KiwiFlyerTM The New Zealand Aviators’ Marketplace Issue 8 December / January 2010 Subscribe today and enter the draw to win Randolph Jag sunglasses $ 4.90 inc GST ISSN 1170-8018 Go Gliding this Summer NZ Aerial Mapping Profile KiwiFlyer Christmas Gift Guide Products, Services, Accessories, Business News, Training and more. KiwiFlyer The New Zealand Aviators’ Marketplace Comment and Contents From the Editor In this issue Welcome to Issue 8 of KiwiFlyer. The Summer flying season is now 4. Commander 690 Avionics Upgrade upon us and you’ll find that this issue contains plenty of holiday Hawker Pacific at Ardmore recently reading for times that aren’t occupied by other aviation activities. completed a major avionics upgrade on NZ Aerial Mapping’s Commander 690. We feature a glider on the front cover and welcome Jill McCaw to the role of KiwiFlyer Gliding Correspondent. From this issue 6. NZ Aerial Mapping Profile forward Jill will be contributing regular pages on the sport of We profile one of NZ’s oldest and most gliding in New Zealand. Her first article provides readers with an interesting aviation companies. introduction to gliding – and encourages anyone interested to go 11. 11 new Eurocopter helicopters for 2009 for a trial flight this Summer. A voucher from your local club might Eurocopter International Pacific NZ have just be the perfect Christmas present. delivered 11 new aircraft in 2009. For a New Year’s resolution, perhaps consider trying something 12. Trans Tasman Deliveries different in aviation over Summer. Lloyd Heslop, who instructs Sport aircraft have flown both ways across in autogyros at Nelson, guides readers through a trial flight with the Tasman in November. We summarise him on our autogyro pages of this issue. Or if you’ve ever thought their adventures. about aero modelling, visit your local club one sunny afternoon. There’s many an aviator who spends at least some of their spare 15. In the Fuel Bay at Aeromotive time building and flying model aircraft. We profile one of the extensive engine component overhaul capabilities at Our aviation Event Guide now fills a whole page with something Aeromotive in Hamilton happening most weekends from January through March and beyond. Whether spectating or participating, there’s plenty to do 16. The new NZ Warbirds Visitor Centre and look forward to. If you’re organising an event, be sure to let Frank Parker reports on the opening of the us know so we can publish it in our next issue for you. Then after NZ Warbirds Association Visitor Centre. the event, feel free to send us a few paragraphs and pictures to be included on our new Event Briefs page. 21. Airborne Systems Expansion Once a division of Oceania Aviation, We owe thanks to the more than a dozen people who contributed Airborne Systems is now trading to KiwiFlyer this month. Your contributions not only add variety independently and seeking global sales. to the magazine, they also reduce the workload on your Editor. If you’re interested in something happening in our aviation 24. Mustang Stampede community then chances are that others will be interested too. Or A whistlestop roundup of Titan T-51 if you’re part of an aviation business that has recently achieved Mustang projects around NZ, of which something newsworthy, then write and tell us. As always, we there are many. welcome your suggestions or contributions towards future 2 6 . The KiwiFlyer Christmas Gift Guide KiwiFlyer content. With last minute gift ideas for aviators. Do enjoy your Summer flying and most importantly, stay safe. From 37. Go Gliding this Summer everyone involved with KiwiFlyer Magazine, have a great Christmas Jill McCaw provides readers with an and a very enjoyable holiday season. introduction to the sport of gliding. Michael Norton 38. So you want to fly an autogyro Editor, KiwiFlyer Magazine Instructor Lloyd Heslop takes readers for a trial flight from his home patch of Nelson. Subscribe and Win ! 40. Extreme Aerobatics Champion Janice Angus speaks with Aero Modelling Aerobatics Champion Frazer Briggs. 8. Industry News Briefs 31. KiwiFlyer Event Briefs 3 2 . KiwiFlyer Event Guide 34. Accidents and Incidents 3 5 . KiwiFlyer Guest Comment 4 2 . ZK Review 4 6 . Classified Advertising Subscribe to KiwiFlyer and go in the draw to win a pair of Randolph Jag sunglasses worth $299. KiwiFlyer has a pair to give away to a lucky subscriber. Front Cover: Philip Plane and passenger in Glider ZK-GDG, a DG 1000 S Subscriptions only cost $25. See page 9. John McCaw took the photograph 2 KiwiFlyer Issue 8 December / January 2010 www.kiwiflyer.co.nz KiwiFlyer is focused on the New Zealand aviation marketplace. Call us to discuss how we can help your business. 