HISTORIC AVIATION VIDEOS FROM AIR NEW ZEALAND's ERA of FLIGHT ENGINEERS



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HISTORIC AVIATION VIDEOS FROM
AIR NEW ZEALAND's
60 YEARS ERA of FLIGHT ENGINEERS


















Thursday 10 January 1991 was possibly the most epic day of their Flight Engineering careers for Barry O’Connor and Gary Sommerville

Having completed their retirement flight with Air New Zealand, onboard Boeing B747-219 ZK-NZX Flight NZ 34 NRT-AKL  an unforgettable celebration party followed at Barry’s home.

 (Sadly Barry’s wife Ricki had passed away on 30 October 1990)

As can be observed in this video, a vast number of Barry and Gary’s good friends were able to attend

This Youtube video becomes an enduring archive of this event











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This nostalgic video from 1991 is an enduring record of 
an Air New Zealand Flight Operations social function 
to celebrate the retirement of 12 of their FLIGHT ENGINEERS 
and was held at the Auckland Airport Travelodge

Sadly, too many of those who attended on 22 January 1991 are now deceased.









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This previous video of Flight Engineer Murray Rutherfurd's early retirement flight on 8 March 1991 was further continued on 17 March to include his 'end of an era' celebration function held at Marg and Furd's home.






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25 June 1999

To mark the end of the 60 year era of their FLIGHT ENGINEERS,  Senior Management of Air New Zealand organised a farewell celebration scenic flight aboard  

Air New Zealand's 'Classic' Boeing B747-219, ZK-NZX 

(prior to it being on-sold to Virgin Atlantic as G-VSSS)

The flight around the Hauraki Gulf was a final opportunity for the now redundant Flight Engineer Officers as well as their partners to say farewell Air New Zealand's 'Classic' Boeing B747-219 fleet of 5 aircraft.

This shorter clip was extracted from the original video to allow for an easier review of who was actually there for this unique "End of an era" celebration flight.

This nostalgic video has become a historic record of those who were able to be there. 







To view the full videos of this unique flight go to Video of final farewell to Air New Zealand's FLIGHT ENGINEERS Part 1 (16:9 version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTbM6... Video of final farewell to Air New Zealand's FLIGHT ENGINEERS Part 2 (16:9 version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvePC...



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Friday, 4 April 2014


After considerable frustration, Gary Sommerville finally ‘cracked the code’ and has been able to upload 70 items from his invaluable collection of historic aviation videos to ‘YouTube’.

As it takes around 103 minutes to upload 100mb, his first video AKL-NAN-AKL  Pt 1 of 2 (620mb), took 10 hours and 43 minutes to upload (For a ‘YouTube’ video clip that runs for less than 9 minutes.)

Add to that, the hours/days/weeks/months/years Gary has taken to convert his original Handy Cam video tapes from the pre-digital analogue format to the current digital age format, then factor in his time taken


·         editing out rubbish shots (shoes/pavements/cockpit floors/crotches etc.),

·         then acquiring a suitable programme to make movies

·         learning its use this digital editing software programme

·         enduring many foul ups and expletive laden language.

·         to eventually provide easy internet access to these remarkable video clips via ‘YouTube’.

Unfortunately, since ‘YouTube’ has strict restrictions on size/time/resolution of video uploads, this has necessitated breaking some of Gary’s longer videos into more than one part.

Full screen viewing quality is also affected by these ‘YouTube’ restrictions as will be the level of definition delivered by each viewer’s computer monitor/screen.

To those of you who feature in these historic videos and may wish to have their own copy, in the future Gary hopes to be able make the full length videos available in higher resolution, on USB memory sticks which will be able to be plugged into most High Definition (HD) TV sets.

If you are tempted to criticise the sometimes lower standard of these old films, please keep in mind the inferior quality of 1980’s Handy-Cams (tapes/non-digital).

Also, these video tapes being Metal Particle were prone to emulsion shedding after multiple re-plays, thereby causing loss of colour in some instances and in rare cases, total loss of audio. The recording quality of the analogue video Handy-Cams from that era were not great in low light conditions either.

What Gary has to offer is a series of 70 video film cameos that fortunately record some of the history of our era of Air New Zealand’s Flight Engineers......

