Today in NZ flying history Dec 1+2

[cowpatz]

Dec 1, 1961 NAC’s first F.27 100 Series, ZK-BXA, was delivered to the airline.
The first brand new Friendship for NAC departed the Netherlands on December 1st, 1960, and arrived in Wellington on the 12th of December 1960.
The delivery route was via Rome, Athens, Damascus, Karachi, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangkok, Zamboonango, Davao, Divak, Darwin, Mount Isa, Brisbane and Norfolk Island.

It was officially named "Kuaka" by Lady Isitt on arrival, and entered service with NAC on 22 December 1960.

ZK-BXA served NAC faithfully for 17 years, and was withdrawn from service at the time of the merger with Air New Zealand in 1978, and its rego cancelled on 18th April 1978.

Interestingly ANZ's Fokker Friendship flight simulator at Auckland International Airport was one of the only ones in the world!


(Credit: Legendary NZ aviation lens-man Colin Hunter. Taken early 60’s at NZWP)



Then … Dec 2 1990 The last Fokker Friendship flight ever to be operated by Air NZ landed in Auckland from New Plymouth
EDIT: The crew on the flight were Capt David Lumsden, F/O Keith Adair and in the jump seat was Peter Buck Senior. He delivered the first F27 to Air NZ.


Courtesy of Grayson Ottaway

[sjimc2000]

Aaaaahhh them were the days.

[cowpatz]

Ah yes the smell of Kerosene and the shrill sound of the dart engine/prop combo.

[dbcunnz]

Yes I agree loved the sound of the four darts of the Argosy as it climbed out of Woodbourne

[deeknow]

Thanks CP (and Grayson), cool little piece of history and a great aircraft.
Was it you that had some commercial experience in the F27?

ps - be great to keep an open "this day in history" thread going aye?

[cowpatz]

Yeah I spent 5 years or so trucking around the country in them. Some of the best/fun flying in my career. The provincial staff were really awesome to work with.
I have a few young friends that have been with Link and Mt Cook for a short while and I encourage them to enjoy their time on the turbo-props and not be in a hurry to migrate to the heavies. It will probably also be the best flying that they will do.

[chopper_nut]

Great photo Doug. Where did that come from?

[dbcunnz]

Great photo Doug. Where did that come from?

Its from Paul Davidson Argosy cafe collection http://www.argosy.org.nz/

I also have some video of ZK-SAE complete with sound climbing out of Woodbourne that was taken at an airshow at Woodbourne in the late 80s.
I also videoed the Southern Cross from on board when it done its display at the show and the sound of three Jacob radials trying to get into sync sounds bloody awesome.

[chopper_nut]

I'm trying to hunt down a very unique photo of the Argosy for you.

[Lindstrim]

Yeah I spent 5 years or so trucking around the country in them. Some of the best/fun flying in my career. The provincial staff were really awesome to work with.
I have a few young friends that have been with Link and Mt Cook for a short while and I encourage them to enjoy their time on the turbo-props and not be in a hurry to migrate to the heavies. It will probably also be the best flying that they will do.

I agree, I'm transitioning from what was the 'short haul' part of the regional fleet into the 'long haul' part of it and I know I'll miss landing every 20-45min, but I certainly wont miss having to stand outside in the rain

[Ian Warren]

Scary thing with loosing very unique photos that later people would say were did they go , this go's for many other areas/topics as well .

[LMerraine]

The Fokker was the first plane I ever flew in, I asked to move to a different seat as I was worried if the prop came loose it would cut right through my seat.


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[Ian Warren]

The Fokker was the first plane I ever flew in, I asked to move to a different seat as I was worried if the prop came loose it would cut right through my seat.

That's a funny one Lawrence , you are a funny bugger