NZFF

Darn Crosswind! Is it always this windy in NZWN?

WHOOPS ! .. only a Les would worry about his power boat .... I was thinking of the 747

Ian, boats don't have pedals they have paddles......And I forgot the captains announcement.."Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please swim your way to the main front exit. There will be no steps required, and thank
you for swimming with '747' airlines. have a nice day."

OH BUGGER not a fancy pedal boat then .... Please swim to the door , think I'll stay on board , something I'm not capable of doing

Bugger.
Makes me wonder how Singapore Airlines will handle the fickle Wellington weather!

cowpatz wrote:Makes me wonder how Singapore Airlines will handle the fickle Wellington weather!

It was a Singapore 777-200 that went into a panic mode during a North West in Christchurch , I had the scanner going, it was a little excitement coming onto Rwy29/11 but to see the aircraft from my front yard ... that did look impressive .... course all the YIPPEES from the tower and sorts .. was the first Triple 7 on that runway .. seemed like a piece of cake cos after that a couple more have done it ... tho require a tug to push them back at the mo.

Surprisingly the 777-200 is Cat C approach category whereas the 767-300 is Cat D.
The Categories are based on approach speeds at max landing weight and determine approach minimas etc.
So the 777-200 is heavier than a 767-300 but has a lower approach speed.
So it should comfortably fit on 29 in a strong Norwester.

I think it was because it was the first time, has happen few times afterwards, there was chat about increasing 29's length, very sure that is in the works as we have lost our wonderful Pound Rd airport boundary, that was a fun spot to stop and spot, so it would be soon to see the taxiways getting widened soon for a starter. Hey Steve, very interesting information on the Cat's and landing speeds, Cheers

cowpatz wrote:Bugger.
Makes me wonder how Singapore Airlines will handle the fickle Wellington weather!

Same here, it's certainly fun in an ATR

Lindstrim wrote:

cowpatz wrote:Bugger.
Makes me wonder how Singapore Airlines will handle the fickle Wellington weather!

Same here, it's certainly fun in an ATR

Seems they were having just as much fun with Viscounts , a great photo in the "History of NAC" page 142/3 Feb 17th 1963 due to wind shear and it veered of the runway at Moa Point and down the bank.

Lindstrim wrote:

cowpatz wrote:Bugger.
Makes me wonder how Singapore Airlines will handle the fickle Wellington weather!

Same here, it's certainly fun in an ATR

It was especially challenging in the old F27. The Dart was not a constant speed turbine and this had it's limitations especially when on approach.
In order to get more power the engine needed to accelerate so to assist this the prop pitch would fine out. The compressor was centrifugal (not axial) and that mass took a bit of effort to get up to speed. The affect of all of this was exaggerated when applying a "fist full". The more power required the more it would fine out.
The prop disc would in effect act like a brake on speed until the engine accelerated up to speed.
This was a problem on the approach to 34 especially when encountering "the hole" just short of the runway in strong, gusty North westerlies. When in this hole power was needed in a hurry. The prop would fine out and you slowed down with momentarily less power! By the time the turbine was up to speed you had passed through the hole and now the speed would be accelerating too quickly so you would rapidly close the throttles. The prop would now do the reverse and coarsen out to help slow the engine speed and this had a "catapult effect" that increased the speed significantly. all this whilst still trying to stay on the glideslope or VASIS.
Of course being regular operators we knew about "the hole" and would make allowances for it (ignore it basically) and carry a little extra speed and leave the power setting alone.

I wasn't so lucky to ride in a Friendship in to Wellington, always a 737 ... and missed the fun weather ... then in saying that , I have never flown into Christchurch on 29 in a good North Wester .. That simply is not good enough .. almost like I need simply to book a seriously Blustery day for both spots ! ya always get the lucky ones