Murphy heads offshore

Ardmore-based Murphy Rebel ZK-DKZ was noted departed from Kerikeri mid morning 24 June 2019 destined for Norfolk Island. It then continued to Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast 25 June. 

The kitset aircraft of Canadian origin has been in NZ since winter 2008 and recently underwent an ownership change having been listed for sale so this would seem to be a delivery flight. 

Updating other Kiwi light aircraft presently overseas, Pazmany PL-2 ZK-TLP has made it to Darwin arriving there on 20 June 2019 from Jabiru. Piper PA24 ZK-BAZ has spent a week at Lock Haven/PA. The NZ Airways Corporation registered Piper PA42 Cheyenne ZK-FIS embarked from Kerikeri for Norfolk Island and Nadi on 18 June 2019 and after conducting navigation calibration duties at Nadi it flew onto Tonga and Rarotonga and is now operating in Western Samoa. 

Leonardo AW169 ZK-HLH takes to the skies - updated

The Auckland Regional Helicopter Trust (ARHT) has officially moved from its long time Auckland waterfront home at Mechanics Bay to Ardmore Airport as of 26 June 2019. Announced on their FaceBook page, the operator's two BK117's, ZK-HES and ZK-HKZ, have now relocated to Ardmore ahead of the introduction to service of AW169's ZK-HLH and ZK-IZB. ARHT, better known as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter team, have established themselves in the former Ardmore Helicopters training school and hangars on the southern side of the airport.

ZK-HKZ arrives at Ardmore 26 June 2019, with ZK-HES in the background. 

Soon to be out with the old and in with the new. ZK-HLH prepares for flight at Ardmore 27 June 2019. 

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Posted 22 February 2019:

Auckland Regional Helicopter Trust (ARHT) Leonardo Helicopters AW169 ZK-HLH (LH for Leonardo Helicopters) has recently received its sponsorship decals and has previously featured on the NZ Civil Aircraft blog. I caught up with the helicopter outside its temporary hangar at Ardmore earlier this week and was pleased to catch it in nice sunny conditions. As can be seen, it is emblazoned with decals!

The operator's second AW169, to be registered ZK-IZB (IZB for Newstalk ZB - a sponsor) MSN 69083 and ex I-EASX, is on a ship at present and due to arrive at the Ports of Auckland in early March. 

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Posted 19 November 2018: 

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) Leonardo AW169 ZK-HLH has taken to the skies above Auckland with the author noting its first flying activities 14 November 2018. 

The helicopter was noted making approaches at Auckland's downtown helicopter, Mechanics Bay, and over Waiheke Island. 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2018/09/first-of-type-leonardo-helicopters.html

ATR movements - Updated 27 June 2019

Air Caledonie ATR72-600 F-OZKN made its way from Noumea/La Tontouta direct to Nelson 25 June 2019 as TPC7202.

Thanks to Cody Forward for these great shots of the ATR arriving at Nelson in the late after sun.

More of Cody's work can be found here at Jetphotos.com
https://www.jetphotos.com/photographer/118245/photos

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Posted 28 April 2019:

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVZ departed Nelson 18 April 2019 for Melbourne. It had arrived from Canberra back on 25 February 2019.

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Posted 27 November 2018: 

Air Vanuatu ATR72-600 YJ-AV73 departed Christchurch direct to Port Vila 16 November 2018 as AVN691.

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVR departed Nelson 22 November 2018 for Canberra as VOZ9947.

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVY arrived in Nelson 23 November 2018 from Canberra as VOZ9948.

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Posted 08 November 2018: 

Air Vanuatu ATR72-600 YJ-AV73 made its way to Christchurch direct from Port Vila 04 November 2018 as AVN690.

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Posted 19 October 2018: 

Virgin Australia ATR72-500 VH-FVH concluded its long-term storage in Nelson 16 October and flew a test flight in the afternoon before departing as "HT01" direct to Brisbane. The aircraft, in full Virgin livery, has been purchased by Hevilift http://www.heviliftgroup.com/fleet.html and it flew onto Cairns 17 October.

VH-FVH has been parked at Nelson since 16 July 2017.
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=vh-fvh

T Hodges photo

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Posted 13 October 2018:

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVQ departed Nelson for Melbourne 09 October.

Mt Cook Airline ATR72-500 ZK-MCB conducted a Christchurch-Christchurch flight 09 October.
It was retired from service mid July 2018.
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2018/08/atr72-212a-zk-mcb-retires.html

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVR arrived in Nelson from Melbourne 10 October.

