To and From the RAANZ Flyin at Feilding in Foxbat ZK-SGI

A couple of months ago I was chatting to David Signal who was planning to fly down to the RAANZ flyin Feilding over the weekend 14 and 15 November and we made a plan that I would fly with him.  Of course the weather will always be a big factor in whether we could go but after the washout of last weekend the forecast looked good for this weekend and so we planned to set off early-ish from North Shore Airfield.  I drove down to North Shore arriving about 7.15 am.

We planned to leave with Greg-Dawson-Sheehan and John Issott who were flying down in Greg's A 32 Vixxen.  Of course we wouldn't see them again until Feilding as the Vixxen is faster than the Foxbat and Greg has made it even faster with the installation of an e-Props propellor.  Here both planes are loaded up to near their maximum all up weights.

We planned to fly out through the Whenuapai Control Zone and the ATIS told us the tower was unattended, so we did not need permission.  Then we flew under the Auckland Approach at under 1,500 feet across the Manakau Harbour at Cornwallis and down the coast to Raglan.  Then our plan was to fly in a straight line to Feilding.  But there was lowish cloud around the Mountains after Taumarunui so we had to detour a bit to the West.  The mountains were there but we couldn't see them.

However when were south of the mountains near Ohakune the clouds parted briefly and we got a view of Ruapahu, Tongariro and later we could briefly see Ngaruahoe before the clouds came back.

Then it was over more uninviting country for forced landings, flying over the Rangitikei area but it was all downhill to Feilding  (You can click the photo to enlarge to see more detail and there were some of the typical white limestone cliffs down there).

Our flight time to Feilding was just under 3 hours which was the longest flight I had done in a sport aircraft.

We camped on the airfield which was convenient.  However Feilding aerodrome is quite close to a busy road and also a train track so it was a bit noisy until cars got less as it got later.

We had planeed to leave around 10 am for our flight back but the weather was again low cloud over the high country near the mountains so we left packed up and left early and headed towards Mt Egmont feeling our way along until we could see through to the North near Hawera.

Just like on the way down the mountain showed itself though the clouds for a short while - pretty spectacular!

We then flew up the West Coast north of New Plymouth which is pretty rugged and spectacular, here just North of the White Cliffs with State Highway 3 running parallel to the coast at this point.

On past Marokopa which was in the news for a couple of years recently.

Then past Kawhia Harbour, and you can just see the mouth of the Aotea Harbour further up ahead.

By now we were looking forward to getting home to North Shore.  We cut inland at Port Waikato to miss some rain up ahead and on past the Glenbrook Steel Mill with its smoke showing us we had a fair head wind.  And the under Auckland Approach at 1400 feet to Cornwallis on the North bank of the Manakau Harbour and then climb over the Waitakeres.

Back in the big smoke but keeping clear of the built up areas of Watakere City.  The Waitamata Harbour, the city and you can just make out the Harbour Bridge, North Head and Rangitoto in the distance.

Back at North Shore outside the hangar.  The flight time coming home was 3 hours and 45 minutes and we were both pleased to get out of the Foxbat's seats!  Thanks very much for the great trip David.

I will post more from the RAANZ flyin at Feilding tomorrow as it is time for bed!