Obviously this was before glass screen cockpits..... and features real stick and rudder stuff..... no joystick controls here.

Being filmed/videoed by an operating crew member (on supplemented crews) means that the continuity of these movies is restricted by en-route operational requirements, hence Gary makes no claim to achieving 'Oscar Award' quality with these productions.

There are heaps of videos going to unique places such as Kai Tak in Hong Kong – Narita – Los Angeles – Tahiti and more.

Gary intends to post his videos on ‘YouTube’ in the ‘Unlisted’ category (As opposed to 'Public' or 'Private').
  

By using this ‘Unlisted’  ‘YouTube’ category, it will ensure that the general public do not have ready access to these videos, but those who visit this webpage will be able to easily view them.

Posting these 'YouTube' video website links via our 
http://flight-engineers-air-nz.blogspot.co.nz/p/historic-aviation-vdeos.html
ensures that only those within our aviation community will have easy access.

If anyone within our aviation community does wish to share these website links with family and friends, Gary has no problem with that.

   




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Brief description of video content

As all of these videos were filmed by an operating crew member on flight sectors that required a supplemented crew, operational requirements always took precedence. Any filming could only take place when it was safe and opportune to do so.  

Because of these constraints, some of these video offerings may lack ideal continuity.

The FROM-TO sector(s) completed, along with the dates, and names of all of the Flight Deck crew members have been included in this list, plus a brief description of the video content. (Not all of the crew members have been captured during filming, but all are listed as they were on-board as a vital part of the team.)

On some sectors filming begins at the beginning, and ends at the end, whilst others start near the arrival end (typically just prior to Top of Descent) and may continue to the landing and taxi to gate.

Some videos portray interesting locations en-route to destination while others include leisure activities at various stopover places.

Some scences filmed by other crew members during crew change-over.

The intent of these videos was to capture working environment cameos from that era in which FLIGHT ENGINEERS played such an important role in the aircraft’s operation and in ensuring safe conduct of flight.

ITEMS of SPECIAL INTEREST.... Videos 23-27, 37-39, 41, 61-68, feature the now defunct airfield of KAI TAK Hongkong (HKG) ranked as the world’s sixth most dangerous airport.

Click on any Click Here to access the individual http://youtube videos. 


Video N°
of 70
Video Title &Contents
Run Time
Hrs/Min/Sec
Crew
1

AKL-NAN-AKL.  17-18 May 1989. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Flight Engineer walk-around check. - Pre-flight cockpit procedures. - Taxi and take-off from Auckland. - Climb out. – A portion in cruise and initiation of descent.
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.08.57
Ken Mulgrew
Keith Skilling
Grant Alexander
Gary Sommerville
2

AKL-NAN-AKL.  17-18 May 1989. Part 2 of 2.
Descent to Nandi continues. Landing and taxi to gate. Scenes in and around Sheraton Hotel Nandi. Next day starts during climb out of Nandi. Descent, Landing and taxi to gate at Auckland.
End.
Run Time
00.09.42
Ken Mulgrew
Keith Skilling
Grant Alexander
Gary Sommerville
3

AKL-HNL-LAX.  14-17 June 1989. Part 1 of 2.
Start:  On final approach to HNL. Shot of United Airlines aircraft which lost a cargo door in flight. Waikiki area – beach scenes – street scenes.
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.13.36
Mike Enright
Alan White
Phil Monks
Gary Sommerville
4

AKL-HNL-LAX. 14-17 June 1989. Part 2 of 2.
In cruise HNL-LAX and passing a USAF Starlifter. Approach via Catalina Island- Seal Beach-Landing LAX.
End.
Run Time
00.06.27
Mike Enright
Phil Monks
Gary Sommerville
5

LAX-HNL.  18 June 1989.
Start:  In Crew transport on 405 Freeway, for American Airlines DC-10-10 positioning flight LAX-HNL. A daylight sector.
End.
Run Time
00.10.02
Mike Enright
Phil Monks
Gary Sommerville
6

AKL-BNE-AKL.   02 July 1989. Part 1 of 3.
Start: Ramp scenes AKL. Flight Engineer walk-around. Engine starting procedure. Taxi. Take-Off. Cruise.
Continued in Part 2 of 3.
Run Time
00.08.26
Ross Johnson
Trevor Lawson
Dennis Webb
Gary Sommerville
7

