First part still copied and then LIFE AGAIN>>>>HURRAY>>>>>>>
Alphen aan den Rijn Wednesday Januari 5 2011 ritzdeluy@hotmail.com
It was nice to see the face of the custom-guy after arriving in NZ. I had to apply for a temporarily visa and one of the questions was ; Which countries have you visited the last 30 days?
And there I had to fill in ; Holland, Germany, Austria and Australia. He looked at me, smiled and must have thought; Lucky girl!
In the plane I read The Australian and was impressed by the exclusive story by Steve Creedy ,their aviation writer;” How miracle unfolded on A 380!”I share a few things with you.
—-QF 32 departs from Singapore to Sydney on November 4 2010 ,with 5 pilots, 24 cabin crew and 440 passengers at 9.57 AM Singapore time.
Only 4 minutes later a master-warning and multiple error messages.
1 Minute later the crew mentions 2 loud bangs. A warning indicates a fire in engine 2. Crew discharges 2 of the engines fire extinguishers into the engine. They fly back to Shangi Airport and are put in a holding pattern within 50 km of the airport in case it needs to land urgently.The pilots work through a checklist to prepare and stabilize the plane for landing. ONLY one engine is operating normally and braking capacity is reduced. The airbus needs all but 150 m. of the 4000 m. runway to land. A number of moveable wing panels normally used to land the plane [slats, spoilers and ailerons] are also out of action.
The captain Richard de Crespigny, would also need to put the plane down within 8 seconds of it passing through 50 feet and as close as possible to the start of the touch down zone.They had to be gentle and slow and luckily Richard was used as military pilot, to fly aircrafts to the limit.
The crew choose a long 32 km final approach to get the plane stable. The need for fine speed control meant that the Crespigny, kept the thrust levers on engines 1 and 4 in fixed position and used the 3d to control thrust.”I did that technique to purposely not stress the flight controls and to have accurate speed “he said, “We had 100m of excess runway, so we could not go fast and we could not go slow because we would be close to stall”.
He brought the plane to rest about 100 m from the end of the runway and in front of the firebrigade, as they knew fuel was leaking and brakes were hot.
For the Crespigny , the landing was secondary to the massive preparations to ensure it would go safe.
What a hero, as well as the other 5 pilots and when you fly , like I did in a 747-400, you cannot imagine what pilots have to endure when such things happen with so heavy huge planes. I am already amazed to see it go up, with all the luggage people bring in.
LIVE NOW!!!!!
Glad it all seems to work but I still need some more practise and some answers myside ansered and I have to see how the tags work.
Just short for today —overkill kills—, is what they say and I really would like you to read the diary as well.
I promised to share with you what happened oveseas , to make you part of this fabulous trip. Always try to keep my promesses, so here we go:
The continuing diary- story of a marvelous 16 day trip through Australia and New Zealand, for all who are interested.
Last news from the diary was from Springhill, but we left that beautiful estate on Wednesday the 22d of December, after a lovely dinner on a second-floor-restaurant ,looking out over the sea, the evening before.
Plan was to travel with the Saratoga, [Tony’s plane] as it is only a 90 minute trip by air to Hawke’s Bay, but the weather gods were not on our site so we drove by car, with 2 doggies and Emily , Tony and I. A 6 hour trip, but no worries as you see so much more by road. And …the roads in NZ are just fantastic. You can drive over the State Highway number 1 from the North of the Nord Island to the South of the South Island, with a short boat trip between the islands. We did about 1000 km on road. By the way, the North Island has 75 % of the population of NZ and is more tropical, while the South Island is colder specially in winter with snow and Antarctic winds.
From Auckland where the big “Sky- city- tower ” is a real eye –catcher [ saw it with New Year with the spectacular fireworks on TV!] as well as the beautiful Auckland Harbor Bridge, where you can see the harbor , marine and wharf straight away and many great looking yachts, we drove about 110 km to Hamilton, well-known because it is mainly flatland and most of NZ is mountains or ” hilly”.
Hamilton is a Garden City and an advertisement says; “Being New Zealand’s largest inland city , situated on the banks of Waikato River [countries longest river!] Hamilton has a welcoming spirit, rich history and contrasting splendors that await many a visitor”. Could n’t say it better!
From Hamilton we continued to Cambridge, another 80 km. famous for it’s horse -races. Every where you look you see fence and the most beautiful horses.
After about 100 km. we were going to stop at friends living at Lake Taupo. But before , we stopped to see the Huka Falls.
