2009

The last day of work for me is almost over. For some stupid reason I decided to work the last couple of days for the year instead of taking them off as annual leave. Tomorrow I head off to Christchurch via Wellington. I'll have to be up at a sparrows fart to catch a Super Shuttle that should pick me up at 0615. My flight leaves at 0745 so I'll have plenty of time. A couple of hours on the ground at Wellington will probably be spent at Mojo drinking their fine coffee, then onto an AirNZ 733 to Christchurch.

It's been a quiet year. Only 240 hours logged flying, 140 hours instructing in the simulators (the curse of being an IFR instructor!). About 3.5 weeks off on annual leave (still have 3 weeks in the bank to use), 3-ish weeks off sick (unlimited supply of them) and a whopping 250 hours being Duty Instructor! My medical was suspended for around a month due to catching pneumonia ( 3 days in hospital) over Labour Weekend in Christchurch.

Here's hoping for my Multi Instructor rating in the new year in the new DA42-L360's. Goos times I hope!

Ohakea visit 13th November

We had an invitation to tour RNZAF Ohakea on the 13th of November, so I decided I wasn't doing anything that day and joined in. There was the promise of finishing up at the Officers Mess that also made it an attractive proposition.

Getting a briefing from one of the PTS instructors on how the airforce trains its guys.

Mooching around PTS

Recently restored Spitfire ZK-SPI. It has free room and board at Ohakea. Good deal!

A gaggle of CT4E's, the RNZAF's primary trainer. Made in NZ!

The Spitfire from another angle. Awesome!

A Kingair 200 from 42 Squadron undergoing some maintenance.

Some of the Aermacchi 339's in storage. They're all still airworthy and about to be sold. A sad sight seeing them all in the hangar.

More Macchi's.

View from Ohakea tower. It was a very quiet day!

A bunch of switches. ILS, runway lighting, various coms etc.

No 42 Squadron's hangar.

The tower and Operations complex. Ohakea Control used to be housed there but was moved to Christchurch in 2000 and something.

In the 3 Squadron hangar. Surrounded by Iroquios and Sioux.

Yes, the Sioux is still the primary trainer for 3 Squadron but due to be replaced by a fleet of Augusta A109's from next year. A HUGE jump in performance and technology!

More UH-1's

Five Sioux.

..and a bunch more Iroquois.

Overall a great day, and as promised we finished off at the Officer's Mess. Bloody cheap drinks, like a bag of chips and a handle of Monteiths for $3.00! Fantastic!