RobiNZ Personal Blog

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

At one stage I had considered jetting off to a tropical island this week. It was a turbine engine, albeit in a helicopter, and geothermal, rather than tropical, heat but White Island was an amazing place to visit. I have seen it on several travel shows and recently heard a great history of the sulphur miners, and their unfortunate demise, on Graeme Hill’s Radio Live show Outsiders with Gerard Hindmarsh - The White Island Tragedy (audio link) I had rung to see if any flights were happening, but there were no other bookings and a minimum of two. The curse... Read more →

The American Concordes that never flew

This kid had a scale model of the swing wing Boeing 2707, wish I still did! BBC - Future - The American Concordes that never flew It was one of the most ambitious aircraft design projects in history, so what happened to the US plans to master supersonic passenger flight? Read more →

The amazing Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown

I've been listening to old BBC Desert Island Discs recently. Heard this one featuring Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown on the way to work this* morning (recorded when he was 95). Kirsty Young's guest is former Royal Navy test pilot Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown - the programme's 3000th edition. The Fleet Air Arm's most decorated pilot, his life reads like a handbook in beating the odds. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nvgq1 Licensing means they cut most the music from the Podcast (leaving 10 second clips) but it was great to hear him recount some of the exploits which determined his choice of music. Captain Eric... Read more →