AKL-BNE-AKL.   02 July 1989. Part 2 of 3.
Cruise. Descent to BNE. Landing at Brisbane’s new airport, then taxi 5km to old Eagle Farm Terminal Building.
Continued in Part 3 of 3.
Run Time
00.09.49
Ross Johnson
Trevor Lawson
Dennis Webb
Gary Sommerville
8

AKL-BNE-AKL.   02 July 1989. Part 3 of 3.
Cockpit pre-flight scenes BNE. Climb out scenes. Descent for late afternoon arrival runway 23 AKL.  
Click Here                              
End.
Run Time
00.09.35
Ross Johnson
Trevor Lawson
Dennis Webb
Gary Sommerville
9

AKL-SIN. 04 July 1989. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Video is more about weather & Indonesian volcanoes, more than 350, including 127 active in 1989. Starts over Australia’s Great Barrier reef just prior to Townsville, across the Gulf of Carpentaria, abeam Darwin then up the Indonesian volcano chain to Singapore.
Click Here                                          
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.11.22
Adrian Gilbert
Dave Earle
Mark Rainbow
Gary Sommerville
Greg Quinn
10

AKL-SIN. 04 July 1989. Part 2 of 2.
Journey continues with Descent – Approach and Landing at Changi Airport Singapore. 
End.
Run Time
00.10.36
Adrian Gilbert
Dave Earle
Mark Rainbow
Gary Sommerville
Greg Quinn
11

AKL-MEL-AKL. 12 July 1989. Part 1 of 2.
Start: This video depicts a typical 9 hour day for a B747 crew operating a ‘Double Banger’ from New Zealand to Australia and return. Part 1 covers the AKL-MEL sector.
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.14.16
Al Martin
Dave Thomas
Vern Reynolds
Gary Sommerville
12

AKL-MEL-AKL. 12 July 1989. Part 1 of 2.
1½ hour turn-around in Melbourne. Tarmac scenes and aircraft interior activities prior to passenger loading. Climb-Out. Cruise activities. Night descent and landing AKL.
End.
Run Time
00.14.51
Al Martin
Dave Thomas
Vern Reynolds
Gary Sommerville
13

AKL-LAX. 27 July 1989.
Start: 27July to 5 August 1989 operated 4 sectors. AKL-LAX.  LAX-HNL.  HNL-LAX. LAX-AKL. Only 3 sectors were filmed. Video starts at sunrise over the Pacific AKL-LAX. Descent and track via Santa Catalina Island – Seal Beach for landing 25L LAX. Airport.
     Continued on LAX-HNL-LAX 30 July 1989-01 August 1989.
Run Time
00.13.56
Ray Gauden-Ing
Mark Rainbow
Gary Sommerville
Supernumerary
Mark Mullins
Dave Wilson
14

LAX-HNL-LAX.  30 July 1989 – 01 August 1989. Part 1 of 2.
Waikiki Honolulu. The following day HNL-LAX commencing in cruise passing the islands of Hawaii. Descent-Approach-Landing LAX via Ventura-Santa Monica. Runway 24R.
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.09.22
Ray Gauden-Ing
Mark Rainbow
Gary Sommerville
15

LAX-HNL-LAX.  30 July 1989 – 01 August 1989. Part 2 of 2.
Day off in Los Angeles. A tour of the outskirts of LAX videoing aircraft movements. A visit to the Huntington Library.         
End.
Run Time
00.9.23
Ray Gauden-Ing
Mark Rainbow
Gary Sommerville
16

AKL-NRT. 21 October 1989. Part 1 of 2.
Start: In cruise approaching New Caledonia. Passing over the Solomon Islands. Negotiating the I.T.C.Z. Night descent to landing NRT.
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.14.44
John Eaton.
Arthur Dovey
Graeme Palliser
Gary Sommerville
Graham Corkill.
17

AKL-NRT. 21 October 1989. Part 2 of 2.
Day off in Narita. Visit to Narita village. Visit to Narita airport to video airport activity in daylight as most of our arrivals and departures are after dark.
End.
Run Time
00.13.59
John Eaton.
Arthur Dovey
Graeme Palliser
Gary Sommerville
Graham Corkill.
18

