Sounds Air Flight 717 from Christchurch to Wānaka

More from my flying with Sounds Air on 1 September 2025... this time from Christchurch to Wānaka on S8 717...

The ride south in Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLB

Tarmac action at Christchurch

West Melton - once a crossroads with just a few houses - now growing rapidly

Icing on the climb to 21,000 feet

The Ashburton River/Hakatere near Ashburton Forks

Lake Heron and Sugarloaf in distance

The Ranigtata River

The Ranigtata River again with a skiff of snow on Mount Peel

Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki coming up

Fairlie

Lake Tekapo and the smaller Lake Alexandrina just above it

Lake Pukaki with the hydro canal flowing into it with the Irishmans Creek, the Tekapo River and Sawdon Stream at the bottom of the photo

Lake Ruataniwha and the hydro canal flowing into Lake Benmore

The Ahuriri River flowing flowing down from Lindis Pass area

Descent into Wānaka with the lake in sight

Descent over Tarras, the site of our next international airport???

The Clutha River

Looking up to Lake Hawea

A spectacular oxbow in the Clutha

A beautiful day in Wānaka as PLB awaits her passengers for Christchurch... sadly a sight soon to be lost from Wānaka skies