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Posted 21 September 2018:

Air Caledonie ATR72-600 F-OZLI conducted a post maintenance flight from/to Nelson 19 September before embarking on a direct flight to Noumea as TPC7201 the following day. 

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Posted 13 September 2018:

Fiji Link ATR42-600 DQ-FJY departed Nelson for Auckland and Nadi 01 September. http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2018/09/atr42-600-dq-fjy.html

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVN departed Nelson for Canberra 06 September having arrived back on 26 July.

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVQ arrived in Nelson from Canberra 07 September. 

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Posted 31 August 2018:

Air Caledonie ATR72-600 F-OZLI arrived in Nelson 28 August from Noumea as TPC7202. 

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Posted 09 August 2018:

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-VPJ arrived in Nelson 11 July from Canberra as VOZ9946. It then departed Nelson for Canberra 02 August as VOZ9949.

Arriving Nelson 11 July 2018. 

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVP departed Nelson 13 July for Melbourne as VOZ9947.

Air Caledonie ATR72-600 F-OZIP departed Nelson 17 July for Noumea as TPC7201.

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVN arrived Nelson 26 July from Canberra as VOZ9946.

Fiji Link sole ATR42-600 DQ-FJY arrived at Nelson after dark 07 August 2018 from Nadi via enroute diversion through Auckland for fuel as "LinkFiji 2001".

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Posted 28 June 2018:

Air Caledonie ATR72-600 F-OZIP arrived at Nelson from Magenta and Noumea as TPC7202 on the afternoon of 26 June 2018.

A cool video of this airframe's construction/ painting can be found HERE

Fiji Link ATR72-600 DQ-FJX conducted a quick circuit at Nelson 27 June 2018 before embarking on a direct flight to Nadi the same afternoon as FJA2004.

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Posted 30 May 2018:

Fiji Link ATR72-600 DQ-FJX arrived at Nelson direct from Nadi as FJA2003 on the afternoon of 29 May 2018.

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Posted 19 March 2018:

Virgin Australia ATR72-600 VH-FVP arrived at Nelson direct from Canberra 19 March 2018 as VOZ9944. It is understood the aeroplane is in New Zealand for a period of storage and maintenance.

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Posted 01 March 2018:

Fiji Link ATR72-600 DQ-FJZ has concluded its visit with Air New Zealand Regional Maintenance and it departed Nelson mid morning 01 March 2018 heading directly home to Nadi as FJA2003.

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Posted 08 February 2018

Two noteworthy foreign ATR movements were conducted at Nelson 07 February 2018. First up was a local flight with Virgin Australia ATR72-500 VH-FVM with this machine flying to the west of Nelson before returning for a circuit as VOZ9900. It then departed early afternoon the same day destined for Brisbane as VOZ9943. 

VH-FVM arrived at Nelson back on 13 September 2017 and has been in storage pending disposal following the type's withdrawal from service in Australia. 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2017/09/another-virgin-arrival.html

The second movement marked the first visit to New Zealand by a Fiji Link ATR72 when -600 series DQ-FJZ arrived into Nelson direct from Nadi as FJA2001. The aircraft is in Nelson for attention with Air New Zealand Regional Maintenance. 

Final Fokker Friendship Finally Flies Free.....

The last airworthy Fokker F27 Friendship has left our shores on export to Australia concluding a 58 59 year history of operations in New Zealand.

VH-TQN MSN 10680, ex ZK-POH, has been pending export since the beginning of 2018 and follows VH-EWH, ex ZK-PAX, destined for the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society.
It conducted a post storage/maintenance test flight 03 May 2018 from/to Auckland before setting out 04 May 2018 for Norfolk Island, however a maintenance issue saw the aircraft return to Auckland shortly after takeoff.  It then remained static at Auckland until 23 September 2018 when increasing parking charges saw it upsticks make the short, gear-down flight to Ardmore for continued storage.

The F27 was eventually reactivated 13 months after its first attempt to exit New Zealand and it finally departed from Ardmore 25 June 2019 lifting off runway 03 at 0748 flying direct to Norfolk Island, then onto the Gold Coast. From there it made the journey to its final home of Woolongong arriving 26 June 2019.

Lined up in the early morning sun for the final departure from New Zealand soil of a
Fokker F27 Friendship. 

