0WA&feature=share&list=UU1-wSyL2kwkpFOhcQdD-Ewg