Off Air - again

Yup, sorry viewers. Its time to say 

Normal services will resume sometime  next month!

Kiwis Abroad

Two Kiwi helicopters have been spotted abroad in recent weeks and a big thanks to those supplying the following snaps.

Firstly we have the Eurocopter EC130B4 ZK-IDN. This airframe started its life in NZ registered 

ZK-HKV/4 in October 2006 and was re-registered ZK-IDN in August 2014. It has spent time in the Instra Aviation stable based at the operator's Springhill airfield and registered ownership transferred to Over the Top Helicopters of Queenstown in December 2014. The chopper seems to have flitted back and forth between its current registered operator and previous owner and it was noted at Melbourne's Essendon airport earlier this month sporting titles associated with Super Black motor racing team 

https://www.facebook.com/SuperBlackRacingTeam. Super Black is owned by Instra founder Tony Lentino who also operates PC12 ZK-TFL, PA32R-301T ZK-VQM and an Australian registered Agusta A109.

At Essendon 19 September 2015, G Reid photo

The second item of interest is the Helicopters (NZ) Bell 412EP ZK-HDY. This heavylifter was imported to NZ in September 2004. It was noted flying from/to Archerfield 15/16 September and flew from Cairns to Cooktown 21 September. The following day it was spotted departing Kopi, PNG for points unknown. It is understood the twin is destined for a local operator in PNG.

Lifting off from the pad at Kopi, PNG. S Bunting photo

Southern Katipo 2015

Following the successful international military exercise centred on Timaru in November 2013, the NZ Defence Force are gearing up to host exercise "Southern Katipo 2015" with the South Island West Coast town of Westport being the central point of activities. 

The NZ Airways Corporation have issued advice of a temporary control tower and associated controlled airspace for the duration of the exercise starting 02 November and concluding 28 November with expectation of flying activity from Lockheed C130, Lockheed P3 and Boeing C17 Globemaster! 

http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/supplements/aip_supp_15oct15.pdf
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernKatipo

As alluded to by "Anon", perhaps the Elmendorf C17 visiting Christchurch at present is associated with the upcoming exercise as Alaskan based Globemaster's participated in Southern Katipo 2013. Perhaps also the earlier visit of the two Wolfhound's to Christchurch has some association with the exercise.

Elmendorf based C17 departing Timaru November 2013, Bluebus photos

One More Last Post

One more "last post" on the subject of Boeing 737-300 ZK-NGI. The light and timing was such that a quick trip to the airport was in order to catch her departure this morning as ANZ1737 from Auckland to Christchurch. She made a sprightly departure lifting off soon after taxiway A3 and climbed like a homesick angel. 

Last Post

As this post goes to air, the last remaining Air New Zealand operated Boeing 737-300, ZK-NGI, will be on her final flight for the company as it positions from Auckland to Christchurch as ANZ1737. Having conducted 6 scenic flights on both Saturday and Sunday, the time has come for the aircraft to be exited from the fleet ending a legacy of Boeing 737 operations with the national carrier. 

Be sure to watch out for an article - presumably on TVNZ's Seven Sharp - either tonight or at least sometime this week.

Air New Zealand Boeing 737 200 35mm Film Footage - Part 5

Air New Zealand Boeing 737 200 35mm Film Footage - Part 4

Boeing 737-300 ZK-NGJ departs

The last Boeing 737-300 manufactured, ZK-NGJ, has departed Christchurch earlier today (20 September) on its delivery flight. As "Southern Cross 1528" the 737 is heading to Singapore/Seletar with a techstop at Cairns and overnight stop at Lombok before reaching Seletar tomorrow.

ZK-NGJ was retired from Air New Zealand service last month.

Nice low key wing wave nicely caught by Graham W - many thanks!

Air New Zealand Boeing 737 200 35mm Film Footage - Part 3

Air New Zealand Boeing 737 200 35mm Film Footage - Part 2

Air New Zealand Boeing 737 200 35mm Film Footage - Part 1

Today marks the last occasion we'll get to see an Air New Zealand Boeing 737 around the environs of Auckland as ZK-NGI conducts six local flights. Departure times are slated for 0900, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1400 and 1500.

The last departure is planned for tomorrow morning with the jet positioning to Christchurch as NZ1737 leaving Auckland at 1000.

Falcon 7X OY-EJD

Air Alsie Falcon 7X OY-EJD arrived at Christchurch on the afternoon of

17 September from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (WMSA) as "Mermaid 645".

First visit to the region by the 2014 model 7X, however the registration OY-EJD has been here before whilst applied to a Falcon 2000EX c/n 63. It arrived at Kaitaia on 24 December 2007 from Athens via Singapore, Darwin and Auckland and later went onto visit Napier, Woodbourne, Christchurch and Queenstown before exiting the country 08 January 2008.

