Corporate Corner 10 October through 23 October 2016

Brenzil PTY Falcon 7X VH-CRW had arrived at Napier 30 September from Mackay and flew to Woodbourne and back 06 October. On 10 October it flew to Auckland and back and on 11 October made the short flight to Taupo from where it departed direct to Brisbane 14 October.

At Taupo 13 October. 

Vistajet Global Express 9H-VJO made its first visit to New Zealand arriving at Napier around noon 10 October from Newark, NJ via Honolulu as VJT889. It departed mid afternoon 19 October on its return to Newark via Honolulu.

Resting in the Hawkes Bay sunshine 16 October. 

ANZA/Tyremax Challenger 604 N604AU arrived at Auckland from Sydney 11 October and headed back to Sydney two days later.

Penske Jet Inc Gulfstream G550 N1RP arrived at Auckland in the early hours of 12 October from Brisbane. It departed Auckland mid afternoon the same day for Tauranga where is spent just a couple of hours before stretching its legs on a direct flight to Tokyo/Haneda (first time an aircraft has departed the Bay of Plenty airport direct to Japan!). The frequent visit to our region had arrived Sydney 07 October from Honolulu and later went on to conduct a number of shuttle flights from there to Bathurst and back before flying from Sydney to Brisbane 10 October.

Snapped during its brief visit to Tauranga. 

ALC 6091 LLC Gulfstream G650ER N1AL arrived at Auckland pre sunrise 12 October direct from Van Nuys, CA. It departed the next morning for Noumea and the same day continued home to Van Nuys.

Challenger 601 HB-IKS departed Wellington for Port Moresby and Haneda 12 October. It then flew from Narita to Honolulu 15 October.

Royal Australian Air Force Challenger 604 A37-002 spent a few hours at Wellington 12 October arriving from and returning to Canberra.

AvWest PTY Global Express N599CH arrived at Queenstown from Perth 16 October. It returned to Perth 23 October.

Sky Beyond Holdings Gulfstream 5 N371JC departed Auckland for Singapore/Seletar 17 October.

Sundyne PTY Citation VII VH-SSZ arrived at Wellington from Sydney 17 October. It departed Wellington for Queenstown 19 October then to Essendon and Sydney 21 October.

Jetcity Learjet 45 VH-LJQ tech stopped at Auckland 18 October on its way from Essendon to Tonga. However soon after departure from Auckland the Learjet returned and it seems a runway light failure at Tonga was the probable reason for the air turn-back. It continued its journey to Tonga for a daylight arrival 19 October before heading back to Auckland from where it departed 20 October for Essendon.

Business Aviation Solutions Challenger 604 VH-BLM arrived at Auckland early morning 21 October from the Gold Coast and Brisbane and departed a short time later on its return to the Gold Coast.

Making its first visit to Auckland since arriving in the country a few months ago was the Rotorua based Learjet 60 M-IGHT. Registered Mikro Holdings, the Lear 60 conducted a Rotorua-Tauranga-Rotorua flight before heading to Auckland and back on the evening of 21 October, sadly under the cover of darkness.

Canadian Utilities Falcon 7X C-GCUL arrived at Wellington 22 October from Sydney. The tri-jet had arrived into Perth from Thermal, south of Palm Spirings, via Nadi 18 October and then headed to Sydney 20 October.  From Wellington to Honolulu 23 October.

The 7X replaced a Citation X of the same registration in January 2014 and this aircraft visited Wellington in March 2012 arriving on the 23rd from Honolulu and Pago Pago and departed three days later for Brisbane. http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/citation-x-c-gcul.html

Bristol Freighter NZ5911 revisited

Several days ago we featured a post on Bristol Freighter NZ5911 (NZ5911/ZKEPG)

With thanks to Maurice Benner, here are some fabulous photos of the subject aeroplane at Woodbourne circa 1964. 

Cessna 182 ZK-TBO heads offshore

Cessna T182T ZK-TBO was imported to New Zealand by container in November 2001 wearing its FAA markings N3548F. The aeroplane was owned by the Walkington Family Trust of Christchurch however in August 2016 was transferred to Professional Helicopters of Auckland. It was listed for sale by Oceania Aviation/Flightline and subsequently sold overseas. Following an avionics upgrade and extra modifications the Skylane departed Kerikeri 19 October for Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast. It continued to Mareeba, Far North Queensland 20 October. 

During a brief visit to Ardmore earlier in the month minus camera (!) we took a couple of shots of ZK-TBO parked outside the Auckland Aero Club on a murky morning. The tail art is hard to make out in the images however it depicts an ant holding up what could be a rock, or perhaps some other brown object (!!) and the faint outline of a world atlas could be made out up close.....

