Air New Zealand's B787-9, ZK-NZE First Flight From Auckland

Air New Zealand's brand new B787-9 Dreamliner, ZK-NZE took to the skies for the first time on Friday the 25th Jul since arriving in Auckland on the 11th July from Boeing's Paine Field, Seattle.

Todays flights was a training and proving flight from Auckland - Sydney - Auckland operating as
NZ6021 and NZ6022 for the return leg. The flight was carrying cargo only, no passengers, and with almost 22 ton's of cargo loaded in the holds, it lifted off for SYD just after 3pm local AKL time.

Great looking machine !!!!

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE 

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE 

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

Air New Zealand B767-300ER - ZK-NCJ & ZK-NCG

 Late afternoon in winter can be quite spectacular with some great light for taking photos like these., and photos in general. The low sun on the horizon and no heat haze really helps.

So on this occasion, and amazing only about 10 minutes apart were these two arrivals into Auckland.
The first being ZK-NCJ and the second ZK-NCG (last 3 photos).

ZK-NCJ 

ZK-NCJ

ZK-NCJ 

ZK-NCJ 

ZK-NCG

ZK-NCG 

ZK-NCG

Hawaiian Airlines B767-300 - N582HA

Hawaiian Airlines has some of its maintainance performed in Auckland by Air New Zealand Tech Ops. Was lucky enough to be passing by and see this Hawaiian Airlines B767-300, N582HA out of the hanger and just about to commence an engine run. Also noted was that the winglets were removed.
N582HA first flew in 2001.

N582HA

N582HA

N582HA

Emirates A380 - A6-EEQ Soccer World Cup 2014 Livery

A crisp cloudless day in Auckland and perfect conditions for a few photos.

Emirates A380, A6-EEQ has had a Special Livery, "Pele" applied for the occasion of the Soccer World Cup 2014, which finished in Brazil last week. So I was pretty pleased to be able to get these snaps of this colourful scheme before its removed. Seen here arriving from SYD, flight EK412.

A6-EEQ 

A6-EEQ

A6-EEQ

A6-EEQ

A6-EEQ

Singapore Airlines B777-300ER, 9V-SWL

At last a nice sunny day in Auckland and a chance for a few photos.

Singapore Airlines SQ286, 9V-SWL taxing out in Auckland for take on Runway 23L.

9V-SWL

9V-SWL

Air New Zealand B787-9, ZK-NZE - Delivered......

FRIDAY, 11TH JULY 2014, 4:22PM

This date and time marks a very special spot in Aviation History, with the first to be delivered in the world, B787-9 Dreamliner to launch customer Air New Zealand, touching down on Runway 05R in Auckland.

NZ6789, ZK-NZE departed Seattle early this morning NZ time on its 13.5 hr delivery flight from Boeing's Paine Field, with invited guests, media, and some Boeing staff on board, which would truly have been a memorable experience.

This is one state of the art aircraft and is going to be a game changer for Air New Zealand, which was ordered back in August 2004 by then CEO Ralph Norris. With a total of 10, B787-9's on order with delivery to be completed by 2017, I'm looking forward already to the arrival of the next one in the new livery.

So to the photos, well the weather wasn't the best, and it was rather dark, please excuse the rain and quality of these, my first photos ever of a B787-9. I'm glad the honor goes to ZK-NZE.

Air New Zealand's 1st B787-9
ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE 

ZK-NZE 

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE 

ZK-NZE

ZK-NZE

Emirates A380 - A6-EEH

Some more approach photos here at Auckland, and this time Emirates EK412 from SYD, A6-EEH just about to cross the fence for Runway 23L. The light was not was a bit patchy and grey clouds everywhere, so hopefully better photos next time.

A6-EEH

A6-EEH

A6-EEH 

A6-EEH 

A6-EEH

Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) B747-400, 20-1101

Yesterday the 7th July saw a very brief visit to New Zealand by the Japanese Prime Minister,
Shinzo Abe. The World leader visited Auckland and Christchurch before departing for Canberra, Australia.

The Japanese Government's, JASDF B747-400's, 20-1101 and 20-1102 carrying the Prime Minister and entourage arrived into Auckland late in the evening late the night before.
I was very lucky to be on location for the departure of 20-1101 seen here taking off from Auckland on runway 05R, bound for Christchurch.

JASDF 20-1101

JASDF 20-1101

JASDF 20-1101

JASDF 20-1101

JASDF 20-1101