Daytime visit of NZ4201 Orion

On a routine training exercise with the usual overshoots and Approaches to Tauranga on the 24th, RNZAF Orion NZ4201 gave an appearance and pleasing to all that it was during a lovely sunny day instead of a nightime exercise.

Photos  courtesy of  " Hairy Mole Rat"

ZK-NEQ in the new Air NZ colour scheme

Arriving to Tauranga on the 25th on a scheduled flight  from Auckland was Air Nelsons DHC-8  ZK-NEQ seen on its first visit here showing off the new  All Black/Fern  livery which will be adopted within the whole Air Nelson fleet in the coming months. All are been re-painted down at the NZ Engineering paint shop down in Christchurch.

ZK-NEQ DHC-8 in the new fleet colour livery seen landing on 25R 

Photos  courtesy of  " Hairy Mole Rat"

NZ Coastguard,s possible trials a AutoGyro at Tauranga.

Seen flying in the Tauranga area was newly registered Auto Gyro Europe MT-3 Eagle ZK-TCG which is soon to be used as a demonstrator for the NZ Coastguard and see how it performs around the Bay of Plenty coast.At present,the Gyro hasn't as yet been demonstrated for the coastguard so still remains in the hangar.

Photo above  courtesy of  " Hairy Mole Rat"

Latest Twin resident to Tauranga (NZTG)

Flight International which were normally known as Bay flight has received a PA34-Seneca 220T ZK-RSQ from Helipro Aviation Training Limited at Palmerston North back to wards the end of June.Seen here on a normal rotation amongst the Helipro fleet ,taxing out towards R/W25 on a twin rating exercise.

ZK-RSQ  c/n 34-833001

The Seneca arrived in New Zealand in August 1995 as N8239D before being registered in NZ on the same day as ZK-RSQ and up to its present ownership it has passed hand  on no fewer than 6 occasions before residing here at Tauranga (NZTG).

RNZAF Hercules in Circuit training

On the 8th July RNZAF C.130H Hercules NZ7003 was pictured carrying out 2 touch and goes at Tauranga before landing,backtracking to R/W 07 and depart north bound to the Northland region.

C.130 Hercules NZ7003   c/n 4054 on final approach to 07 hard

Touchdown

Rolling

Rotating

Up and away

Landed and backtracking to RW07 for final departure to the north.

2 more visitors in June

Regular visitor with Pacific Jets within NZ is ZK-PGA.

J.31 Jetstream  ZK-LFW.

Photos  courtesy of  " Hairy Mole Rat"

Some June Visitors

Over June we saw a few visitors mainly due to the winter arriving which brings winds and rain and gloomy flying conditions.

ZK-SXY CzAW Sportscruiser Arrives from North shore

ZK-DQV PA28R-200 dropped in from Hamilton to carry out free flights for children at nearby schools

ZK-LCA  Cessna 510 Mustang from Hawkes Bay.

Departing back to Palmerston North was DA40 ZK-MTF of Massey University School of Aviation.

Departing back to South island after Maintenance was C.185D  ZK-CKO of Remote Adventures

Various visitors from Ardmore was this Cessna 180

Cirrus Design  SR22 ZK-FMN from Ardmore.

Auckland Aero Clubs Beech Dutchess 76 ZK-SMI .On atraining flight from Ardmore.

SportAircraft Ltd,s TL-3000 Sirius ZK-SPR from North Shore which I believe is soon to be dismantled and shipped overseas.

Napier based Tecnam P92 Echo ZK-KMA.

Arriving for maintenance was Te Awamutu based C.172 B ZK-CAA

Cessna 180  ZK-KRM  from Ardmore.

Arriving from Ardmore was R-44 ZK-HHS

A rare visitor from Christchurch Int was Air NZ flying clubs Cessna 172P stayed overnight after a tour of North island  arriving from Dargaville with the female pilot attended a ladies fly-in there.

EC130 B4 ZK-HEA of Bell Investment Trust

Harvard Duo .

A nice surprise recently were 2 based Harvards ZK-ENC and ZK-ENJ flying in formation over Papamoa and the Tauranga area battling the inclement weather which the BOP has been experiencing recently.

New residents to Tauranga

Over the last couple of weeks ,tauranga has increased its resident population with a few new aircraft arriving at this seaside airport.
First up was Cessna 180K ZK-DKP  owned by D & K Properties Limited .

Cessna 180K ZK-DKP c/n 18052966

Second arrival was AutoGyro Europe Calidus Fern ZK-MDD which is Privately owned by 2 people 

AutoGyro Europe-Calduis Fern ZK-MDD c/n NZC002

and finally Celier Xenon ZK-XJE which has been flying regularly for pilot familiarization.

Celier Xenon ZK-XJE c/n nzx02

ZK-MCX diverts into Tauranga

A busy morning at Tauranga this morning  on the 16th June,with diverted flights landing from Hamilton and Rotorua. An unusual arrival in the daytime was Mount Cooks ATR72 ZK-MCX which had diverted from Rotorua and then departing to Christchurch later on .At least the ramp guys at the terminal were kept busy during the morning.

Mt Cook,s ATR-72 ZK-MCX seen landing after diversion from Rotorua.

Taking off bound for Christchurch

Courtesy to Pete Mole for the pictures.

Aussie Biz Jet visits Tauranga

On a very wet and windy early morning on the 11th June ,Melbourne/Essendon based Learjet 45 VH-LJX operated by Jet City P/L arrived the previous day and waiting  between gusting winds of over 100 km per hour  and torrential  rain over the airport before departing just after 11.15 am en-route back to Melbourne /Tullamarine and finally departing again for Adelaide .(thanks for MRC Aviation for additional information)

Learjet 45 VH-LJX c/n 45-056 parked outside the tower at a wet and windy Tauranga.

Phil Rudd,s MD 500N ZK-IPR

Noted outside the hangar on the 5th June was this MD 500 ZK-IPR operated by the Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd. When I last saw it ,it was in an all white colour scheme.Now advertising Phil s Restaurant in Mount Manganui marina "Phils Place" it breaks up its appearance and looks more striking.This helicopter first arrived in New Zealand on the 2nd February 2011 as N4290K before being re-registered as ZK-IPR in April 2011.

Recently,Phil has sold his helicopter to Opotiki Helicopters in February 2015.

Dragonfly blasts Tauranga

On the 31st May , a uncommon jet sound was witnessed over Tauranga and to a nice surprise ZK-JTL Cessna C-37 Dragonfly from Ardmore had permission to fly past the tower before landing .

Built in August 1972 and sent to the 604th Squadron based in Bien Hoa nearing the end of the Vietnam war.Passing its time with the VNAF and used also in north Vietnam and Cambodia the aircraft came surplus and in 1991 the aircraft was imported into New Zealand and was registered as ZK-JTL in July1992.After a couple of years being re-build by AeroTech at Ardmore the aircraft was finally re-painted in aVNAF scheme as A-37B 71-845  "54 ".

ZK-JTL c/n  43992 seen landing at Tauranga after buzzing the tower !!!

A short trip to Ardmore

After seeing my pop idol and former Harvard display pilot Gary Numan in Concert ,Auckland on the 23rd May at The Studio ,I decided before heading back to Papamoa ,to drop into this very busy GA airfield at Ardmore south of Auckland City but due to the strong SW winds,many aircraft decided to stay on the ground so here are a couple noted on the airfield on the 24th May.