International departures from Ardmore are rare and I can only recall one in recent times, that being King Air 350 ZK-MMM/N285AS when it was exported in summer 2014.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=zk-mmm

https://hars.org.au/

ZK-POH was imported to New Zealand from India where it had flown as VT-NEH. It arrived at Auckland 02 August 1998 from Brisbane via Norfolk Island wearing its ZK marks. 

VH-TQN returns to Auckland post maintenance flight 03 May 2018. 

The Fokker Friendship has been a proven workhorse during its tenure of flight operations with numerous operators in various roles throughout New Zealand. It was great to reacquaint myself with the distinctive Rolls Royce Dart engine noise as I made the dash to meet VH-TQN returning from its maintenance flight. My lack of hearing is thanks to the regular exposure to such noise during years of hanging over the fence at Hokitika Airport! 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2016/09/final-fokker-f27-friendship-flight.html

Airbus A330MRTT (KC30) A39-002

Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330MRTT (KC30) A39-002 spent 45 minutes at Auckland early on the afternoon of 20 June 2019 having arrived from RAAF Base Amberley on a crew training detail. As ASY607, the A330 departed for Ohakea where it conducted an approach and overshoot before continuing to Amberley. 

Airbus A320 ZK-OJC retires

Airbus A320 ZK-OJC MSN 2112 has been retired from Air New Zealand service after it arrived at Christchurch late 20 June 2019 as NZ888 from Sydney.

ZK-OJC was delivered to Air New Zealand in October 2003 and entered service as NZ815 from Christchurch to Sydney 26 October 2003.

http://www.aussieairliners.org/a320i/new%20zealand/zkojc.html

ZK-OJC departs Auckland for the final time operating as NZ421 from Auckland to Wellington 19 June 2019. 

Boeing 737-3B7(SF) ZK-TLA exits the region

Removed from the NZ register back on 07 June 2019 as exported, former Airwork Flight Operations Boeing 737-3B7(SF) ZK-TLA has become N933NZ for its delivery flight to Interjet West of Toledo/OH.

The delivery, conducted by Jet Test & Transport (JTN), embarked from Alice Springs 14 June 2019 heading to Brisbane and Honiara as JTN9128, then planned to Majuro, John Roger Field/Barbers Point, McClellan/CA, Willow Run/MI and Toledo/OH.

Arriving Brisbane 14 June 2019, Lloyd Fox photo

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Posted 30 December 2018: 

Airwork Flight Operations Australia domiciled Boeing 737-3B7 (SF) freighter ZK-TLA has been withdrawn from service as of 21 December 2018 when the jet arrived into Perth from Melbourne as VOZ9563. The converted passenger machine then positioned 27 December 2018 from Perth to Alice Springs as AWK91 ahead of a period of storage pending future developments.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=zk-tla

http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-737i/new%20zealand/zk-tla/zk-tla.html

Airwork Flight Operations Boeing 737-4Q8 (SF) freighter ZK-PAU departed Auckland 28 December 2018 for Adelaide and Perth as AWK92 then AWK94 for introduction to service on behalf of Virgin Freight.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=ZK-PAU

Boeing 737-700BBJ P4-SJM

Trawling through social media channels I stumbled upon this sorry image of a recent visitor to New Zealand, Boeing 737-700BBJ P4-SJM. It featured on the DFW Spotters facebook page late last week having been photographed at Ardmore/OK as seen by David Jaffray. 

Ardmore/OK - D Jaffray photo. 

P4-SJM visited NZ during early December 2017 during much healthier economic times and it is obviously surcumed to the tightening of belts in China. It is reported some 50+ Gulfstream jets of Chinese origin are on the market...... 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=p4-sjm

RAAF Boeing 737 Wedgetail A30-004

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 Wedgetail A30-004 spent a couple of days in New Zealand last week on a navigation exercise.

The uniquely configured AWACS aircraft arrived at Whenuapai 12 June 2019 from its Williamtown base as ASY262. On 13 June 2019 departed from and returned to Whenuapai via instrument approaches at Ohakea, Christchurch, Invercargill, Dunedin and Auckland. Then on 14 June 2019 it departed Whenuapai for an approach and overshoot at Wellington then onto Williamtown.

Previous visits by the Wedetails to NZ can be found following this link -http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=A30-

A30-004 on static display at Ohakea 31 March 2012. 

