I’m Still Here!

I just checked and the last time I posted on the blog was December 2021! I also counted 12 posts for 2021 and so far none for 2022 and it’s half gone already.

That’s not because I haven’t been taking photos, but because I’ve not taken very many and there’s not a whole lot of interesting stuff among them. But… it’s time to surface and by collecting a few snippets from over 6 months I have the makings of an interesting post.

I finally managed to catch the Air Chathams ATR-GIE ATR-72-500, ZK-MCO2. This is ex Mount Cook Airline/Air New Zealand Link, and perhaps unusually for New Zealand airline operation, was not re-registered when sold. My first capture was on the ground in December.

ATR-GIE ATR-72-500, ZK-MCO2, of Air Chathams

Just this month I got a proper look as I caught it landing on RWY16.

ATR-GIE ATR-72-500, ZK-MCO2, of Air Chathams

Going down a scale to single-engine airline operations, Evander Aviation’s Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV2 has a fetching new colour scheme. I believe the Whītiki Ngāti Porou titling refers to this.

Evander Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-EAV2

At the same scale, I’ve managed to capture a whole bunch of Gippsland GA-8 Airvans lately…

Pelorus Air’s Gippsland GA-8 Airvan, ZK-PEL
Visiting Australian Gippsland GA-8 Airvan, VH-PGU
Air Kaikoura’s Gippsland GA-8 Airvan, ZK-ORC
Air Kaikoura’s Gippsland GA-8 Airvan, ZK-ORC2

There was a wee bit of excitement in May when I got my first opportunity to see the new RNZAF Heritage Flight in operation, as they flew over my area as part of a celebration of 80 years of 14 Squadron.

This flight consisted of RNZAF Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft NZ1405, NZ1407, and NZ1411 in company with Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, ZK-SPI (marked as PV270/AL). I was quite pleased with this shot given it was taken from a suburban street a few minutes from home.

RNZAF Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft NZ1405, NZ1407, and NZ1411 in company with Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, ZK-SPI (marked as PV270/AL)

I’ve collected together the 83 photos taken since the last blog post, though there are some before that which haven’t been mentioned on the blog. If you’re keen to see everything, it’s probably easier to follow me on Flickr, though you will also be subjected to other subject matter, including the other type of ‘TTF’ (things that fly).


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