Hey Aucklanders

[AlisterC]

A friend tells me that on friday(?) an Antonov cargo plane is going to arrive at Auckland Int and pick up the Team New Zealand yacht and take it to Spain. Does any one know anything about this? He would really like to go out and see it arrive or take off, being a bit of a plane buff. If anyone hears of anything, I'd love to be able to forward him a time (or whatever you hear)
Thanks in advance

[Dreamweaver]

Keep a eye on the Herald Online www.nzherald.co.nz sometimes they pick up these stories.

Saw the story somewhere just cant remember where but no times or actual date was given. Towerguy will be the man if he knows?

[towerguy]

heard at work yesterday that there might actually be 2 of them coming. I will try to find out more at work today and let you know.

[AlisterC]

Thanks very much guys!

[towerguy]

about 9am Monday for the first one and the second is either that night or the next day - no further details up here yet - after all we are only the tower!

[ardypilot]

We need to make sure at least one NZFF representative is there to get photos- I would love to go but I have school at 9am on Monday

[Charl]

I cannot think of an aircraft that would make me want to cross greater Auckland at 9:00am on a weekday.
Space shuttle landing, maybe. Nah...see it on the evening news.
Towerguy this is going to be over to you I suspect

[FlyingKiwi]

Man I'd love to go and see that, but unfortunately I have class on that day and I really can't skip it or else all sorts of bad things happen.

[towerguy]

sorry but I am back on night shift tonight and by 9am will be home again and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! then return to work thurs avo so it will probably be gone by then.

I'll try to take the camera tonight and on thurs incase its early or late.
cheers

[AlisterC]

Thanks very much for that! 9am Monday you expect? Well, that'll be good enough to tell me friend. He was thinking it was next friday. He's in Auckland from Wednesday so looks like he'll miss it if all the action happens before he gets there. And he has a digital camera too!

[ardypilot]

I'm gonna head down there after school tomorrow around 5/6ish and try and get a shot of it parked up. Any idea of where it will be sitting?

Also, when are the rest of the Thompsonfly 767's due in for maintaince at ANZ?

[towerguy]

they are usually parked on taxiway bravo between B3 and B2 and take loads out from the Air New Zealand apron.

767's - dunno

sorry I will not be at work tonight after all - I got hit by a BEE while driving home just before lunch and have had a bit of a bad allergic reaction and will not be able to go.

So if you are reading this Nik I will answer your email about ATC point by point when I get back on thursday or else you can PM me here at home through this site.
cheers

if this could be passed on to Nik just in case, thanks.

[ardypilot]

I went down there this evening at 5.30 and stayed till nearly 8. I didn't see the Antonov anywhere and I spoke with a security guard and two other spotters who said it is due later tonight.

I took a few (not very good) photos of other aircraft that where around at the time which you can see here: http://z11.invisionfree.com/nzff/index. ... topic=2413

[Jimmy]

Just was an article on the news, very impresive looking

The news reporter said both were there, id love to some photos of em getting airborne! only parked shots on the news sadly...

[JonARNZ]

Antonov's you say, hmmm, well, I flew into Auckland today for a one day visit, and guess what I saw, and guess who had their camera with them...

[Charl]

Antonov's you say, hmmm, well, I flew into Auckland today for a one day visit, and guess what I saw, and guess who had their camera with them...

SO???
You have to have the film developed, and then get some glossy prints made, or What??

[JonARNZ]

Am in the darkroom right now Charl...

[ardypilot]

I just saw the report of the late TV3 news about it- impressive stuff!