First Foreign Foray

Pacific Jets/Pacific Jets Assist Westwind II ZK-PJA, nee ZK-RML, has made what is presumably its first foreign foray under its new identity with a flight from Auckland to Port Vila and back 29 November.  The jet had earlier the same day positioned from Ardmore where it had been static outside Hawker Pacific's maintenance facility for several days.

Our records show this airframe, then registered ZK-RML, made its last overseas trip in August 2013 when it flew from Auckland to Port Vila and Brisbane on the 17th whilst in the care of Airwork Flight Operations and using callsign "Airwork One".  It then returned to Auckland the next day.

File photo

Corporate Corner

After the spate of bizjet movements earlier in the month things quietened down a little but there are still a couple to review.

Careflight Learjet 45 VH-VVI arrived at Auckland in the early hours of 22 November from Brisbane and Port Vila and after crew rest departed back to Brisbane.  The aircraft was back across the Tasman 28 November, this time arriving at Norfolk Island from Brisbane before proceeding to Sydney.

Royal Australian Air Force Challenger 604 A37-003 flew from Canberra to Whenuapai 23 November as "Ausy 343" and returned to Canberra the next morning.

Westfield/LFG Services PTY Gulfstream 550 N818LF arrived at Auckland during the first few minutes of 25 November from Sydney and it then returned to Sydney on the evening of 26 November.  The jet returned to Auckland again at lunch time on 28 November from Sydney and spent just a brief time on the ground before continuing to Christchurch where it is seen in the photo below.  It carried onto Dunedin 29 November where it sat for several hours before departing forMelbourne.

Metrojet Gulfstream 550 B-KID arrived at Auckland from its Hong Kong home 26 November and departed for Hong Kong 29 November.

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737/BBJ A36-001 was noted carrying out an approach/missed approach at Wellington 26 November before proceeding to Whenuapai 26 November.  As "Ausy 344", the BBJ departed late the following morning for Ohakea and Canberra.

Business Aviation Solutions Citation X VH-RCA spent just over 30mins on the ground at Auckland 28 November, arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Texan Trio Touchdown!

RNZAF base Ohakea welcomed three Beechcraft T-6C Texan II's on the evening of 28 November with the aircraft concluding their long delivery flight from the United States.  The aircraft arrived soon after 1935 in ten minute intervals to a cold and wet Manawatu evening where temperatures barely reached double figures, a far cry from most of the spots they visited on the delivery flight.

N2841B/NZ1403, N2846B/NZ1406 and N2847B/NZ1407 entered the region 25 November touching down at Darwin from Bali and flew onto Cairns 26 November.  The route through Queensland differed from the previous deliveries with the aircraft flying from Cairns to the Gold Coast 27 November before embarking across the Tasman Sea via Norfolk Island to Ohakea.

It is understood the remaining four Texan's to be delivered will be flown as a quartet early next year.

A Boeing donation of 787 Dreamliner to Seattle’s Museum of Flight

Boeing have recently donated Boeing 787-8 test bed, ZA003, to the Seattle Museum of Flight located at Boeing Field.

This airframe, registered N787BX, visited Australasia in May 2012 arriving at Sydney direct from Boeing Field on the 24th as "Boeing 787".  It flew to Brisbane and back on the 26th then to Melbourne and back two days later.  It made its way to Auckland from Sydney 29 May and then flew to Christchurch and back the following day.  N787BX flew to Darwin 31 May then to Tashkent 01 June continuing its around the world demo trip.
This was the second visit to NZ by a Boeing 787-8 with the first taking place in November 2011 when ZA001/N787BA spent a few days at Auckland.

Three Strikes - not out!

The Warbirds Association open day at Ardmore 23 November was a fantastic oportunity to line up the three resident BAC167 Mk88 Strikemaster's.

NZ6372, now registered ZK-BAC, conducted a spirited display routine.  Hopefully one day we will see all three flying together!

