Searey N415TA

A visit to Ardmore 30 January came with the obligatory drive by of the maintenance providers on the airfield and it was a surprise to see this amphib parked on the ramp.

Registered at the beginning of the month, 2014 model Progressive Aerodyne Searey N415TA c/n 1018 is operated by Jemasa Inc of Los Angeles. A google scout around came up with Jemasa as being the name of a motor yacht once operated by Suzanna and Richard Kayne who replaced it with "SuRi". It has visited NZ on and off over the last few years starting back in 2009 and it hosts both an AS350 Squirrel and Searey supported by a Global Express, N801KF.

In December 2010 Searey N609MK was noted at Nelson, this being the aircraft supporting "SuRi" at the time of its visit to our shores. The markings N609MK have since been applied to a Eurocopter AS350 B3 while another Searey, N415RK, was snapped at North Shore in January 2014. It is still registered to Suri SRP LLP sharing the same address as Jemasa Inc.

Ship tracking websites indicate SuRi is in Singapore - a long way from here!

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKO

We missed this news article for a few days back!

Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKO with its Smaug graphic was recently the feature of an international graphic award.

Admark Advance, the supplier that printed and applied the Smaug graphic was announced the winner of the Best in Show for digital creativity at the Specialist Graphic Industry Association Golden Image Awards held in Las Vegas last year.

The Smaug graphic, considered one of the world's largest stickers took two day to apply to ZK-OKO and consists of around 372 overlapping panels.

The graphic was developed and applied in honour of the release of "The Hobbit - The desolation of Smaug" in late 2013 with the aircraft rolled out sporting the dragon on 02 December that year and entering service as NZ6 to Los Angeles. Our post from that day should be HERE

A NZ news article on the award can be found HERE

Images below snapped at Los Angeles 05 January 2015.

Boeing C40 02-0203

United States Air Force Boeing C40C/737-7BC BBJ 02-0203 concluded it 8 day visit to Christchurch and departed for Canberra as BOXER40 on the afternoon of 29 January. The 737 had arrived from Kwajalein 21 January carrying Secretary of Air Force Deborah Lee James who traveled to Antarctica onboard a New York Air National Guard LC130 Hercules.

Wings over Wairarapa 2015 - Part Two

Part Two of the coverage from the Wings over Wairarapa 2015 airshow staged over Masterton in mid January focuses on the Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft. 

With the CT4E Airtrainers retired from service it was unusual to have an airshow without the ever popular Red Checkers display team. Also absent was any flying activity from the fixed wing transport/maritime patrol division however C130 Hercules NZ7001 was on static display and it was open for viewing both days.
King Air 200 NZ7122 was present on static display for the Saturday only. 

From what I recall of the commentary, the UH1H Iroquois display was probably the last to be conducted by the type whilst in RNZAF service and NZ3807 took the honours of participating both days. Or maybe Omaka at Easter? The NH90 used for the airshow was NZ3301 while on static display was Agusta A109 NZ3402.

The airshow was the first public appearance of the recently delivered Beechcraft T6C Texan II. Both NZ1406 and NZ1407 were deployed from Ohakea. NZ1407 was on static display for the Saturday with NZ1406 conducting the flyby. On the Sunday NZ1406 was again used for the flyby while NZ1407 was parked outside the terminal away from the public's view. Both aircraft departed as "Texan Silver" at the conclusion of proceedings on the Sunday afternoon.  These two aircraft were delivered alongside NZ1403 in late November 2014. 

NZ's Fourth BAC Strikemaster takes to the skies

New Zealand's fourth airworthy BAC167 Strikemaster ZK-NTY has taken to the skies for the first time since its return to the country during winter 2014.

This example is registered to Strikemaster Ltd of Auckland sharing ownership with another ex RNZAF MK88 model ZK-STR which was the first Blunty to make its way back to NZ after their removal from military service.

