Wellington to Gisborne in the Beech Baron G58 with FS2020

[vondrinkoften]

Continuing on from my last stop-over at Wellington International (NZWN) this leg of the flight would take us up the East coast of the North Island to Napier (NZNR) before heading to our final destination at Gisborne (NZGS)

Having put the elderly Twin Beech 18 away, it was out with the old and in with the new for this leg in the form of one of the default aircraft... The Beechcraft Baron G58!
Having not flown it before, I figured now was a good a time as any to put it through its paces with one of the longer legs of this tour of the North Island.
I thought it would also be interesting to compare the two Beechcraft to each other.


The cockpit; vastly different from the older Model 18 and quite bare in comparison




Ready to depart Wellington (NZWN) via runway 34. Another fairly calm day.




Climbing out




Switched to NAV mode, and set the auto pilot to climb to 8000ft at a brisk 800ft per min to clear the mountains to the East of the airport.




Looking back toward Lake Onoke




Heading North Northwest for Napier




Manurewa Point




Looking up the coast towards the community of Martinborough






The Central Hawkes Bay (NZ wine country) off in the distance






The mouth of the Mataikona River lies directly off of our right wing




Castle Point and deliverance Cove






The mouth of the Whakataki River




Continuing North towards Napier






Cape Turnaround on the coast up ahead




Porangahau Beach






Horseshoe Lake and the Tukituki River




Bare Island while further along the coast to the North lies the settlement of Waimarama




Approaching Cape Kidnappers, while off to the left the Tukituki River continues




Passing over Cape Kidnappers




The city of Napier. ATC gave us clearance to land on runway 34 (NZNR)




On final



and down...




before departing once more on runway 34




Climbing out of Napier (NZNR)




Passing over the mouth of the Esk River as we make our way towards Gisborne




Passing over the Aropaoanui River




The Mohaka River






Up ahead lies the settlement of Wairoa along side of the Wairoa River




Mahia Beach lies directly ahead, which upon reaching will be our reference point to start our descent and turn towards Gisborne








Approaching Young Nicks Head




Lined up on Gisborne airport (NZGS) runway 32




And down once more to end this leg of the journey.




The flightpath taken. Total Flight time of 1 hr 33 mins.




A simple aircraft to fly, with good speed and range... but, while there's nothing wrong with the aircraft or the model, I just personally found it a little dull and boring in comparison to the Model 18.

For the next leg I intend to take a detour out to white Island (off the East coast) before swinging back inland to check out Rotorua, Tauranga and Hamilton before finishing up back at Auckland International to end this tour around the North Island. Depending on how much free time I have, I may try and do them all in the one flight, but will see how it goes.
Am open to any suggestions for which (default) aircraft to do it with as well.


Cheers!

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

An interesting operational detail in regard to Gisborne Aerodrome (NZGS): It's the only place in NZ (and few places in the world must exist and to to which what I'm about to relate must apply) where "TRAINS" must obtain "an ATC Ground clearance" to continue their journey either south or south across the aerodrome. As is evident per the following Gisborne Aerodrome Chart the railway tracks actually traverse directly across the 32 end of its 14/32 RWY ....











I have passed through Gisborne "cab riding by train" (during the late 1990's .... and "NO" I'm "NOT" a railways enthusiast it was just an "invitation") to witness this procedure for myself.

Gisborne (and neighboring Napier too) are relatively isolated provincial east coast settlements/towns located on the North Island of NZ, so, both SKED and private traffic there are small and scattered throughout the day. It's by no means a busy field.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[vondrinkoften]

I didn't see the "Fat Controller" or "Thomas the Tank Engine" either. He might of been off in one of the hangers shunting "Gordon"   

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

He might of been off in one of the hangers shunting "Gordon"

Now everyone's aware why I'm "DEFINITELY NOT" a railway enthusiast

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[Herman]

Another very nice flight with the twin Baron G58. Nice airplane. Enjoyed the humor between you and Mark.



I am a bit of a Railway fan. Was at one time thinking of getting the Railway Sim but havn't done so yet.

Herman....CYYZ.