L39 Albatros departures to wanaka

 All 4 based L39 Albatross seen here on the 28th March departing south for nelson and then onto Wanaka for the WOW airshow.

Wings and Wheels show at Tokoroa Airfield 2026

 Tokoroa Airfield hosted their Wings and Wheels show on the 7th march 2026 to a lovely warm sunny day and was well attended by the locals nearby and a free entry for all.

So myself and my colleague Neil Williams attended and despite the runway being closed from 10.00-14.00 pm the following aircraft visited for the event and during the event various remote controlled aircraft performed a memorable performance in front of a appreciative  audience.

Tokoroa residents

JDT Maule M-5-235C
JLO James Lobet Ganagobie Mousebird H
JON Jodel D.11 UL H
LFD Aeroprakt A-22LS
MMB Jodel D.11 H
MWB Pazmany PL-9  3/4 size Storch H
RLA Micro Aviation Bantam B22J

Visitors

CKD TEAM Tandem Airbike
CTB Cessna 150
EAD Tecnam P92 Echo Mk II
FRE Kavanagh D-84
HZW Robinson R22 Beta
IAK Enstrom 280 FX
ICW Robinson R44 II
JKM Magni Gyro M-24 Orion
NSL Tecnam P92 Eaglet UL
PEC Hatz CB2
PHX Bolland Pheonix (De Reg)
RVA Vans RV-6A
RVC Vans RV-6A
TJS Tecnam P92-JS-UL

In addition to aircraft arriving various classic motors were on display and here are a few that took my fancy.

And finally some remote control aircraft were on view and displayed for all to see.

Departed residents in February at Tauranga.

 February saw the loss of 2 residents to pastures new which both ended up down in South island and 1 on loan .

ZK-LXC  Vans RV-4 to Nelson.

ZK-LPN  Alpi Pioneer 200 to Dunedin /Taieri 

ZK-TAG  Cessna 152 to Napier (On loan)

First oversea Bizjet arrives into Tauranga in 2026

 We were blessed today with the arrival of Global 7500 (GL7T)  N588CH  c/n 70147 which arrived from Hamilton via Perth and Hobart.

It previously visited Tauranga back in 2020 as a Global 6000 .

A nice surprise for Tauranga.

Airfield tour of Central and lower North Island (Part 2)

 I envisaged on a long weekend trip to Masterton/Hood Aerodrome to attend the SAANZ event over 6-8th February along with my colleagues Simon Hills and Jordan Elvy.

My trip on the 6th was covered on my previous blog so attending Masterton on the 7th ,We departed south to visit Papawai Gliding airfield and finally a visit to Paraparaumu (Kapiti Coast ) Airport.

After an excellent Saturday visiting 3 Airfields, I said my fair wells and headed back to Papamoa on the 8th via Ohakea,Wanganui,Turangi (Empty) and finally another drop into Taupo. 

Here is a list of what was on view on the said above airfield.

 Paraparaumu

AST Tecnam Astore
CJL Bolkow Bo 208 C Junior
DAT Cessna 172L
DLL Grumman American AA-5A
DWX Cessna U206F
EAV Cessna 208
ECE Vans RV-7A
ECI         BAe Systems Jetstream Series 3200 
EKM Cessna 152
ELA Cessna 152
FLC Cessna 152
FPI     Cessna 152
IMZ Guimbal Cabri G2
JEN Cessna A152
JRY Cessna 182T
KAL Cessna 172S
KAZ Cessna 172S
KID Cessna A152
MIS Vans RV-7A
MTZ Diamond Aircraft DA40
MWM Piper PA-28-181 Archer
RVE Vans RV-9A
SKC Cessna 162
TDL Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk
TWU  Amateur-built Harmon Rocket II

Papawai Gliding Airfield

GGR DG Flugzeugbau DG-1000S
GMB Grob Astir CS 77
GNB Glaser-Dirks DG-100G Elan
GNK Rolladen-Schneider LS 4
GNP Grob G103 Twin II
GPJ DG Flugzeugbau DG-1000S
GRK Glaser-Dirks DG-100G ELAN
GTC Schleicher AS 33 Es
GTR Stemme S 10-VT
GUB Grob Speed Astir IIB
GUS Schempp-Hirth Arcus T
GWD DG Flugzeugbau DG-808C

8th February Wanganui and Taupo 

Wanganui

ATS         Auster J1N
CAA Cessna 172S
CTQ Cessna 172S
DAE Diamond Aircraft DA 40 Star
DAF Diamond Aircraft DA 20 -C1
DCR Cessna 182P
EGK NZ Aerospace FU24-950
ELC Cessna 152
FCQ Cessna 152
FJD     Piper PA-22-160
FRS Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk
JDL Stoddard-Hamilton SH-2 Glasair TD
JFY     Cessna 152
JIP     Cessna 172S
KIT     Denney Kitfox II
KMC Cessna 172M
KOL Cessna 172S
LDG AESL Airtourer T6
NPJ     Cessna 172R
NYF Tecnam P2008 JC
NYG Tecnam P2008 JC
NYK Tecnam P2008 JC
PMJ Beechcraft B200 Super King Air
TTC Diamond Aircraft DA 40 Star
VNM De Havilland DH 112 Venom Mk 1
WUB Cessna 172R
WUC Cessna 172R
WUD Cessna 172S
WUE Cessna 172R
WUJ Diamond Aircraft DA20-C1
WUK Cessna 172R
WUL Cessna 172R
WUM Cessna 172R
WUN Diamond DA 42 NG

Taupo

BPT Cessna 172 A
CAN Cessna 185
CEN Jabiru SK80 Microlight
CIA        Piper PA18-150 Cub
CSW Cessna 150G
ELG Tecnam P96 Golf UL
ELH Cessna 172N
ELX Piper PA-28-151 Archer
EWF Cessna 172P
FPZ De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Mk 1
HCX MBB BK117 B-2
HNL Aerospatiale AS350 B2
IAE     Aerospatiale AS350 B3
IAK Enstrom 280 FX
IAM Enstrom 280C
IHQ Eurocopter AS350 B2
IPP     Eurocopter EC 130 T2
JMP Cessna 208 B Caravan
KCA Vans RV-8
LWN Piper PA-31
MGW Tecnam P 92-2000RG
SGW Cessna 172P
SKZ Cessna U206F (PWFU)
TBD Sequoia Falco F.8L
TOK Cessna 150H
TTL Pacific Aerospace 750XL
TTS Cessna 208 B Caravan
UWE Cessna 172N
ZSP     Partenavia P 68B 
ZST Zenair CH701 SP
ZZC Cessna 172M

VISITORS

JRA Cessna 172N
LBQ ICP Savannah S
MRJ ICP Savannah S
SVQ Cessna 402B
TAS     Cessna 172R
TJL     Cessna 172N
WIJ Cirrus Design SR22