Fleeting Visit

JLBML LLC/Helios Aviation Gulfstream G550 N145MG has made a fleeting visit to New Zealand these last couple of days. It arrived Christchurch on the morning of 26 June having flown from Honolulu originally destined for Queenstown however ice on the runway saw it wait out for a thawing in conditions at Christchurch. The jet then flew from Queenstown to Napier 28 June before exiting from the Hawkes Bay airport direct to Darwin 29 June. 

This 2003 model GV-SP was first assigned Gulfstream test registration N904GA before delivery to Switzerland as HB-IGM with G5 Executive. Under its Swiss markings the aircraft has visited NZ on two occasions - In August 2009 it arrived at Auckland from Hong Kong on the 21st returning to Hong Kong the following day. It returned to Auckland in the early hours of 16 September 2011 from Haneda as PJS500 and departed over the reverse route the following day. 

It was registered N145MG in November 2013 with its Atlanta, Georgia owner and as can be seen from the accompanying photos - taken during its brief unplanned Christchurch visit - still wears the Swiss flag on the tail. 

RNZAF Boeing 757 NZ7571

The Royal New Zealand Air Force operates two combi Boeing 757 aircraft with NZ7571 being delivered in May 2003. 

This example has been busy these last few weeks with it flying Whenuapai to Darwin 16 June and onto Penang the next day. It flew back to Darwin from Penang 23 June then to Whenuapai 24 June. The following day it flew from Whenuapai to Ohakea and back before heading south once again to Ohakea where it overnighted before flying to Rockhampton and Townsville 26 June. It then returned to Whenuapai from Townsville 27 June. 

Above four shots taken 16 June departing Whenuapai for Darwin as KIW952. 

And these four shots arriving at Whenuapai from Ohakea 25 June as KIW290. 

Convairs to bow out

As outlined by media announcements this week,  Airfreight NZ and Airwork will be working in a joint venture agreement to provide air cargo operations utilising a fleet of three Boeing 737-400 freighters replacing the current fleet of four Convair 580's (ZK-FTA/KFH/KFJ/KFL), one Convair 5800 (ZK-KFS), two Fokker F27's (ZK-PAX/POH) and presumably Boeing 737-300 freighter ZK-TLA. Not mentioned is the Airwork Metroliner contingent but it is understood these aircraft (ZK-POB, POE, POF) will also bow out and one would expect ZK-LFT and ZK-NSS to also be parked. 

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/freightways-airwork-launch-airfreight-joint-venture-nz-posts-courier-business-b-174747

Get them while you can!

Also earlier this week was the news Airfreight NZ will be working with Originair to provide Jetstream equipment for scheduled passenger services along with their continued operation of the Wellington based Lifeflight Jetstream 32 ZK-LFW.

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/originair-ready-to-roll-in-august.html

Farewell ZK-EAK

Ex Eagle Airways Beech 1900D ZK-EAK has flown the coop departing Hamilton 26 June for Norfolk Island, Brisbane and Alice Springs under its new identity - ZS-EAK. It carried onto Broome and Bali 27 June as it hopped its way to South Africa.

Thanks to the team at http://ybbn.blogspot.co.nz/ for the provision of these shots.

And thanks to Simon at Broome for these great shots!

RAAF Challenger A37-003

The visit to our shores by one of the Royal Australian Air Force's three Bombardier Challenger 604's is not unusual but none-the-less it was nice to catch up with one this week as it visited our shores on a training detachment. 

A37-003 MSN 5538 was delivered to the RAAF in October 2002 and entered service with 34 Sqn based out of Fairbarn, Canberra, alongside A37-001 and A37-002 plus the two Boeing BBJ's A36-001 and A36-002.

A37-003 arrived at Whenuapai 24 June from Canberra via Norfolk Island as ASY335 and flew to Wellington, Christchurch and back to Whenuapai the following day. It then flew from Whenuapai to Queenstown and back to Whenuapai 26 June and departed for Norfolk Island and Canberra 27 June.

New Starship Officially Launched

The recently delivered King Air 350 ZK-SSH has already been well covered on this blog and NZ Civil Aircraft after its arrival in the country as N823CF in last month.

