Yak 3's at Warbirds over Wanaka 2018

The sight and sound of a Yak 3 is always a pleasurable experience, but doubling this is truly amazing especially when paired with a couple of P51 Mustangs! The crowds gathered at the run up to the show were treated to this spectacle with Omaka based example ZK-VVS "Full Noise" and locally based ZK-YYY both conducting flying activities. ZK-VVS had recently returned to flight in NZ following its stint in the United States at the Reno Air Races.

Sadly, Arthur Dovey's Yak 3 ZK-YYY succumbed to a significant landing accident just minutes into day one of the full airshow routine on 31 March 2018 when it collided with a cherry picker positioned on an area of grass adjacent to the sealed runway. I think the video below really tells it all😒

RAAF Contingent at WOW 2018 - UPDATED 04 APRIL 2018

The C27J Spartan A34-008 departed Wanaka for Queenstown and Richmond 02 April.

The Hawk duo departed Queenstown for Hobart 03 April as ASY1041 and adopted domestic callsign "Cougar" for their flight north to Williamtown.

C130J Hercules A97-440 arrived at Christchurch 02 April from Richmond. It flew to Queenstown 03 April where it joined the two Hawks for the flight to Hobart, Williamtown and Richmond. It returned to NZ 04 April arriving at Queenstown from Richmond then departed for Williamtown.

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Posted/updated 01 April 2018:

The Royal Australian Air Force fast jet contingent for the Warbirds over Wanaka 2018 airshow have arrived with two BAe Hawk 127 lead-in fighter trainers touching down at Queenstown 28 March. A27-12 and A27-16 crossed the Tasman from Hobart in company with Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-440 which provided SAR cover and carried support equipment for their deployment. The Hercules was quickly turned around and after an approach and overshoot at Queenstown it departed for Richmond. Also visiting NZ the same day was C17 Globemaster A41-212 and it flew Williamtown-Christchurch-Amberley. 

Unlike the two previous visits by RAAF Hawk from Pearce/WA, this team has deployed from Williamtown/NSW where they operate with training unit 76 Squadron.

C27J Spartan A34-008 of 35 Squadron arrived at Wanaka 29 March from Richmond and Queenstown marking its first visit to NZ since delivery in November last year. It was placed on static display at Wanaka - sadly no air display by this versatile machine.

Corporate Corner 18 - 31 March 2018

Brenzil PTY Falcon 7X VH-CRW concluded its extended NZ visit on 19 March with the tri-jet departing Taupo heading direct to Brisbane.

Paradox International Birds Ltd Global Express N700GX arrived at Auckland 19 March from Subang/Malaysia. It departed for Honolulu 28 March then to Montreal 01 April (USA date).

N700GX at Auckland 22 March 2018. 

Charles R Schwab Gulfstream G650ER N898CH touched down at Auckland mid afternoon 19 March from Kona/HI as "Twylight 277" marking the jets first visit to NZ. It had flown from San Jose/CA to Kona the previous day as "Twylight 650". It departed Auckland late morning 22 March heading to Napier.  It departed the Hawkes Bay airport direct to Kona 26 March then onto San Jose/CA the next morning. 

On the move at Auckland 22 March 2018. 

Meisinger Aviation Learjet 36A N82GG departed Christchurch 19 March for Auckland via two area of survey, one to the south of Christchurch then one west of Wellington. Another survey flight was conducted 27 March with the Lear flying from Auckland to the Hawkes Bay area and back. it departed for Nadi 28 March then onto Pago Pago and Hawaii the next day. 

Jet Aviation Flight Services/Enham Holdings Gulfstream G650ER N650EH arrived at Auckland during the first few minutes of 21 March from Singapore/Seletar carrying former US President Barack Obama. It departed Auckland for Sydney early afternoon 23 March. From Sydney the G650 headed to Tokyo/Haneda 24 March then to Honolulu the following day. From Honolulu to Ronald Reagan/Washington National Airport 26 March.

Parked up at Auckland 22 March 2018. 

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors Gulfstream G650 N829JV arrived at Auckland before sunrise 22 March direct from Los Angeles. It departed for Sydney and Essendon 26 March. The 650 returned to Auckland during the wee small hours of 28 March from Essendon.

N829JV at Auckland 01 April 2018. 

Rr Investments/Christ Holdings Challenger 605 N913TK arrived at Wellington early evening 22 March from Kona/HI via Pago Pago. It departed for Pago Pago and Kona 30 March then to San Antonio/TX 01 April (NZ date). 

