Mosquito ZK-FHC TV959 Engine Run 27 Aug 2016

Our coverage of the progress with Mosquito ZK-FHC/TV959 has been somewhat slack since the excitement of its first rollout from the hangar in mid August however much activity has seen the yet to fly aircraft conduct engine runs and taxi tests this past weekend and we anxiously await word of a tentative first flight date which has to be getting very near!

TheNZ Civair blog has been covering progress on a regular basis so check there for updates.



Also Avspecs have been very open in sharing information via their Facebook page which can be found

https://www.facebook.com/Avspecs/

Beech 18 N43927

Ronan Harvey's Beech D18S N43927 has migrated north to Auckland from Wanaka arriving mid afternoon 27 August, just over two years since its arrival in the country from Vanuatu on 10 August 2014. According to our sister blogsite NZ Civair, the vintage twin is destined for a Pacific Ocean sojourn over the coming months so we will look forward to welcoming them back "home" to New Zealand in the future. 

N43927 depated Auckland a little after 0800 30 August destined for Nadi with an expected flight time of around 8 hours. 

Corporate Corner

It's been a surprisingly busy week or so with a number of jet movements to report.

BR Aero's Citation II N112BR appears to have exited the region having been an Australasian resident since Spring 2015. It departed Auckland for Pago Pago 15 August and the following day made its way to Christmas Island, Hilo, Van Nuys and Phoenix - a big day out! 

Lifeflight (renamed from Careflight a month or so back) Learjet 45 VH-VVI arrived Auckland from 15 August from Davao, Philippines, via Darwin and Brisbane. It headed home to Brisbane 16 August. 

Zettajet's Global Express N588LQ made its first visit to New Zealand arriving at Auckland 16 August from Brisbane. It departed for Sydney 18 August. 

Execujet Global Express VH-OCV jetted into Auckland from the Gold Coast 17 August and departed the next morning heading back to the Gold Coast.

ANZA/Tyremax Challenger 604 N604AU also arrived at Auckland 17 August with the jet originating from Bankstown with a stop at Sydney to clear formalities. 

Matone Promotora Gulfstream G550 N989AR techstopped at Auckland 21 August arriving from Sydney and departing for Sao Paulo-Guarulhos, Brazil. The jet had arrived Sydney direct from Ushaia, Argentina 14 August and later went onto visit Melbourne, Narrabri, Brisbane and Newcastle. 

Carnival Gulfstream G650 N305CC arrived at Queenstown late morning 21 August from Fort Lauderdale via Papeete. It flew onto Wellington 23 August. First visit to New Zealand. 

Gilead Sciences Falcon 7X N977GS arrived in Auckland after dark 22 August from San Jose, CA via Honolulu as TWY977. It departed the following afternoon for Essendon. First visit to New Zealand. 

Jetcity Learjet 45 VH-LJQ arrived at Dunedin 23 August from Essendon and Sydney and after several hours on the ground it departed for Sydney. It was joined on the ramp by Auckland-based medivac Nextant 400 ZK-NXJ. 

Fedex Corporate Aviation Global Express N1FE arrived at Wellington 24 August from Sydney where it had arrived two days earlier from Honolulu. It departed Wellington 25 August heading back to Honolulu. 

Zetta Jet Global 6000 N688ZJ arrived at Auckland 26 August from Tokyo/Haneda and departed mid afternoon 27 August for San Jose, CA.

Gulfstream G650's

There's been a semi procession of Gulfstream G650's around the region in recent days which is always nice to see. 

Execujet Gulfstream G650 HB-IVJ has been spending time in Australia the last couple of weeks and it after spend a couple of day at Adelaide it departed for Sydney 15 August and then onto Bathurst and Cairns arriving 21 August. It departed for Hong Kong 24 August. 

http://fnqskies.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/execujet-aviation-gulfstream-650-hb-ivj.html

Little Aviation's Gulfstream G650 N650PA conducted a flight from/to Melbourne 18 August. 

21st Century Fox Gulfstream G650 N898NC arrived at Papeete 20 August from Los Angeles. 