An absolutely powerful waterfall creating power for many in the area. The Waikato River is forced through a narrow rock canyon and then thunders 11 meters down into some kind of pool. Very intense if you stand there and hear and “feel” that power. Weird is that about 100 m. before the fall and 100 m after , the water is just calm , like there is no waterfall in the area.
The weather was indeed less good here and Tony was happy to drive the car. Through real mountain roads ,winding and small we had reached the largest Lake in NZ[619 square km] . This lake is created by a volcanic eruption, so BIG , that the sun went hazy in China!!!
After a cup of tea with Patience and Richard and a sanitary stop for the doggies, we continued our way to Hawkes Bay, via Hastings and Napier, which we both were going to thoroughly visit the next day.
In the evening we arrived at our destination the Tukituki house on the river…. yes the Tukituki, full of the biggest trout, welcomed by the USA friend from Emily, Austin. All tired but happy ,we had an early night, after a good pizza and a perfect bottle of NZ white wine, MMMMMM…those wines are really good! A bit of a scaring wind came up out of the blue, a real blast , wild and noisy, even getting trees out of the ground. Could not believe what I saw. So we are sitting drinking wine , no wind at all and then we have to rush in , because of the power of the wind.
Thursday December 23 ; a very busy day with lot’s of visits to interesting spots to start with a winery, then the cheese factory, the house for honey, Havelock North a lovely town with according to Tony the best coffee and pie and he can know it as he lived there and went there to school
and…..the “Te-Mata Peak” a 1500 ft high mountain with a scaring road to go to the top! But it was worth the effort! Just 360 dgr. of BEAUTY!!!! Amazing! Mountains, green hill’s, town’s, and places enough where hang glider pilots jump from, it was all there to be seen. Breath taking!!!! And…some walk, bike or hike to the top. Not for me!!
Then off to Hastings , the place of the traditional farmers ‘markets and some of the finest wineries. On the way we saw Cape Kidnappers on the other side. This is the home to world’s largest mainland gannet colony and has one of the 50 best golf courses in the world. No club…they count on guests. In Hastings we visited the aero club, place to be for the glider pilots as well. Only power planes were flying , so we went on to the park.
A beautiful park with special trees and very old , also plants, flowers a glass house full of the most beautiful flowers and a Chinese garden.
Time to relax after, with a cool glass of Champagne at the Mission, New Zealand’s oldest winery since 1851, housed in a grand converted seminary nestled in the Taradale Hills above Napier; a characteristic wooden building, built in the past by missionaries and now a restaurant/winery. The garden was full of guests under white marquises, very popular place! Since at least 10 years there are no missionaries there anymore.
After that another highlight; Napier. First we visited Tony’s office where I met his sister Louise, who is running his NZ office. Napier is an ART DECO town and was totally ruined by an earth quake with 7.8 magnitude. It is rebuild in the early 30thies and is called now the Art Deco Capital of the world. Amazingly beautiful, just awesome!
It has a beautiful cathedral called Waiapu Cathedral of St John the Evangelist and seeing the rose-window ,I went in to see it from the inside as well. I liked the text on their flyer; “It is the first cathedral in the world to see each new day.” It has beautiful windows and at the entrance is the foundation stone of the first cathedral dated 1886, which was ruined in the earth quake.
The shopping center, all is in Art Deco style, which features Maori motifs and design elements!
The day was finished with a nice BBQ and both sisters from Tony joined in with their families.
Friday December 24; Last day with Tony and Emily. Time flies so quickly when you have fun!!!! A walk to the Tukituki river with Emily and the dogs while Tony and Austin did their Christmas shopping. The way down was easy but up more difficult, but worthwhile. Such clear water, but no time to experience that excellent trout-fishing. Then in the car and off to Tauranga, [ say Tewronga,] the biggest export harbor in NZ. Lot’s of trees laying there for export and thousands of containers . But before another high light on the way to Tauranga. The real Maori town Roturua. Gosh what a beautiful place. Never thought in my life I could be so exited by “boiling mud”!!!! Every where steam from the ground , spots surrounded by fences to see the boiling water and a smell like sulphur. A real once-in-your-life-time opportunity to see natural wonders so close by. And lucky me I had that opportunity!!!
The Rotorua Musuem looks awesome from outside , and must be very interesting inside, but we had no time to go in. Only today [December 30, 2010] I heard on the radio that an 8 year old boy has fallen in a geyser/spring and died later cooked by the up to 100 dgr. water. Can’t understand how that happened he must have climbed over/on the fence. Terrible!
