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The DC-3 Page
ZK-AOI
c/n 34226 NZ3554
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron January-July 1946. To 40 Squadron August 1946-May 1947. To Air
Secretary, Air Department. Converted to DC3 Freighter by De Havilland at Wellington 05 April 1947. SOC Harewood 31 May 1947. To NZNAC as
ZK-AOI 20 June 1947. Withdrawn from service with NAC on 19 July 1966 with a total of 22,758 hours. To James Aviation 16 January 1967.
Converted to topdresser. To Southern Air Super 11 May 1971. Written off in accident near Clarence, South Island on 23 February 1973.
Registration cancelled 10 May 1973.
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ZK-APB
c/n 32693 NZ3534
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.41 Squadron, Whenuapai. Badly damaged at Morotai on 09 September 1945 when a USAAF B-24 taxied into
NZ3534 and NZ3540. Repaired and remained with 41 Squadron as their first C-47 to be used in the air ambulance role. To 40 Squadron 19 June
1946. SOC Harewood 22 March 1947. To NZNAC as ZK-APB on 28 April 1947. Converted to DC3-D by ANA in Australia 06 September 1947.
Withdrawn from service with NAC on 31 August 1965 with a total of 33,685 hours. To Airland (NZ) Ltd. 05 January 1966. To Fieldair 20 February
1978. Withdrawn from use 16 November 1981 with a TTA of 41,588 hours and registration cancelled 19 December 1983. To Wellington 06 March
1985 and used as a restaurant and bar at Mirimar near Wellington. The aircraft has since been dismantled and the nose section is now with the
Sport and Vintage Aviation Society at Masterton
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ZK-APK
c/n 34227 NZ3556
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron January-June 1946. To 40 Squadron June 1946-May 1947. To Air
Secretary, Air Department as ZK-AOK 01 June 1947 but not taken up. Returned RNZAF as NZ3556 11 April 1947. To Air Secretary, Air
Department as ZK-APK on 06 May 1947. Converted to DC3-D by ANA in Australia 29 May 1947. SOC Harewood 31 May 1947. To NZNAC as
ZK-APK on 20 June 1947. Withdrawn from service by NAC in 1962 with a total of 28,711 hours. Converted to DC3-D Skyliner "KAIKOHE" in
Christchurch 28 August 1964. Leased to Fiji Airways as VQ-FAH from 22 May 1967-02 October 1967. Returned to NAC as ZK-APK 02 October
1967. To Airland (NZ) on 11 June 1969 and converted to topdresser. To Fieldair 20 February 1978. Withdrawn from use 03 July 1981.
Registration cancelled 30 March 1984. Towed to Mangaweka 1986 and now in use as a tea room with Rangitikei River Adventures. TTA 42,764
hours.
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ZK-AWO
c/n 33480 NZ3548
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron March 1946-July 1952. SOC 01 July 1952. To NZNAC as ZK-AWO on
11 July 1952. Converted to DC3-C in Palmerston North 03 November 1952. Converted to freighter in Christchurch 29 September 1958.
Withdrawn from NAC service on 05 September 1966 with a total of 24,109 hours. To Airland (NZ) on 12 April 1967. Converted to topdresser. To
Fieldair 20 February 1978. Withdrawn from use 01 March 1984. Registration cancelled 29 May 1985. Aircraft TTA 32846 hours. Nose section
preserved by C. Rudge, Christchurch and on display at Wanaka Transport Museum.