The NZ Civil Aircraft blog covered off ZK-TBM/N/O in a post HERE

Pacific Aerospace News

Hamilton-based Pacific Aerospace have featured a couple of times on our blog in recent weeks with the reporting of two ferry flights out of New Zealand ZK-KDG, ZK-KDD and the interesting discovery of a P750XL at a North Korean air display HERE.

The North Korean example featured has been identified as MSN 199. It was delivered to China's Shangdong General Aviation Services as ZK-KNR in 2015 and become B-10EG and has obviously since taken up residence (temporary or otherwise) in North Korea and is quite possibly joined by 

B-10EF (ex ZK-KNQ). A blogpost featuring these two aircraft in their Chinese markings can be found HERE.

An interesting article here published by FlightGlobal:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pacific-aerospaces-chinese-venture-ready-for-21-oct-430476/

Beijing Pan-Pacific Aerospace Technology (BPAT) – a joint venture between New Zealand aircraft maker Pacific Aerospace and China’s Beijing General Aviation Company (BGAC) – will open a manufacturing facility on 21 October to house production of Pacific’s P-750 XSTOL single-engined turboprop, E-350 Expedition and CT-4E Airtrainer piston singles for the Chinese market.

Located in Changzhou, the purpose-built plant will have the capacity to produce up to 100 units per year. The first aircraft – a reassembled P-750 XSTOL with the registration XL-204 – will be unveiled at the opening event. The extremely short-take-off and landing type will then be flown to Airshow China, in Zhuhai, where it will be on display from 1-6 November.

Damian Camp, chief executive of BPAT and Hamilton-based Pacific, describes the opening of the new plant as “a game-changer” for the 67-year-old aircraft producer. “This is the biggest development in our history and critically important, as we see demand for the P-750 and the new E-350 increase,” he says.

The high-wing, utility E-350 programme was acquired by Pacific earlier this year from Canada’s Found Aircraft. The tooling was shipped to Hamilton in September and Pacific plans to relaunch production of the five-seat type in the first half of 2017. A final assembly line will eventually be built in Changzhou.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Found_Aircraft

Camp describes the Chinese facility as “the world’s newest general aviation plant”. He adds: “What’s more, we’ve got plenty of space to expand to meet the growing demand from the Chinese market.”

The initial primary focus of the new plant will be assembly of aircraft from kits provided by Pacific from Hamilton and its existing supply base, says Camp. It will also manufacture components and offer custom painting services.

BPAT eventually plans to provide maintenance and servicing for other general aviation aircraft manufacturers at the Changzhou site and provide pilot and engineering training for the Chinese market.

Citation Latitude N613CL

Cessna Citation Latitude N613CL (680A-0013) arrived at Auckland 18 October from Melbourne/Essendon as part of its Australasian demonstration tour. The midsize jet had arrived in Perth late last week and flew to Adelaide and Essendon 17 October. 

Photographed at Adelaide during its brief appearance at the South Australian capital city airport. 

From the Hawker Pacific press release:

Cessna Citation Latitude is the first business jet to combine a wide, flat floor, stand up cabin and internet equipped interior with a mid-size price. 

Hawker Pacific, the leading aviation solutions provider in Asia, Pacific and the Middle East is excited to announce an Australian and New Zealand demonstration tour of the Cessna Citation Latitude jet. 

Tony Jones, Hawker Pacific, says the Citation Latitude is leading the way in business flying and the company looks forward to demonstrating the aircraft's advanced features. 

"The Latitude boasts the most spacious, refined cabin in the midsize jet category providing more space for business productivity. With the latest cabin technology, enhanced performance and excellent value proposition this jet is leading the way for the future of business flying" say Tony. 

The Latitude's spacious cabin features impressive legroom and storage space to accommodate long business trips for up to 9 passengers. Passengers can stay connected on board with standard Wi-Fi and cabin comfort is managed by touch screen controls. 

Powered by twin Pratt and Whitney controlled turbo fan engines deliver the Citation Latitude's impressive performance. The aircraft has short runway take off capabilities and latest Garmin avionics provide pilots with the comfort and information they need for a reliable and efficient flight. 

The advanced airframe design features an electronic 31-inch entry door and also incorporates lightweight composite materials for the nose radome and fairings. 

Hawker Pacific is the proud sales representative for Textron Aviation.

http://cessna.txtav.com/citation/latitude

N613CL departed Auckland for Wellington arriving mid morning 19 October then flew to Napier, Christchurch and back to Auckland. It departed 20 October for Brisbane.

At Auckland

Arriving to a blustery Wellington morning. 