Beijing Capital Airlines Gulfstream G550 B-8132 arrived at Auckland during the second hour of 23 March after a direct flight from Shenzhen. It departed Auckland on return to Shenzhen 26 March.

Executive Jet Management/Air Tiger 1 LLC Gulfstream 5 N50KC arrived at Auckland on the morning of 25 March from Teterboro/NJ via a brief stop at Honolulu. It flew onto Napier 28 March then to Queenstown 30 March. 

N50KC at Queenstown 31 March 2018. 

Avwest Global Express N599CH arrived at Queenstown early evening 26 March from Belize via a techstop at Papeete. It departed mid afternoon 28 March destined for Perth.

N599CH rolling runway 23 at Queenstown 28 March 2018. 

Bairong Group Gulfstream G650 B-3255 arrived at Auckland 29 March from Macau.

Between showers - B-3255 at Auckland 31 March 2018. 

CML Aviation Gulfstream G350 VH-NKD arrived at Queenstown 29 March from Sydney.

Citation VII VH-ING arrived at Christchurch 29 March from Sydney. It flew to Queenstown and Invercargill 31 March.

Grandic Construction Company Gulfstream G550 N888HK arrived at Christchurch 29 March from Hong Kong. It departed 31 March for Cairns.

Execujet Australia Global Express VH-OCV arrived at Christchurch 29 March from Sydney and Queenstown.

Liansheng Investment Ltd Boeing 737-7BC BBJ N666ML arrived at Queenstown 30 March from Manado. It then positioned to Christchurch for parking.

Execujet Australia Global Express VH-ICV briefly visited Queenstown 31 March arriving from and returning to Sydney.

Extensive Coverage of USAF Visitors to NZ

Thanks to multiple providers we have a raft of images to share from the visit by the United States Air Force visitors to New Zealand for the 30th Anniversary Warbirds over Wanaka 2018 event staged over Easter Weekend.

The two F16 Fighting Falcon's deployed to Christchurch created quite a stir around the region with their high energy departures and arrivals as they conducted navigation exercises around the South Island and daily visits to Central Otago with single ship air displays over Wanaka. The duo certainly turned heads wherever they went and reports from the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park region would suggest they ruffled a few feathers in the region as the ripped through the area on more than one occasion!

Not to be out done, the Hawaiian based Boeing C17 Globemaster III 90-0533 also made its presence known. Arriving at Christchurch 29 March direct from Honolulu/Hickam as JUNGL17, the heavy lift transporter conducted its first visit to the skies above Wanaka 30 March with a spirited display practice. It returned to the region on both days of the show.

Boeing KC135R Stratotanker 63-8020 arrived at Christchurch during the first hour of 04 April direct from Kadena, Japan, as REACH063 to accompany the two F16's back home. The trio departed Christchurch lunchtime 03 April heading to Guam/Andersen.

Again, big thank you to all those providing images!

Air Tahiti Nui Dreamliner news

Air Tahiti Nui announced 22 March 2018 (NZ date) the first commercial flights for their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. 

The first aircraft, leased from Air Lease Corp, will be delivered to the company mid October 2018 and after a couple of weeks of technical flights it will enter operation on the airline's thrice weekly service to/from Auckland as TN101/102 with the first of these set to take place 08 November 2018 NZ date. 

Online records indicate the first aircraft will be ZB908/MSN 39297 to be assembled at Charleston followed by ZB909/MSN 42116 with it being assembled at Everett. 

F-OLOV arriving at Auckland 22 March 2018 

Soon to be a regular sight!

New Gulfstream G650ER N66ZG

New Zealand is now home to brand new, fresh off the assembly line Gulfstream G650ER MSN 6303. Initially registered N303GA with the manufacturer, the airframe has now assumed its new identity of N66ZG for Auckland based Rank Services Ltd. 

Their previous Gulfstream G650, N946JB MSN 6157, departed Auckland 16 November 2017 for Los Angeles and Burbank and was earlier this month delivered to Brazil where it is has become PR-GVI with pharmaceutical company EMS S.A. based at Campina, Sao Paulo.

As N303GA, the Gulfstream G650 has undertaken extensive test flying from Appleton/WI, a finishing centre for Gulfstream. It flew a 12hr 09min circumnavigation of the contiguous USA on 22 March local date.

N66ZG made its first flight under its recently applied markings 27 March (USA date) with a flight from Appleton/WI to Phoenix/AZ, and after refuelling and custom clearance departed direct to Auckland arriving after dark 28 March. It then continued to Queenstown arriving early evening 29 March.

N66ZG at Queenstown 31 March 2018. 

Arriving back at Auckland 02 April 2018.