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Post by komata on Jan 28, 2017 15:32:35 GMT 12
No-one seems to have commented on it (and indeed, no-one may have even seen it), but can anyone confirm that at approximately 1700 on 27 January an AeroCommander 500 was crossing the Waikato valley from the direction of Rotorua and was last seen altering course towards Hamilton airport?
As the type is now rarely seen in New Zealand skies, any details would be appreciated.
Thank you.
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Post by hardyakka on Jan 29, 2017 15:01:10 GMT 12
I saw it parked up at Hamilton airport. I believe it is doing aerial photography and survey work. The aircraft is fitted with a big camera hatch. It was there on Saturday morning.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jan 29, 2017 15:19:09 GMT 12
Ex-New Zealand Aerial Mapping?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 29, 2017 16:27:06 GMT 12
The only two current NZ-registered AC's I know of are Commander 680F ZK-CDK and Commander 690A ZK-PVB.
ZK-PVB is now with Air Chathams - are they doing survey work?
I think ZK-CDK is still doing so, for Telomeres Aviation of Hawkes Bay.
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Post by delticman on Jan 29, 2017 16:49:32 GMT 12
The only two current NZ-registered AC's I know of are Commander 680F ZK-CDK and Commander 690A ZK-PVB. ZK-PVB is now with Air Chathams - are they doing survey work? I think ZK-CDK is still doing so, for Telomeres Aviation of Hawkes Bay. I'm pretty sure ZK-PVB is intended for Air Ambulance Flights to New Zealand. |
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Post by komata on Jan 29, 2017 20:52:22 GMT 12
Gentlemen:
Thank you (especially hardyakka) for the 'type' confirmation (even if I got the model wrong); it's nice to know my aircraft recognition skills still work!
Based on the direction from which it came (Rotorua), it would appear that ZK-CDK is currently in Hamilton - if only temporarily.
Any further details would be of interest.
Thank you.
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Post by hardyakka on Jan 30, 2017 21:34:55 GMT 12
I was at Hamilton airport this morning and ZK-CDK was still parked there. Turns out the pilot is a guy I know from when he got his commercial pilot's license through the Waikato Aero Club. He told me he has been trying to do photography runs over Auckland for nearly a week, but the visibility keeps defeating him. He took off to try again today but I had to leave and didn't see him come back so don't know if he was successful. Aero Commander ZK-CDK about to start up at Hamilton 30/01/2017 Image taken with cellphone camera, hence not particularly good. |
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Post by flyinkiwi on Jan 31, 2017 10:15:33 GMT 12
I was talking to Sam on Saturday. He spent the whole day waiting but never went. Those small patches of wispy cirrostratus that were hanging around was enough to make any mission a non starter.
Another interesting fact is that the camera gear he has in CDK is worth more than the aircraft!
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