Auckland's resident Gulfstream G650's took flight 21 August with Flight Operations N650AB heading to Maui while Rank's N946JB departed after dark on a direct, 14+ hour flight to Waukegan Regional Airport located north of Chicago! It returned to Auckland 26 August via Long Beach, CA. 

Carnival Corporation Gulfstream G650 N305CC arrived at Queenstown from the company's Fort Lauderdale base via Papeete 21 August and it flew onto Wellington arriving 23 August then to Auckland 25 August. 

Above photos of N305CC arriving Wellington. 

Arriving to a soggy Auckland afternoon. 

With thanks to Larkair - LFG Aviation/Westfield Aviation Gulfstream G650ER N720LF (MSN 6197) flew from Teterboro, NJ to Los Angeles, CA 25 August (NZ date) and continued direct to Sydney arriving 26 August.

Metrojet Gulfstream G650 B-KEY rounds out our coverage with it arriving at Auckland 26 August from Shenzhen, China. Oddly its visited was a little over 12 hours with it departed late evening destined for San Francisco. 

RAAF Visitors

Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-464 spent a few hours at Ohakea 21 August arriving from and returning to Richmond as ASY682.

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing BBJ A36-002 arrived at Ohakea 22 August from Canberra and Sydney and departed for Canberra the same evening.

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing BBJ A36-001 arrived at Wellington 24 August from Norfolk Island and after a short time on the ground departed to Whenuapai. It had flown from Canberra to Port Vila and Norfolk Island 23 August. From Whenuapai the BBJ flew to Queenstown 25 August where a brief visit was conducted before flying onto Christchurch and Ohakea.  

ATR72-600 ZK-MVN

Mount Cook's 15th ATR72-600 series (and final delivery for 2016?) has arrived at Christchurch 24 August concluding its delivery from France. 

ZK-MVN MSN 1353 followed the same route as ZK-MVM but using the callsign SXI1642. 

It entered service 30 August as NZ5053 flying from Christchurch to Dunedin. 

arriving at Denpasar from Penang 22 August 2016 - jetphoto.com

Arriving at Christchurch 24 August 2016 - G Weatherby photo

ATR72-600 ZK-MVM has entered service today (25 August) operating as NZ5068 from Christchurch to Wellington.

Winfly 2016 Gets Underway

The sun has risen over Antarctica ending the four months of perpetual darkness and allowing recommencement of flights to the ice continent, although as reported the USAF has conducted "night" operations to Pegasus Field utilising Boeing C17 Globemasters on supply flights this winter using night vision technology. 

The first flight for "Winfly 2016" has made its way south 23 August as Skytrader's Airbus A319CJ VH-VHD flew from Christchurch to Pegasus Field and return as "Snowbird 1". The flight was delayed a few days as the weather on the ice proved somewhat inclement. 

http://www.newshub.co.nz/environmentsci/sun-heralds-big-year-for-nz-in-antarctica-2016082019

Dash 8-Q300 ZK-NEA heads off shore - briefly

In a first since the type's entry to service with Air NZ subsidiary Air Nelson, a Dash 8-Q300 has crossed the Tasman Sea with ZK-NEA flying from Auckland to Townsville 20 August via Norfolk Island and Brisbane as SXI1650 for a repaint with Flying Colours. The Q300 had positioned from Nelson to Auckland as NZ8984 earlier in the day. 

Ironically the only Air Nelson Dash 8-Q300 to have crossed the Tasman Sea happened to be ZK-NEA on its delivery flight in July 2005 when it staged via Lord Howe Island (first and only time a -300 has visited the island) and Norfolk Island before continuing to Auckland and Nelson. 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2010/07/air-nelson-q300-five-year-anniversary.html

ZK-NEA arriving at Auckland as C-FCPO on 28 July 2005. 

