Dreamliner Down Under Rob Neil was lucky enough to attend the historic first visit to New Zealand of a Boeing 787. The first 787 to fly, ZA001 was just two weeks from permanent retirement when it touched down at Auckland. Airlines of the Philippines Murray Kirkus gives an interesting insight into the convoluted story of airlines in the Philippines in recent decades. Duxford Restorations Pacific ...

Training Tomorrow’s Warriors Earlier this year, Wellington-based Erik Roelofs spent time with the 23rd FTS at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where the USAF’s new helicopter pilots learn their craft. The ABC of ADS-B—for GA Richard Greaney gives an overview of the next generation of airborne surveillance, and explains why it is important for GA to embrace it. ALPA View CAA Random Information Trawling of Pilots Unlawful Glen ...

The Charles de Gaulle at War Richard Cooper and Henri-Pierre Grolleau were fortunate to spend time aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during Operation Harmattan—the French participation in the NATO mission to protect civilians in Libya’s ongoing civil war. Australian Piper Society’s “Top End Tour” Each year, the Australian Piper Society holds numerous flyaways and trips around the amazing red continent. ...

Avanti II—the Next Step Forward The Piaggio Aero P180 Avanti was born 25 years ahead of its time. Today, quarter of a century later, the time has come for the Avanti II—still the world’s fastest civil turboprop and still its greenest business aircraft—to step forward and claim the recognition it deserves. Rob Neil reports. Britain’s Tornado F.3 Retires Peter Cooper was at RAF ...

Mount Cook Airline and the ATR72 Mount Cook Airline is an “icon” in the New Zealand aviation industry, just as the mountain from which it takes its name is an icon of the New Zealand tourism industry. Serving both Mount Cook Airline and the New Zealand Tourism industry admirably is an aircraft that is likely to become another icon—for “green” commercial ...

Promising Partnership—Timor Air and Vincent Aviation Vincent Aviation first went to East Timor to support United Nations peacekeeping efforts there. Now, as Rob Neil reports, the Kiwi airline has returned as a vital partner in founding a new national airline for the embryonic nation. Some Things the CAA Should Want to do for General Aviation After 30 years’ general aviation experience, and more ...

The Robinson R66 in New Zealand The long-awaited Robinson R66 Turbine helicopter has finally arrived in New Zealand. Ruud van der Zwaal visited Heliflite Pacific at Ardmore to go flying with Simon Spencer-Bower in the latest “Robbie”. The FlyNav GPS Project For those who do not want to spend thousands of dollars on excessively sophisticated moving-map GPSs in their private aircraft, Ian Boag ...

Bloody Gorgeous—the Tecnam P2008. The Tecnam P2008 is the latest and, according to Rob Neil, who flew the P2008 in Auckland recently, definitely the most attractive in a successful line of single engined light aircraft from Tecnam. World’s Youngest FAI 1,000 km Diploma Glider Pilot. Jill McCaw reports on the success of her 18-year-old son Alex, who recently became the youngest ...

Avalon 2011. Rob Neil reports on the 2011 Australian International Airshow at Avalon, which, this year, celebrated the 90th anniversary of the RAAF. Brako Arrives in New Zealand. With less than 30 gyrocopters on the New Zealand register, these fascinating aircraft have not often featured in Pacific Wings. However, Leigh Mathieson believes the arrival of the first Brako gyrocopter into the ...

End of a Legend—Harrier Farewell. Once again, yet another British government has cut off its nose to spite its face by doing away with an effective, proven and irreplaceable aviation asset—this time, the British Aerospace Harrier. Peter Cooper was present to witness the end of the Harrier’s proud UK service and summarises the type’s history. Air-to-Air Photography—Pursuing my Passion. Mike Jorgensen has ...