Air New Zealand Dreamliner Update

As has been widely reported, three  Air New Zealand B 787 Dreamliners have been mothballed since late 2017 due to problems with their engines.  They were ZK-NZD2, ZK-NZE2 and ZK-NZH2.

ZK-NZH2 outside Air New Zealand Engineering Services on 23/2/18.

ZK-NZD2 has been test flown today with replacement engines and I understand that ZK-NZH2 will follow in the next few days.  Then ZK-NZE2 should be back in the air early next month.

Pauanui

Another beautiful day on the Coromandel brought further visitors to Pauanui, including Cessna R172K ZK-CXP of Executive Flight Services, Ardmore

And from Morrinsville Robinson R44 ZK-HOW,  which was imported from Australia in 2015 and hasnt featured on this blog before

This weekends activities

*******************************************

For those in the deeper South.

There is a one day event at 

Waimate on Saturday the 10th.

Waimate Aero club invites you to a friendly Flyin and Brunch at the WM airfield on

SATURDAY March 10 from 10am

We welcome all comers to fly in and catch up with fellow aviators.
Some indication of those attending would help with catering.

email ray.eden@farmside.co.nz

Tomark Viper SD 4 ZK-SWV

Photo'd by the Hairy Mole Rat at Tauranga today was Solo Wings' Tomark Aero Viper SD 4 ZK-SWV, fresh off a major overhaul and heading out for its first post overhaul flight. 

The Tomark Viper SD 4 is built by Tomark s.r.o. of Presov in Slovakia.  It is of mostly metal construction with composite curvy bits including the turtledeck, cowlings wheel fairings and wingtips.  It is a side by side 2 seat trainer and is powered by a Rotax 912 engine which gives a cruise speed of around 108 knots.  The stall speed is around 35 knots with the slotted flaps down.  Length is 6.40 metres (21 feet) and the wingspan is 8.40 metres (27 feet 7 inches).  The empty weight is around 292 Kg (644 pounds) and MAUW in New Zealand is 449 Kg (990 pounds).

ZK-SWV (c/n 035) at Tauranga today.  No doubt it will receive the Solo Wings colour scheme in due course.

We have had only the one Tomark Viper in New Zealand to date, and it was first registered as ZK-EAW2 on 31/1/13 to Wilson Aviation Ltd of Hamilton.  On 14/3/14 ownership transferred to the Wanagnui Aero Club, who sold it to Colin Alexander of Solo Wings on 13/6/17.  It was re-registered as ZK-SWV on 6/11/17.  The above photo was taken at the 2014 RAANZ flyin at Feilding.

Eurocopter EC 130 ZK-ITI at North Shore 3-3-2018

Another craft at North Shore and that does not have seem to have been posted on the blog previously was the Eurocopter EC 130 T2 ZK-ITI of Advanced Flight Ltd of Auckland.

However, it has been posted under its previous identity as ZK-HTI2 - see HERE.  It was re-registered as ZK-ITI on 3/9/14.

Pauanui

Visitor numbers to the Pauanui airfield have been impacted by the very strong easterly winds for the last week or so but these have finally abated and new arrivals included the seldom seen 1981 Cherokee 160 ZK-CNY,  which has been with its current Rotorua owner since 1997.

Up from Taupo was R44 ZK-HKP

And from Aviation Training at Tauranga the R22B ZK-HUV

Mooney M20G ZK-FYD at North Shore 3-3-2018

A quick visit on my way past North Shore Airfield on a Saturday afternoon produced an unexpected surprise:

Mooney M20G ZK-FYD (c/n 680009) was outside its hangar when I arrived but was later pushed back inside.  It is remarkable that I have never seen this aircraft before, even though it has probably been based at North Shore since 1991!  It is ex N22VM and was first registered to the Stanton/McLean Syndicate of Silverdale on 24/4/91.  It was cancelled on 26/6/01 and briefly reverted to N22VM before being re-registered on 28/7/01, and then being purchased by its current owners, the SR and BJ Mitchell Family Trust of North Shore on 15/2/03.

Some late February Helicopter Movements at Ardmore

Eurocopter EC135 P2+ ZK-ICM msn 632 of Helicopters Queenstown  Ltd seen outside Airbus Helicopters on 22-2-18 

Eurocopter AS350 B2 ZK-HWG msn 2816 of Nokomai Helicopters Ltd, RD 3 Lumsden at Ardmore on 26-2-18

Eurocopter AS350 BA ZK-HBR msn 1386 of Helilink Ltd Auckland but with Inflite titles at Ardmore on 28-2-18

The Auckland Helicopter Rescue Trusts newest helicopter MBB BK117 B-2 ZK-HES msn 7205 ex D-HBAY at Ardmore 28-2-18

Sounds Air's Pilatus PC 12 ZK-PLZ at Wellington 23-2-2018

I was very pleased to see Sounds Air's executive Pilatus PC 12 ZK-PLZ at Wellington when I was there recently as it was the first time I had seen it.

ZK-PLZ back tracking along Runway 34 before taking off ahead of the Air New Zealand ATR 72.  I guess flying in an executive aircraft has its privileges.

For the background to ZK-PLZ as an executive aircraft have a look HERE

Air New Zealand at Wellington

While I was at Wellington last week I took the opportunity to photograph a selection of Air New Zealand planes coming and going.  It is a repeating process and if you wait around long enough you can see the same planes again, but I guess that is what a local airline does.  However I still enjoy watching them come and go, especially in a strong Wellington breeze.

The first 3 photos are from my favourite Afternoon Northerly spot at Moa Point in just such a strong breeze:

The most recent 3 Airbus 320s in the Air New Zealand fleet:  

ZK-OXK, (c/n 6706),

ZK-OXL (c/n 7086),

and ZK-OXM (c/n 7362).

Then there are the ATR 72s including ZK-MVL (c/n 1328),

and from my favourite Morning Northerly spot at the top of Strathmore Park:  ZK-MVF (c/n 1228),

and ZK-MVO (c/n 1299).

Then there are the Q 300s including the mostly black ZK-NEM (c/n 630)

and the pleasing sight of the old blue scheme ZK-NED2 (c/n 617).  

While I like the black and white colour scheme I now reckon that a bit of Pacific blue colour would be better for the Air New Zealand fleet - perhaps a blue stripe to break the black and white?