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ZK-AWP
c/n 33135 NZ3542
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.41 Squadron, Whenuapai. Used in Singapore between 1949 and 1951. SOC 03 July 1952. To NZNAC as
ZK-AWP on 03 July 1952. Converted to DC3-C at Palmerston North 23 March 1953. Converted to DC3-C Skyliner "KAITAIA" at Christchurch 09
May 1963. Leased to Polynesian Airlines as 5W-FAI 02 February 1970. Returned to NAC as ZK-AWP on 08 June 1972 and was stored in the open
stripped of it's engines and control surfaces. Converted to topdresser by NAC in March 1973 and flew again on 25 July 1973. Commenced
topdressing with Southern Air Super 03 August 1973. To Fieldair 14 July 1975 as a result of company takeover. Withdrawn from use 27 May
1985 after 6722 hours of topdressing and converted to freighter configuration with Classic Air Services in the latter half of 1986. To Fieldair
Freight, Palmerston North 30 October 1986. Reconverted to passenger configuration in 1993 when the freight operation was wound up. To
Alpine Fighter Collection, Wanaka 27 August 1993 and leased to Classic Air from 11 March 1994. To Mackley Aviation, Auckland 14 December
1995. To NZ Aerial Mapping, Albany, Auckland 28 August 1998. During a major overhaul in 1999 the aircraft was painted in an NAC Skyliner
colour scheme which it retains to this day. Leased to Pionair Adventures, Christchurch from 05 July 2000. To Future Flight Ltd., Ardmore 21
December 2001. To Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch 24 May 2002. Damaged in takeoff accident at Mount Cook 2002 when the aircraft slid
off the runway. Repaired and back in service in Pionair colours. Sold to Peau Vava'u Air, Tonga 2005. Laid idle in Tonga 2006-2009, purchased
by Chathams Air Pacific and is under rebuild to airworthy status January 2010. Amassed nearly 50,000 hours TTA.
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ZK-AZA
c/n 27144 NZ3531
BOC Unit 19 Whenuapai. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To storage 24 May 1946. SOC 31 May 1947. To NZNAC as ZK-AZA on 17 September
1951. Converted to DC3-C at Palmerston North 11 August 1952. Loaned to Fiji Airways as VQ-FAJ. Converted to DC3-C Skyliner "ROTORUA" at
Christchurch 06 September 1963. To NAC as ZK-AZA 06 September 1963. To Fiji Airways as VQ-FBF on 29 September 1967. To Air Pacific as
DQ-FBF on 31 July 1971. Fijian registration cancelled 31 October 1972. Restored to NAC as ZK-AZA 14 December 1972. Converted to
topdresser at Christchurch 06 March 1973. To James Aviation 01 December 1973. WFU 01 October 1979. To Dwen Airmotive 17 July 1983.
Registration cancelled 11 October 1983. Broken up at Ardmore during November 1983 and parts sent to Cook Islands for use in film production.
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ZK-AZL
c/n 16568 NZ3545
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron March 1946-April 1953. First RNZAF aircraft to fly from New Zealand
to the United Kingdom arriving there on 16 March 1947. Served in Singapore 1949-1951. Loaned to NZNAC as ZK-AZL 14 April 1953. Returned to
RNZAF for use during Royal Tour of NZ December 1953-January 1954. Sold to James Aviation 14 May 1954 and converted to aerial topdresser.
Withdrawn from use 04 September 1974. Registration cancelled 06 June 1984. Presented to Clydesdale Museum, Hamilton and presently on
display in James Aviation topdresser colours.
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ZK-BBJ
c/n 34222 NZ3552
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.41 Squadron, Whenuapai. Served in Singapore with 41 Squadron 1950-1951. SOC 03 July 1952. To NZNAC as
ZK-BBJ on 15 July 1952. Converted to DC3-C at Palmerston North 06 June 1953. Converted to DC3-C Skyliner "GISBORNE" at Christchurch 17
March 1964. Leased to Alpine Helicopters 31 August 1970. To Fieldair 29 May 1972. To Speedlink Freight 18 November 1980. To North Shore
Helicopters 19 April 1993. Registration cancelled 14 September 1994 as withdrawn from use. Ferried from Auckland to Cambodia on 21 April
1994 to operate with a New Zealand company carrying out contracts in that country. Ferried to Kenya 1995. Now lying derelict at Mombasa,
Kenya.
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ZK-BKD
c/n 13521
The aircraft was delivered to the USAAF on June 6, 1944. After its war service, it was purchased by Australian National Airlines On Dec 17, 1945.
