This year the RNZAF decided due to some budget constraints it would not be able to fund an open day at Whenuapai or Ohakea.  Instead they opted to display at this years Warbirds over Wanaka show.

“We could not justify having having two major air shows so close together so it was decided to make our major public event in 2010 in conjunction with Warbirds Over Wanaka” said Anna Sussmilch the Senior Communications Adviser for the Air Force.

“At this stage we expect to return to the Base Open Day format in 2011, but details around where and when are still to be finalised” she said.

We’ll keep you informed and let you know when dates are set in 2011.

- Philip Newman

The NZ Pilot Expo have announced that TVNZ’s Breakfast show will be dropping in on Friday morning.

“The Plan is for a couple of teaser transmissions before 8 am, and then a 1 1/2 minute link at 8.25 and then a 3 min. one at 8.40″ says Stuart Clumpas the event organizer.

“They are intending to do a walk around showing what’s on offer and speaking to stand holders whom they assume will be in the process of ’setting up’. It goes without saying that this is great national coverage with a substantial audience”

This year the Expo has also been showcased across two pages in the Herald on Sunday.  Helicopter Flight Training took Lisa Bradley up for a flight to see if she had what it takes.  The article focused on the “flight training” aspect of the expo.

NZAviation.com will be at the NZ Pilot Expo Friday morning and again on Saturday bringing you pictures and updates from the event.

Remember to follow @NZAviation, @pilotexpo and @philipnewmannz on Twitter for updates to the live page.

The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) in the USA announced it would consider a study into the safety effects of glass cockpits.

They want to study the effect the introduction of glass cockpits into small light general aviation airplanes is having on the safety record of those aircraft.

A media statement published on their website says…

“In 2000, almost all new single engine light airplanes were manufactured with conventional analogue flight instruments. Today almost all new light planes come equipped with digital flight display avionic systems, also known as ‘glass cockpits.’ The enhanced function and information capabilities of these systems represent a significant change and potential improvement in the way general aviation pilots monitor information needed to control their aircraft.”

A live and archived webcast of the proceedings on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. ET will be available on the Board’s website at http://www.ntsb.gov/Events/Boardmeeting.htm.

The PilotExpo takes flight this month at Ardmore Aerodrome with over 40 local business exhibiting their products and services.

If the last two expos are anything to go on this years will definably be a must see for anyone who either owns their own aircraft or would like to know more about it.

The expo runs from Friday 12th until the 13th of March.

This year’s seminars include topics such as ‘Buying your first aircraft’ and ‘How to correctly talk across the radio wile flying.’

If you are serious about aviation you should drop in for a visit.

In less than a month Wanaka will once again come to life. The skies will fill with everything old and new.  Behind the scenes we’ve been creating a page in the hope that will give our viewers the opportunity to follow the event with photos and videos though posts to the website.

This will be the first time I’ve ventured to the warbirds show with such technology behind me for social updates.

Today I received an email from Ms. Wood, one of the air shows assistants confirming we’d been given media accreditation.  For most journalists this would have probably been mealy a routine exercise but for me it signalled how close I was to being there.

It’s been a goal of mine since I was a kid to see it with my own eyes so the excitement that is building inside me will have to rest for now.

Have you been to the Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow before? Post a comment below with a few of your thoughts.

So the summer weather is here and it’s the perfect time to fly to Great Barrier Island.  We’d fly up the coast stopping at a few airports on the way.  The wind was light and it was a very smooth ride.  Check out the video blog of our flight.

Ardmore airport in south Auckland is one of New Zealand busiest. The airport is well known by the locals for its war bird population and flight training.

After fuelling the aircraft and performing a pre flight inspection my pilot completed all his checks then started up.

Runway 21 was in use so our departure would take us over Papakura and through south Auckland.

Once we were airborne we started our climb to 16 thousand feet on a direct GPS track to Nelson

From 16000 feet you get to see some of New Zealand’s most stunning scenery.

I’d never seen Mt Taranaki from this altitude before and it was breath taking.

It reminded me why I learned to fly.

As we approached nelson my pilot was well into his decent. Nelson looked somewhat different from that air.

Seat backs and tray tables were stowed away as we entered the downwind leg at the airport. This would be the first time I’ve ever landed in Nelson.

After meeting some of the aero club staff and having lunch at the terminal café we were back in the air heading north back to Ardmore.

It was another perfect day for flying around the country. Today’s destination is Tauranga.

With blue skies and light winds above my pilot and I prepared the aircraft for the flight.

It would seem other pilots were taking advantage of the summer weather as well.

We lined up on the active runway and went though our line up checks. Once we were at full power the breaks were released and we were off.

Flying time was expected to be under an hour taking us across papakura, south of themes, then onwards towards matakana island.

As we dodged clouds generated from the passing cold front we levelled off at four thousand 300 feet in somewhat turbulent conditions.

The approach of Mt Maunganui was a good indication we were close to Tauranga airport. We tracked down the coast as requested by the local tower then crossed Papamoa Beach Road to set the aircraft up for landing.

On the ground I disembarked and went to check out one of the local aircraft museums while my pilot talked to an engineer about one of the engines.

It was decided after a little tinkering we’d take the aircraft up for a short test flight.

From the air the Bay of Plenty looks so flat. We tracked south down the coast passing some of the popular holiday spots for New Zealanders.

Once my pilot and his engineer were happy with the engines performance we dropped him back off at Tauranga and started our journey north. With the wind on our side we joined the local traffic pattern and gracefully landed at Ardmore.

Next time you decide to film a porno while you’re flying the helicopter think about this.

A helicopter pilot that filmed the sex act while flying over San Diego in 2005 has lost his licence for good.

The National Trainspot Safety Board law judge upheld the Federal Aviation Administration’s revoking of the pilot’s licence saying it was “Not a very safe act”.

Reference:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/2323239/Mile-high-porno-pilot-loses-licence

Today I visited the local Dunedin Rescue Helicopter.

While out at Taieri Airfield (NZTI) this morning Matt and I visited the guys who crew the rescue helicopter. Matt works for the southern ambulance communications centre located in Christchurch so knows the crew from regular radio communications.

The aircraft is a BK117 has a cursing speed of 125 knots and can fly for around two and a half hours.

The pilot and crew were very helpful even though we interrupted them servicing their backup aircraft “Air 2 Dunedin”.

Their website is http://helicoptersotago.co.nz/