First NAC 737-200 Sep 18th 1968
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2025 5:42 pmReproduced from a Grayson Ottoway email.
Sorry but for some reason the formatting just wasn't working so you may have to copy and paste links into a browser.
NAC as customer '19' for Boeing gets its first 737-200.
All NZ Boeings since then are 7x7-x19 so B777-319ER. The only exception is the 787 which is simply B787-9 no x19.
They were actually one of the first airlines to buy the new -200 version of the 737.
NAC crews trained at Boeing, and got route experience flying the jet with United Airlines. The first aircraft was delivered to Auckland Airport on September 18th, 1968 and en-route the aircraft set a world 737 distance record on the Honolulu-Nadi leg.
It ferried to Christchurch later that day.
It operated first Air New Zealand revenue service Christchurch - Wellington - Auckland as NZ440 - October 07, 1968
The decision to buy the 737 began in 1965 when National Airways Cop (NAC) decided to equip their fleet with jet aircraft - and a major political controversy was about to unfold!
Three aircraft were shortlisted to replace the Viscounts; the British Aircraft Corporation BAC 1-11-200, the Douglas DC-9-10 or -30 if ready and the Boeing's 737-200, a stretched version of the -100 series. -200 was still on the drawing board.
One of the factors for the new aircraft was the ability to safely fly in and out of Wellington Airport and the unique right-hand inner harbour circuit, should an engine fail departing runway 34.
The BAC 1-11 was for some time thought to be the best plane for NAC, but its limitation was the 90 seats, when NAC wanted more.
Right to the end though BAC, and the British Government, thought their plane had won.
When NAC place an order for Boeing, the British Government threatened to remove funding assistance! But NAC and the NZ Government stuck with their decision!
NAC had figured that three 737-200’s could do the work of 4 BAC 1-11-200’s or DC-9-10's – even the stretched version of the 1-11 the -475 which was still to be built at time of NAC placing its 732 order. Douglas too was still coming up with the DC-9-30 with seating to match the B732 when NAC placed its B732 order.
Below are two iconic shots in original livery and the livery that became the Air NZ hybrid livery - a very good NAC air-to-air vid and an Air NZ 737 promo vid!
NAC Boeing 737 Airliner Air To Air Film Shoot https://youtu.be/2M2vKqVsZ-A
NAC last B732 flight [url=https://youtu.be/sKpC759GKak?si=SbZRFd1Z_JMQuhxH[/url]Air New Zealand Boeing 737 200 35mm Film Footage [url=https://youtu.be/vgVpRS3f66g[/url]
Last Air NZ B737-200 Flight NZ557 from inside cockpit [url=https://youtu.be/jvorNoVKm5k?si=o447X6XTJILmPm6z[/url]The last Air NZ B732 flight NZ557 NZAA-NZCH landed at 2008hrs and brought the curtain down on Air NZ’s 737-200 ops.
She'd had a busy last day too - NZ405 Auckland-Wellington, NZ412 Wellington-Auckland, NZ441 Auckland-Wellington, NZ448 Wellington-Auckland, NZ521 Auckland-Christchurch, NZ532 Christchurch-Auckland, NZ557 Auckland-Christchurch!
This is a superb watch!
Best Air NZ B737-200 Cockpit Part 1/3 [url=https://youtu.be/rWau2l15CEA?si=um51Hse4TKPw2vOy][/url]
Best Air NZ B737-200 Cockpit Part 2/3 [url=https://youtu.be/JdbYXosWJ4s?si=CFaZdFBnMPAJIi1T[/url]Best Air NZ B737-200 Cockpit Part 3/3 [url=https://youtu.be/HDGrMI_iaeQ?si=XfBxD5AYYcxFUFec[/url]
NAC "Godwit" livery 1968 - 1975
ZK-NAC blowing smoke at NZWN - Bob Leask pic.
ZK-NAC in the new "Wings of the Nation" livery 1975
NAC's first three B737-219s at Boeing Field,Seattle, prior to their delivery to New Zealand in August 1968. ZK-NAC 'Piripiri' at right rear, ZK-NAD 'Pukeko' at left and ZK-NAE Purourou' in the foreground. Paul Sheehan pic
The British Aircraft Corporation lobbied the New Zealand government to buy its new aircraft, the BAC 1-11, for the National Airways Corporation (NAC).
This aircraft visited Auckland for the opening of the international airport at Māngere, and also flew to Wellington, where MPs, officials and businesspeople were taken on demonstration flights.
BAC and Douglas both painted their planes in the competition n the NAC livery to show off how it would look. They looked alright!