The aircraft came to New Zealand after being purchased by NAC and was registered on June 27, 1955, and operated as 'Kotare'. Sold to the Mt
Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company on October 25, 1961, it was the first of three DC-3s owned by the company. When the DC-3's were
phased out, BKD went back to NAC (July 3, 1970), but was sold onto Fieldair (July 13, 1970). The aircraft entered service on August 28, 1971 as
the first DC-3 to wear Fieldair titles. After being retired on January 23, 1983 the aircraft was stored at Palmerston North. Acquired for a local
museum, the aircraft was later moved to Rotorua for a proposed museum there, and stored on land opposite the airport. The museum did not
come to pass (Hamish Ross, the owner having been killed in a topdressing accident), and the aircraft was subsequently transported to
Gisborne where it is now positioned on poles at The Smash Palace Wine Bar.
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ZK-BYF
c/n 20051
Built in 1943 and delivered on April 12, 1944, this aircraft served with the US military before being sold to Trans Pacific Airlines in 1953, then
Aloha Airlines in November 1958. Brought to New Zealand on December 4 1960 and registered on February 23 1961 to Rural Aviation, the
aircraft was converted for ag-work in Hong Kong (to James Aviation plans) and brought back to New Zealand on March 4 1961. They passed it
to Airland on August 25 1966 , it was later passed to Fieldair at Palmerston North on February 20 1978. Named 'Kotuku' the aircraft worked as a
top-dresser until it was withdrawn from use on January 20, 1981, when it was retired with a total of 34,891 hours. Purchased in 1982 by John
Regan, the aircraft was transported by road to Lower Hutt where work on restoring the aircraft to wartime configuration was started by the
Silverstream Aeronautical Society. In 1992 the aircraft was transported again by road to Ohakea where further restoration work was completed.
The aircraft was painted as NZ3547 (actually sold to South Africa) and displayed on loan outside the Museum as a 42 SQN aircraft as seen
during the 1960s and 70s. In 1998 this aircraft was removed from display as it had been put up for sale. Purchased by the Gisborne Aviation
Preservation Society (GAPS), it was moved by road to its new home during May 20-22, 2000. The aircraft is currently on display at Gisborne
airfield at the GAPS facility.
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ZK-CAW
c/n 18293
Delivered to the USAAF on Oct 15, 1943, the aircraft was later sent to Australia and for a time loaned to the RAAF. Became VH-ANM with
Australian National Airlines on February 6 1947. Passed through three other Australian Airlines (Queensland Airlines, February, 4 1956;
Ansett-ANA, December 7, 1958 who converted it to viewmaster standard; and Airlines of New South Wales, February 14, 1961) before being
sold to SPANZ in September 1961. It was registered as ZK-CAW on October 13,1961. Imported to New Zealand, the aircraft was operated by
SPANZ as 'George Bolt'. After the collapse of SPANZ, the aircraft passed to NAC on February 28, 1966. The aircraft was subsequently leased to
Fiji airways until Aug 5, 1969, after which it was leased to Mt Cook Airlines. When surplus to requirements, the aircraft was stored in
Christchurch, after which it passed to South Seas Airways sometime before it was registered on May 7, 1971. As the charter company could not
get an operating license, and the aircraft required overhaul, it almost immediately (May 13) went to Fieldair. After conversion, it began ag-work
on November 22, 1972 named 'Whio', and went on to complete 6,286 hours in the role. The aircraft was withdrawn from service on October 29,
1984 having completed 56,282 hours. Sold to Richmond Harding of Wanganui Aero Work on May 28, 1985, the aircraft was towed to Wanganui
where it was proposed to restore the aircraft to airworthiness in passenger configuration. Prohibitive costs meant the plan was abandoned,
and in 1989 the aircraft was towed to Taupo where the aircraft was refurbished, fitted with viewmaster style windows and painted. The
registration was cancelled on July 10, 1990. The aircraft was then displayed in Taupo as a feature of the Aeroplane Car Company's caryard. On
November 6, 1990 the aircraft again went into service, this time as an extension of the MacDonalds restaurant next door.
