Graham Bell RIP

Sad news from Whakatāne with the passing of Graham Bell on 16 December 2024. Graham was known for founding local airline Bell Air. He was one of the true gentlemen of New Zealand's aviation and airline industry. He is survived by his wife Pat and their two sons.

The Bell Air profile can be found here

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/02/bell-air-remembered.html

 

 

Originair picks up Taupō-Wellington route

Originair has announced it will start flying Wellington to Taupō from mid-February. The two centres have been serviced by Sounds Air but the Blenheim-based carrier recently announced it had to make “a very tough call” to withdraw from the route. Originair said it will operate from February 17 initially three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on a six-month trial basis. If it’s a success it will increase to six days. Managing director Robert Inglis said the airline aims “to operate a reliable, sustainable service that can grow with demand”. Wayne Wootton from Taupō Airport welcomed the move saying “growing regional connectivity is critical to the economic and social wellbeing of regional communities and this is a perfect example of working together to achieve common goals.” Taupō mayor David Trewavas added: “I look forward to giving them a warm Taupō welcome and I am sure that the direct link to Wellington will prove very popular with the people of Taupō who need to get to the capital for work or play – and for Wellingtonians who want to enjoy a good hot summer!" It’s the second route Originair has taken over from Sounds Air. It will start flying Wellington-Westport in the new year. The Nelson-based airline has a fleet of three British Aerospace Jetstreams in operation. Although the airline itself was founded in 2014, Inglis has been in the aviation game for more than four decades. In a profile in Stuff Travel last month, he said he still gets a buzz from working in the industry. “After running two much larger airlines, I’ve enjoyed this one the most. “Being independent, with a great team of people and focusing on providing regional services, principally on routes that other airlines have withdrawn their services from, is rewarding and reflects the flying that first encouraged us into scheduled regional services back in the 1980s.”

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360531027/small-airline-swoops-save-regional-wellington-service

Originair's schedules for the new services to Westport and Taupō

90 years on I had to go for a fly...

Glen in de Havilland DH83 Fox Moth ZK-ADI after the start of New Zealand's first airline at Greymouth on 18 December 2024

ZK-ADI's passenger accommodation 

A privilege to go flying with Richard Waugh who flew with his father Brian on the final flight of South Westland service in 1967

The old and new air ambulance - the Fox Moths were early air ambulances on the West Coast and the current one of the NZ Flying Doctor Service's Beech Super King Air air ambulance arriving from Christchurch

Lining up on Runway 19 at Greymouth

The new hospital at Greymouth

Someone photo bombing my photo of ZK-FDS

A good day for fishing on the right hand side

and the dead centre of Greymouth out the left

Between South Beach and Paroa

The Saltwater Creek lagoon

New River near Cameron coming in from the left and Saltwater Creek coming up from the bottom of the photo

The Taramakau River and the road and rail bridges

Taramakau River mouth looking south

Looking north towards Greymouth

Looking east up the Taramakau River towards Inchbonnie

Mining operations and restored land

New River each side of the aircraft

The Fox Moth's airspeed indicator

Peter Ridge of the left and the Twelve Apostle Range on the right to the north of the Grey River

Dobson

Looking towards to Greymouth

The Paparoa Range

Looking towards Runanga and Rapahoe

The Twelve Apostle Range

Coming up over Greymouth

Looking up the Grey River towards Omoto and Kaiata

Grey River mouth

Joining overhead at Greymouth

The disused Victoria Park race course

Who is photographing who???