NRT-CHC-AKL. 24 October 1989.
Start: Return journey after AKL-NRT 21 October 1989. Pre-flight activities. Engine Starts. Taxi. Take-Off.  10½ hours later in CRZ over North Island NZ heading for CHC. Turn-around followed by CHC-AKL sector.
Click Here                                                   
End.
Run Time
00.14.21
John Eaton.
Arthur Dovey
Graeme Palliser
Gary Sommerville
Graham Corkill.
19

AKL-SIN-CHC-AKL. 27-29 November 1989. Part 1 of 2.
Start: AKL-SIN route was via overhead SYD on the east coast & Derby on the west coast. Unusual event occurred nearing SYD when, due to un-notified Military activity, we were required to do a 15 minute, 360° orbit at 35,000 feet before clearance was given to enter overland Australia. An extra two and a half tonnes of our reserves fuel was burnt accomplishing the orbit. 
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.14.40
Garry Wright
Peter Bradfield
Steve Opie
Gary Sommerville
Noel Petersen
20

AKL-SIN-CHC-AKL. 27-29 November 1989. Part 2 of 2.
Singapore day off. Look around Orchard road/Scott’s road area and Singapore harbour area. SIN-CHC sector. Journey also unusual. Planned SIN-CHC via overhead Jakarta (Java) - Port Hedland (west coast of Australia) - Adelaide South Australia - Melbourne Victoria - across the Tasman Sea to Christchurch.  
Click Here                                                                                                         
End.
Run Time
00.14.09
Garry Wright
Peter Bradfield
Steve Opie
Gary Sommerville
Noel Petersen
21

AKL-NRT-CHC-AKL. 7-10 January 1990. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Night arrival in NRT. Day off journey to Choshi fishing port on the Chiba Peninsula.                                                  
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.14.22
Graham McLeod
Barbara Thomson
Peter Bradfield 
Gary Sommerville
Murray Rutherfurd
22

AKL-NRT-CHC-AKL. 7-10 January 1990. Part 2 of 2.
NRT-CHC-AKL. Pre-flight tarmac scenes at Narita. Transit turn-around in CHC. Cabin cleaners doing a fine job. View from Passenger cabin en-route CHC-AKL.                                                                     
End.
Run Time
00.07.39
Graham McLeod
Barbara Thomson
Peter Bradfield 
Gary Sommerville
Murray Rutherfurd
23

AKL-HKG. 25 January 1990. Part 1 of 3.
Start: High-weight take-off AKL, then crossing Australian coast at Surfers Paradise. Over land to Darwin.
Continued in Part 2 of 3.
Run Time
00.09.48
Graham McLeod
Brad Bason
Gil Lockington
Gary Sommerville
Kevin Kennedy
24

AKL-HKG. 25 January 1990. Part 2 of 3.
Top of Descent and Descent to Approach over Cheung Chau Island – Lantau Island. I.G.S Approach to Chequer Board turn. Landing runway 13 Kai Tak. Taxi to Gate. All in daylight.
Continued in Part 3 of 3.
Run Time
00.14.54
Graham McLeod
Brad Bason
Gil Lockington
Gary Sommerville
Kevin Kennedy
25

AKL-HKG. 25 January 1990. Part 3 of 3.
Day off in Hong Kong. Visit to the Chequer Board. Aircraft approaching Chequer Board and landing runway 13, Kai Tak.
End.
Run Time
00.09.12
Graham McLeod
Brad Bason
Gil Lockington
Gary Sommerville
Kevin Kennedy
26

HKG. 25 January 1990. Stopover. Part 1 of 2.
Start: This and the following video is a continuation of the layover in Hong Kong following the AKL-HKG journey of
25 January 1989. Street scenes in the Mong Kok area. Ride on the Peak Tram.                                 
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.10.22
Graham McLeod
Brad Bason
Gil Lockington
Gary Sommerville
Kevin Kennedy
27

HKG. 25 January 1990. Stopover. Part 2 of 2.
Visit to Aberdeen Fish Market. Boat tour of Aberdeen Boat harbour with House Boats etc. Visit to Stanley village.         
End.
Run Time
00.13.15
Graham McLeod
Brad Bason
Gil Lockington
Gary Sommerville
Kevin Kennedy
28