There is also the Maori town , with a fantastic wooden gate in Maori style. A “must do” experience!!!!!
Another spectacular waterfall on the way and we arrived in Tauranga, where John and Chris were happy to welcome me and Mount Maunganui , one of the most popular destinations in NZ , looked inviting through their windows. Emily, Tony and Austin got a beer, Emily who is as I said earlier a great singer with a beautiful voice [she made a cd already in the USA!] song next to a bronze Mozart in the hall ,an impressive Christmas song [ got tears in my eyes] and then…..we had to say goodbye!!!Difficult…we had an awesome time!!!!!Thank you so much , Emily and Tony, for an unforgettable time!!!
Had not seen the news on TV but saw that Air New Zealand saw the first landing of their first [of 5] Boeing 777-300 at Auckland Airport. The 777 fit-out is codenamed Kupe, after a Maori explorer. Before April 2011 2 more 777’s will arrive. Then John asked me to look at the sky, which I did , but I must have looked dumb, as I did not know what to look at. …..A lenticularis!!!! Not what I was used to a nice oval longer cloud,a bit looking like a spasce-ship, no a huge cloud without beginning or end….a real lenti!!!! Never saw this before!!!! Here I saw the BIG and MIGHTY WHITE CLOUD!!!! And…I saw it every day in Tauranga.
Christmas day December 25; MERRY CHRISTMAS.
It was special to visit Johns office. I always send my column for Gliding International to his office and here I was in the heart of his business. He and Chris with help do everything there, up to plastic covers to wrap the magazine to send it to their readers. Christmas dinner was at 1 and a good friend from the family Rowena arrived to share with us the most delicious seafood platter, and nibbles and desert brought by our guest. Poor Chris started at 6.30 AM with cleaning the gamba’s. A very pleasant get together till 4.30, even with presents for all. Then I looked at the ocean from the balcony looking at the tide which makes the ocean go back , so land is visible like a huge swamp. And….in the morning I had a swim in the pool. Not a normal pool, but one with water up to 40 dgr. pumped up from a hot-spring under the ground. Not a lot of people have such a pool and I was swimming in it both mornings I could. Spoiled ??? ..…yes!
Not a good day for all , as Christchurch was hit by another earth quake. Luckily not a heavy one [ 3 or 4.9 on Richter] but with lots of aftershocks, in fact through the whole day! A cruise ship with lots of guests had just arrived and some buyers in the town got the fright of their life. Saw on TV some Dutch people between them as well.
Sunday December 26; First the online check-in, to travel back the next day. No problem. Then off to Mount Mounganoui, a mountain with “its feet” in the ocean. The mountain is a remain of an old volcanic area and held sacred by the Maori who call this mountain, Mauao. Brunch at a restaurant overlooking the Pacific ocean and the stunning white beaches, a visit to friends and a walk along the sea. A trip by car to see one of the highest points from where you can see Tauranga and it’s surrounding. A visit to the other site of the mountain where Rowena lives and to the gliding Club of Tauranga, but there was a sign behind the window; “Today closed”! John Philips who is in the board of the GI, was the only person I met there. Tauranga has a very pleasant climate with many sub tropical orchards with kiwi fruit, avocado’s and citrus. I saw it all grow!!!
Monday December 27; Early morning and trip at 8.30 AM to Auckland Airport. Farewell to John. Chris brings me! Heavy traffic on the other side of the road. MMmmm… Chris still has to drive back home.
Farewell to Chris …THANK YOU SO MUCH Chris and John, for an awesome Christmas time……and off to Amsterdam via Hongkong.
I loved, the people from New Zealand, so friendly and helpful, warm and caring
I loved the roads in New Zealand , so good and nearly NO roadwork
I loved Roturua, specially the bubbling mud and the steam breaking through the earth
I loved to see with my own eyes… the BIG WHITE CLOUD
I loved Springhill , the Tukituki-house and the Tauranga “palace”
I loved Emily’s wonderful voice
I loved the beautiful green hills on volcanic land
I loved Napier, with its Art Deco style
I loved ALL and everything which impressed me and I have forgotten to mention
Thank you to Chris and John for their warm welcome and the fact that I was allowed to spend Christmas with them.
Thank you to Tony for his invitation to share his country, his family and friends with me. I will support him and Emily to create an Aviation Retreat Base at Springhill , so it becomes a perfect starting point to explore the exceptional beauty of New Zealand and have, along the way, many exciting aviation experiences.
Their view/ dream will follow in one of the next blogs. Stand by.