31 December 2012

Last Post...

2012 is only hours away from ending... Here are my pictures that see the year out...

"Nanchang 01" looks a whole lot better with the wheels up... Photos taken at North Shore on 31 December 2012 
 

Above Cessna 180 ZK-BUG was in the circuit while below Cessna 182 Skylane ZK-CAH disappeared out of the circuit. Photos taken at North Shore on 31 December 2012
 

Above, Fisher Dakota Hawk ZK-SOL on the taxi while below the North Shore Aero Club's Robin R2160 ZK-TZF returns to base. Photos taken at North Shore on 31 December 2012
 

On airline duty... Great Barrier Airlines BN Islander ZK-REA was shuttling back and forward to the Barrier while Flight Hauraki's Cessna 172 ZK-MDV was doing their airline duties today. Photos taken at North Shore on 31 December 2012
 

30 December 2012

Fleet update #2


A pleasant surprise for me out at Auckland International tonight was newly repainted Inflite Charters' BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-ECJ. Photo take at Auckland on 30 December 2012. PS - Sorry Wayne, left my cellphone at home! 

Fleet up date #1


Mit from Remote Adventures gave me the nod to use the photos of  Cessna 185A ZK-MIT (c/n 185-0504) which is now being operated by Remote Adventures. ZK-MIT was previously ZK-SOW and ZK-CVF.
 
 
 
or my profile on the history of Remote Adventures...

Cheers Mit!

Thanks also to Onno Kuijken from Holland who sent the photo of Remote Adventure's Cessna 185 ZK-CKO... Onno writes,
The photo was taken on Jan. 6 this year at Karamea airport. We had just finished a four-day walk on the Heaphy Track and didn't want to spend a whole day on a bus to get back to Collingwood - one of our group would get car-sick anyhow... The flight was a good end to a great trip. Especially flying across Gouland Downs and Perry Saddle... and the landing at Brown airstrip was perfect.
 
 


29 December 2012

Skydiving at Parakai...

I was out doing a driving lesson today and called into Parakai for a few minutes...

Above, away on its next mission was Skydive Auckland's PAC 750XL ZK-SDF while below their Cessna 182 was having a rest day. Photos taken at Parakai on 29 December 2012


Meanwhile Blue Skies Skydiving's Cessna 182 ZK-KAL came back after throwing its last load of passengers out the door. Photo taken at Parakai on 29 December 2012

 

 

28 December 2012

25 years ago - December 1987 - Some from Christchurch

A long way from Great Barrier, Great Barrier Airline's Piper Aztec ZK-FMU at Christchurch on 26 December 1987

A couple of the Canterbury Aero Club's Piper Tomahawk... Above ZK-EYE was taken on 27 December 1987 and below ZK-EYG was taken on 28 December 1987.
 

A couple of Cessnas were in on the 28th of December 1987... Above Cessna 177 Cardinal ZK-DRC and below Coast Air's Cessna 172 ZK-EHO... the tail on EHO matched that on their Navajo ZK-JGA (see http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/07/coast-air-part-2.html
 

Canterbury Helicopters' Bell Jetranger ZK-HWQ and Lasercorp's Cessna 421 Golden Eagle ZK-KBF were also photographed at Christchurch on the 28th of December 1987
 

27 December 2012

25 years ago... December 1987 - 4 from Timaru

On glider tug duties at Timaru in December 1987 was Piper PA-18 Cub ZK-BPI

Undoubtedly the most exotic visitor to Timaru was Brierly International's Cessna Citation III N106CC. Photo taken on 8 December 1987
 
Smart looking Beech Musketeer ZK-DII at Timaru on 20 December 1987.

Also captured on the 20th of December 1987 was the local aero club's Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-EIX
 


26 December 2012

One to look out for...

 
 
Inflite Charters now has a second BAe Jetstream 32 painted up in its colour scheme. ZK-ECJ now looks like ZK-ECI (below)...
 
 
BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-ECI taken at Auckland on 26 November 2012. Photo : S Lowe


25 December 2012

Jingle Bells

 
JiNGle bells 
 
 
JiNGle bells

 
JiNGle all the way
 
 
ZK-JNG, ZK-JNG and ZK-JNG
 
It is hard to believe another year has come and gone...
Can I take this opportunity to thank those who have helped me with the blog this year with photographs, information, tip offs, corrections and comments.
These are very much appreciated and have help make the blog what it is.
Thanks also to those whom I have met during the year or who have emailed me saying how much they enjoy the blog. This is very heartening.
Can I wish you all the peace and joy of this special time anew.
As you spend time with those you love may the significant relationships you share be born anew and may the New Year bring you and yours many blessings
 
Steve

24 December 2012

An Antarctic Christmas

In 2008 I celebrated the Midnight Mass of Christmas at McMurdo - the only time I have had all the congregation wearing sunglasses as the midnight streamed in...


When didn't sing the following there but it was part of the community festivities...

