The Helicopter Line have had a couple of Squirrels based in the Twizel township for some years; beside the hotel and near the DOC HQ.
Recently they moved to the Pukaki Airfield which is currently in the throes of development with hangar/accommodation sites being sold off and sealed road/taxi ways laid down.
I have been through there twice recently. On 09-12-2009 AS355F1 Ecureuil 2 ZK-HMI2 (c/n 5029) and AS355F1 Twin Star ZK-HKF2 (c/n 5200) sat forlornly under the rain and low cloud.

On 02-01-2010, under more pleasant conditions, the AS350D AStar ZK-HBR2 (c/n 1386) had replaced ZK-HMI.

Following the tradition of Cresco ZK-SDT wearing a gawdy pink colour scheme, the recently acquired 750XL has also been repainted in the same colours and is pictured at Taupo on 05Jan.

Thanks to an email received recently, VH-DIV has been in NZ on vacation and spent a few days at Omarama. on 7Jan it was out of the Hawkes Bay area heading to Kerikeri.

Following on from Blue Bus's post on Lake ZK-DQN, here are some shots of the operators Maule YJ-NZ20 at New Plymouth in late February 2007 before being taken to the Waitara River where it was subsequently flown from to Opua and departed there 02 March for Noumea Harbour direct, quite a trip! The Maule had been test flown on wheels from New Plymouth earlier in February.

Belgrade, Serbia

To all frequent visitors and guests marking the holiday today, Merry Christmas!

Среќен Божиќ

Srećan Božić

Срећан Божић

Visit tomorrow for exclusive news from Jat Airways

I managed a brief stop over at Omarama on January the 2nd.
Parked close to the cafe was the Vans RV4 ZK-RVV (c/n 1035) of the Tauranga Aeroplane Company. This was an import from the USA where it had been N938BC.

Not a brilliant shot: but this is the latest Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus XL ZK-GQQ (c/n 593) for Gavin Wills at Glider Rentals.

Three of a kind !

Well almost. Closest is Piper PA-25-235D Pawnee ZK-PPA (c/n 25-7656063) of Southern Soaring Omarama Ltd.

Then we have the Gippsland GA200 ZK-OMA2 (c/n 2009413) of Glider Rentals. This has previously operated as ZK-CMC2 and ZK-PGH3.

Most distant is the Canterbury Gliding Clubs Piper PA-25-235 ZK-CNG (c/n 25-3624). This has reverted back to a two bladed csu prop from its four bladed fixed pitch unit.

Don Howards Zenith CH-200 ZK-NEN (c/n AACA/100/2) in its new(ish) overall white scheme to celebrate is 30th year.

And I had to hang around until I heard the big Grumman G164A AgCat ZK-CAT2 (c/n 1418) purr out on a joy ride. Listed with Air Adventures it is flown here by Chris Rudge.

On departure I checked out the Wardells Strip around the corner towards Tara Hills. It looks like this strip is history for the gliders these days. At least two centre pivot irrigation systems and the odd fence have sprung up this season.