AKL-SIN. 05 February 1990.
Start: A very short video of final approach to landing. Landing not recorded.
End.
Run Time
00.07.02
Peter Grundy
Bob LeGrice
Dick Yeoman
Gary Sommerville
Ross Gillespie
29

AKL-LAX-YVR. 17-19 February 1990. Part 1 of 3.
Start: On approach to LAX on a wet afternoon. Landing on runway 25L and taxi to gate.
Continued in Part 2 of 3.
Run Time
00.04.22
Bruce Johnston
Chris Hyland
Dave Thomas
Gary Sommerville
Barry Davis
30

AKL-LAX-YVR. 17-19 February 1990. Part 2 of 3.
This journey was unusual for Air NZ in this era as nearly 100% of our departures from LAX were after dark. This is a mid-afternoon departure from 25R. Starts with busy tarmac activity around the aircraft, followed by take-off and initial climb.
Continued in Part 3 of 3.
Run Time
00.10.54
Bruce Johnston
Chris Hyland
Dave Thomas
Gary Sommerville
Barry Davis
31

AKL-LAX-YVR. 17-19 February 1990. Part 3 of 3.
Continuing climb. Mid-winter, snow covered mountains. Frozen Lake Tahoe etc. Night Approach and landing in snow covered Vancouver International. Wings being de-iced before take-off for HNL.
End.
Run Time
00.11.55
Bruce Johnston
Chris Hyland
Dave Thomas
Gary Sommerville
Barry Davis
32

Long Beach Airport 08Mar90-Goodyear Blimp 20 April 1990. Start: Los Angeles stopover activity. A visit to the airport boundary of Long Beach Airport during the period McDonnell/Douglas were building the first two MD-11s, followed by visit to the Goodyear Blimp Airfield.                    
End.
Run Time
00.09.25
Peter Grundy
Mike McLeay
Guy Clapshaw.
Gary Sommerville
Dave Strongman
33

AKL-SYD-AKL. 28 March 1990. Part 1 of 4.
Start: Perry Wilkins retirement flight. Starts in Flight Despatch. Engine starts – Push Back – Taxi – Take-off – Climb to Top of Climb.                                                         
Continued in Part 2 of 4.
Run Time
00.10.18
Perry Wilkins
Mal Morters
Gary Sommerville
Murray Pollard
34

AKL-SYD-AKL. 28 March 1990. Part 2 of 4.
Descent and full Approach to runway 16 SYD. Landing and taxi to gate.                                                     
Continued in Part 3 of 4.
Run Time
00.13.06
Perry Wilkins
Mal Morters
Gary Sommerville
Murray Pollard
35

AKL-SYD-AKL. 28 March 1990. Part 3 of 4.
Push-back – Engine starts –Taxi – Take-off – Initial climb. 
Continued in Part 4 of 4.
Run Time
00.10.57
Perry Wilkins
Mal Morters
Gary Sommerville
Murray Pollard
36

AKL-SYD-AKL. 28 March 1990. Part 4 of 4.
Continue climb to cruise altitude. Night Descent – Approach & Landing at AKL.
End.
Run Time
00.11.52
Perry Wilkins
Mal Morters
Gary Sommerville
Murray Pollard
37

AKL-HKG-AKL. 08-12 April 1990. Part 1 of 3.
Start: Starts over the Coral Sea and passing the Bellona Reefs. Route takes us overhead Port Moresby, the New Guinea Highlands and up the Philippines island chain to Top of Descent HKG.                                                           
Click Here                                                                
Continued in Part 2 of 3.
Run Time
00.12.34
Dick Ingham
Brian Grierson
Phil Rowan
Gary Sommerville
Ross Gosling
38

AKL-HKG-AKL. 08-12 April 1990. Part 2 of 3.
I.G.S.  Approach and Landing runway 13 Kai Tak. Dusk. Lead in Strobes evident. Taxi to Gate.              
Continued in Part 3 of 3.
Run Time
00.13.32
Dick Ingham
Brian Grierson
Phil Rowan
Gary Sommerville
Ross Gosling
39

