Waikato flying in a Ukrainian built aircraft

 A MASSIVE thanks to John for the amazing flying adventure today, flying from Mercer to Raglan in Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat ZK-CEC. 

Wikipedia, the source of all knowledge records that Aeroprakt Ltd is a Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer based in Kyiv and founded in 1991 by Yuri Yakovlev. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of light aircraft, homebuilt aircraft and ultralights in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft.

My ride for the day, Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat ZK-CEC at Mercer on 4 September 2024

In need of a weight loss programme

Lining up for grass runway 27 at Mercer

The beautiful Waikato looking towards the Hunua Ranges

A left turn towards the Waikato River

Meremere and the Waikato River

Cows on the move... a Waikato traffic jam

Entrance to the Raglan Harbour

Te Mata Peak

Raglan airfield below

Views of Raglan and the harbour

Can you spot the airfield?

The cement silos... ships from Nelson used to bring cement here until 1982

Short finals Runway 23 at Raglan

Did you know there used to be a regular air service to Raglan???

Details can be found here...

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2023/04/another-boeing-737-airline-airborne.html

Don't be fooled!

ZK-CEC at Raglan

Airborne again after a brief stop

Crossing the bar heading north along the coast

Looking back towards Raglan

Port Waikato

The impressive and wide Waikato River

Joining for Mercer aerodrome... the airfield is very close to sea level and there is a lot of swampy ground in the vicinity

Rocket Lab test facility for engines in the foreground

An absolutely amazing day... Thanks again John