Pilatus PC-12 ZK-PLV departs for Alaska today 04-04-2025

 This was the 300th PC-12 built and was rolled out as HB-FQR3 by Pilatus Flugzeugwerke Ag at Stans                                         in Switzerland and registered to them on 23-04-2001. 

Photo above taken at Jandakot on 21-10-2004.

It became VH-VWO on 01-11-2001 with the RFDS Western Operation at Jandakot, West Australia.

(RFDS being the old Royal Flying Doctor Service).

Above at Jandakot on 09-10-2014.

It flew into Auckland from Sydney in full Sounds Air colours on 20-11-2016 and became ZK-PLV on 18-02-2017.

It was the fifth PC-12 for Sounds Air Travel and Tourism Ltd.

Some more pics of her and Sounds Air in general can be seen on our Third Level Airline blog HERE

At Nelson on 09-02-2017.

At Westport on 03-12-2017.

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On 23-10-2018.

Its final Sounds Air service was from Christchurch to Blenheim on 06-03-2025 and it was ferried up to Ardmore on the 28th awaiting ferry to Juneau, Alaska.

Above at Ardmore on 28-03-2025.

It departed Ardmore about 0930 on 04-04-2025 bound for Samoa. Then on to Hawaii, Merced, in California and up to its new home base at Juneau, Alaska to become N726KP for Kalinin Partners.

Meanwhile at the Beach Hop at Whangamata

I have posted some blog posts on Whitianga happenings from last Sunday. but there was another major event happening down the road at Whangamata:  the Beach Hop.  I think there are synergies between the two hobbies of sport flying and custom cars but there was one crossover project at the Beach Hop:

This DC 3 based custom caravan caused a bit of controversy over what category it should be judged in, but I think it did receive an award.  Can anyone advise what the donor DC 3 was?

Back from Whitianga to North Shore on 30-3-2025

After a nice BBQ at Gavin Magill's hangar on Whitianga airfield, we headed back over the Coromandel and across the Hauraki Gulf in David's Foxbat.  We got some nice views as we went:

After taking off on Runway 22 and heading straight out to Buffalo Beach (for noise minimisation although the Rotax in the Foxbat is pretty quiet), we turned right and flew on a Westward track for home.  In this view you can see part of the the Whitianga Waterways development in the foreground with the airfield beyond

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In one corner of the airfield there is a huge new development of what I was told was 58 hangars!  However from what I saw only one of them was open on the day (housing RV 8 ZK-ZRV).  In this view you can see across the saddle to the Firth of Thames/Hauraki Gulf outside of Coromandel township.

And here is the one way Coromandel Airstrip below (near the bottom centre of the photo) - click to enlarge to see it clearer.  There is a white hangar near the nearest end of the strip.

Over the water with clouds and blue sky and sun above makes for some lovely views.

Back home at the hangar at North Shore ZK-SGI never missed a beat.  Thanks David.

French CN-235 at Nelson today.

 Snapped by Lord Nelson on the hard at Nelson this afternoon was the CASA CN-235-200M c/n 107, coded 82-IH of the ARMEE DE L'AIR.

It is not a stranger to our shores.

EC120B ZK-HCA 4

Arriving at the Glacier Country Helicopters base in Franz Josef this morning was their EC120B ZK-HCA4.  This was originally imported in 2019 from the USA and acquired by the company in October 2023.

 

A Plethora of Pitts' at Whitianga Yesterday 30-3-2025

A really spectacular sight formed outside Richard Hood's hangar at Whitianga yesterday as three Pitts Specials visited from Ardmore:

From Left to Right:  Pitts S 1SS ZK-LOL, S 1C ZK-RMR, S 2E ZK-ELI and S 1S ZK-MPM.

David Wilkinson flew over in the MPM Syndicate's ZK-MPM.

As previously mentioned, Andrew Hope flew over in his S 2E ZK-ELI.

Rob McNair flew over in his S 1C ZK-RMR,

and Richard Hood's S 1SS ZK-LOL is based in his hangar on the airfield.

Finally, this is the view of them as we climbed out for our return flight to North Shore.

