The Home of CP16

One week left!

We now only have one week left in New Zealand and each of us have between 4 and 7 flights left to complete. The last week is going to be busy, lets hope that the aircraft don't break down. We now all have our JAR Multi Engine PPLs, and have completed all of the simulator sessions for this stage of the training. The last 8 flights in New Zealand are flown in the Seminole, consolidating the skills learnt in the simulator and at last, we can now fly through cloud! Winter has arrived in New Zealand, it was a cool minus 2 degrees this morning at 6:30am and all of the aircraft needed deicing before flying :-(

We get back to the UK on Wednesday 4th May. See you soon!

Official Opening of the CTC Crew Training Centre - Hamilton

Today was the Official Opening of the new training centre. Work on the building and surrounding area was finished just in time for the opening with some workers adding the finishing touch only a few hours before. We were all involved in the days proceedings to some degree, although John managed to miss the latter half of the day due to a doctor's appointment for a 'ear, nose and throat infection'. The opening ceremony went smoothly, despite half of the speeches being in Maori and no one being able to hear the translator. The rest of the afternoon was spent, chatting to the guests and helping with the running of pleasure flights for anyone who dared step in a plane with Dave Woodington, Matt Skilton or Peter Wheeler, some of our best instructors ;-) Nik welcomed the guests at check-in, but didn't charge a single cent in excess baggage, lucky he's not working for Ryanair! Morgan, Andy, Phil and Tony corralled the guests and made sure no-one missed their flight... except for a couple at the start where Tony managed to get the first three people lost on an apron with only three Seminoles about ten yards from the main doors... (For future reference, Tango is the one with 'T' on the side, Papa is the one with 'P' on the side and Victor is the one that's falling apart...) All in all, an enjoyable day. Back to work as normal on Monday.

Jazz in Tauranga

On the Saturday of Easter weekend, Nik, Andy, Tony and John finally decided they were sick to death of RAF Peachgrove, so they jumped in a car and headed to the East coast (although when originally asked, Tony thought we were bound for the petrol station). The plan was simple: drive to Tauranga, rent an apartment for the night and spend the day kayaking/swimming in the sea, then hit the town at night. Due to lack of advanced planning, we did not realise until we arrived in Tauranga that the largest Jazz Festival in the Southern Hemisphere was taking place over Easter weekend and there was no accommodation available; forget the exclusive designer apartment, we couldn't even get a 1* flea infested motel room!

As the kayak rental dude packed up shop for the day, we buzzed around the Mt Maunganui area looking for a parking space and couldn't help but feel that our expedition was becoming more ill-fated by the moment....at last a space was found, we changed into our swimwear and bounded towards the vast pacific ocean. We negotiated some ten-foot waves and a moderate undercurrent before heading inland for food and beer.

We sat listening to Dude and the Dudesters (CP16 are huge jazz fans, as you can tell) playing live jazz while we tucked into our gourmet meals and we felt as if we were on holiday; a feeling we had never experienced in NZ! The atmosphere was vibrant, with no shortage of sneaky photo opportunities (courtesy of Andy, as Tony's camera batteries were inexplicably not charged). As the sun set, we considered our options: a) get trashed in Tauranga and sleep in the car or b) drive back to Hamilton and try to avoid the other cadets in town (to preserve the holiday ambiance). The sensible choice saw us back in Hamilton and out dining in the finest thai restaurant in the Waikato. The meal was fantastic, the waitress was gorgeous - at least we had some consolation for being back in Hamilton that night. A good time was had by all and the next time we go to Tauranga, we'll book the luxury aparment a few weeks in advance.

New Hamilton Crew Training Centre

Here is an aerial view of the new training centre that we are operating from now. The main building is complete, and the maintenance hanger is due to be finished in "two weeks". The training centre is due to be officially opened by the Prime Minister (New Zealand) on 8th April 2005.

NEWSFLASH: Pilots abandon aircraft for the afternoon!!

As every pilot knows, the most pointless thing on earth (after helicopters) is jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aeroplane. Unfortunately, someone forgot to mention this to CP16!!

Tony, John, Andy, Morgan, Phil and honourary CP16 member, Jess set off for Taupo early on Sunday afternoon.  The weather was, to be honest, crap on the way down there and I'm sure a few of us thought that we would be cancelled but fortunately (or unfortunately for the more aprehensive amongst us), the weird weather caused by the lake meant that the skys were clear when we arrived.