Pacific Aerospace CT4E ZK-PTB heads offshore

Former Royal New Zealand Air Force Pacific Aerospace CT4E Airtrainer ZK-PTB MSN 201 (ex NZ1986) has left NZ for Australia. Withdrawn from service back in December 2014, the CT4E has moved around the North Island and more recently has been listed with Ardmore's Dennis Thompson International. 

It is now shown as sold and it was from Ardmore it embarked on its delivery flight to Australia 13 June 2019 with first stop being an overnight at Kerikeri before continuing to Lord Howe Island, the Gold Coast and finally Archerfield 14 June 2019. 

http://dtiaircraftsales.com/aircraft/pacific-aerospace-corporation-ct-4e-zk-ptb

And it appears ZK-PTG will also soon be crossing the Tasman with this airframe also listed as sold. 

Pazmany PL-2 ZK-TLP heads off on vacation

Tauranga-based Pazmany PL-2 ZK-TLP has embarked on another trip to Australia departing from Kerikeri mid morning 10 June 2019 heading to Lord Howe Island. It then flew onto the Gold Coast and Port Macquarie 11 June 2019 then to Redcliffe 14 June 2019. 

Configured with a fuel endurance of 10 hours, the PL-2 is away for the next few weeks on an adventure trip. The owner spent a couple weeks back in 2018 touring Australia in company with Vans ZK-ECE.

https://go.spidertracks.com/public/pazmanypl2#/flying

MACH LOOP HERCULES FORMATION 4K

What a buzz!!!

Rugby World Cup Supporters

Global airline identity Emirates has rolled out a commemorative decal to promote their participation in the upcoming Rugby World Cup event to be staged in Japan during September 2019. 

Airbus A380 A6-EEU features the special markings and it made its first foray to New Zealand wearing these on 12 June 2019 arriving at Christchurch from Dubai and Sydney as EK412. 

The A380 visited Tokyo 10 June 2019 carrying the Webb Ellis Cup along with former World Rugby players Bryan Habana and Shane Williams. The airline has announced it will be screening all matches live in the air on "ice", the company's in-flight entertainment system, on over 175 aircraft so equipped.

Thanks to Zane Rae for the great photos. 

Black Hawk for New Zealand - updated 13 June 2019

Big congratulations to Mark Law and the team from Kahu Helicopters on the arrival of their ex United States Army EH60A Black Hawk helicopter currently registered N160PA.  The helicopter arrived at the Ports of Auckland on the morning of 11 June 2019 on board container ship Cap Capricorn from Long Beach, and was reassembled on the wharf ahead of its first flight in New Zealand on the afternoon of 12 June 2019 when it positioned to Ardmore and was subsequently hangared with Rural Aviation.

N160PA, to become ZK-HKU, still wears the colours worn in US Army use where it was assigned construction number 86-24572 however has had the addition of "Kahu" titles before its departure from the USA.

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Posted 05 October 2018: 

In a Facebook post dated yesterday, Frontier Helicopters announced their new identity, Kahu Helicopters, with a computer generated image of the yet to be delivered Blackhawk in the company's new livery wearing the registration ZK-HKU.

Congrats to all involved and we sure look forward to seeing this unique (for NZ) machine!

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Posted 27 June 2018: 

For our audience who are not regular Social Media users, some exciting news from Whakatane based Frontier Helicopters. Last week they announced their intention to procure a Sikorsky UH60 Blackhawk utility helicopter. 

Released 20 June 2018:

Finally, after 3 years the owners of Frontier Helicopters (Mark & Anna Law) are pleased to announce and shortly to offer, the Blackhawk UH60 to New Zealand, the Pacific and Australasia. The Blackhawk will be owned and operated wholly by Kiwis and offer heavy precision lift services which NZ is without. 

The Hawk will be based in NZ and flown by experienced aerial work pilots to ensure all tasks are efficient, safe and professionally undertaken. All (3) of the Law Brothers will be part of the mix with Peter Law already experienced with the UH60 in the USA.

Together with the purchase we will be rebranding with a new website outlining all relevant information to inform customers and others of what we can do for them. Please keep an eye out for this update. 

Frontier Helicopters have kindly advised the identity of the Black Hawk as being 86-24572, to be registered N160PA for its export to New Zealand during summer 2018/19. 

https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucdsclnk?sl=91QSCI18171602

I have very few Blackhawk helicopter photos! We've only ever had a handful of examples visit NZ. 

US Customs and Border Protection UH60A 79-23344 at Oshkosh July 2014.