Interesting "timelapse"

Los Angeles based aviation photographer Mike Kelly had his "artwork" thrust into the limelight back in 2014 when he presented his timelapse image of aircraft departures from LAX. 

During spring 2015 Mike visited New Zealand and spent time catching departures from Auckland (image below) plus a jumpseat ride down to Queenstown. 

Check out his website http://www.mpkelley.com/projects/

If you check out his Sydney airportrait you might notice a slight anomaly in one of the aircraft represented!

Embraer Legacy N766MS

Minsheng Financial Leasing of Beijing took delivery of Embraer 135BJ Legacy 600 N766MS in February this year with the 2014 edition jet previously being registered PR-LEQ. 

The jet arrived at Nadi 15 October from Pohnpei and flew to Rarotonga crossing the date-line to arrive 16 October. It departed the Cook Islands the following day, crossing the date-line again to arrive at Niue 18 October from where it departed the same day for Port Vila. 

N766MS resting under the tropical Cook Island sun at Rarotonga International Airport. 

RNZAF Air Tattoo February 2017

The countdown is on for the RNZAF Air Tattoo. The spectacular event will feature a display by the Black Falcons formation team as well as a range of aircraft from the RNZAF and international Air Forces. Mark February 25 - 26, 2017, in the calendar and plan that trip to Base Ohakea. Hope to see you there!

Air Tattoo Facebook Page

Book Tickets HERE

On the subject of the Black Falcons/RNZAF etc, a brief visit to Ohakea lunchtime 14 October was intially greeted with just Texan NZ1411 conducting circuits. Just as we were preparing to depart the radio squawked "Falcon" and so a hasty extraction from the car to catch the four Texans join and break to land! 

Globemaster Swapover

The United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 10-0217 initially deployed for operation Deep Freeze 2016/2017 has been swapped out this weekend as part of the ongoing support of the logistical movement of personnel and supplies to Antarctica.

10-0217 arrived Christchurch 29 September from Hickam as "Reach 160" and made its first run to Antarctica as ICE03 on 03 October. It departed Christchurch 16 October for Hickam as "Reach 664".

Thanks to Helen Oakes for the photos. 

08-8192 arrived Christchurch 15 October from Hickam as "Reach 664" and made its first run to Antarctica as ICE10 on 17 October.

Meanwhile, Federal Aviation Administration Challenger N86 arrived at Christchurch 15 October from Pago Pago as "Flight Check 86" ahead of its trip to Antarctica to conduct aerodrome and navigation aid calibration duties. Presumably it will assist with the activation of ice runway Phoenix. 

Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 ZK-NZK

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZK was delivered to Air New Zealand on the morning of 14 October arriving in the predawn hours direct from Paine Field as NZ6094. After induction pre service maintenance the -9 entered service earlier today (17 October) as NZ125 from Auckland to Melbourne.

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Air New Zealand's 9th Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZK MSN 43217 (wearing Boeing test registration N1020K) took to the skies over Washington State on its first flight 25 September (26 September NZ time) using the callsign "BOEING 490" which coincides with its Boeing line number.  The jet conducted the normal Boeing first flight pattern heading west of Paine Field before crossing to Moses Lake and back to Paine Field. 

According to online resource http://nyc787.blogspot.co.nz ZK-NZL (line number 607/ZB010) and ZK-NZM (line number 624/ZB011) are to be constructed at Boeing's Charleston, SC, plant.

Airbus EC135 HB-ZSW

The super yacht season is upon us with "Vibrant Curiosity" turning up at Auckland's Silo Marina early last week.Domiciled onboard this magnificent vessel is the Airbus/Eurocopter EC135 HB-ZSW and it was noted flying from Ardmore to Waiheke Island 06 October then headed west to Parakai and Auckland's West Coast beaches before heading to what appears to be Heletranz's facility at Rosedale Road, Albany. From there it appears to have visited Waiheke Island again on the 7th and then the 8th it flew from Rosedale Road area to the Coromandel Peninsula then to Rotorua, Taupo and back to Rosedale Road. 

It has since made its way back to Ardmore where it was spotted in the Airbus hangar 11 October. 

Last flight in New Zealand

At the time of taking these shots back on 08 October I was unaware it was to be the last flight in New Zealand for the Flying Heritage Collection DH98 Mosquito ZK-FHC. The Mosquito had conducted an air-to-air photographic sortie with Yak 3 ZK-VVS over the Coromandel area.

It has since been moved into the Warbirds hangar where it is on display for the next week or so pending export to Seattle, Washington.

Already another DH98 is in the Avspec hangar commencing its return to the skies!

