RobiNZ Personal Blog

No Abarth parking?

A colleague was booking airport parking (not on airport) and it seems you can't park an Abarth! Odd given some equally rare, and far more exotic, marques are listed! This, wrong, option is available... Read more →

Reserved for the manual Fiat Bravo

How to get valet park number one at the Airport? The valet part is courtesy of a work travel booking. Park No 01 because they didn't want to drive a manual far or reverse it! Read more →

Dog walking, plane watching

I often walk Alfie around Waikumete Cemetery and aircraft flying over (on approach to Auckland Airport) are not uncommon. Today was different as it was an Air New Zealand 787-9 but much lower than normal and headed West which is rare. May not have noticed before had Aeropex, as was the sound which really got my attention. The phone wide angle doesn't really convey it, but the altitude, attitude, sound and configuration were 'odd'. Normally aircraft pass over here about 5000-6000 ft heading East before looping around to land into the prevailing westerly wind. A look at Flightradar24 showed it... Read more →

Condolences to the crew of Atlas Air Flight 3591

A few weeks ago I ordered two new Flying Spaghetti Monster badges for my car(s). One for the new(er) Abarth and a replacement as a decade of NZ UV had got to the finish on the Bravo one. They were supposed to arrive about a week ago but I suspect may have been lost in a tragic accident. I was listening to a local aviation podcast on Saturday and they mentioned an Amazon freight aircraft had crashed on a flight from Florida to Houston: NTSB Takes Lead Investigating Crash of Amazon Air Cargo Plane A widebody cargo plane hauling packages... Read more →

A QANTAS solar eclipse?

Cycling, waiting at the Takapuna lights, on a cloudless day… And it went dark for a split second. Looked up to see it was a QANTAS solar eclipse! Read more →

Around Oahu, Hawaii, by helicopter

When he heard I was going home, from Autodesk University, via Hawaii Shaan recommended a Blue Hawaiian Helicopter flight as a great way to see Oahu. Unfortunately, the pilot he knew (from some Autodesk related work) was not flying the only day I could do the flight, but the one I had was great anyway. They fly modern Airbus Eco-Star helicopters with great visibility for all passengers but I was lucky to be allocated a front seat beside the pilot. That was a matter of luck as is decided by weight loading as much as anything. The five other passengers... Read more →

Aviation Overload 2 – Museum of Flight

As mentioned in the previous Aviation Overload post I rented a car to enable me to visit The Museum of Flight after the Boeing Factory tour. I had heard it was good, billed as “the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world!”, but was completely blown away how good it was. The Connie is just a carpark ornament! The main exhibition hall, the “Great Gallery”, covers all eras of aviation from the Wright Flyer to Jet Aviation, next to it is the Lear Gallery, a significant space flight exhibit. Every direction you look, more aircraft. Stare a... Read more →

Aviation Overload 1 – Boeing

I don’t remember precisely when I was given this book but, judging from the 1973 publication date, it was probably some time in 1974. It was, is, a comprehensive guide to the (then) history, current production (70s) and possible future (about the mid 80s-2000s!) of Jet Aircraft. The ‘future’ predicted then included vertical take-off domestic flights from city centre airports and supersonic/hypersonic international flights. If only! In addition to aircraft and airports it featured lots of pictures of aircraft being designed and built. I found it fascinating, even obscure technical topics like navigation and approach systems which it covers in... Read more →

Vale, Capt. John’s final flight

A couple of years ago I wrote about a relatives amazing retirement project. After a lifetime of amateur and professional flying yesterday John made his last flight. Don’t really know the details yet, beyond what was in the newspaper report, but as with all aircraft related accidents there will be a full investigation. It was a real shock and great loss to his family, friends and the Waikato aviation community. Vale Captain John, OLFLYA, you’ll be missed. Below: John in command of a Cessna Crusader twin between Matamata & Hamilton. I took this from the co-pilot seat on a flight... Read more →

White Island Adventure

Update 2020-12-04: On 9 December 2019 White Island erupted. Forty-seven people were visiting the island at the time, mostly tourists, and the eruption led to twenty-two deaths either on the island or after due to injuries sustained. This week ten organisations, including Mark Law (KAHU NZ) who I flew with, were charged in relation to operations at White Island. He was not on the island when the eruption happened and immediately flew out there to rescue survivors. Whakaari investigation: WorkSafe charges 10 organisations, three directors | RNZ News In the 2016 post (below) I didn't mention the safety briefing which... Read more →