The operator, Skyline Aviation, were awarded the contract to provide aerial support for Auckland's Starship Childrens Hospital replacing Airwork's red Metroliner ZK-NSS, as shown in the video contained in the news article linked HERE during its second visit to Auckland for its official dedication ceremony held in a temporarily vacated hangar on 25 June. 

The King Air has since made visits to Hamilton, New Plymouth and Palmerston North having earlier visited Wellington, Chatham Islands, Woodbourne, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin and is at this stage based out of Ardmore alongside the operator's Nextant 400 ZK-NXJ. 

USAF Bug Out

The trio of United States Air Force Lockheed MC130H Talon II's bugged out of Whenuapai 25 June concluding their fortnight long training exercise which had consisted of day and night time navigation exercises and parachute operations from both Whenuapai and Ohakea. 

First off the rank at Whenuapai heading to Amberley and Cairns was 88-0191 as TOKENN11 just before 1000 followed by 89-0283 as TOKEN12 and lastly 88-1803 as TOKEN13. All three have continued to Darwin 26 June. 

C130H 74-1674 was due to depart for Townsville the same day however its flight was delayed and it finally left on the morning of 26 June as TREK950. 

Corporate Corner

As anticipated, the tempo of corporate jet visitors to New Zealand has almost ground to a halt as the nation slips into hibernation mode with winter now well and truly upon us.

In the last couple of weeks the following have been noted:

The early hours of 10 June saw Citation VII VH-LYM arrive at Auckland from Armidale and Sydney. It returned over the reverse route late the following day.

Learjet 45 VH-LJX also made its way to Auckland 10 June arriving from Essendon. The following day it made a trip to Suva and back then departed for Melbourne 12 June.

Global 5000 N755RA arrived at Auckland 10 June from Singapore/Seletar and departed for Melbourne 11 June.

Citation Sovereign VH-VPL arrived at Queenstown 21 June from the Gold Coast.

Local jets have been on the move with Global Express N18WZ departing Auckland direct to Tuscon, AZ 07 June and Gulfstream G650 N650AB flying from Auckland to Maui 03 June returning 21 June. Gulfstream G650 ZK-KFB has been spotted in the UK this past weekend.

Boeing 737-300 ZK-NGG departs

Ex Air New Zealand Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGG MSN 25606 was placed on the FAA register as N303KH 19 June with Aircraft 25606 LLC of Florida alluding to the possibility it is destined for freighter conversion.

For earlier post check http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=zk-ngg

N303KH departed Christchurch for Pago Pago and Honolulu 24 June.

Photo supplied. 

US Military action

The United States military aircraft activity around our region is presumably drawing to a close as the exercises from Whenuapai wind down.

As mentioned last week, Lockheed MC130H Talon II 89-0283 callsign TOKEN13 arrived at Whenuapai 18 June from Amberley. Its arrival coincided with the departure from Whenuapai of 88-0191 and 88-1803 with both aircraft making their way to Ohakea for parachute operations. All three Hercs flew 23 June with 88-1803 flying a 7 hour tasking which took it down to Central Otago and back. Adding to the mix of flying by the US military Hercs 23 June was flights by RNZAF example NZ7005 with it carrying out a training flight from Whenuapai to Hamilton and back then night circuits back at home base. 

US Navy Boeing C40 Clipper 166695 arrived at Whenuapai late 22 June from Guam/Andersen via Nadi as CONVOY 7842. It departed over the reverse routing 23 June. 

US Air Force Lockheed C130H 74-1674 arrived at Whenuapai 23 June from Townsville as TREK950. This Yokota, Japan based Hercules had flown to Townsville from Guam/Andersen the previous afternoon.

Challenger 604 VH-VLZ

Sunshine Air Services took delivery of 2003 edition Challenger 604 VH-VLZ c/n 5573 at their Essendon base 22 June when the jet arrived from Apia having flown to Samoa from Hilo, HI the previous day. 

The jet was most recently registered N509GE with GE Capital Corp (GECAS) and presumably replaces a Hawker 800XP VH-VRC c/n 258295 with this aircraft departing the region in May this year flying from Essendon to Auckland on the 16th then onto Apia two days later. 