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N95EL

The second Cessna 208B Grand Caravan to reach our shores within a week touched down at Auckland on the afternoon of 26 November, this time a 2005 edition registered N95EL.  

The aircraft, featuring a Garrett turbine engine, (http://www.texasturbines.com/en/) has been delivered to Taupo for parachute operations with the Trans-Pacific flight taking just three days starting off from Hollister Municipal via night stops at Hilo and Pago Pago then onto Auckland and Taupo.

NOT taken at Auckland, or Taupo!  N95EL prior to its engine conversion arriving at St Barthelemy, Guadalope in 2011.

The arrival of N95EL follows N771AL/ZK-SAW with this Grand Caravan arriving at Auckland 23 November from Tulsa via Double Eagle, Bakersfield, Merced, Honolulu and Pago Pago and continuing onto Omaka 24 November concluding its delivery flight to Soundsair.

De Havilland Tiger Moth ZK-ALK

Normally such material would be posted across at the NZ Civil Aircraft blogsite, but we needed some "space" fillers to keep things going so herewith something a little different from the run of the mill posts!

The NZ Warbirds Association at Ardmore, southeast of Auckland, hosted an open day 23 November.  The event consisted of three "display" slots coinciding with temporary closures of the general aviation airport so as to conduct aerobatics etc.

Almost all the aircraft that participated, with the exception of three Vans and the opening display slot of tow plane Pawnee ZK-CEB and glider ZK-GCS, are local Ardmore identities.

The De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth ZK-ALK, registered to The Strome Family Trust of Drury, took our eye as since the last time we noted it the name "Joan Mary" has been added to the tail.

Closing in.....

The next batch of Beechcraft T6C Texan II's destined for the Royal New Zealand Air Force are closing in on their ultimate destination of Ohakea.  The three aircraft, registered N2841B/NZ1403 , N2846B/NZ1406 and N2847B/NZ1407 are this afternoon making their way to Darwin from Bali.

Gulfstream 650 ZK-KFB stretches her legs

Execujet New Zealand's Gulfstream 650, ZK-KFB, has stretched her legs in recent days with a long haul ride from Wellington direct to Los Angeles and local reports indicate she has since arrived at Northolt, west London.

Its visit to the UK comes as no surprise as Sir Peter Jackson's third Hobbit movie, "The Battle of the Five Armies" is set to premier in London on December 1st.

File photo - Wellington November 2013. 

Falcon 7X VP-CJS

We mentioned the arrival into NZ of Falcon 7X VP-CJS in an earlier post covering off the busy period experienced by Auckland late last week.

The Falcon, operated by the Jeshing Group,  spent just the one night at Auckland and departed for Queenstown 22 November.  It then headed back to the North Island 23 November arriving at Napier from where it embarked to Hobart and Launceston 24 November.

At Auckland 21 November 2014. 

Air China Freighter Departs

The last aircraft in the airlift effort for the recent Chinese presidential visit departed Auckland on the morning of 23 November.

Boeing 747-400 freighter B-2475, operated by state airline Air China, uplifted its cargo of limo/s (we presume two given one was used in Auckland and on in Wellington) and departed Auckland for Nadi as CCA65. It then uplifted another limo and departed for Peking following Boeing 747-400 B-2472 which had departed 4 hours earlier for Peking as CCA19. 

Thanks to Agairnz for the provision of these images.

Book Launches - REMINDER for tomorrow evening and next Monday.

With a proud West Coast heritage, MRC Aviation is delighted to announce two upcoming book launches coinciding with the Hokitika 150th anniversary celebrations next month.

The first flyer is to draw attention to the launch of "Waugh Stories" to be held at MOTAT on the evening of Monday 01 December.  All are welcome to attend this event which includes free entry to the Aviation Display Hall and special launch price for the book of $30.  All the details are below

 (click on the flyer for a larger image)

The second book to be launched is "God Knows Where They Come From!" and the flyer below says it all.  This book launch will take place at the East City Wesleyan Church 7.30pm Tuesday 25 November featuring our resident aviation blogger of 3rd Level NZ fame!