 
Twelve McMurdo Days of Christmas

 

On the first day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            A flight on a LC-130. (one thirty)

On the second day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the third day of Christmas a penguins gave to me
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the fourth day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the fifth day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the sixth day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            Six days a working
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the seventh day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            Seven hours resting
            Six days a working
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the eighth day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            Eight Kiwis drinking
            Seven hours resting
            Six days a working
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the ninth day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            Nine G-As shoveling
            Eight Kiwis drinking
            Seven hours resting
            Six days a working
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the tenth day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            A ten minute shower
            Nine G-As shoveling
            Eight Kiwis drinking
            Seven hours resting
            Six days a working
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the eleventh day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            Eleven flights canceled
            A ten minute shower
            Nine G-As shoveling
            Eight Kiwis drinking
            Seven hours resting
            Six days a working
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

On the twelfth day of Christmas a penguin gave to me
            Twelve frozen hot-dogs
            Eleven flights canceled
            A ten minute shower
            Nine G-As shoveling
            Eight Kiwis drinking
            Seven hours resting
            Six days a working
            FIVE SKUA EGGS
            Four free meals
            Three roommates
            A pair of bunny boots
            And a flight on a LC-130.

25 years ago - December 1987 - Boeings at Christchurch

The project of scanning all my negatives into the computer continues... 

Condor Boeing 727-200 D-ABTI was an unusual visitor to Christchurch. Photo taken on 30 December 1987 by S Lowe

Ansett New Zealand was still operating its Boeing 737-100s - Above ZK-NEB and below ZK-NED. Both photos taken at Christchurch on 27 December 1987 by S Lowe

Air New Zealand's Boeing 737-200s are also but a memory - Above ZK-NAU and below ZK-NAY. Both photos taken at Christchurch on 28 December 1987 by S Lowe

Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-200 9V-SQS taxis to the gate after arriving from Singapore. Photos taken at Christchurch on 30 December 1987 by S Lowe


Also but a memory at Christchurch International is the roof deck.

23 December 2012

Dargaville's First Air Service

 
 
 
Despite having the destination of New Zealand’s first email flight in 1919 it was not until Christmas time 1957 that Dargaville received its first air service. Part of the problem was that Dargaville lacked a suitable aerodrome. In 1955 Doug Lock and Frank Brookes established Northern Aviation Topdressing Ltd and established a topdressing strip on Awakino Road. The site was cleared of tea-tree and scrub and levelled sufficiently for their purposes. Eventually, Northern Aviation Topdressing Ltd. moved to Whangarei and when the Northern Wairoa Aero Club was re-incorporated in October 1956, the airfield - such as it was then became available to it. The club set about filling a large gully and this work cost the club some £550. Other work included the felling and topping of trees, sowing the grass and preparing the runways.  

It was to be some 12 months, however, before the airfield In mid-December 1957 the Auckland Aero Club’s Mr R. J. Selby flew their Cessna 180 to Dargaville to promote the Club’s proposed service. Representatives from the Dargaville Borough Council and Hobson County Council and a Northland Times reporter were taken on promotional flights.

The new service began on the 23rd of December 1957 when, at 9.00 am, the Auckland Aero Club’s Cessna 180, ZK-BUF, touched down on the Northern Wairoa Aero Club’s newly licenced aerodrome on Awakino Road. The first flight was flown by the Auckland Aero Club’s Mr Reg Shand, and the first flight carried Mr A. P Jones, the secretary of the Auckland Aero Club, and the first commercial passenger, Mr W. J. Thomasen of Auckland.

Northland Times, 28 December 1957
 
The new service was designed to connect with the first southbound NAC flight out of Whenuapai at 8.00 a.m. This meant the Cessna would leave its Mangere base at 6.15 a.m. daily, arriving at Dargaville by 6.50 a.m. Transport left the local agent, McKay's Electrical, for the airfield at seven o’clock and the plane was scheduled to depart for Auckland at 7.15 a.m. If there were passengers for Whenuapai the plane landed there at 7.40 a.m. before continuing on to arrive at Mangere at 7.55 a.m. enabling any passengers for Auckland to be in the city by 8.30 p.m. The afternoon schedule had a 5.55 p.m. departure from Mangere at 5.55 p.m. picking up, as necessary, any passengers for Dargaville at Whenuapai. The plane arrived at Dargaville at 6.45 p.m. and returned for Mangere at 7.00 p.m. arriving there at 7.40 p.m.

The Auckland Aero Club's Cessna 180, ZK-BUF. Photo : D White Collection


The new service enabled Dargaville residents to fly to Invercargill in one day. With the summer evenings shortening the timetable changed on the 20th of February 1958. Advertising announcing this reported that “the use of the travelling public of Dargaville has not been as great as was anticipated and that it is hoped that the new timetable will better suit the needs of the air traveller.” The new timetable was not, however, as well suited for Dargaville people. The morning flight did not leave Dargaville until 9.00 a.m. and the return flight from Mangere left at 4.00 p.m. giving Dargaville business people a much shorter day in Auckland. This advertisement was the last mention of the air service in the Northland Times and the service appears to have petered out shortly after this.  
 