AKL-HKG-AKL. 08-12 April 1990. Part 3 of 3.
Pre-flight cockpit procedures – Taxi – Take-off, Kai Tak.
Click Here                                                                                              

End.
Run Time
00.10.51
Dick Ingham
Brian Grierson
Phil Rowan
Gary Sommerville
Ross Gosling
40

AKL-SYD. 17 August 1990.
Start: Descent and Approach for a night landing at SYD.
End.
Run Time
00.11.23
Peter Muir
Steve Chilcott
Gary Sommerville
Colin Church
41

AKL-HKG 19 August 1990.
Start: Top of descent for Kai Tak Runway 31, through the Lei Yue Mun Gap. Daylight arrival. Taxi to Gate.             
End.
Run Time
00.14.48
Bob Stevenson
Peter Clulow
Chris Hawkins
Gary Sommerville
Alan Carbines
42

AKL-NRT-CHC-AKL. 23-25 September 1990. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Climb out from AKL over top of North Island. Night arrival NRT and taxi to Gate. 
Click Here                                                      
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.10.09
Brian Ruffell
Mike Bouman
Phil Hyland
Gary Sommerville
Brian Schou
43

AKL-NRT-CHC-AKL. 23-25 September 1990. Part 2 of 2.
NRT-AKL-CHC. Starts over top of North Island NZ. Descent-Approach – Landing CHC.  Passenger sector to AKL.
End.
Run Time
00.13.56
Brian Ruffell
Mike Bouman
Phil Hyland
Gary Sommerville
Brian Schou
44

AKL-NAN-HNL. 01 October 1990.
Start: On descent to HNL. Approach via Barbers Point for Runway 8L. Landing-Taxi to Gate.  Crew transport to Waikiki.
End.
Run Time
00.13.11
Graeme Webster
Peter Hodgson
Eric Meridith
Graeme Wood
Gary Sommerville
45

AKL-PPT. 15 October 1990.
Start: Finals for runway 04 Tahiti. Crew transport to Beachcomber Hotel. Scenes around the hotel.                       
End.
Run Time
00.14.42
Russell Stewart
Mike Bouman
Gary Sommerville
46

AKL-NRT. 23 October 1990.
Start: Climb out from Auckland. Flight over the Solomon Islands, Henderson Field, Honiara. Russell Islands. Satawan and Etal atolls. The Doldrums. Mariana Islands. Night descent-approach-landing NRT and taxi to gate.                                    
End.
Run Time
00.10.59
Gordon Spence
Tony Cookson
Steve Chilcott
Gary Sommerville Graeme Jacobson
47

AKL-LAX. 02 November 1990. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Descent and inbound LAX via Catalina Island-Seal Beach.    
                                                                      
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.08.40
Max Brister
Max Jack
Steve Chilcott
Gary Sommerville
Paul Wylie
48

AKL-LAX. 02 November 1990. Part 2 of 2.
Approach continues to land LAX Runway 25L. Hold between runways awaiting clearance to taxi to gate in the Alleyway.
End.
Run Time
00.10.09
Max Brister
Max Jack
Steve Chilcott
Gary Sommerville
Paul Wylie
49

LAX-YVR-HNL. 04 November 1990.
Start: Continuation of AKL-LAX 02 November 1990 duty.
At cruise altitude flying north to Vancouver. Very late afternoon. Passing cross-traffic for Pacific destinations. Night Approach and Landing YVR.  Cruise-Descent –Landing and taxi to gate HNL on a wet night.                                                        
End.
Run Time
00:14:01
Gordon Spence
Guy Clapshaw
Brian Grierson
Gary Sommerville Graham Jacobson
50

AKL-LAX. 16 November 1990. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Detailed Approach from Santa Catalina via Seal Beach to Landing and holding between runways 25L & 25R. 
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.10.26
Doug Saunders
Eric Meridith
Neville Hooper
Gary Sommerville
Alan Robinson
51

AKL-LAX. 16 November 1990. Part 2 of 2.
Holding between runways 25L & 25R LAX. Taxiing to Northern Complex Gate.                                                                              
End.
Run Time
00.13.23
Doug Saunders
Eric Meridith
Neville Hooper
Gary Sommerville
Alan Robinson
52