3 KiwiFlyer KiwiFlyer Feature KiwiFlyer Feature Commander 690 Avionics Upgrade by Hawker Pacific requirements and particularly since it was not possible to have several people working The Upgrade Inventory in the cockpit or in the rear avionics bay WHEN NZ Aerial Mapping G600 won the battle. Another next to each other. (NZAM) decided to upgrade bonus was that at the decision A lot of careful work had to be done Garmin G600 the avionics in their Aero time, Garmin added Synthetic to remove the obsolete Collins equipment Dual 6.5” full colour displays, featuring PFD (Primary Flight Display) and MFD (Multi Commander 690A, ZK-PVB, Vision Technology (SVT), a without damaging other systems that function Flight Display). The PFD offers synthetic they turned to Hawker Pacific GAD43 Auto Pilot interface and had to stay in the aircraft. The team was vision. The MFD gives terrain information, at Ardmore. Chief Engineer compatibility with the Garmin surprised to find a good deal of redundant chartview, traffic and weather display. at NZAM, Les Appleford says radar in their standard package. wiring already in the aircraft that had to that this decision was based on It also helped that the G600 Garmin GNS530W TAWS The pilot’s instrument view when the aircraft be understood and removed. That said, 5” display, GPS, Hawker Pacific Avionics can- comes with an STC for the Aero arrived at Hawker Pacific. this was generally considered to be the NAV (VOR/ILS), COM, TAWS B. do approach. “Nothing was Commander.” easiest part of the job. Harry says the too much of a problem and The new suite consists of pressure bulkhead feedthroughs were a Garmin GNS430W the timeframe for completion a Garmin G600, GNS530W, particular challenge to do and comments 4” display, GPS, NAV (VOR/ILS), COM. was attractive. Also Harry’s New Zealand Aerial Mapping’s Aero Commander ZK-PVB on the apron at GNS430W, GTX330D that the constant competition between the Hawker Pacific, about to be stripped for its major avionics upgrade. Garmin GMA340 (Avionics Manager) expertise and (Transponder), KR87 (ADF), sheetmetal workers and the avionics crew Digital audio selector panel with integrated knowledge of these new product Garmin GMA340 (Audio Panel) created a few entertaining situations. marker beacon system, intercom, music inputs. upgrades helped make the and Garmin GWX68 (Weather When asked what the most enjoyable decision to put the work through Radar). The G600 “glass cockpit” part of the job was, the team is unanimous Garmin GTX330D Hawker Pacific.” created opportunities to remove Mode S transponder, antennae diversity, meets that this was the final part, seeing it all new and future international standards, several big heavy units such as the come together and perform to requirement. timer and QNH altitude displays. The need for an upgrade FD-112 ADI/HSI. As well, all The installation was completed by the With panel removed, work began to also remove Bendix King KR87 The old (mainly Collins) the Air Data, VHF, NAV, ADF, a great amount of redundant wiring. Hawker Pacific avionics team at Ardmore equipment and wiring in PVB weather etc. can now be shown (Greg Jackson, Chris Rampling, Rens ADF fully integrated with G600 PFD. was starting to show its age and on one unit. Molenaar, supervised by Harry) with Garmin GWX68 maintenance costs were rising Also installed was a Terrain sheetmetal work by Gareth McCurdy Weather Radar antennae displays weather and as this equipment became more Awareness Systems (TAWS) with and John Baxter. Harry also performed ground radar images on the G600 MFD. expensive to repair (expensive the GNS530W, Weather Radar all testing requirements. From arrival to parts and/or no new parts and Jeppesen style ChartView. A departure, including delays caused by a few available), often with long Mode S Transponder will show unexpected discoveries with the existing Collins, Bendix King (Honeywell), S-TEC lead times. Wiring problems Traffic Information Service (TIS) installations, the project took the team and more. Their dedicated avionics and were also becoming too much alerts, (not in New Zealand but approximately 8 weeks. sheet metal group can undertake all design, of a regular issue. As well as NZAM operates world wide) installation and testing work in house. improving reliability and reducing The cockpit before work began. which is another significant Testing and commissioning Avionics Manager, Harry Van Der pilot workload, the substantial advantage for the type of work Looking rearward with the cabin partially stripped. Harry says that although switching the Note the camera port in the floor. Hoeven explains that their special test technology upgrade also provided NZAM carries out. power on for the first time always creates equipment (RVSM approved Air Data a lot more safety features, not The Garmin G600, a tense situation because “you never tester, Aeroflex VHF/NAV/ATC/ to mention a significant weight GNS530W, and GNS430W are know…”, the fact is the team were very DME/TCAS/ELT) provides for fast (and saving of more than 90lb.