Bearhawk in the backcountry

[Battson]

Here are some photos from the trip we took in the weekend. We took the Bearhawk into one of the smaller local ranges for a hunting trip. North Island, New Zealand.

Flying in toward the hills:


Passing a local airstrip on the way:


On the ground in the valley, the airstrip is well maintained, but has a few bumps and a rain-gutter on one side:


A view of the shallow valley the airstrip sits in, elevation 3,100ft:

[Battson]

Continues...

Leaving the plane tied down to go hunting overnight:



Here are some photos from the hunt itself. We were looking for Sika deer, and did see a very good stag in velvet, but we decided to leave him to grow a while longer.

Taking a look around:


Spotted the stag in the very top of a little valley at last light, and evaluating our next move:

[Robert440]

If that's a Remington 700 made around 2006 or later and has the Mark X trigger they are under a recall for faulty triggers! Beware and check Remingtons recall website. Mine has been sitting at the factory for a month and a half now!

[Battson]

Thanks for the warning Robert.
I always refit my rifles with Timney triggers, so it doesn't apply to me. I can't shoot as well with the coarse factory trigger.

[Flynguy521]

Excellent motivation for us not flying yet! Keep it coming and thanks for posting. Maybe I missed it, but why don't we have a picture thread or trip thread? Cheers, Andy

[mswain]

wow. great pictures! very motivating!

[mikeno]

Great photos - thanks for sharing they make for great motivation! Mike BearHawk #1250 KLXT

[kestrel]

Awesome! ...did you bring anything home? -- Bearhawk

[Battson]

We decided to leave the stag to grow a week or two more, once his velvet has hardened he's on the menu - if we can find him again!
We will be back...

We're just in the throes of planning a much larger mission for this weekend (3 days, several tanks of fuel, more hunting, fishing & outdoors). Watch this space.

[Bradrock]

Nice pics of our back yard Jono! Are you part of the new Backcountry group?

[Battson]

Hey Brad - yep, I got issued the first interim membership! Off to the Haast area tomorrow night to exercise it a bit further! It's called the Recreational Back Country Pilot's Association.

The full memberships will become available at the STOL comp in Omaka, although Boyd is the only NI strip so far - we are working on others - so you have to be prepared to fly south. That suits me anyway, as I grew up down there and know all the spots already.

[Battson]

Another interesting point which I forgot to mention:

On the way home we had to fly though to some severe turbulence to remain VFR and enter the control zone. I had to landed with 15G20kts crosswind - stressful way to finish the day. Upon putting the tail on the ground, once we'd slowed to walking pace, I found I had lost tailwheel steering in both directions. No problem, lean on the brakes to steer.... The tailwheel chains had been shaken free by the turbulence(!), the spring clips had actually been undone (somehow??). The chains are a good length - just a hint of slack. I need to oppose the rudder and tailwheel to get enough slack to unclip the chains on the ground. So I can only surmise the turbulence was making the tailwheel flop around quite a lot in flight.

Anyway, I was very happy that I elected to use proper crosswind technique. Had I three-pointed in and relied on tailwheel steering, it could have been more excitement than I bargained for.

[Battson]

We've been having fun tripping around the country. Here are a few more snaps:

At the beach on the East coast


Visiting a Station down south.


Spent a few hours flying some of our favourite valleys. Stopped here to stretch our legs.


Flying home Controlled VFR between cloud layers at 11,000. We had to speed back to beat Cyclone June to our home base, so making 150KTAS was helpful!


We have more on the other camera, I'll post some more scenic shots later if any turned out well.

[Flynguy521]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[Battson]

Here are some more from the last weekend:

Mt. Cook (NZ's highest peak) and Tasman Lake from 9,500ft


The back of Glentanner sheep station, and Lake Pukaki
​

The Hopkins, one of NZs many many braided rivers.
​

The Bearhawk parked on a friend's front lawn - one of the best private airstrip properties in NZ I reckon!!
​

[DinoS]

Nice pic's, Beautiful country. I have a friend from here in Canada who flew a tow plane in Omarama for two seasons. There was a dispute between Gavin, the owner, and the government, he lost his job when the operation shut down. Mt. Cooke is a glider flight destination.

[Battson]

Franz Joseph Glacier


An aerial view of the Landsborough river meeting the Haast river, at Clarke's Bluff


Another angle on the ground in the Landsborough valley


The Wilkin Valley, with Mt. Aeolus at it's forks. A place of significance for my family.

[Battson]

And here's Fox Glacier


And the much smaller Snow White Glacier (or what remains of it) falling from Mt Maoriri, at the very head of the Arawhata River.


And one last photo in the long grass, for good measure.

[Bradrock]

Seriously Jono, I'm jealous already! But your pics are certainly making me spend more time in the garage. If you're likely to stop in Taupo, please let me know. Or if I can come and play sometime I'll fly down there.
I'm really enjoying the scratch building process but am painfully aware of how long it will take.

[Battson]

Hey Brad,

If I can get time I am likely to pop through Taupo soon enough.... I'll send you a txt if I have enough daylight to stop by.

Coming home from Ruapehu Saturday evening, I was pushed for time against ECT-30 and chose to "open her up" for a change - we didn't lose any speed for the VGs, that's for sure. Making 150 KTAS makes you smile, from a plane that lands at less than 35KIAS.

[kestrel]

Outstanding country! :-)

[Enewton57]

Another interesting point which I forgot to mention: On the way home we had to fly though to some severe turbulence to remain VFR and enter the control zone. I had to landed with 15G20kts crosswind - stressful way to finish the day. Upon putting the tail on the ground, once we'd slowed to walking pace, I found I had lost tailwheel steering in both directions. No problem, lean on the brakes to steer.... The tailwheel chains had been shaken free by the turbulence(!), the spring clips had actually been undone (somehow??). The chains are a good length - just a hint of slack. I need to oppose the rudder and tailwheel to get enough slack to unclip the chains on the ground. So I can only surmise the turbulence was making the tailwheel flop around quite a lot in flight. Anyway, I was very happy that I elected to use proper crosswind technique. Had I three-pointed in and relied on tailwheel steering, it could have been more excitement than I bargained for.

I always safety wire those clips, I have seen them come loose on more than one airplane. People at my airport laugh at me and say "I don't see any reason to safety those, I don't see how they could ever come off.". Well, I have seen it a few times now. Beautiful pictures by the way. What a great trip report, very motivational. Thanks so much for sharing.