EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2015 - F4 Phantom

One of the many highlights for me from EAA Airventure Oshkosh was the visit by a USAF McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom II. Having only ever seen the type in museums, it was a real buzz to see this example which is still earning its keep with the US Department of Defence and is now designated a QF-4E Phantom to indicate its role as a target drone.

74-0626 is operated by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron (ARTS) and for an interesting read check out Fence Check - The Final Mission

Gulfstream G280 B-8280

Mandarin Air's Gulfstream G280 B-8280 concluded its visit to Auckland 29 August departing the City of Sails mid morning for Cairns and Manado, Indonesia.

Jetstar Q300 VH-TQM

As posted yesterday, the first Dash 8-Q300 painted in Jetstar colours touched down at Auckland from Brisbane and Norfolk Island in the shape of Eastern Australian Airlines/QantasLink VH-TQM. As forecast, the Dash headed south to Wellington Saturday morning and is now hangared ahead of the anticipated press released by the Qantas Group airline as to where Jetstar's turboprop operation will fly to. It is understood VH-TQM is only in the country for the media launch and will return to Australia mid next week with operations in NZ not beginning until late this year.

Challenger 604 N360PL

Melbourne based Luft Aviation Challenger 604 N360PL arrived at Auckland from Essendon late 27 August. This aircraft last visited our shores in late March this year. It departed Auckland 29 August for Christchurch.

In addition to N360PL, Luft also operate Challenger N360SL and Global Expresses N360HP (ex VH-VLA)  and N360LA.

Gulfstream G650 B-KEY

The first Chinese registered Gulfstream G650 has gravitated south of the equator to New Zealand with B-KEY arriving at Auckland on the morning of 28 August from Hong Kong. This example is operated by Metrojet on behalf of Donizetti International Ltd of Hong Kong. The owner/operator has until recently visited NZ on numerous occasions with the Gulfstream G550 B-KID - its last visit was in February this year. 

A number of Gulfstream G650 are operated from Hong Kong and mainland China but flown under registrations of convenience from country's such as Bermuda, Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man.

First Jetstar Regional Dash 8-Q300 arrives in New Zealand

In mid June this year Australian based airline Jetstar announced their intention to commence services to regional New Zealand starting in December this year. A network of at least four initial destinations operated by five Dash 8-Q300 turbo-props has been proposed with the cities/towns to be serviced yet to be announced by the airline. 

At this stage three ex Qantaslink/Eastern Australia Airlines Dash 8's have been identified for deployment to New Zealand and the first aircraft, VH-TQM, broke cover from the paintshop at Townsville 12 August having arrived from storage at Tamworth on 27 July. The Dash flew north to Cairns where it sat until 26 August when it positioned south to Brisbane as QLK713.

The 50 seat Dash today flew from Brisbane to Norfolk Island and Auckland arriving just a short time ago.

Arriving at Cairns earlier this month. 

VH-TQM was delivered to Sydney on 09 August 2004 as C-FZHW and took up its VH marks a couple of days later leased to Eastern Australian Airlines as registered operator. Its first revenue service took place on 20 August 2004. 

The second aircraft is Dash 8-Q300 VH-SBI, and it was delivered to Australia in November 2004 originally registered to Qantas but transferred to Sunstate Airlines (Qld) on 01 June 2006. It was subsequently leased to Eastern Australian Airlines two months later. VH-SBI positioned post repaint from Townsville to Cairns 24 August while VH-TQL arrived at Townsville from Tamworth 22 August. VH-TQL is another 2004 model Q300 and it was delivered to Sydney 15 July 2004 and operated by Eastern Australian Airlines. 

On more NZ regional news, Kiwi Regional Airlines Saab 340A ZK-KRA has arrived at Port Hedland, Western Australia this morning after the long haul from Hambantota, Sri Lanka. The aircraft is expected to make landfall at Hamilton this coming Tuesday. 

Gulfstream 4 N505GF

Arriving at Auckland from Maui and Pago Pago 23 August was WH Air/Waffle House Inc's Gulfstream 4 N505GF. The jet, previously registered N475QS, flew to Kerikeri 24 August returning to Auckland 26 August. 

