Monday, 2 March 2026

Two at Wellington on Sunday the 1st.

 Allister Jenks snapped these two at Wellington on Sunday the 1st.
Gulfstream Aerospace GVI (G650) N838MF c/n 6042 trundles in on the Western side of Wellington Airport. This one was initially registered as N604GD to the manufacturer in Savannah, Georgia on 24-05-2012 and became N838MF from 19-12-2013. It is currently listed with Wells Fargo/CSC Delaware Trust etc, and I believe operated on behalf of R Perelman an American banker, businessman, investor, and philanthropist. Perhaps best known to us for Revlon products.

The Nanchang CJ-6 ZK-WOK c/n 2132042 was doing some local flying. 
This was taken up by the Wellington Aero Club - arriving from Omaka on 18-12-2025 where it had been based since joining our register back in 1996.
The Club also lists the Nanchang ZK-MAO - but this appears to have been flown back to Omaka after the delivery of ZK-WOK in December.


Sunday, 1 March 2026

Dreamliner N24988 arrives from San Francisco

 Captured by Tony McFarlin at Christchurch International Airport this morning 01-03-2026 was the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N24988 direct from San Francisco.
With the c/n 37449 it first flew on 20-10-2024 and was delivered to United Airlines on 11-11-2024 in the special colour scheme and with 'The Future is SAF' on its engine cowling.
I believe its departure flight back to San Francisco was cancelled this afternoon.

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But wait there is more.

Back in 2009 another N24988 arrived in NZ.
This was a Cessna 152 c/n 80497 which was cranked out in about September of 1977.
It is seen below at Long Beach on 10-10-2005.Its last US owner was Hayden Halsted.
He shipped it to Peru - cancelling the US registration from 15-04-2009. 
It was not assembled there but shipped to Rangiora and assembled and certified at Rangiora Aircraft Engineering facility. 

Above it is coming together at Rangiora
It first flew here on 04-12-2009 having been registered to Hayden as ZK-KDP on 24-06-2009.

Above as seen at Rangiora on 01-12-2009.
And Below on finals at Rangiora on 05-12-2009.
It did not stay here very long. Being cancelled on 16-04-2010 as exported back to Peru.

There it became OB-2006
The only ownership details I have is of it being listed to P A Cabrera of Lima, Peru from 15-05-2012.
The photo below shows it as OB2006 on 24-09-2022.