Air New Zealand Retires Last Remaining B737

Sunday the 6th September 2015 saw the retirement of Air New Zealand's last remaining
B737-300, ZK-NGI  operating NZ557 from Auckland to Christchurch.

Air New Zealand's (Starting out as NAC) B737's have been gracing New Zealand skies for the past 47 years and with the arrival of ZK-NGI and flight NZ557 into Christchurch on Sunday the 6th, saw the end of an era and a chapter of New Zealand aviation close, and enter into the history books.

I can remember as a young lad spending almost every school holidays at Auckland Airport on the outside viewing deck watching these B737's come and go, way back to the NAC day's. I loved watching those built-in stairs at the front fold up into the fuselage on the B737-200's

So to end, some photos of mine from over a few years in memory of this Boeing Workhorse.

ZK-SJB

ZK-NGH

ZK-NGH

ZK-NGI

ZK-NGI

ZK-NGE
Wellington Airport

ZK-NGD

ZK-NGJ

ZK-NGK

ZK-NGI

ZK-NGG

ZK-NGR

ZK-NGG

ZK-NGJ

United Airlines B787-9, N13954

Well this is the only photo that I managed to get of a United Airlines B787-9 when in Los Angeles back in July. Not the best photo and I took this out the window on board NZ4 as we taxied to the gate.

This is United's N13954 parked on a remote layover area at LAX, and United have also announced that all Australia flights will be operated by the B787-9 next year.

United Airlines B787-9
N13954

United Airlines B737-900, N64844

This is an almost brand new United Airlines B737-900, N64844

This aircraft was only built this year and was first flown back in February 2015.
And as you can tell from the last photo, I took these in LAX on a very warm and humid evening back in July not long before sunset for the day.

N64844

N64844

N64844

Barrier Air Grand Caravan - ZK-SDB

Great Barrier Airlines has re branded itself and is now called Barrier Air.

Barrier Air are now also operating this Cessna Grand Caravan, ZK-SDB which arrived into New Zealand in July 2015 after a long ferry flight from the United States. I actually quite like the Caravan, and have yet to fly on one.

Barrier Air
ZK-SDB 

ZK-SDB 

ZK-SDB

Santa Monica Airport - N421LT

Back in the USA for these photos at Santa Monica Airport, KSMO whilst on holiday a month or so back. And on this occasion I just happened to be with the owner of this fantastic blog site
MRC Aviation, http://www.mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz for a few hours of plane spotting, and a few cold beers afterwards.

So a quick few photos of this Cessna Citation 560XL, N421LT departing KSMO on a beautiful summers morning.

N421LT

N421LT 

N412LT

Jetstar Regional Q300 Arrives in New Zealand - VH-TQM

Yesterday the 28th July saw the arrival into Auckland of Jetstar's first New Zealand Regional
Dash 8-Q300, VH-TQM from Brisbane, Australia via a tech stop in Norfolk Island.

Jetstar announced a few months ago that they were going to enter the New Zealand Regional market in December this year. From what I believe the routes and cities that Jetstar intend to operate to in the regional market in New Zealand is going to be announced on Monday in Wellington.

Jetstar I think intend to operate a fleet of 4 Q300's once fully operational in New Zealand.

VH-TQM

VH-TQM

VH-TQM

VH-TQM

VH-TQM

VH-TQM 

VH-TQM

VH-TQM

VH-TQM

Delta Airlines B717-231, N985AT

My first photos of a Boeing 717. I'm not sure how successful the B717 has been for Boeing and how many are flying in the world, but I'm sure they are popular to some airlines I guess.

This is Delta Airlines N985AT on finals for runway 25L at LAX.

Delta Airlines B717-231
N985AT

N985AT

N985AT

 

Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane - N171AC

Some more photos as promised from Bishop Airport, CA on the 4th July.
Was I in luck when I saw this parked on the far side of the airport. I could see it from a distance but there was no way of driving over to it, so I headed off on foot fast as the sun was setting fast also.

This is the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane,  a heavy lift helicopter, hence the name "Skycrane".
And this machine, N171AC, named "Annie" was being based at Bishop Airport for the summer as a standby helicopter for Southern California or where ever it might be needed to fight those summer bush fires. This sure is a huge machine and it was great see it in person, and not just on the Discovery Channel, where it has feature many times.  

Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane
N171AC "Annie"

N171AC

N171AC

N171AC