AKL-HKG. 6-10 December 1990. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Night time Descent-Approach-Landing, runway 13 Kai Tak and taxi to gate.                                                                             
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.13.25
Adrian Gilbert
Roger Peart
Russell Thorne
Gary Sommerville
Noel Farquhar
53

AKL-HKG. 6-10 December 1990. Part 2 of 2.
Stop over activity. Bus ride over Hong Kong Island to Stanley village and return to Central via new cross-island tunnel
End.
Run Time
00.11.36
Adrian Gilbert
Roger Peart
Russell Thorne
Gary Sommerville
Noel Farquhar
54

AKL-BNE-AKL. 24 September 1994. Part 1 of 2.
Start: ‘Double Banger’ across the Tasman Sea. Starts during pre-flight cockpit preparations and continues to Top of Descent.
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.14.09
Bob Stevenson
Brian Grierson
Murray Pollard
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville 
55

AKL-BNE-AKL. 24 September 1994. Part 2 of 2.
Continues from Top of Descent to landing at new Brisbane airport, followed by extended taxi to old airport Terminal.
Preparations for return leg to AKL. 
End.
Run Time
00.14.06
Bob Stevenson
Brian Grierson
Murray Pollard
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville 
56

AKL-NAN-HNL-AKL. 07-11 December 1995. Part 1 of 2.
Start: Night Approach starts at Barbers Point for landing on Runway 4R HNL and taxi to gate 26. After sunrise a look around the room in the Ilikai Hotel.                                                     
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.10.37
Graeme Stillwell
Owen Waters
Murray Campbell-Cree
Dave MacPherson
Bill Cobb
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
57

AKL-NAN-HNL-AKL. 07-11 December 1995. Part 2 of 2.
Just before dawn HNL and preparations being made for departure to AKL. 5 mile taxi to Reef runway 8R. Take-off and climb out and observing brilliant sunrise.                                       
End.
Run Time
00.12.40
Graeme Stillwell
Owen Waters
Murray Campbell-Cree
Dave MacPherson
Bill Cobb
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
58

NAN-NRT-AKL. 24 July 1995. Part 1 of 3.
Start: Pre-flight preparations Nandi. Take-off and climb out. Cruise level over Nauru Island. Descent to 10,000 feet.
                                                                 
Continued in Part 2 of 3.
Run Time
00.12.13
Chris Regnault
Paul Greenstreet
John Robertson
John Naish
Alan Robinson Supernumerary
Mick Taylor
Gary Sommerville
59

NAN-NRT-AKL. 24 July 1995. Part 2 of 3.
Descent continues to Approach and Landing at NRT. Taxi to gate. Boarding crew bus and checking into hotel.         
                                                                   
Continued in Part 3 of 3.
Run Time
00.12.17
Chris Regnault
Paul Greenstreet
John Robertson
John Naish
Alan Robinson Supernumerary
Mick Taylor
Gary Sommerville
60

NAN-NRT-AKL. 24 July 1995. Part 3 of 3.
Stopover activity. Visit to Narita Village and Narita-San Temple and gardens. Departure preparations and take-off from Narita. Daylight departure.                                                                      

End.
Run Time
00.14.19
Chris Regnault
Paul Greenstreet
John Robertson
John Naish
Alan Robinson Supernumerary
Mick Taylor
Gary Sommerville
61

AKL-HKG. 06 February 1997. Part 1 of 4.
Start: Top of descent into Kai Tak runway 13. Wet night. Previous aircraft overshoot. Descent continues to 4,500 feet.  
                                                                   
Continued in Part 2 of 4.
Run Time
00.11.05
Peter Waller
Owen Waters
James Dalziell
Gordon Armstrong Clarrie Hislop
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
62

AKL-HKG. 06 February 1997. Part 2 of 4.
Descent continues to landing on a wet runway 13. Taxi to gate.
                                                                        

Continued in Part 3 of 4.
Run Time
00.08.28
Peter Waller
Owen Waters
James Dalziell
Gordon Armstrong Clarrie Hislop
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
63

