Out and About

[flyjoe180]

Thanks for the comments. Good point made there, most people don't get to see that icing and other weird phenomena up front (St Elmo's is another, but you just cant get photos of it). They probably don't even realise there is ice on the wings and propellers until it smashes into the armoured strip on the side of the fuselage as the propeller heats melt it off.

Bazza, I was making a joke regarding the SLR rifle provided by Stu (as opposed to the SLR camera). Avsec at CHC are always very helpful and generous and are keen to even transport cold pilots to and from the aeroplane when needed. I would rate the service provided by Avsec at CHC is probably the best in the country. We even get some officers wanting to help load and unload! If you would like to see bad Avsec service, check out AKL. Nevertheless, thanks to you and your workmates.

[flyjoe180]

ZK-NSS AKA 'The Pink Panther' at Wanganui (NSS has a slightly pinkish pigment in it's paint job compared to LFT's blood red colour)






A Tomahawk and 152 sitting around idle at Wanganui

[flyjoe180]

A beautiful sunset between Wanganui and Tory Channel. There is something relaxing about a sunset like this.

[flyjoe180]

I went flying in a Cessna 172 last week with friends for lunch in Pauanui. It was nice to fly a responsive handling aeroplane again!




DAK passed by as we were waiting to take off

[slackie]

C172 responsive?! Have you been flying those pencils too long??

[FlyingKiwi]

I was going to say... Responsive maybe compared to the DC-3. The grass at Pauanui is looking a little drier than when I was last there!

[flyjoe180]

Well, most aeroplanes would be termed as responsive compared to the Metro! The Metro is heavy to handle at lower speeds, and has sluggish roll control due to some genius at Fairchild or Swearingen taking the original Merlin wing and simply putting a cap on the ends to make the wing large enough. They didn't bother to move the ailerons out. There's a good metre and a bit between the ailerons and the tips. Flying the 172 again, one has to remember not to pull the controls out of the dash checking for full and free movement. On the Metro you have to haul the Metro column back and hold a fair amount of force while doing so; letting it go will allow the control wheel to drop forward with great force into the two HSI's. An expensive activity I would think. And Pauavegas was quite dry. I notice that Wellington also already has a brown tinge to it.

[bazzaboeing]

Hi Joe, Have had computer problems and have just read your comments and thanks for the kind remarks re Avsec at CHC. We try to help all the Ambulance flight crews out wherever possible, although we have three shifts operating at CHC and some are more helpful than others but I will leave that there. Were you down the other day at CHC?

Bazza

[vs]

After 2 years of flying a metro, when I jumped into a 747 simulator for an interview I almost turned the thing inside out. Metro is very very heavy...especially going into Wellington on a windy day as I am sure Joe will know about! Once you get the hang of it....Metro is nothing but fun although I do like an autopilot and a toilet! Enjoy it while you can Joe!

[flyjoe180]

Hi Bazza. No, wasn't me, I was flying for NZ Post for part of last week. Back into the ambo now though.

[corsair67]

Joe, flying a Metro sounds better than a workout at the local gym! ;D

[flycookie]

Great pics, Joe.

Landing in Auckland must be a bit dull for you after being blown every-which-way in finals to Wellington.

Nice oxy mask!

[FlyingKiwi]

Dec 15, 2008 19:55:55 GMT 12 flyjoe180 said:

Well, most aeroplanes would be termed as responsive compared to the Metro! The Metro is heavy to handle at lower speeds, and has sluggish roll control due to some genius at Fairchild or Swearingen taking the original Merlin wing and simply putting a cap on the ends to make the wing large enough. They didn't bother to move the ailerons out. There's a good metre and a bit between the ailerons and the tips.

Funny you should mention that actually, I remember when I did my multi rating on the Duchess one of my instructors told me that about the Metros. (Mark G., you might know him?)

[flyjoe180]

Joe, flying a Metro sounds better than a workout at the local gym!

There are two really good workouts. Number one, convincingly, is Palmerston North. And the second is Wellington.

Funny you should mention that actually, I remember when I did my multi rating on the Duchess one of my instructors told me that about the Metros. (Mark G., you might know him?)

Yep I did the same ground course as MG.

[flyjoe180]

Some photos from Blenheim on a lovely sunset evening.

Fokker F27 POH resting before frantic loading for a night of Post work


The tanker was plugged in for a long time, no idea how much fuel these things carry but I am guessing it's a fair amount!


Some rarer angles of the Death Pencil taken from above courtesy of F27 maintenance ladders:

[Dave Homewood]

Nice work Joe. I like that first one of the sunset behind the Friendly.

[flyjoe180]

Marlborough sunset


Top of the South Island during same sunset. As you can see it was actually quite hazy at Woodbourne.

[flyjoe180]

QANTAS B737 landing at Wellington

[flyjoe180]

At CHC 30th December:

Convair




A collection of props:


ATR landing on RWY29:


B737, A340 and a Dash 8


Emirates A340

[flyjoe180]

This has seen better days. A training airframe from the Air NZ Engineering training school