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ZK-CHV
c/n 34360
Delivered to the USAAF on Oct 5 1945. Later modified as an SC-47. Registered to Aero American Corp of Arizona in 1961, who sold the aircraft
to Airland in June 1964. The aircraft was flown to Christchurch for ag-conversion by NAC and entered service on September 21, 1964 at Napier.
It was entered on the New Zealand register on September 22, 1964. The aircraft passed to Fieldair on February 20, 1978. Withdrawn from use on
March 29, 1979, having completed 18,395 hours (8,962 hours as a topdresser). The aircraft was reduced to spares by Fieldair at Palmerston
North. The derelict fuselage is reported to still be there for use by the rescue service.
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ZK-CQA
c/n 26030
Delivered to the USAAF in September 1944. Later modified as an SC-47. Registered to Aero American Corp of Arizona in 1961, who sold the
aircraft to James Aviation in March 1966. The aircraft was flown to Christchurch for ag-conversion by NAC. Registered on March 25, 1966, it
entered service as James Aviation's second Ag-Dak on August 13, 1966, based at Ardmore. In June 1970 the aircraft was prepared for a COA
overhaul at Rukuhia and found to be in a poor state. It was subsequently sold to Fieldair on an 'as is' basis on August 25, 1970. The aircraft was
withdrawn from use on July 8, 1975, and the registration cancelled on March 11, 1977. The aircraft was reduced to spares by Fieldair at
Palmerston North. The fuselage was given to the Rescue Fire service at Palmerston North. The remains of the fuselage are reported to be at
Ohakea.
Thanks to Phil Treweek, John Andrade, Roy Blewett, Ruud Leeuw, Warwick Blake, Jane Provan and Peter Layne for this info
http://www.adf-serials.com/nz-serials/nz3501.shtml
http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/
c/n 34226 NZ3554
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron January-July 1946. To 40 Squadron August 1946-May 1947. To Air
Secretary, Air Department. Converted to DC3 Freighter by De Havilland at Wellington 05 April 1947. SOC Harewood 31 May 1947. To NZNAC as
ZK-AOI 20 June 1947. Withdrawn from service with NAC on 19 July 1966 with a total of 22,758 hours. To James Aviation 16 January 1967.
Converted to topdresser. To Southern Air Super 11 May 1971. Written off in accident near Clarence, South Island on 23 February 1973.
Registration cancelled 10 May 1973.
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ZK-APB
c/n 32693 NZ3534
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.41 Squadron, Whenuapai. Badly damaged at Morotai on 09 September 1945 when a USAAF B-24 taxied into
NZ3534 and NZ3540. Repaired and remained with 41 Squadron as their first C-47 to be used in the air ambulance role. To 40 Squadron 19 June
1946. SOC Harewood 22 March 1947. To NZNAC as ZK-APB on 28 April 1947. Converted to DC3-D by ANA in Australia 06 September 1947.
Withdrawn from service with NAC on 31 August 1965 with a total of 33,685 hours. To Airland (NZ) Ltd. 05 January 1966. To Fieldair 20 February
1978. Withdrawn from use 16 November 1981 with a TTA of 41,588 hours and registration cancelled 19 December 1983. To Wellington 06 March
1985 and used as a restaurant and bar at Mirimar near Wellington. The aircraft has since been dismantled and the nose section is now with the
Sport and Vintage Aviation Society at Masterton
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-APK
c/n 34227 NZ3556
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron January-June 1946. To 40 Squadron June 1946-May 1947. To Air
Secretary, Air Department as ZK-AOK 01 June 1947 but not taken up. Returned RNZAF as NZ3556 11 April 1947. To Air Secretary, Air
Department as ZK-APK on 06 May 1947. Converted to DC3-D by ANA in Australia 29 May 1947. SOC Harewood 31 May 1947. To NZNAC as
ZK-APK on 20 June 1947. Withdrawn from service by NAC in 1962 with a total of 28,711 hours. Converted to DC3-D Skyliner "KAIKOHE" in
Christchurch 28 August 1964. Leased to Fiji Airways as VQ-FAH from 22 May 1967-02 October 1967. Returned to NAC as ZK-APK 02 October
1967. To Airland (NZ) on 11 June 1969 and converted to topdresser. To Fieldair 20 February 1978. Withdrawn from use 03 July 1981.