Northland Times, 19 February 1958
 


22 December 2012

3 x Jumbos as Evan creeps closer

I captured three Jumbos at Auckland this morning... a sight that is becoming rarer and rarer! Interestingly I had flown on two of them... SUH -LHR-LAX-AKL and HL-7402 FCO-ICN...

Off to Sydney as NZ103 was Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 ZK-SUH. Photo taken at Auckland on 22 December 2012 

Qantas Boeing 747-400 VH-OEJ on QF8 from Dallas/Fort Worth to Brisbane via Auckland. Photo taken at Auckland on 22 December 2012
Heading back to Seoul-Incheon was Korean Air HL-7402 on KE130. Photo taken at Auckland on 22 December 2012.
 

21 December 2012

25 years ago - December 1987 - Mount Cook Airlines

On Sunday Air New Zealand's subsidiary Mount Cook Airline resume flights to Mount Cook... In honour of this day here is a glimpse when Mount Cook Airline really was a tourist airline... While in Christchurch after Christmas in December 1987 I made a concerted effort to photograph as many of Mount Cook Airline's Hawker Siddeley 748 fleet... Sadly the shrill roar of the 784's Rolls Royce engines are but a memory...  

ZK-CWJ at Christchurch on 28 December 1987. Photo : S Lowe
ZK-DES at Christchurch on 24 December 1987. Photo : S Lowe
ZK-MCA at Christchurch on 27 December 1987. Photo : S Lowe
ZK-MCJ at Christchurch on 28 December 1987 : Photo : S Lowe
ZK-MCP at Christchurch on 28 December 1987. Photo : S Lowe
 
Providing extra capacity was Fokker F27-200 Friendship ZK-DCB at Christchurch on 27 December 1987. Photo : S Lowe 
Returning to the resumtion of services to Mount Cook, here is the original Air New Zealand media report from November last year...
 

Mt Cook is set to become the 28th domestic destination on Air New Zealand’s network with the airline announcing today the trial of a new Christchurch/Mt Cook/Queenstown route in the summer of 2012-2013. “The decision to launch this seasonal service comes after a lot of combined effort from Christchurch Airport CEO Jim Boult, Hermitage Chairman John Davies and Air New Zealand to make the route feasible,” says Air New Zealand Group General Manager Australasia Bruce Parton. “This new route is a credit to the drive and perseverance of both Jim and John. They have had the vision and belief in this regional development and we have been proud to listen and support them with this.” Mr Parton says the service will operate for six weeks between 23 December 2012 and 27 January 2013 to meet high-season demand from offshore markets, particularly tourists coming in from Japan. “It will make it easier for groups to stay overnight at Mt Cook and also make day trips possible to the region, something we expect will be a particularly popular option for visitors on cruise ships arriving into the area over the summer months,” he says. “The connection through to Queenstown will also provide independent travellers who may only have a short amount of time with a quick and easy way of visiting several of the South Island’s key tourism regions.” The 40-minute service between Christchurch and Mt Cook will operate three times a week, timed to connect with the arrival into Christchurch of the direct service from Tokyo and other morning services into Christchurch from domestic airports such as Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington. It will depart Christchurch at 11.45am and arrive at Mt Cook at 12.25pm, then continue to Queenstown at 1.30pm. On the return journey, the flight will depart Queenstown at 3.10pm to arrive in Mt Cook at 3.50pm before continuing to Christchurch at 4.30pm to arrive at 5.10pm. The service will be operated by Air New Zealand subsidiary airline Mt Cook Airline utilising a 68-seat ATR aircraft. John Davies, Chairman of The Hermitage Hotel says: “We’re thrilled with the opportunity presented by the reintroduction of scheduled flights into Mount Cook. The Japanese market has certainly been supportive of this initiative and we are hoping the service will grow to include the full Japanese touring season of December through to March. Add to this, the increasing numbers of passengers from other Asian countries into Christchurch and we see this venture as a win-win for everyone involved.” Christchurch International Airport Chief Executive Jim Boult is welcoming the new service. “We are delighted to see this begin and hope it will lead to the service becoming permanent,” Mr Boult says. “Mt Cook is a highlight of many visitors’ South Island travels and we know lots of international travellers book their trips to New Zealand with the expectation of seeing our stunning scenery - mountains and lakes. Flying over the mountains and Canterbury plains between Christchurch and Mt Cook will certainly make those travellers happy.” Mr Parton says there is no other operator currently on this route. “We do see a gap there that we hope this new service will fill.” The airline last operated services between Christchurch and Mt Cook a decade ago, with the last service in February 2002.
Schedule (subject to change)
Christchurch-Mt Cook             1145/1225
Mt Cook-Queenstown             1330/1410
Queenstown-Mt Cook             1510/1550
Mt Cook-Christchurch             1630/1710
Source : http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2011-air-new-zealand-announces-plans-for-new-service-between-mt-cook-christchurch-queenstown

Despite the intention to run the flights right through to the end of January the schedules show they start to peter out during the last couple of weeks... It looks like a case of lack of demand.