NZFF

I've been flying at home a lot more recently lately, thanks in no small part to all the inspiration from this forum.
And given our crazy weather in the last couple of weeks, I've had a lot of fun flying around the intense storms we've been having, instead of dealing with just 'another sunny day' in the US of A.

So, I've snapped a few shots on the way, and I'd like to share them and hope my shots might inspire someone else..

Arriving from Christchurch into Wellington area. That greyness below is actually Cook Strait. I've had some very difficult landings into Wellington lately with the low clouds and high winds. BTW I love the 50N 733!


Another flight heading CHCH to Wellington, in the ATR this time. The view to the left is the Kaikoura Ranges, and once again Wellington is IFR only..


And getting closer to Cape Campbell, things get worse!


Even Canterbury hasn't escaped the wrath, this is on return to CHCH from Queenstown over South Canterbury.


This next series is NZ098, a saturday flight from Christchurch to Auckland that is operated by the Air NZ B772.

The B772 is lit up by the lightning over the middle of the north island (I just love the effect it gives the aircraft)


Some angry clouds have a problem with someone in the Waikato!


Another very angry cloud! I can just picture Zeus riding on top like a surfboard


But, made it down safely. (yes I know I need some new scenery and AI!) (but this flight was online with Alex controlling me)


So, in order to escape the tempestuous spring weather, this morning I headed over to Australia in the A320. This is just desecending below the summery clouds, the NSW coastline ahead. This is the first A320 for James' Air NZ virtual at http://flynet.en-studios.de/. Come and join us! I've got the trans-tassie flights and a large percentage of the Air NZ domestic flights added now


And, one last shot ("phew" you all say!)

I just call it "Low level training"

Very nice pictures Alister, yea I've seen you around NZ a lot more than you used to.

Alex

Outstanding mate, I know what you mean about Welly I am always getting a massive cross wind in fact the ATR wasblown out of the ILS path on my way in today

Cool Pics Albatross.

The 3rd one (of the ATR) reminds me of a pic you won the screenshot competition with a few months back.

You do you get those low clouds to blend in so well with the terrain? Looks awesome.

Great pics as always Alister!

Thanks guys! You know I really don't know how I get the clouds to that. I suspect, that it's a combination of things. I registered version of FSUIPC, and Active Sky (I use v4.5) would be a good start

Your Active Sky was a good investment!
(Bit of AI would complete the approach picture though )

Reading the comments I was reminded of this signpost from Wyoming, modified here without permission for local conditions:

Nice shots! I love that wind chain...

Wow Alister, your shots are always amazing- great job!

I'd love to know what model 737, 777 and ATR you are using there. You seriously can't tell that your pics are not photographs!

By the way, I get those misty merging clouds around the mountains too, and I'm using stock FS9 weather...

Oh, and I forgot to ask what is the location of your very last Orion screenie? I have never seen autogen like that before

haha you caught me
Autogen courtesy of Ultimate Terrain USA. The pic suited my 'weather' theme but you called my bluff The Orion is actually pictured over Washington State. Good spotting mate! You DO know NZ well

The 737-300 is from 50 North. I bought it the day it came out, and am very happy with it. I just have freeware panel and sounds in it.
777-200 is from Meljet, again freeware
And the Atr-72 is freeware as well. Made by a guy named Francisco Sánchez-Castañer.. you can find his files at avsim. The Air NZ repaint was done by a virtual air nz member, and I downloaded the whole aircraft from the VANZ site. Not sure exactly where it can found now...

This file : fsc_atr42500_v10.zip is his ATR42, very nice aircraft..