Air Caledonie ATR72 F-OIPS

Arriving to a bleak, rainy Christchurch afternoon 22 June was Air Caledonie ATR72 F-OIPS. The aircraft arrived direct from Noumea/Magenta using its registration as callsign.

Air NZ Engineering hosted Air Caledonie's ATR72 F-ONCL earlier this year for maintenance with the aircraft arriving 20 April and departing 21 May.

QFA27

Qantas overflights of New Zealand are not uncommon with QF27/28 Sydney-Santiago-Sydney often skimming across our airspace as they make the most of prevailing wind conditions. Some flights are often well south of New Zealand while others end up tracking over parts of the North Island. As was the case yesterday when Boeing 747-400 VH-OEG was spotted making its way over lower North Island at 33000ft crossing just north of Paraparaumu making its way from Sydney to Santiago.

Thanks to Tim for sharing

Emirates SkyCargo visits Christchurch

Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777-F1H A6-EFH arrived to a gloomy Christchurch afternoon 19 June from Singapore and Sydney as UAE9824, presumably given its timing on a mission delivering cars for winter testing as has been conducted in the Central Otago region for the last several years.  The 777 departed Christchurch back to Sydney as UAE9242. 

This is the first visit to NZ by this particular freighter which had been delivered to Emirates in September 2012.

Michael Rist photo

Ardmore 17 June

Taking advantage of the fine winters day a quick jaunt to Ardmore was made 17 June and it was pleasing to catch up with Vans RV7A ZK-ECE (Early Childcare Education). 

This example was first registered 20 January this year and lives at Tauranga. Its the second use of the ECE marks - the first were applied to a Beech 76 Duchess c/n ME-44 from 20 June 1980 until 20 March 2000 when it became ZK-OLI and moved to Tauranga where it still lives.

Tecnam P92 Eaglet U/L ZK-WTF (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday....) is registered to the Whangarei Flying Club and it is seen here on departure after the runway in use direction changed. 

Another visitor to the field but not photographed was the Pazmany PL2 ZK-TLP.

And lastly Great Barrier Airline's Piper PA31 Navajo ZK-NSN has obviously returned to the skies after its wheels-up landing at Whenuapai on 26 April this year. 

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/22820/navajo-wheels-emergency-landing-whenuapai

Vale John Rankin

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend and aviation companion John Rankin yesterday. John was a passionate enthusiast for all things aviation over many, many years and shared his time and knowledge along with extensive resources to countless individuals locally and globally through the worldwide web and he was an avid supporter of this blog and many others sharing his experiences and photos. 

Click HERE and HERE to find his online photos.

John enjoyed travelling and I will always remember his excited emails in anticipation of journeys and the hope he would get to fly on one airliner or another to "tick off" a registration. He had a fondness for the 767 and was especially delighted when they were fitted out with winglets! He was very happy to ride on one so kitted out on a vacation to Hawaii soon after their introduction and I vividly remember a conversation we had on his return home about how fantastic they look...

While John's health deteriorated, his interest never failed and it was fantastic both he and son Jonathon took a ride on what was to be his last flight just a few months ago - an Air NZ Boeing 787-9 day trip from Auckland to Sydney and back. Certainly a highlight for a man so dedicated to all things Boeing!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to John's family at this time of loss. 

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields.  And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.........

This was to be the last photo John sent to me - ZK-SUH on her last departure from Auckland heading to the USA on 28 July 2014.

September 2009 at Ardmore. John catches the DC3 ZK-DAK while encouraging my son James (then 5 1/2 years old) to capture just the right shot!!

Nicely Caught!

Time for a shot from the Northern Hemisphere! 

All Nippon Airways Boeing 777-381ER JA791A is caught streaking over the top of Toronto a few days ago on its way from JFK to Narita at FL300. 

Great shot Ted and thanks for sharing!

Talons Out and About

The two visiting USAF Lockheed MC130H Talon II's were out and about enjoying the winter sunshine 16 June. Both aircraft operated in the vicinity of Whenuapai conducting several formation take off and landings (the first time I've seen that take place) before splitting up and flying a series of instrument approaches from every which direction keeping ATC busy!

The third MC130H, 89-0283, has gone "technical" at Cairns and is now expected into Whenuapai tonight via Amberley.

http://fnqskies.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/another-usaf-mc-130h-combat-talon-ii.html