Back then, the 2000 used the callsign "Mermaid 644". 

USAF C17 00-0174 - UPDATED

Wearing the tail band of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 00-0174 arrived at Christchurch as TREK12 late 17 September 2015 from Guam/Andersen AFB.  

I'm not 100% sure but possibly a first visit to NZ by this airframe.

 Any correction welcome.

As this post went to air earlier this evening the C17 was winging its way from Christchurch to Whenuapai and as I updated the blog it was on its way south again to Christchurch.

Sovereign Visitor

Executive Airlines Citation 680 Sovereign VH-EXQ has spent the last couple of days in New Zealand arriving at Auckland from Essendon and Sydney 14 September then making its way to Wellington late the following morning. It carried on to Hobart 16 September.

Lanzi was on hand to catch its arrival at Wellington

Cirrus SR22 N411WF - updated

Arriving at Auckland late afternoon 14 September was 2011 edition Cirrus SR22 G3 N411WF c/n 3811 on delivery to a local owner.

The aircraft, currently registered Gateway Air Centre, made its way from Merced, CA to Honolulu earlier in the month before flying onto Pago Pago 13 September then direct to Auckland.

N411WF had its ferry tank removed at Auckland before positioning to Ardmore early afternoon 15 September where it was noted conducting a local flight before being hangared.

Last known movement under its FAA markings is recorded as arriving at Nelson 27 September from points unknown. It was registered ZK-PBR to the Burson Family Trust of Papakura 07 October.

Arriving at Ardmore post local flight, MRC photo

Boeing 737-300 ZK-NGI Capital visit

Air New Zealand's last "in service" Boeing 737-300 ZK-NGI arrived at Wellington on the evening of 14 September from Christchurch and the following day it conducted three local flights of approximately 15min duration each. The aircraft then flew onto Napier where it overnighted and today it is due to fly onto Tauranga where it will again overnight before reaching Auckland on Thursday.

Thanks to Lanzi for these shots of ZK-NGI as it departed and arrived on the first scenic flight of the day.

SpeedbirdHD's View from LAX Airfield

Are things quiet around our neck of the woods or what right now?

So, to add something to an otherwise ho hum time of the year here is a cool vid uploaded by Speedbird HD - What fantastic locations this individual gets to hang out at!

All Nippon Airways R2-D2 787-9 Airplane Reveal

Looking good!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2015/09/12/boeing-rolls-out-new-dreamliner-painted-like-star-wars-droid-r2-d2/72149204/

Citation III VH-SPJ - First NZ visit

Making its first known foray to New Zealand recently was the Citation III VH-SPJ operated by Flight Options (Australia). 

The aircraft arrived at Auckland during the early hours of 10 September from Bankstown and Sydney and departed later the same day on its return to Sydney. 

VH-SPJ was delivered to Aeromil at Bankstown,  Australia as N9NL on 26 January 2006 and was became VH registered on 18 April 2007.

Departing from a soggy Auckland day

Tecnam P2006T ZK-TWN

Registered to Ardmore Aviation Services, Hong Kong, Tecnam P2006T ZK-TWN departed Ardmore for Auckland, Lord Howe Island and Temora back on 19 February this year. The aircraft had been operated by Bayflight until the training school's demise and the Tecnam obviously ended up surplus to requirements. It was anticipated the light twin might end up being cancelled from the ZK register however in recent days it has turned up at Cairns and noted conducting local (training?) flights.

Again, thanks to Far North Queensland Skies for these images taken at Cairns 09 September. 

Airbus A320 ZK-OXK

Late last night Air New Zealand's 15th dedicated domestically configured (171Y) Airbus A320 arrived at Auckland concluding its delivery flight from Toulouse. ZK-OXK MSN 6706 first flew on 30 July under its test registration F-WWDE and positioned the same day from Toulouse to Finkenwerder. 

Its delivery flight was undertaken as ANZ6097 and like recent delivery flights it routed from Toulouse via Muscat, Kuala Lumpur and Cairns for where it embarked late afternoon 09 September and tracked down the coast to coincide its trip across the Tasman with a company Boeing 767 operating as ANZ134 from Brisbane to Auckland providing communications as the A320 was not fitted with HF for the delivery flight.

The arrival of ZK-OXK sees the Air New Zealand Airbus fleet reach a total of 28 airframes with the airline indicating another domestic configured A320 is due next year and then A320/A321NEO from 2017.

Big thanks to Far North Queensland Skies for these brilliant images