Registration cancelled 30 March 1984. Towed to Mangaweka 1986 and now in use as a tea room with Rangitikei River Adventures. TTA 42,764
hours.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-AWO
c/n 33480 NZ3548
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron March 1946-July 1952. SOC 01 July 1952. To NZNAC as ZK-AWO on
11 July 1952. Converted to DC3-C in Palmerston North 03 November 1952. Converted to freighter in Christchurch 29 September 1958.
Withdrawn from NAC service on 05 September 1966 with a total of 24,109 hours. To Airland (NZ) on 12 April 1967. Converted to topdresser. To
Fieldair 20 February 1978. Withdrawn from use 01 March 1984. Registration cancelled 29 May 1985. Aircraft TTA 32846 hours. Nose section
preserved by C. Rudge, Christchurch and on display at Wanaka Transport Museum.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-AWP
c/n 33135 NZ3542
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.41 Squadron, Whenuapai. Used in Singapore between 1949 and 1951. SOC 03 July 1952. To NZNAC as
ZK-AWP on 03 July 1952. Converted to DC3-C at Palmerston North 23 March 1953. Converted to DC3-C Skyliner "KAITAIA" at Christchurch 09
May 1963. Leased to Polynesian Airlines as 5W-FAI 02 February 1970. Returned to NAC as ZK-AWP on 08 June 1972 and was stored in the open
stripped of it's engines and control surfaces. Converted to topdresser by NAC in March 1973 and flew again on 25 July 1973. Commenced
topdressing with Southern Air Super 03 August 1973. To Fieldair 14 July 1975 as a result of company takeover. Withdrawn from use 27 May
1985 after 6722 hours of topdressing and converted to freighter configuration with Classic Air Services in the latter half of 1986. To Fieldair
Freight, Palmerston North 30 October 1986. Reconverted to passenger configuration in 1993 when the freight operation was wound up. To
Alpine Fighter Collection, Wanaka 27 August 1993 and leased to Classic Air from 11 March 1994. To Mackley Aviation, Auckland 14 December
1995. To NZ Aerial Mapping, Albany, Auckland 28 August 1998. During a major overhaul in 1999 the aircraft was painted in an NAC Skyliner
colour scheme which it retains to this day. Leased to Pionair Adventures, Christchurch from 05 July 2000. To Future Flight Ltd., Ardmore 21
December 2001. To Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch 24 May 2002. Damaged in takeoff accident at Mount Cook 2002 when the aircraft slid
off the runway. Repaired and back in service in Pionair colours. Sold to Peau Vava'u Air, Tonga 2005. Laid idle in Tonga 2006-2009, purchased
by Chathams Air Pacific and is under rebuild to airworthy status January 2010. Amassed nearly 50,000 hours TTA.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-AZA
c/n 27144 NZ3531
BOC Unit 19 Whenuapai. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To storage 24 May 1946. SOC 31 May 1947. To NZNAC as ZK-AZA on 17 September
1951. Converted to DC3-C at Palmerston North 11 August 1952. Loaned to Fiji Airways as VQ-FAJ. Converted to DC3-C Skyliner "ROTORUA" at
Christchurch 06 September 1963. To NAC as ZK-AZA 06 September 1963. To Fiji Airways as VQ-FBF on 29 September 1967. To Air Pacific as
DQ-FBF on 31 July 1971. Fijian registration cancelled 31 October 1972. Restored to NAC as ZK-AZA 14 December 1972. Converted to
topdresser at Christchurch 06 March 1973. To James Aviation 01 December 1973. WFU 01 October 1979. To Dwen Airmotive 17 July 1983.
