My flight today...

[ZK-KAG]

Hello,

I just thought that Id share with you the wonderful flight I had with a mate today...

Well it was an early start, had to be out at Ardmore at 8am. We checked the weather, and spent 20mins doing the flight planning. After my mate was signed out by the duty B-Cat instructor, we were off onto the apron to the awaiting ZK-TAP. After a quick check to see if we needed some avgas, we pushed it back and proceeded to do the pre-flight. This being done, we started her up and taxiied away to the area near runway 21 for run-ups.

The run-ups were done and no mag drop at all which was fantastico. We were soon lined up and then rolling down the runway with a steady 15 knot wind striaght down the runway. 400ft, 70kias, and flaps-up. 600ft commence turn onto crosswind and upon reaching mid-downwind it was time for the vacating tauranga (TG) call.

Visibility was about 15k's, so not the greatest. We sailed through the Waihi Gap and flew over the field while taking some photos down the coast along Matakana Island. (Photos to be posted tomorrow probably). Mid way between Waihi and TG we asked for clearance into the zone, which was approved with caution for 3 other cessna's operating in the area. We reached Mt Maunganui, and got instruction to join right-hand downwind for runway 25 grass. After some photos of the mount, we joined the circuit and made our approach onto the grass. It was bumpy to say the least but a successful one nevertheless.

After clearance to taxi (from Tauranga's new ground frequency) we parked up and were delighted to find a Beech 1900 from Eagle and a Dash 8 from Air Nelson. After numerous shots airside of the Air NZ's we went inside for a well needed leak and a coffee... Saw ZK-DAD there, so got some photos with it as it was the plane I went first solo in. We waited until the Dash 8 and 1900 left (taking lotsa shots of both departures) and got ready to go to Whakatane.

The trip down was fast due to a strong tailwind, and Whakatane loomed ahead (the monstrous metropolis it is ) An uneventful landing occured and we decided to go have a look around. Well it was like we had just landed in a ghost town...there was nothing moving, and only the squeak from the Arrivals & Departures sign was to be heard... No offence to anyone who lives there (I know the town itself is alright, but the airport was deserted hehe)

We got bored rather quickly so got in and took-off en-route Matamata. We got half-way there but the weather packed in over the Kaimai's so it was clearance through TG's airspace again and back through the Waihi Gap... Nearing Auckland we raced an approaching shower, which we narrowly won! Back up along the coast of the Firth of Thames and into Ardmore with a fast twin (ZK-NAA) bearing down on us, so we opted for the grass. A great landing finished off a great flight and *cough* even some time at the controls *cough cough*

I will post some photos if anyone would like to see...
Hope it wasnt too boring B)

~ZK-KAG~

[ardypilot]

You fortunate guy- what a dream day

I throughly enjoyed reading your post, and look foward to the your photos to follow!

Was your flight training towards your PPL, or just some free fun?

[ZK-KAG]

Thanks Trolly!

Was your flight training towards your PPL, or just some free fun?

Nah it was really for my mates training for his CPL, but I got some flying timw which was good, I flew the approach into Whakatane, but he landed.

Im meant to be going flying tomorrow, weather depending. There will be a report with that too if we go

[Charl]

Excellent post -KAG, and of course photos are required!
It's really great to have messed around with these aircraft and places in the sim, and then read about your experience, well reported I might add.
Was this the one?



Think I'll go beat up the tower and see some of those Bay Flighters take fright B)

[ZK-MAT]

Nie pirep mate, and YES we need pics

[ZK-KAG]

Was this the one?

Affirm, Charl this was the beast. I tell you what that paint scheme is sooo accurate!

Thanks for all the positive comments guys. Ill tell you about my trip to tomorrow too

[Naki]

Where did you park - was it here?

[ZK-KAG]

Geez Naki, That is a cool repaint..is that for the default Cessna 172??? If so is there a link?

This is where we parked: (X marks the spot), You were close enough though

{Image removed by mistake}


Oh and I forgot to mention that when we were on our way back from Whakatane, there was a Beech 1900D Air NZ that was doing training circuits at 700ft!!! It was insane!!

[Naki]

Hi - I was a bit off on wher you parked! The repaint is of Flight 1 172R - bought it as it had some NZ paints and is my circuit/short flight A/C. Generally a nice VC and instruments very clear & crisp but pedestal is a little basic. Flys very well (spins too)

The repaint is available at Avsim:

zk-tap_texture.zip

[ZK-KAG]

Thanks Naki, I might investigate that a bit further

[Naki]

There are a couple of reviews on Flightsim and Avsim. A little dearer than the latest Carenado a/c - has clearer instruments in the VC than Carenado but not as detailed as say the Carenado 206.