Helicopters in Hokitika

Departing Precision Helicopters main base near the Hokitika Gorge today was EC120B ZK-HJU6 which was acquired by the company in early 2024.   Originally imported in late 2016 from Australia this was initially ZK-IHV before progressing through ZK-HVA6 in 2017, and then both ZK-HOA4 and ZK-IQN3 in 2018 before settling on ZK-HJU6 in 2019 !

Based 1km away at the company's hangar site was Precision Helicopters' Bell 206B ZK-HEH5.  This was imported from the USA in 2022 and acquired by the company in late 2024.

And at Hokitika Airport was Anderson Helicopters AS350B2 ZK-HKA3 which has been with the company since importation from the Philippines in late 2002.

From the cobwebs.

 Graeme Stratton has been having a trip down memory lane and offers us a few shots from the past.

The Cessna 185D Skywagon ZK-CHS c/n 185-0793 as seen on the beach at Tuatapere on 30-01-1974.

Note the shooting irons leaning against the tail.

For previous mention of ZK-CHS SEE HERE.

Above we see Peter Matich trying to prove that he was the camp cook at Preservation Inlet in January 1974.

(he wasn't).

Here we see Peter giving the Cessna 172M ZK-DHU 'a lick'.

ZK-DHU has spent almost its whole career at Taupo - becoming ZK-ZZC in May of 2012.

A Flight from North Shore to Whitianga Today 30-3-2025

 I travelled down to North Shore aerodrome this morning to meet up with David Signal.  This was because we were planning to fly across to Whitianga for an Auckland Chapter of the Sport Aviation Association of NZ / Northern Aviators Club BBQ hosted by Gavin and Delys Magill at their hangar home, and to see Gavin's Airdrome Aeroplanes Sopwith Camel.  We were flying in David's red Foxbat ZK-SGI :

On climb out from North Shore we flew over the Weiti River where contractors are well advanced with building the bridge which is part of the Penlink motorway.  That is the Whangaparaoa Peninsula on the left and Stillwater in the middle with Long Bay in the distance.

Then we flew out into the Hauraki Gulf with Motutapu Island down there and Rangitoto in the distance.  These two islands are joined at the hip with a narrow isthmus.

Then on towards Coromandel into the sun reflecting off the water.

It is not far across the Coromandel to Whitianga and on the way you look down on some of the famous jagged peaks of the Coromandel Peninsula, but from a different perspective.

We arrived into Whitianga in light rain and there are some impressive hangar houses on view.

It was quite busy when we arrived, we were number 1 of 3 when landing.  Then a few aircraft arrived from Ardmore (which is pretty close in a straight line).  Here is Russell Jenkins in his lovely Stearman ZK-RJS.

Then Andrew Hope in his Pitts S 2E ZK-ELI.

Here is Gavin's Airdrome Aeroplanes Sopwith Camel which is quite well advanced.  It is a full size replica and he will power it with a Continental O-320 engine which produces 140 HP.

It was also the first time I had seen Pete Walton's Airdrome Aeroplanes Fokker Triplane replica ZK-CCO2 which is also full size.

It was a machine guns at 20 paces standoff outside Gavin's hangar!

I will post some more from the great day later, and thanks for the flight David.

Ardmore today from Errol Cavit.

 Eurocopter EC 130 B4 ZK-HBC7 c/n 4013 joined our register on 16-07-2024 for United Pacific Aero Ltd of Castor Bay.

First flown back in 2006 using the Eurocopter F-WQDD test registration before delivery to Sheikh Mohammed Al Mualla of United Arab Emirates as A6-FOX.

It was later re-registered as A6-FLT2 for Falcon Aviation Services.

Over outside DTI was the Pilatus PC-12/45 ZK-PLV c/n 400 ex Sounds Air Travel & Tourism Ltd.

Original HB-FQR3 with Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG from 23-04-2001 - destined for Australia where it became VH-VWO from 01-11-2001.

It became the fifth PC-12 for Sounds Air on 18-01-2017.

Its final Sounds Air service was from Christchurch to Blenheim on 06-03-2025 and was ferried up to Ardmore on the 28th awaiting ferry to Juneau, Alaska.

Its departure awaits a visa approval for one of the pilots.