Tauranga Spotter

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

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.

A nice surprise for Tauranga.

Thursday, 12 February 2026

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

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Airfield tour of central and lower North Island 2026 (Part 1)

SAANZ were hosted their annual fly in at Hood/Masterton Aerodrome from 6-8th February and travelling from Papamoa in the Bay of Plenty it was a 6 + hr drive so to break up the journey iwas rude not to drop in airfields enroute so departing on the 6th February ,i dropped into the following airfields.

Taupo,Feilding,Kairanga,and Palmerston North.

Here is a list of what was on view

Taupo