Address details for ECW can be found by clicking HERE

For those who cannot attend, the above flyer has an Order Form with contact details for Craigs Design & Print Ltd. 

Cessna Grand Caravan N771AL

Touching down on Auckland's runway 23L just a short time ago was Sounds Air's newest Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N771AL delivered by Air Center One's Rob Leach.  The 208, to be registered ZK-SAW, was delivered from Tulsa via Double Eagle, Bakersfield, Merced, Honolulu and Pago Pago. 

For more on the aircraft please check out the following posts:

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/another-caravan-for-sounds-air.html

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/sounds-air-eyeing-up-new-routes.html

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/sounds-air-to-fill-some-gaps.html

Airbus A320 ZK-OAB

Spotted around Air New Zealand's domestic network in recent days is their "All Black" Airbus A320

ZK-OAB sporting a white nose cone!  What gives?  Someone has suggested perhaps painting it red for Christmas would be a good idea.....ho ho ho

Mixing it up

Mixing it up with all the other hum drum traffic at Auckland International 21 November was Air Chathams Douglas DC3 ZK-AWP.  This elderly statesman lives on the airport and at the time these photos were taken it conducted one brief circuit but an hour or so later was observed departing for points unknown.

http://www.aircharternz.co.nz/

New Zealand Bizjet Register - November 2014

It has been a little more than a year since we last reviewed the New Zealand bizjet scene and there have been a number of changes since 01 November 2013 when our last post was done (click HERE)

Our most photogenic bizjet short finals runway 34 at Wellington August 2014, the snow capped Kaikoura Mountains in the background, Lanzi photo

Current

Global Express XRS N18WZ - operated on behalf of Graeme Hart, Auckland

Falcon 900EX (WL) N146EX - Business Jets, operated on behalf of Sleepyhead/Turner Family, Auckland

Gulfstream 650 ZK-KFB - Execujet NZ Ltd, operated on behalf of Sir Peter Jackson, Wellington

Citationjet CJ4 ZK-PGA - Pacific Jets/Premier Jet, Auckland

Westwind II ZK-PJA - Pacific Jets/Premier Jet, Auckland (ex ZK-RML)

Learjet 35 ZK-XVL - Auckland Jet Charter, Ardmore

Citation Mustang ZK-LCA - Air Hawkes Bay, Hastings

Citation III N163JM - Corporate Flight Services, Wellington

Departures

Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM was in the process of exiting New Zealand during our last review and after a brief period on the VH register it has since become P2-MEH http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/ex-kiwi-off-to-new-home.html

Citation Mustang ZK-MOT departed New Zealand 11 April 2012 and after a period stored on the USA was finally cancelled from the Kiwi register 09 May 2014.  It was registered N510NZ 12 June 2014 to the Bank of Utah Trustee and it appears it continued to remain idle on 09 October when it departed from Sarasota, FL for Norfolk, VA and Westfield/Springfield, MA.

Citation 501 ZK-NDT was sold in late 2013 and it departed Ardmore for Kerikeri, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, Sydney and Bankstown 10 January 2014 to then become VH-SOU with Togili Pty Ltd/Australian Air Services.  It appears the aircraft's first flights under VH markings took place 19 April with a trip from Bankstown to Moree, Clarence Valley and back to Bankstown. 

Falcon 2000EX N818BH departed Auckland for the last time 01 October on a direct flight to Honolulu from where it then flew to Grand Junction Regional, Colorado.

Arrivals

As at the time of this post going to air, there have been no new arrivals into the country since our last review. But the good news is the anticipated arrival of our second Gulfstream 650 due for delivery in the coming weeks registered N650AB (ex N601GD) to replace the recently departed Falcon 2000EX N818BH.  The 650 arrived at Long Beach, California from Savannah, Georgia 18 November NZ date. It has since arrived at Kahului, Maui from Long Beach so getting closer to home!

