Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:53 amOne of the great things about flying with a largish aeroclub is the cool adventures that you tend to go on. Wellington Aeroclub ran a trip to Hanmer the other week. We had three aircraft, Cessna 172L ZK-DFI, Piper PA28-181 ZK-FHQ and Piper PA28R-201 ZK-EIF. The weekend didnt start off that well with low cloud and icy rain in Wellington. It was about 1400 by the time that we made the decision to go and the weather lifted slightly over the strait only to clag in again at Rarangi. I flew in the Arrow which of course was leading the pack. It was good to just be a passenger so that I could just take photos. After we passed through the Woodbourne CTR the weather lifted nicely and we flew up the Wairau valley. The weather was looking pretty bad up the Rainbow Valley and the other two aircraft were lagging behind a bit so we decided to stop in at Lake Station.
Decending into Lake Station
After the other aircraft had arrived and some phone calls through to Hanmer we decided to stay the night in St Arnaud. We managed to get the last nine beds in town or something like that.
No prizes for guessing what went on that night
The next morning was cold (-7) but clear. We got out to the airstrip at about 1200 to find the aircraft covered with ice.
The standard group photo, for those of you who dont know me, Im the one at the back, third from the right, leaning up against the aircraft. Not my photo by the way.
After dealing with a flat battery on the 172 (it had been flat when it arrived the previous night) we were away on our way down to Hanmer.
Climbing out over Lake Rotoroa.
At 7500ft cruising along the mountain ranges.
Very loose formation
Lake Constance
Lake Tennyson
Another formation shot
The other Cherokee
After landing in Hanmer we had a few hours to kill so some of us went and got a bite to eat while the rest went and soaked in the hot pools
It was starting to get dark when we took off again so the most direct route was the best. We flew up through the Molesworth Station and up the Awatere River emerging just south of Blenheim
Sun going down over Blenheim
We flew back across the strait and as soon as we flew into WLG airspace, there was rain on the windscreen. Go figure. Great trip and a good time had by all.
Decending into Lake Station
After the other aircraft had arrived and some phone calls through to Hanmer we decided to stay the night in St Arnaud. We managed to get the last nine beds in town or something like that.
No prizes for guessing what went on that night
The next morning was cold (-7) but clear. We got out to the airstrip at about 1200 to find the aircraft covered with ice.
The standard group photo, for those of you who dont know me, Im the one at the back, third from the right, leaning up against the aircraft. Not my photo by the way.
After dealing with a flat battery on the 172 (it had been flat when it arrived the previous night) we were away on our way down to Hanmer.
Climbing out over Lake Rotoroa.
At 7500ft cruising along the mountain ranges.
Very loose formation
Lake Constance
Lake Tennyson
Another formation shot
The other Cherokee
After landing in Hanmer we had a few hours to kill so some of us went and got a bite to eat while the rest went and soaked in the hot pools
It was starting to get dark when we took off again so the most direct route was the best. We flew up through the Molesworth Station and up the Awatere River emerging just south of Blenheim
Sun going down over Blenheim
We flew back across the strait and as soon as we flew into WLG airspace, there was rain on the windscreen. Go figure. Great trip and a good time had by all.