It didn't take long to get weighed and briefed on the jump and to get into our jump suits. While this was going on we were being filmed for the video that they make of the experience and we get told to do a little dance and smile/wave etc..  I'm sure we are all thankful that Tony isn't planning on giving up flying to take up dancing instead!  Unfortunately, Andy was unable to jump due to their strict weight restrictions for tandem jumps.

After meeting up with our Tandem Masters (TM) and cameramen/woman we were taken out to the bright yellow PAC750XL that would climb us to 12000ft for the jump.  Now it's not a very big aeroplane and let me just say that had anyone 'dropped one' then I'm sure we all would have been bailing out well before we were meant to!

It took 15 minutes or so to climb up, during which were were harnessed to our TM and put on our helmets and goggles.  According to Phil's TM, skydiving is a lot safer than flying itself and he even went to far as to say he never goes on board an aircraft without a parachute. We wonder what he does when he goes on holiday! 

At 12000ft (about 2 miles up) the door was slid open and about 10 seconds later Jess was first out the door.  It didn't take long for the aircraft to empty but not before everyone gave one last pose for the exit photo. Phil's 'chipmunk' look will stick with him for ever, John had the look of someone who had been told they had approximately 45 seconds to live, as for Morgan, well the men in white coats couldn't be far away and Tony's grin was the worst fake smile in the history of fake smiles. 

As you'll see by the photos, any apprehension was short lived and everyone had probably THE best experience of their life during the freefall and then under the chute.  Unfortunately it was all over far too quickly but we are all sure that it won't be the last time we do it. 

As we say, life is too short so get out there and do it if you haven't already. It will be the best experience of your life (after reading our website , of course!!).

www.taupotandemskydiving.com

Classic Cars

Well it's Monday, it's raining and there is yet another car debate raging in CP16.  Following on from the 'is Knight Rider a Firebird or a Transam?' episode there appears to be a disagreement as to what defines a classic car.  Tony assures us all that his Scimitar is a genuine classic despite it actually being younger than him (not to mention the fact that it spends most of the time on bricks!!).  On the other hand, if Phil's old lime green Vauxhall 'shove it'.....sorry, Chevette was still with us (God rest it's soul),  then according to our resident expert it wouldn't be worthy of a mention in the hallowed pages of his beloved 'Classic Car Weekly'.

 

Spot the difference??

A sad time in Hameltron...

New Zealand is in a state of mourning after the infamous CP13 departed for the greener pastures of the UK. Their last stand; a spit-roast followed by partying on the Victoria St 'Strip'. Morgan and Andy noted their own particular distress as now their marginally good impressions have no meaning. John too is down in the dumps, with only a bedside photograph of his beloved Baron to console him.

Additionally, this development seems to have disturbed other members of CP16. For example, Phil now stays locked away in his room, gazing lovingly at Alex and Mark's 'special' partywear still hanging in his wardrobe. Indeed, we have noticed an increase in the "Bloody Hell"s from Tony, most probably due to the stress of the occasion. Last night we had to comfort a distraught Nik, who was found in the car park sacrificing a cow (or was that a duck? - see earlier story, ed) in 13's honour.

RAF Peachgrove will surely be a quieter place without the CP13 boys, and we think we speak for everyone out here when we say cheers guys, good luck with the exams and see you soon!                                                                                                                       

South Island Trip

After months in the waiting, the CP16 South Island trip has finally made it online! The following pages represent some of the many spectacular sights that our intrepid explorers witnessed en-route. Be warned...not for the faint-hearted! South Island Trip Photos

The Holy Grail

CP16 arrived safely back in Hamilton just under 2 weeks ago and have been flying all day, every day since (even on rostered days off!). Despite the setbacks (no cars, unserviceable aircraft), we are on track to start the IFR phase on schedule!

Some memorable events of the last 2 weeks - Morgan filled our only car with Diesel and had to call a mechanic when she started to run 'rough'; John was almost stranded twice in as many days; Tony ordered yet another large beef italiano from Pizza Hut; Phil has been attempting to beat Andy's record for the most number of canned flights, but has only managed 7 so far; and Andy and Nik succeded in the quest for the holy grail - an Auckland City scenic followed by a Touch and Go at Auckland International :)

Latest

Apologies everyone for the lack of updates but this has been down to the lack of news more than aything else!  CP16 are all currently back home in the UK and Ireland having just finished the 2 week ATPL brush up course in Bristol.  Spare a though for us that while the rest of the planet is eating far too many mince pies and drinking excessive quantities of beer, we will be stuck in darkened rooms studying hard for the exams in January. 

Merry Christmas!!