NZFF

Hi all, some of you may know that we had a vANZ event in Nelson this weekend, and got to tour the operations and aircraft at Air Nelson. Here a few shots I took, for those of you who are interested...

ZK-NEA undergoing C check:




ZK-NES ready to go:




Nick discussing one of the emergency exits with the group:






I think we all scrambled for our cameras when we got the go ahead to take photos in the tower! ZK-NEB just arrived from Auckland:


Steve really wanted a go on the scope:

I was not a happy chappy i missed out , bugger , it looked like a well planned and executed outing , well done Andrew for the photos , for me , lets hope for a next time .

Absolutely Ian, it's a pity you couldn't make it, but hopefully there will be similar events in the future!

Nick did a superb job organising the event, the Air Nelson staff were so friendly and happy to talk to us, and the participants really made it a terrific event. I don't think many of us had ever met but we were pretty easy to spot in the pub, someone heard "landing gear" and knew they'd found the right table!

Also, if anyone is ever in the Nelson area, you have to go try out SimPit, it's something that just has to be experienced - I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who'd love one at home.

Was very nice to meet you and all the other guys Andrew. Nick did a great job organising a bunch of things for us to do. I feel very lucky we got to do as much as we did. It was a get together. Hopefully do it again some day.
Thanks for the pics. I don't think I got much extra to this to share

Nicely covered there Andrew, I've got a couple more shots to share from different angles.

Thanks so much to everyone who attended, was great to meet you all. And yeah it was me who overheard the "landing gear" conversation which was fortunate coz I'd left my cellphone at home and was walking into the busy Honest Lawyer pub not knowing what anyone looked like, didnt fancy walking up to every table in the place asking "are you guys flight-simmers" fortunately the lads were just inside the front door.

It really was a fabulous visit, we were really priviledged to get to see so much of the Air Nelson operation and the staff were so very generous with their time. It just wouldnt have happened though without the amazing effort by Nick to get the thing organised, things went like clockwork all weekend, including the meetups for beer and dinner on Fri/Sat nights. Thanks again mate

ZK-NEA undergoing a full C-check


"travel at 500km/h without the huge fine"


"not a bad view from the office"


Dash8 overhead panel


Hair-dryer anyone?


Inside the new hangar, an awesome building with a huge sliding door, underexposed for effect

Looks and sounds like a great time was had by all Are there any pics of the attendees?

For those who came, I would like to send an email to the Management and staff at Air Nelson for allowing us to do what we did and also for taking time out of their busy day to explain what they do.

Maybe mention Kevin and the tower staff too???

Please post comments here with your name and Hometown and I will compile an email with Dean to send to the Air Nelson team.

Thank you all for coming. As with any event the success lies with those who make it happen. With out people turning up it is not a successful event.

Cheers Nick.

A couple of people shots...

'inspecting' the interior - actually waiting for the next turn to have a good old poke around in the cockpit



So we are allowed to take photos in here after all . . . .

and a few more general, closer shots . ..

Great stuff Greg. Good to see the people shots too mate, what a fine looking bunch

Great shots Greg! I particularly love the one of the rivets around the APU exhaust. Oh and now I realise who was missing from this shot, Alister was possibly outside on the deck, caught him coming back inside of my shot of HNZ...

One more from our visit to the SimPit on Sunday morning. Here's Nick in fit fine flying form (like the alliteration there?) taking the Robin through its paces.....

I can really recommend a visit to the SimPit. The vibration as you start the engine is the first sign that this is going to be a most rewarding experience. The full round view and the feel of the buffeting as I stalled the wings in a steep loop was most realistic and the ability to look back above my head as I topped out the loop and came down the other side was such an added dimension that it it took me straight back to doing loops in the glider. My next visit to Nelson will definitely include another visit to the SimPit.

Feeling the rumble of the wheels across the tarmac and the bump as I touched down were all most satisfying and added to the realism.

I was skeptical when we were warned at the start to hold on to something it we went in to watch one of the others flying; however, it was soon apparent that lack of balance is a very real possibility even when watching as a spectator while turns were made. As the pilot this wasn't a problem as I 'knew' which way I was turning and so the surrounding turning terrain added to the perceived realism. Experiencing a stall during a steep turn and the resulting spin was most interesting as a spectator!

Keep the SimPit in mind next time you visit Nelson. It's well worth the experience and could even, by itself, be reason enough to visit Nelson.

andrewb wrote:

QUOTE (andrewb @ Nov 7 2011,4:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great shots Greg! I particularly love the one of the rivets around the APU exhaust. Oh and now I realise who was missing from this shot, Alister was possibly outside on the deck, caught him coming back inside of my shot of HNZ...

Thanks for that, I knew from the head count that I must have missed someone (apart from myself) but couldn't figure out how that could have occurred.

Nick, can I please pass on:

Thank you to all at Air Nelson, and Nelson air traffic control for taking time in their day to show us what they are doing. For them it might be a job day to day, but for us it's a thing of great interest, and worse still for us, something that is locked away from access. Taking a moment to share their day is something an enthusiast will appreciate for a lifetime. We were hanging on Kevin's EVERY word as he discussed the Dash 8 at length. Three hours melted into a fleeting moment. The ATC guys have the best job in the world, and the best view! Oh to be young again like David! I hope we weren't in the way of the engineers, but thanks for putting up with us. Thanks to Gordon in Ops (and what an awesome job he has!) and to Errol and the rest of the terminal team, thanks for letting us pass through. After living in Nelson most of my life, it was neat to be able to see what goes on behind the scenes at my local airport.
Everyone was great, and thanks for sparing a moment to put a smile on all our faces. We won't forget it.
Alister Curnow

Nelson, NZ



Yes that is me! I went out to brave the cold for a photo of the Dash arriving from the ATC viewing deck Missed the group photo in the process though!

JEEZ you guys are like a bunch of KIDS! .............. Lucky Buggers , I tell ya .. when i grow up

Great Pics Dean, AndrewB, & Scaber Looks like it was a Great trip for all involved:)