AKL-HKG. 06 February 1997. Part 3 of 4.
Regal Hotel Causeway Bay room. Next day visit to Chequer Board to watch landings on runway 13. 07 February 1997. Chinese New Year. The Year of the Ox. Celebrations in hotel foyer. Visit to Stanley village.                                                  
Continued in Part 4 of 4.
Run Time
00.14.28
Peter Waller
Owen Waters
James Dalziell
Gordon Armstrong Clarrie Hislop
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
64

AKL-HKG. 06 February 1997. Part 4 of 4.
After a 100 year lease, the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong was handed back to China on 30 June 1997----five months after this video was taken. This firework display was part of the final Chinese New Year celebration after 100 years of British rule. The next day a tour of Hong Kong’s underground railway system. Pre-flight preparation for departure for AKL.            
End.
Run Time
00.14.55
Peter Waller
Owen Waters
James Dalziell
Gordon Armstrong Clarrie Hislop
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
65

AKL-HKG. 20 July 1997. Part 1 of 4.
Start: Approach to landing on runway 13. View of the new Tsing Ma Suspension Bridge. Following lead-in strobe lights to landing and then taxi to gate.                
Continued in Part 2 of 4.
Run Time
00.14.56
Mike Johnson
Duncan McLean
Dave Iles
Noel Petersen
Alan Bradbury
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
66

AKL-HKG. 20 July 1997. Part 2 of 4.
Visit to Chequer Board to watch runway 13 approaches and landings. A walk from Chequer Board to threshold of runway 13. A harbour ferry ride to Lantau Island and a bus ride to view Chek Lap Kok airport under construction and a bus ride over the new Tsing Ma Suspension Bridge.  
Continued in Part 3 of 4.
Run Time
00.14.40
Mike Johnson
Duncan McLean
Dave Iles
Noel Petersen
Alan Bradbury
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
67

AKL-HKG. 20 July 1997. Part 3 of 4.
Bus ride over the new Tsing Ma Suspension Bridge continues to Tsuen Wan. View of Causeway Bay area from atop Regal Hotel. Train trip around perimeter of Hong Kong Harbour to film Kai Tak from various angles.
Continued in Part 4 of 4.
Run Time
00.14.31
Mike Johnson
Duncan McLean
Dave Iles
Noel Petersen
Alan Bradbury
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
68

AKL-HKG. 20 July 1997. Part 4 of 4.
Viewing Kai Tak from different vantage points continues.
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                 
End.
Run Time
00.14.34
Mike Johnson
Duncan McLean
Dave Iles
Noel Petersen
Alan Bradbury
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
69

AKL-NRT. 30 December 1997. Part 1 of 2.
Start: In cruise over the Mariana Trench. Passing Saipan, Tinian and other volcanic islands. Descent-Approach in Low Minima Weather conditions.                                                                   
Continued in Part 2 of 2.
Run Time
00.13.52
Riley Bell
Chris Robinson
Tony Fitzpatrick
Warwick Underwood Don Kirk
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville
70

AKL-NRT. 30 December 1997. Part 2 of 2.
Low Minima Approach continues to landing at NRT. Taxi to gate. APU fails to start. Parking and shutdown. Automatic train ride to other Terminal Customs Hall. Preparations on a snowy evening for departure to AKL.                                                     
End.
Run Time
00:18:17.

Riley Bell
Chris Robinson
Tony Fitzpatrick
Warwick Underwood Don Kirk
Supernumerary
Gary Sommerville


Total viewing time for 70 videos.
13hrs:35:30


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7 August 2013

This fascinating 12 minute clip was the very first we posted to this website from Gary Sommerville’s invaluable collection of historic “AIR NEW ZEALAND’s Flight Engineer’s Era videos”.

Dennis Webb has spent untold hours editing and enhancing this grainy old 1994 analogue Video. 

Note that this remarkable video was also converted from 4:3 to 16:9 display format to make it suitable for viewing on any big screen TV’s using applications such as ‘Apple TV’  http://www.apple.com/nz/appletv/what-is/



Click here to view >>>  AKL - BNE 24th August 1994


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 Another clip from Gary Sommerville’s invaluable collection of historic “AIR NEW ZEALAND’s Flight Engineer’s Era videos”.

A nostalgic video looking at Honolulu during layovers circa 1989 - 1994



Click here to view >>> HNL Hawaii

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