RCAF C130 Hercules 130341

An interesting arrival to Auckland late afternoon 20 August was Royal Canadian Air Force Lockheed KCC-130H Hercules 130341. Using the callsign "Canforce 2221", the air-to-air refueling equipped Hercules made the 4hr 10min journey across the Tasman Sea from Brisbane where it had overnighted. The previous day the C130 had flown from Katherine/Tindal to Brisbane concluding its participation in joint military exercise "Pitch Black". 

https://www.airforce.gov.au/pitch-black-2016/?RAAF-3xDAz1/hk42suVVSpr1Cu8g/PIWlvnIr

The Hercules visit was brief with it departing mid morning 21 August for Papeete. 

The runway 05 arrival at Auckland was going to prove difficult to catch this bird arriving as normally it would vacate on taxiway A5 but thanks to "traffic" it rolled through to A3. 

Early 21 August prepping for departure. 

Boeing 757 N757HW departs

The Honeywell WiFi testbed Boeing 757-200 N757HW has concluded its Australasian visit and departed Auckland 20 August for Pago Pago and Kona, HI. And as this post went to air the 757 was prepping to depart Kona heading to Phoenix, AZ.

The specially configured airliner conducted four demonstration flights from/to Auckland 19 August.
Each flight took around 50 minutes following a similar flight plan to below:

Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKP

Air New Zealand's Hobbit special livery Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKP departed Auckland on the morning of 15 August destined for Singapore/Paya Lebar as NZ6018 for maintenance and presumably re-livery/removal of Hobbit decal.

The distinctively decorated airliner was rolled out of the Air New Zealand hangar on 24 November 2012 resplendent in its amazing markings ahead of the first Hobbit movie trilogy launch.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/the-hobbit-boeing-777-300er-zk-okp.html
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/hobbit-fever.html

Departing Auckland for Wellington 27 November 2012. 

Joining "Smaug" on the occasion of ZK-OKO's roll out December 2013. 

ATR72-600 ZK-MVM

Mount Cook's 14th ATR72 600 series has touched down at Christchurch early evening 17 August concluding its delivery flight from France. ZK-MVM MSN 1346 departed Toulouse several days ago and has staged via Borg El Arab, Al Ain, Nagpur, Penang, Darwin and finally stop Brisbane before the Tasman crossing today.

Southern Cross were contracted to conduct the delivery flight as SXI1629. 

Meanwhile their 15th ATR72-600,  ZK-MVN MSN 1353, departed Toulouse last evening NZ time following the same route as ZK-MVM and is expected to arrive into Christchurch 24 August as SXI1642. 

Boeing 757 N757HW

Honeywell's flight test Boeing 757-225  N757HW arrived at Auckland late 17 August from Sydney. The WiFi equipped tes-tbed has been busy flying out of Sydney the last few days with one flight on Monday and four flights Tuesday each lasting around 1 hour. It conducted a wifi demo flight from/to Auckland 18 August and is seen here on its departure late morning.

http://www.air-and-space.com/20100201%20N757HW.htm

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-05-22/honeywell-rapidly-expanding-jetwave-installs

Corporate Corner - Island Style!

Country local date quoted.

The Pacific Islands offer a wide range of holiday getaways for the discerning traveler therefore it should be no surprise that visits by private jets is a convenient way of accessing some of these otherwise difficult to reach destinations with many receiving only limited scheduled airline services often requiring a stopover at an intermediate airport.

The last couple of weeks there has been a smattering of jets around and about. 

Palmali Air's Falcon 7X TC-MMM would be perhaps the most "exotic" visitor to the region arriving at Nadi from Singapore/Seletar 31 July. 

Gold Coast based Challenger VH-BLM has been in the Solomon Islands arriving at Honiara from its home via Brisbane 31 July and then flew to Munda, Honiara and Brisbane 08 August. 

The FAA operated Gulfstream 4 N1 made two visits to Pago Pago on its way from Hawaii to Australia and back. It spent the night in American Samoa 01 August and again 06 August.

Vistajet Global Express 9H-IGH flew to Papeete direct from Boeing Field as VJT780 arriving 31 July local date and it departed for Los Angeles and London/Luton 06 August. 

Netjets Global Express N150QS arrived at Nadi from Kona 03 August having made the haul from White Plains, NY the previous day. It departed Nadi direct to Los Angeles 06 August.