The BAC-167 Strikemaster MK88 was the export version produced by the British Aircraft Corporation to meet RNZAF requirements - sixteen being acquired - the first of which was delivered in May 1972. The example supplied was listed to the manufacturer as G-27-198 and first flew from Preston on 06 June 1972. It was shipped to NZ aboard the MV Majestic and arrived here on 05 October 1972 for truck delivery to Ohakea on the 9th. Its first flight in NZ was on 15 November 1972 as NZ6362 before going on line with 14 Squadron. It, along with all its surviving examples, were transferred to Aermacchi as part of the purchase deal for the new MB339 Strikemaster replacements in December 1992. NZ6362 was sold by tender in March 1993 and shipped to Australia for International Airparts of Narrabeen, NSW - with whom it was placed on their civil register as VH-AGI on 09 September 1993. It moved to West Australia from 21 November 1994 for Neville Hyder of Busselton, but sadly Neville was killed on 06 March 2007 and ownership passed to his wife Patricia on 19 January 2009. It is understood to have been stored for some time and eventually made its way to NZ for restoration by Pioneer Aero at Ardmore on behalf of owner Brett Nichols. it became ZK-NTY (for BluNTY) on 19 September 2014 and made its first flight ex restoration on the afternoon of 30 January 2015 at the hands of test pilot Dave Brown. A planned rejected takeoff was conducted before returning for a standard takeoff. It was expected the first flight would see the jet head east for upper air work however obviously not all was working according to plan and the Blunty carried out a normal circuit to land back on runway 03 before returning to the hangar for attention.

It is planned to have all four NZ Strikemasters fly in formation at the Omaka Airshow at Easter this year. 

Another "62" from the same era was out flying at the same time - purely coincidental ex RNZAF Airtourer ZK-CPG/NZ1762 returned from a jaunt to the east. 

Citation Mustang VH-SQJ

Arriving at Auckland late 29 January direct from the Gold Coast was 2010 edition Citation 510 Mustang VH-SQJ c/n 510-0347. The VLJ (very light jet) had earlier in the day flown a local flight from the Sunshine Coast back to the Sunshine Coast before making its way south to the Gold Coast. By the time this is read, the Mustang should have made its way to Hastings which is where NZ's other Mustang, ZK-LCA, resides.

VH-SQJ first flew as N9043L before taking up its Australian markings and delivery to Singapore Airlines flying school based at the Sunshine Coast. It is understood the aircraft is to be based at a central North Island airport for a private operator.

http://www.aviationtrader.com.au/wp-content/post_images/PDFs/05019D41-1.pdf

Nice shot of VH-SQJ at Newcastle during its delivery flight in December 2010. The aircraft no longer sports the tail logo. 

Eurocopter EC145 G-SRNE

Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK117 C-2, aka Eurocopter 145, G-SRNE spent a couple of nights at Auckland's Ardmore airfield with its mothership, MY "Serene", sailing out of Auckland heading to Nelson.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11393162

The helicopter spent time with maintenance provider Airwork from where it departed mid morning 29 January for Palmerston North (refuel) and onto Christchurch. By the time this is read, and weather permitting, the helicopter should be on its way to Queenstown before gravitating back to the Nelson region in the coming days to rendezvous with "Serene".

Departing Ardmore

And parked up at Christchurch

REUNION OF GIANTS - The Official Lancaster UK Tour Trailer

Last year we featured the visit to the UK of the Canadian based Lancaster.

A new TV series is pending release this coming Northern Hemisphere summer - hope we can get to see it down under sometime.

Wings over Wairarapa 2015 - Part One

The Wings over Wairarapa 2015 airshow event held mid January has been well covered on sister blog www.nzcivair.blogspot.com with numerous posts on subject aircraft. However for the wider audience I've decided to add some other shots taken over the weekend to this blog.

I've done one post over there with information provided by fellow blogger "Sir Minty"

http://www.nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/wings-over-wairarapa-2015-vintage.html

Part One covers off the ever popular jet contingent. It was fantastic to see these in action including the flight of two ex RNZAF Strikemasters. Perhaps one day we will have the three ex Kiwi "Blunties" together alongside the Christchurch based ex Saudi Air Force variant. The L39's add a more modern look to the warbirds and again, imagine if the country's population of 5 L39's got together!