NZNE to NZNP by VL 3 on 25-3-2023

When I talked to John Crone last week I had no idea that the North Shore Aero Club were organising a flying trip down to New Plymouth by DC 3 and that he was planning to fly down in his brand new JMB VL 3 ZL-VLT.  However when he invited me to come with him I very quickly answered Yes!  

John picked me up at 8.15 am at Warkworth and we drove down to North Shore where his aircraft is hangared, and after fuelling up (95 Octane Mogas for the Rotax 915i) John pulled it out into the sun and went through the extensive checklist.  Then we put on our pouch lifejackets and strapped in.  We were going to fly down with Rodger Coleclough who was flying his Cirrus, and we decided that because it was such a lovely morning we would take the low level scenic route.

ZK-VLT shining in the sun.

John setting the twin Dynon screens.

Take off on Runway 21 at North Shore points us in the right direction for New Plymouth.  It sure accelerates quickly!

More detail of the twin touch screens - so much information!

On final for the grass Runway 32 at New Plymouth with 37 degrees of flap the wind in the nose.

Just after we arrived (1 hour 5 minutes flight time) the DC 3 arrived from Ardmore.

ZK-VLT in front of the tower at New Plymouth...

And viewed from the tower (where we had a guided tour).  It looks fast even standing still!