Gulfstream G650 N651AV

An observant North American correspondent noted back in July the existence of Gulfstream G650ER N651AV c/n 6133 sporting the same livery as New Zealand's resident Global Express XRS N18WZ. 

A search of FAA records concluded the aircraft to be operated by Felham Enterprises whilst under its Gulfstream test registration N633GA. The jet conducted a number of domestic flights within the USA before settling in the North Western USA and its ownership has since transferred to Poplar Glen LLC of Seattle as from earlier this month. Poplar Glen is the private investment company of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com. The aircraft has since adopted the callsign "Jetspeed 651" (EJM651) so sadly we will not be greeting a third G650 to our shores after all.

As an indicator of what the G650 offers there is one or two listed for sale with controller.com, check out N650PA HERE

http://www.fluidr.com/photos/bob-holland/favorites

Fokker Fifty VH-FKO

Alliance Airlines Fokker 50 VH-FKO has migrated eastward across the Tasman on its second secondment to New Zealand for flying duties on behalf of Tauck Tours. VH-FKO arrived at Auckland on the afternoon of 27 August from Brisbane as "Unity 991". The aircraft is expected to make its first run around the traps on Saturday visiting Wellington, Woodbourne and Te Anau. 

Boeing 787-9 ZK-NZC

Air New Zealand has taken delivery of its fifth Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner this morning with the arrival of ZK-NZC at Auckland as ANZ6094 direct from Paine Field.

ZK-NZC is the first production -9 series Dreamliner with a serial number of 41988. It took to the skies over Washington State back on 17 September 2013 (USA date) marked as N789EX and since then has been flying as a Boeing test bed alongside ZK-NZD. 

It was flown to Victorville, California for painting 09 July as BOE001 and returned north to Paine Field 05 August as BOE126. ZK-NZC went onto fly  again on 15 August with two Paine Field-Paine Field flights then a trip to Moses Lake and back 18 August. 

ZK-NZC preparing to depart Victorville earlier this month. 

As most will realize, the Dreamliner's are reusing registrations that already had a history with Air New Zealand as worn by the Douglas DC8. Check out the blog found HERE.

And some stunning shots of DC8 ZK-NZC can be found HERE

Ansett New Zealand operated BAe 146-200QC ZK-NZC serial number E-2119 from January 1990 (delivered in 1989) until September 1999. Interestingly this aircraft, having intially returned to the UK, is now resident in Australia as VH-SIF. Background to this aircraft can be found HERE

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KNQ

Departing Hamilton for the Gold Coast 22 August was Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KNQ c/n 198. The aircraft continued onto Longreach 24 August and to Darwin the following day on its delivery flight to Beijing General Aviation Company.

As seen at the Gold Coast. 

More of EC145 N145LL

Earlier in the week we featured Gulfstream G650 N998PB and its visit to Queenstown and Christchurch. One shot of EC145 N145LL was included as it delivered the passengers for their journey home to the States on the G650.

We now have these great shots of the Eurocopter as it departed from Garden City Helicopters, Christchurch the following day as it commenced its journey north to Ardmore where it was subsequently noted in the Airbus hangar on 24 August.

N145LL was manufactured in 2012 and is currently employed as helicopter tender for motor yacht "Senses" owned by Google co-founder Larry Page.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63317177@N00/14430185968

EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2015 - Starship!

I'm not sure why but one of the highlights for me from Oshkosh was being able to get up close to one of the last remaining airworthy Beechcraft 2000 Starship, N514RS. This example is c/n NC-51 and it first flew in 1994. It is currently based at Aspen, Colorado with owner Robert P Scherer.

The aircraft had flown at the show prior to our arrival but we did get to see it taxi around with many hoping it would take to the skies over Oshkosh again but unfortunately it was repositioned to the opposite side of the airfield.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship
http://rps3.com/Pages/Starship.htm
http://rps3.com/Files/Starship/STARSHIP-PRO.pdf

EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2015 - Albatros

WOW! The proliferation of Aero L39 Albatros in the USA is truly amazing and a quick look at the FAA register would indicate there are in excess of 210 examples on the books flying with civilian markings. Given this figure it is no wonder the type was well represented at EAA!

http://www.l39.com/content/faq