Sunday Lunch

Last Sunday was a fine mid-winters day, so what better way to enjoy it with an outing across  the Firth of Thames to Pauanui for lunch?

Our chariot of choice was the Auckland Aero Club C172S ZK-JMY

Although the weather was clear at Ardmore, a bit of fog and cloud buildup on the western side of the Coromandel Ranges pushed us to track a bit to the north, and then down the eastern coast to land on RW23 at Pauanui.

.

There was a steady trickle of aircraft arriving and departing from the field during the day, and as the very light wind and changed to an easterly we were able to watch the comings and goings while we walked along the beach.

Beech F33A Bonanza ZK-EDS came to NZ back in 2003 via Canada, USA and Australia

while Cardinal RG ZK-KCW spent a number of years in South Africa. It was the current Whangarei-based owner's first aerial visit to Pauanui

Cessna R182 Skylane RG ZK-LAB is Ardmore-based

 The Thorp S-18 ZK-MBY first flew back in 2007, and after some years in Northland has been operated by an Ardmore-based syndicate since 2017

This C172P spent over 30 years as ZK-FLA before adopting the ZK-MDX markings last year. First time I have seen it as such

 Ardmore Flying School's 172R ZK-ZAT is clearly sign-written that it now consumes Jet A-1, not Avgas

Plus of course our chariot for the day, ZK-JMY which has had  quite a number of operators between the time it appeared in 2001 and when it settled at the aero club in 2014

A really good days outing, and a really nice lunch at Pauanui village.