N650AB arriving at Long Beach 20 November NZ date from Rifle, Colorado. 

And then there is the Nextant 400 due for delivery to Skyline Aviation sometime next month. 

Standing Room Only!

Its standing room only at Auckland International today, 21 November, with the airport bristling with visiting aircraft.  Most we have already covered but to review and provide additional photographic coverage we'll do another post!  Thanks to all those providing images!

Making a brief visit during the morning was Cockle PTY Pilatus PC12 VH-OOI.  The Pilatus has been in the country since mid October spending most of the time at Fielding but it flew from there to Hamilton and Ardmore 17 November and to Auckland and Norfolk Island 21 November.

Falcon 900 N209CQ arrived into Auckland just behind the PC12 with the tri-jet flying in from Napier.  It has been in the country since 09 November.

Global Express VH-ICV, operated by Execujet, departed Auckland mid afternoon for Sydney.

The Air China Boeing 747-400 B-2472 departed Auckland for Nadi carrying the Chinese President and entourage.  The Air China 747-400 freighter is set to depart Saturday morning for Fiji to collect the President's wheels!

Of the aircraft "parked" at Auckland, as at mid afternoon the airport was still hosting:
Citationjet CJ2+ F-ONYY - it arrived from Magenta late 19 November.

Gulfstream 550 N588PX

Gulfstream 550 B-8258 (As this post went to air B-8258 was on startup destined for Melbourne)

Gulfstream 550 B-8260

And finally, arriving as this post goes to air was Falcon 7X VP-CJS inbound from Essendon as TBJ71.

VP-CJS at Essendon 17 November 2014. 

Retired Air NZ'ers head offshore

Two retired Air New Zealand aircraft headed off shore 20 November making their way to new careers, both in the Southern Hemisphere.

Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGH departed Christchurch mid morning as SXI1431 for Cairns and Lombok where it was to overnight before carrying on to Singapore/Seletar.  Here it will undergo maintenance and repaint and according to sources will head to the same home as ZK-NGD, Nauru Airlines.
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/boeing-737-300-zk-ngh.html

ZK-NGH launches from Christchurch heading for Cairns. 

Beech 1900D ZS-EAH, ex ZK-EAA, departed Hamilton late morning 20 November for Norfolk Island and today it is due to fly onto Brisbane and Mount Isa on its delivery flight to South Africa.
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/pending-departures.html
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/beechcraft-1900d-zk-eaa.html

Gulfstreams Galore

It was a busy day at Auckland 20 November with three Gulfstream 550's, all with Chinese ties, arriving during the course of the day.

Minsheng Qianhui (Tianjin) Aviation Leasing Company Gulfstream 550 B-8258 made its first NZ visit when it arrived at Auckland early morning from Macau.

Shanghai PengXin Gulfstream 550 N588PX arrived late morning from Queenstown.

Nanshen Jets Gulfstream 550 B-8260 arrived mid afternoon from Christchurch.

Chinese Presidential Visit

 We've already covered the arrival aspect of the three Air China Boeing's as they arrived at Auckland providing transportation and support for the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jingping.  Thanks to a dedicated crew of photographers we are able to provide the following images covering yesterday's activities where the President flew to Wellington and back.

Again, thanks to everyone providing material!

B-5342 resting up at Auckland 19 November 2014.

B-2472 at Auckland 20 November 2014. 

The VIP transports together at Auckland 20 November 2014.

The President and First Lady waving to our Wellington photographer Lanzi!

What a Beast!  The Hongqi HQE.  Was this thing driven from Auckland to Wellington, or put on a flatbed truck??!!

And outta there!  B-5342 lifts off runway 34 at Wellington into a moderate norwester heading for Auckland, and then later continued to Sydney.