Registration cancelled 11 October 1983. Broken up at Ardmore during November 1983 and parts sent to Cook Islands for use in film production.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-AZL
c/n 16568 NZ3545
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.40 Squadron, Whenuapai. To 41 Squadron March 1946-April 1953. First RNZAF aircraft to fly from New Zealand
to the United Kingdom arriving there on 16 March 1947. Served in Singapore 1949-1951. Loaned to NZNAC as ZK-AZL 14 April 1953. Returned to
RNZAF for use during Royal Tour of NZ December 1953-January 1954. Sold to James Aviation 14 May 1954 and converted to aerial topdresser.
Withdrawn from use 04 September 1974. Registration cancelled 06 June 1984. Presented to Clydesdale Museum, Hamilton and presently on
display in James Aviation topdresser colours.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-BBJ
c/n 34222 NZ3552
BOC No.1 ASU Hamilton. To No.41 Squadron, Whenuapai. Served in Singapore with 41 Squadron 1950-1951. SOC 03 July 1952. To NZNAC as
ZK-BBJ on 15 July 1952. Converted to DC3-C at Palmerston North 06 June 1953. Converted to DC3-C Skyliner "GISBORNE" at Christchurch 17
March 1964. Leased to Alpine Helicopters 31 August 1970. To Fieldair 29 May 1972. To Speedlink Freight 18 November 1980. To North Shore
Helicopters 19 April 1993. Registration cancelled 14 September 1994 as withdrawn from use. Ferried from Auckland to Cambodia on 21 April
1994 to operate with a New Zealand company carrying out contracts in that country. Ferried to Kenya 1995. Now lying derelict at Mombasa,
Kenya.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-BKD
c/n 13521
The aircraft was delivered to the USAAF on June 6, 1944. After its war service, it was purchased by Australian National Airlines On Dec 17, 1945.
The aircraft came to New Zealand after being purchased by NAC and was registered on June 27, 1955, and operated as 'Kotare'. Sold to the Mt
Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company on October 25, 1961, it was the first of three DC-3s owned by the company. When the DC-3's were
phased out, BKD went back to NAC (July 3, 1970), but was sold onto Fieldair (July 13, 1970). The aircraft entered service on August 28, 1971 as
the first DC-3 to wear Fieldair titles. After being retired on January 23, 1983 the aircraft was stored at Palmerston North. Acquired for a local
museum, the aircraft was later moved to Rotorua for a proposed museum there, and stored on land opposite the airport. The museum did not
come to pass (Hamish Ross, the owner having been killed in a topdressing accident), and the aircraft was subsequently transported to
Gisborne where it is now positioned on poles at The Smash Palace Wine Bar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-BYF
c/n 20051
Built in 1943 and delivered on April 12, 1944, this aircraft served with the US military before being sold to Trans Pacific Airlines in 1953, then
Aloha Airlines in November 1958. Brought to New Zealand on December 4 1960 and registered on February 23 1961 to Rural Aviation, the
aircraft was converted for ag-work in Hong Kong (to James Aviation plans) and brought back to New Zealand on March 4 1961. They passed it
to Airland on August 25 1966 , it was later passed to Fieldair at Palmerston North on February 20 1978. Named 'Kotuku' the aircraft worked as a
top-dresser until it was withdrawn from use on January 20, 1981, when it was retired with a total of 34,891 hours. Purchased in 1982 by John
Regan, the aircraft was transported by road to Lower Hutt where work on restoring the aircraft to wartime configuration was started by the
Silverstream Aeronautical Society. In 1992 the aircraft was transported again by road to Ohakea where further restoration work was completed.
