Postcard from Japan - Part IV

Atsugi is not only home to a large contingent of US Navy aircraft but of course Japanese Self Defence Force assets.

Postcard from Japan - Part III

Atsugi, Japan, is the largest US Navy air base in the Pacific Ocean and is therefore a hotbed of activity at all hours of the day and night. 

These shots of a single seat F18, callsign TALON31, were taken at dusk as the jet returned from a 45min sortie and carried out a few circuits.

 

Postcard from Japan - Part II

Continuing the coverage of action taken a few days ago at Atsugi, Japan.  Thanks again to Bargeld01.

Falcon to the Chats

Flying Lion's Falcon 7X, VP-BZE, made a brief visit to the Chatham Islands 28 January, making the journey from / to Auckland.  For those reading from outside of NZ, the Chatham Islands are part of NZ and located approximately 420 miles east of the South Island.

Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatham_Islands

The last jet to visit the Chathams as Air Hawkes Bay Citation Mustang ZK-LCA in mid November 2013, and the last foreign registered jet was in September 2012 when Australian Dick Smith flew his Citation CJ3 to the island from Queenstown and departed to Wellington and Sydney. 

By the time this is read, VP-BZE should have departed Auckland for Sydney.

Enstrom N480TM

Motor Yacht "The Big Blue" appears to have arrived at Queens Wharf, Auckland Harbour, around 27 January and it was photographed the next day with its tender helicopter Enstrom 480B N480TM registered to Sabreair LLC, on board. 

China Eastern Specials

China Eastern Airlines operated the first of two special Chinese New Year flights to Auckland 28 January with Airbus A330-200 B-6121 arriving direct from Pudong as CES7069, and returning with an after dark departure to Pudong as CES7070.  

The second flight is scheduled to take place 02 February.

China Eastern flew to Auckland in the mid to late 1990's, can anyone provide information around these flights i.e. route/duration of services/types used?  

US Herc stops off at Invercargill - Corrected

A planned tech stop at Invercargill for a United States military Lockheed C130 Hercules has ended up in an unscheduled layover following a multiple bird strike event earlier today.

United States Air Force Lockheed LC130H Hercules 76-3302 departed Christchurch for Invercargill as SKIER71 where a planned refuel took place and subsequent departure to Pegasus Field, Antarctica, however on takeoff the Hercules hit a number of oystercatchers with impact around one of the engines which saw the aircraft return for a precautionary landing and ultimately spend a few hours at Invercargill before continuing south the same afternoon. 

76-3302 awaiting attention at Invercargill 28 January 2014. 

BK117 VH-BKZ

Kawasaki BK117B-2 VH-BKZ touched down at Ardmore on the afternoon of 27 January concluding its trans Tasman delivery flight.  The chopper was first noted arriving at Lord Howe Island from Port Macquarie on 24 January timing its arrival with a gaggle of light aircraft on a safari trip to the remote location.  Its date of travel to Norfolk Island is not confirmed but given the timings and poor weather at the island it was most likely flown on 26 January before departing the next day for Kerikeri and Ardmore where it is seen soon after arrival at Airwork.

Texan Order Confirmed

New Zealand's Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman yesterday issued a press release confirming the Government had awarded Beechcraft the contract to deliver 11 T6C Texan II advanced trainers with the first two aircraft due in the middle of this year.  Air New Zealand subsidiary Safe Air will provide overall maintenance support of the new aircraft.

For the full press release click here.

Thanks to Ted Larkin from Canada for these shots of the T6 Texan demonstrator in flight with some oldies.
The T6 has entered service with the Royal Canadian Air Force replacing Canadair CL-41 Tutors.

Another series of Postcards from Japan - Part I

Thanks to Bargeld01 who has been out braving the winter chill in Japan to bring these shots from Atsugi.

Boeing 737-300F ZK-TLC

Already widely reported across various media sites is the landing accident at Honiara, Solomon Islands, of Airwork Flight Operations Boeing 737-3B7(SF) ZK-TLC on the morning of 26 January.

The converted freighter, in Australian freight operator Toll livery, was operating a regular service on behalf of Pacific Air Express and had departed from Brisbane for Honiara as SOLPAC523 (PAQ523).  

ZK-TLC, the 3rd freighter for operations in Australia,  was delivered to Airwork at Auckland on 27 August 2007 concluding its delivery flight from Miami where it was converted from its previous life as a US Airways passenger plane registered N519AU, and flew to Long Beach, Honolulu and Pago Pago before the last stretch to NZ.

The aircraft was delivered across the Tasman on 06 September 2007 having had finishing touches to the livery carried out with its planned destination being Brisbane however it was diverted to Melbourne as a result of a maintenance issue on one of the other Toll operated aircraft and pressed into service the same day.

Departing Auckland for Australia on 06 September 2007, J Rankin Jr photo

Taxiing for departure at Auckland on 16 September 2013 at the conclusion of its most recent maintenance visit to NZ and after having its livery modified. 

Shortly after its landing incident at Honiara 26 January 2014, supplied. 

Central Otago - January 2014

Earlier this month we spent time in Central Otago so the opportunity arose to catch a few locals in their natural habitat.

Cessna 172G ZK-COM from Gore was spotted at Alexandra (and via another blog across at Cromwell a few days earlier). 

AS350B2 ZK-HBN is operated by Alpine Helicopters of Wanaka and it is seen above on a VIP transfer from Queenstown. 

AS350B2 ZK-HBN was deployed to the Cromwell district after rainfall forced cherry orchards to employ the drying attributes of the ever resourceful "fling wing" with upto nine helicopters working the Ripponvale area. 

Alpine Helicopters AS350BA ZK-HIH, minus titles, also employed on cherry drying operations. 

Aurum Helicopters operate this Robinson R44 ZK-HOA from their Cromwell base. 

Alpine Helicopters AS350B2 ZK-HOT was one of four of the type working one cherry orchard after heavy rain.

Southern Lakes/Queenstown Helicopters AS350B2 ZK-HQG seen departing the Cromwell airstrip for cherry drying work. 

The Helicopter Line AS350B2 ZK-HSM arriving back at Queenstown to join a gaggle of other Squirrels that make up the operators fleet in the south.  It was also spied across at Cromwell for the cherry drying work. 

Heliworks Robinson R44 II ZK-ILS returning to its Queenstown home. 

A long way from home, Air Hawkes Bay Piper PA38 ZK-JVC at Queenstown. 

Above and below, Willow Air's Alexandra based Ziln Z-137T. 

Also some way from home, Cessna R172K ZK-YAT registered to a Fielding address was at Cromwell for a couple of days.