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/22621/again-mosquito-avspecs?page=18

Next Caravan Arrival

As reported earlier this month, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N859LM has reached New Zealand arriving at Ardmore 16 October from Apia and Auckland having crossed from Merced, CA to Honolulu a few days earlier then onto Apia 15 October.

The aircraft will have its ferry tank removed at Ardmore before heading to Dunedin for certification work and it became ZK-MCL 19 October.

N859LM arrival is just two days short of 12 months since the operator took delivery of N208ST (208B-1198) with it arriving Ardmore on 18 October 2015 http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=n208st

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Queenstown-based Milford Sound Flights Ltd have confirmed their expectation of the delivery of 2006 model Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N859LM with the turbine due to depart Wiley Post, OK for the US West Coast and onto New Zealand in the coming days. 

This 208B, MSN 208B-1195, will join another Grand Caravan in the fleet ZK-MSF MSN 208B-1198. 

N859LM ready for its delivery flight and already wearing the MSF colour scheme.
Photo via Milford Sound Flights FaceBook page. 

Antonov 225 - from a drone!

From the smallest of flying machines, a drone, comes this amazing footage of the largest of flying machines, the Antonov 225. There are a few YouTube clips of this "day out" specifically arranged for those assembled.

Ardmore of late

Longtime Ardmore resident DH82A Tigermoth ZK-BLI was conducting circuits 11 October. 

Registered to North Shore Helicopters in early August is this Airbus H130 ZK-IEM as seen at Ardmore 10 October. 

Ardmore based Cirrus SR22 ZK-PBR was conducting circuits 11 October. 

Cirrus SR22 ZK-SSP was one of the first of its type to appear in NZ. It was cancelled from the register as "revoked" in June 2015 and has been stored in the back of what was the Hawker Pacific hangar at Ardmore. This building has now been taken over by the NZ Warbirds Association and the Cirrus was man handled down the taxiway 11 October, I guess to another hangar. Hopefully we will see it fly again sometime soon. 

On leaving Ardmore 11 October I heard across the airwaves "Seaplane Bravo" joining to land so a quick 180 was conducted and back to the threshold to catch Beaver ZK-WKA returning home. It has been out of the air the last month or so with wings detached while modifications to increase her gross weight to allow for the carriage of more passengers.

Napier-based Skyline Aviation recently added Citation Mustang ZK-YDZ to their fleet of charter and air ambulance aircraft. It has received the operator's colours and visited its old home of Ardmore 10 October. 

As mentioned above, the Hawker Pacific hangar has been taken over by the NZ Warbirds Association and 11 October saw most (if not all) the aircraft shuffled outside to presumably aid in the movement of Cirrus ZK-SSP. Note the Trojan looks perfectly normal in the shot above, however........

Bristol Freighter NZ5911/ZK-EPG

Very long time resident at Auckland's Ardmore airfield is the Bristol 170 Freighter Mk31 ZK-EPG. Owned by aviation parts supplier Dwen Aeromotive, the 20000 rivets flying in formation has sat primarily obscured from the road by World War II era buildings however these have recently been deconstructed and the ole girl is now clearly visible. Its fate is unclear, as is that of its owner.

Thanks to http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

NZ5911

13135

Allocated G-AMPK to Bristol Aeroplane Company but not used. Arrived Whenuapai on delivery from United Kingdom 04 May 1954 and BOC as NZ5911. Radio call sign ZMZBN. Loaned to SAFE from 30 March 1955 registered as ZK-BJP. Returned to RNZAF as NZ5911 on 22 April 1955. Final RNZAF flight 14 December 1977. WFU Whenuapai 14 December 1977. Registered to Dwen Airmotive NZ Ltd. as ZK-EPG on 17 August 1978. Ferried Whenuapai-Ardmore on 31 August 1978. Cancelled from register 18 January 1991 as withdrawn from use. Still stored tail less at Ardmore in 2004 and 2016

Virgin ATR swapover

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines continue to cycles their ATR72-600 series turboprops through Christchurch for planned maintenance visits.

VH-FVQ arrived from Sydney on the evening of 27 September as VOZ9948 and departed 12 October for Brisbane.

VH-FVR arrived from Brisbane late afternoon 09 October as VOZ9948.

Bell 212 ZK-HIB

Registered to Oceania Aviation in May this year is this Bell 212 ZK-HIB/3

It arrived via container in April from memory and has sat in the hangar wearing its previous Japanese Coast Guard markings and registration, JA9929, until sometime in the last few days but as can now be seen it wears its NZ identity. Bell 212 ZK-HBQ remains with Oceania at Ardmore and has recently been noted out flying. 

At Ardmore 06 October.