The aircraft was painted as NZ3547 (actually sold to South Africa) and displayed on loan outside the Museum as a 42 SQN aircraft as seen
during the 1960s and 70s. In 1998 this aircraft was removed from display as it had been put up for sale. Purchased by the Gisborne Aviation
Preservation Society (GAPS), it was moved by road to its new home during May 20-22, 2000. The aircraft is currently on display at Gisborne
airfield at the GAPS facility.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-CAW
c/n 18293
Delivered to the USAAF on Oct 15, 1943, the aircraft was later sent to Australia and for a time loaned to the RAAF. Became VH-ANM with
Australian National Airlines on February 6 1947. Passed through three other Australian Airlines (Queensland Airlines, February, 4 1956;
Ansett-ANA, December 7, 1958 who converted it to viewmaster standard; and Airlines of New South Wales, February 14, 1961) before being
sold to SPANZ in September 1961. It was registered as ZK-CAW on October 13,1961. Imported to New Zealand, the aircraft was operated by
SPANZ as 'George Bolt'. After the collapse of SPANZ, the aircraft passed to NAC on February 28, 1966. The aircraft was subsequently leased to
Fiji airways until Aug 5, 1969, after which it was leased to Mt Cook Airlines. When surplus to requirements, the aircraft was stored in
Christchurch, after which it passed to South Seas Airways sometime before it was registered on May 7, 1971. As the charter company could not
get an operating license, and the aircraft required overhaul, it almost immediately (May 13) went to Fieldair. After conversion, it began ag-work
on November 22, 1972 named 'Whio', and went on to complete 6,286 hours in the role. The aircraft was withdrawn from service on October 29,
1984 having completed 56,282 hours. Sold to Richmond Harding of Wanganui Aero Work on May 28, 1985, the aircraft was towed to Wanganui
where it was proposed to restore the aircraft to airworthiness in passenger configuration. Prohibitive costs meant the plan was abandoned,
and in 1989 the aircraft was towed to Taupo where the aircraft was refurbished, fitted with viewmaster style windows and painted. The
registration was cancelled on July 10, 1990. The aircraft was then displayed in Taupo as a feature of the Aeroplane Car Company's caryard. On
November 6, 1990 the aircraft again went into service, this time as an extension of the MacDonalds restaurant next door.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-CHV
c/n 34360
Delivered to the USAAF on Oct 5 1945. Later modified as an SC-47. Registered to Aero American Corp of Arizona in 1961, who sold the aircraft
to Airland in June 1964. The aircraft was flown to Christchurch for ag-conversion by NAC and entered service on September 21, 1964 at Napier.
It was entered on the New Zealand register on September 22, 1964. The aircraft passed to Fieldair on February 20, 1978. Withdrawn from use on
March 29, 1979, having completed 18,395 hours (8,962 hours as a topdresser). The aircraft was reduced to spares by Fieldair at Palmerston
North. The derelict fuselage is reported to still be there for use by the rescue service.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK-CQA
c/n 26030
Delivered to the USAAF in September 1944. Later modified as an SC-47. Registered to Aero American Corp of Arizona in 1961, who sold the
aircraft to James Aviation in March 1966. The aircraft was flown to Christchurch for ag-conversion by NAC. Registered on March 25, 1966, it
entered service as James Aviation's second Ag-Dak on August 13, 1966, based at Ardmore. In June 1970 the aircraft was prepared for a COA
overhaul at Rukuhia and found to be in a poor state. It was subsequently sold to Fieldair on an 'as is' basis on August 25, 1970. The aircraft was
withdrawn from use on July 8, 1975, and the registration cancelled on March 11, 1977. The aircraft was reduced to spares by Fieldair at
Palmerston North. The fuselage was given to the Rescue Fire service at Palmerston North. The remains of the fuselage are reported to be at
Ohakea.
Thanks to Phil Treweek, John Andrade, Roy Blewett, Ruud Leeuw, Warwick Blake, Jane Provan and Peter Layne for this info
http://www.adf-serials.com/nz-serials/nz3501.shtml
http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/
Click on the Registration
to take you to the page
to take you to the page
5 Dakotas at Palmerston North
5th February 1971. CAW is on
the far right undergoing
conversion to topdressing.
© Dave Marshall
Anyone help with identifying the
other 4?
5th February 1971. CAW is on
the far right undergoing
conversion to topdressing.
© Dave Marshall
Anyone help with identifying the
other 4?
Photos and info of the
Southern DC3 AMY can be
found here
Southern DC3 AMY can be
found here