ZM400 in the Fiji Islands
 

Was confronted with the sight of ZM400 parked up at Nadi International when taxiing in with the FJ392 this morning.

Some pictures here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pjc8ut4zt...Z7Qgdazra?dl=0

No idea what its doing here except earlier in the week we saw an Australian C17 come and go and the regular USN C40.

Bluntie

NZ4205 in the same spot this morning
 

Arrived yesterday and crew overnighted.

Some photos in this link https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eotllpk8s...Gd1y9drDa?dl=0

Bluntie

Anything to do with the earthquake in the Solomon Islands just down the road? Honiara airport has had a C17 in, once, but that was to bring in a large towing tractor so that they could get a C5 out.

NZ P3 at NFFN
 

I understand the P3 is undertaking Fishery Protection patrols on behalf of the Fiji Government. Would make sense as the regulations have just been tightened quite considerably to allow stocks to rejuvenate.

C17's into Nadi are either Australian or Indian depending on where the aid is coming from this week.

Bluntie

N817NA
 

This weekend's occupant of the visiting aircraft pan at Nadi International - N817NA supporting a climate change conference. Aircraft started life with Alitalia almost 48 years ago.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z2mxi94g4...8Rxr6GBna?dl=0

Does anyone else see the delicious irony in that?

If it hadn't been re-engined I would.

ZM400, don't know what they were doing in Fiji specifically, but when they refuelled in my home town they said they were in Australia conducting trials, ventured down to Tasmania also.

Trials on the effects of Kava on aircrew fatigue?

Nah, couldn't be that, we have plenty here.

Irrespective of the type of engines, the fact that a couple of greenies take a 4-engined gas guzzling airliner to an idyllic tropical island to blame everyone else for destroying the world is my point.

A colleague of mine used to fly Al Gore around to environmental conferences in a military B-707 (VC-137) blowing a trail of sooty smoke. He made very similar observations. ;)

If I was the PIC on that old DC-8 I think I would be looking for any reason to down that jet on the return leg - "ashtray broken - potential for interference with flight controls".

A little bit of research turns up the fact that this aircraft is actually a flying laboratory conducting experiments and data gathering. Hardly what you're suggesting is it?

I'm sure they were sampling the air and counting the polar bears on their previous stop in Kona. ;)

Glad to see the mighty 8 is still flying with the cash register, the lollipop, the sugar scoop and the suitcase handles. Drop-rise, Drop-rise. :ok:

Well then it's probably not "supporting a climate change conference", and just happens to be there at the same time, so I will withdraw my comment. :cool:

It was recorded a few years ago that the 2,500 attendees at the Davos World Economic Forum arrived onboard 1,700 different private jets. Global warming is a big part of their rhetoric. What's the saying, practice what you preach.

Leonardo DiCaprio has an environmental foundation, which of course centres on global warming, and to accept an award for his efforts in the field he had to fly from Europe to the US, by private jet of course. Still, he drives environment friendly vehicles, including an electric Tesla Roadster, a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, and a Toyota Prius, oh, and his home is powered by solar panels. Froth for the gullible press/public?

ZM401 at NFFN
 

Another Royal Air Force Atlas nightstopping.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tdbylbvuw...b5Go3ffwa?dl=0

Left this morning.

On it's way down to NZ for https://www.airtattoo.mil.nz/ I should imagine. Listed as static.

Came over Wellington a couple of hours ago ....