Cheers

Paul

[ZK-KAG]

Hey all,

I did another flight today... (AR-TG-WV-UN-GB-KF-NE-AR) or Ardmore, Tauranga, Waihi Beach, Pauanui, Great Barrier, Kaipara Flats, North Shore, Ardmore. I will write up a flight report if you would like one, and I have some wicked cool shots including overhead AA as we got clearance

I will post both day's flying when I get the photos off my mate's camera.

Sorry to keep ya waiting...

~ZK-KAG~

[ZK-Brock]

Yeah man, I'd love to hear it!

[ardypilot]

I did another flight today... (AR-TG-WV-UN-GB-KF-NE-AR)

You lucky ***!

I have always wanted to go to Pauani and Great Barrier, I cant wait to see your photos and flight report mate! B)

[ZK-KAG]

Ok here goes nothing...

OK so take off in ZK-TAP was at around 9 am this morning... We had a normal departure over the hunua's and were cruising down to TG at around 110kts. We decided to file a flight plan in the air, so 118.50 and speaking to Chch Info, We had to stand by as several Beech's were getting IFR clearances, but we got it done and 5 transmissions later we were filed. It was rather fun doing it in the air.

We sailed over the Waihi Gap again, dodging and searching for ZK-MAT and ZK-SON! We got a real layed back ATC in TG as the aerodrome was real quiet. We did a T&G on the sealed and had to make it full-stop as a beech had just taken off and due to wake turbulence we had to wait at "holding point grass 25". After a few mins we were on our way again up north and back to Waihi.

We did an overhhead rejoin, and then started the wonderful curved approach into Waihi...Now when I say curved I mean you are still banking 300m from touch down!!! Kai-Tak in NZ! hehe. It is insane! Good times tho. We decided not to land as a stubborn tractor wouldnt get off the runway so it was a low approach and overshoot and onto Pauanui.

{Edited out}, but it got real turbulent approaching UN as there are big cliffs on the coast line which throw the wind around. Again it was an overhead rejoin and a landing over the beach and onto the grass. A quick stop for a wonder to the supermarket and snack, while gazing at a a mighty grumman from Auckland Aero Club... hehe. 'Foxtrot Very Aweful' it was...

Up in the air again and onto GB. We cruised up the coast at 3500ft, which provided a great view and a thought at how beautiful this country really is... Over Whitianga, Matarangi and we then started our course out over the ocean. It was rather un-nerving to think that if the engine went now, we would have nothing to do but ditch in the water... We started our approach in GB, which was really really bumpy as there is serious windshear off the cliffs. The Approach was all over the place and not to pilot error either, we somehow managed to hold the centreline.

The beach here is magnificent and I took some photos to show ya. Again it was an approach over the beach and onto the sealed. Tim (my mate and PIC) really had to work the aircraft onto the ground. Words dont actually dont do it justice...There are no go-arounds here, its land or nothing! After a real "eye-opening" landing, we taxied in and jumped out for a breather and another snack. I tell you what, you have to have big balls to bring an Islander into GB!!! HAHA.

We hung around for 5 mins, watching a Tri-lander land and taxi... (oh saw ZK-DOL there too , pic aswell) Not much was happening so it was in the plane and backtrack for the sealed. Normal takeoff and into the crosswind. But downwind was even worse than the landing... We had super sink and hills rising to 500ft, and then the stall warning goes... so its check forward and then gather speed and climb again...geez it was hairy!

After that it was time for the long trek back to the mainland. The Hauraki Gulf is huge!!! It was so smooth tho, which was welcome relief from the hard work at GB. We Tracked overhead Kaipara Flats, down to North Shore over head that too, and through the Whenuapai VFR Transit lane on the coast at 1000ft. We passed Westpac Rescue 1 just by Takapuna. We entered the Auckland City MBZ and tracked down past North head towards One Tree Hill. Here we heard Police 1 over Mt Wellington, but we tuned AA tower and asked for clearance into the zone. It was approved and we tacked east of the 23L threshold en route back to Ardmore. I got some wicked shots of the runway looking down the centreline. We cleared the zone and made a great landing to finish a great day's flying onto 21 sealed...

What a good flight!!

Photos as soon as I have em!!!

[Alex]

Wow, great write-up there. Thanks for that, really interesting.

Alex

[ardypilot]

OMG Keagan you are so lucky!

Great Barrier Island is somewhere I have always fantazied about going to- I bet you are going to recreate your flights in your sim Perhaps you could compare your photos to screenshots you take...

Awesome right up by the way, look foward to the pics!

[ardypilot]

Any news on the photos KAG?

[ZK-KAG]

Any news on the photos KAG

Yeah I know Ive been slack... I got them yesterday and they all need downsizing, but i dont know how to do it quickley without using paint... any suggestions?

[ZK-MAT]

I use IrfanView to screenshot then re-size, rename, batch convert etc. It's free.

I also use the Image Resizer from MS Powertoys for XP for quick and dirty resizing of images. I find it makes a pretty good 640 x 480 pic that's only around 30kbs, great for forums.