Larry Page and Sergey Brin's Gulfstream G650 N998PB arrived at Nadi on the morning of 05 August from Singapore/Changi. Eurocopter EC145 N145LL is on the job working from the owner's motor yacht that has been moored off Malololailai. 

Walker Group Global Express VH-LAW from Sydney to Nadi 05 August and returning to Sydney 10 August. 

Challenger VH-NSB arrived at Nadi from the Gold Coast 06 August and has continued on the USA and Canada arriving at St Johns 11 August. 

Netjets Global 5000 N109QS arrived into Bora Bora direct from Van Nuys 06 August and departed for Papeete and Van Nuys 13 August.

Disney Aviation Group Gulfstream G450 N300ES arrived at Nadi from Maui 08 August and continued onto Sydney 10 August. 

Marcplan Embraer E135 Legacy VH-VLT arrived at Nadi from the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast 11 August. It departed for Brisbane and Essendon 16 August. 

Royal Australian Air Force Challenger A37-001 arrived at Suva from Sydney 11 August and departed for Canberra 12 August. 

Royal Australian Air Force Challenger A37-002 arrived at Rarotonga 11 August (local date) from Canberra. It departed for Auckland and Canberra 13 August.

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing BBJ A36-002 departed Rarotonga 13 August for Canberra. 

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors Challenger N131KJ arrived at Nadi 13 August from Van Nuys via Kona. This owner/operator also has Challenger N579RS and Global Express N801KF on their books, the latter having visited NZ a couple of times associated with the owners motor yacht "SuRi" and their golf course development Tara Iti north of Auckland. 

Advanced Air Management Gulfstream 4SP N472QS jetted into Tonga from Honolulu 12 August. Its visit was brief with a departure the same day heading back to Honolulu. 

Premier Jets Learjet 36A N363PJ arrived at Pago Pago from Honolulu 12 August. It was next noted departing Suva 14 August for Pago Pago and Honolulu. 

21st Century Fox Gulfstream G550 N897NC arrived at Papeete from Sydney 12 August having arrived at Sydney 05 August from Los Angeles and Sydney. 

Legend Pictures Global 5000 N918TA departed Papeete for Van Nuys 12 August.  

BR Aero Citation II N112BR arrived at Pago Pago 14 August direct from Auckland. The aircraft has been a resident in Australasia since late last year. it departed for Christmas Island, Hilo and Santa Maria 15 August. 

Colovic Investment Holdings Global Express M-GLOB arrived at Nadi 17 August from Juanda, Indonesia.

Learjet 60XR M-IGHT

A stunning new comer to New Zealand skies has been recently delivered to a Rotorua owner/operator with Learjet 60XR M-IGHT MSN 60-382 arriving at its new home on the afternoon of 15 August from Melbourne/Essendon.

The 2009 edition Lear show ownership as listed to Mikro Holdings Ltd of Rotorua, NZ as of June this year.

The Learjet was quickly out and about with a trip to Palmerston North and Wellington 16 August.

Arriving Essendon from Darwin 13 August 2016

Arriving Adelaide 13 August 2016. 

Departing Essendon 15 August 2016. 

Departing Essendon 15 August 2016. 

Cessna T206 Amphib N26NZ

A stunning addition to the Ardmore aviation scene touched down a little after 1515 16 August in the form of amphibian configured Cessna T206H Stationair N26NZ. This particular aeroplane has been hangared at Fielding for a number of months now having been shipped into the country from Scotland where it flew as G-OLLS with Loch Lomond Seaplanes before entering private hands ahead of it moving down under. FAA records show the 206 was officially placed on the USA register late July this year listed to the Bank of Utah Trustee and operated by Total Entertainment Solutions of Auckland. Total Entertainment also operate in New Zealand a Vans RV10 ZK-STU, Cessna 421 ZK-STV, Cessna 402 ZK-PVC and King Air 300 ZK-SMC.

The amphib conducted a local flight from Fielding before heading to Palmerston North from where it departed for Ardmore. We were delighted to be on hand to catch its arrival!