Stretched DC-9-30 - note change to red stripe due to the change of position of the cabin windows. Similar to BAC-111. The -30 through -34 became the most built of all DC-9's.
Sorry but for some reason the formatting just wasn't working so you may have to copy and paste links into a browser.
NAC as customer '19' for Boeing gets its first 737-200.
All NZ Boeings since then are 7x7-x19 so B777-319ER. The only exception is the 787 which is simply B787-9 no x19.
They were actually one of the first airlines to buy the new -200 version of the 737.
NAC crews trained at Boeing, and got route experience flying the jet with United Airlines. The first aircraft was delivered to Auckland Airport on September 18th, 1968 and en-route the aircraft set a world 737 distance record on the Honolulu-Nadi leg.
It ferried to Christchurch later that day.
It operated first Air New Zealand revenue service Christchurch - Wellington - Auckland as NZ440 - October 07, 1968
The decision to buy the 737 began in 1965 when National Airways Cop (NAC) decided to equip their fleet with jet aircraft - and a major political controversy was about to unfold!
Three aircraft were shortlisted to replace the Viscounts; the British Aircraft Corporation BAC 1-11-200, the Douglas DC-9-10 or -30 if ready and the Boeing's 737-200, a stretched version of the -100 series. -200 was still on the drawing board.
One of the factors for the new aircraft was the ability to safely fly in and out of Wellington Airport and the unique right-hand inner harbour circuit, should an engine fail departing runway 34.
The BAC 1-11 was for some time thought to be the best plane for NAC, but its limitation was the 90 seats, when NAC wanted more.
Right to the end though BAC, and the British Government, thought their plane had won.
When NAC place an order for Boeing, the British Government threatened to remove funding assistance! But NAC and the NZ Government stuck with their decision!
NAC had figured that three 737-200’s could do the work of 4 BAC 1-11-200’s or DC-9-10's – even the stretched version of the 1-11 the -475 which was still to be built at time of NAC placing its 732 order. Douglas too was still coming up with the DC-9-30 with seating to match the B732 when NAC placed its B732 order.
Below are two iconic shots in original livery and the livery that became the Air NZ hybrid livery - a very good NAC air-to-air vid and an Air NZ 737 promo vid!
NAC Boeing 737 Airliner Air To Air Film Shoot https://youtu.be/2M2vKqVsZ-A
NAC last B732 flight [url=https://youtu.be/sKpC759GKak?si=SbZRFd1Z_JMQuhxH[/url]Air New Zealand Boeing 737 200 35mm Film Footage [url=https://youtu.be/vgVpRS3f66g[/url]
Last Air NZ B737-200 Flight NZ557 from inside cockpit [url=https://youtu.be/jvorNoVKm5k?si=o447X6XTJILmPm6z[/url]The last Air NZ B732 flight NZ557 NZAA-NZCH landed at 2008hrs and brought the curtain down on Air NZ’s 737-200 ops.
She'd had a busy last day too - NZ405 Auckland-Wellington, NZ412 Wellington-Auckland, NZ441 Auckland-Wellington, NZ448 Wellington-Auckland, NZ521 Auckland-Christchurch, NZ532 Christchurch-Auckland, NZ557 Auckland-Christchurch!
This is a superb watch!
Best Air NZ B737-200 Cockpit Part 1/3 [url=https://youtu.be/rWau2l15CEA?si=um51Hse4TKPw2vOy][/url]
Best Air NZ B737-200 Cockpit Part 2/3 [url=https://youtu.be/JdbYXosWJ4s?si=CFaZdFBnMPAJIi1T[/url]Best Air NZ B737-200 Cockpit Part 3/3 [url=https://youtu.be/HDGrMI_iaeQ?si=XfBxD5AYYcxFUFec[/url]
NAC "Godwit" livery 1968 - 1975
ZK-NAC blowing smoke at NZWN - Bob Leask pic.
ZK-NAC in the new "Wings of the Nation" livery 1975
NAC's first three B737-219s at Boeing Field,Seattle, prior to their delivery to New Zealand in August 1968. ZK-NAC 'Piripiri' at right rear, ZK-NAD 'Pukeko' at left and ZK-NAE Purourou' in the foreground. Paul Sheehan pic
The British Aircraft Corporation lobbied the New Zealand government to buy its new aircraft, the BAC 1-11, for the National Airways Corporation (NAC).
This aircraft visited Auckland for the opening of the international airport at Māngere, and also flew to Wellington, where MPs, officials and businesspeople were taken on demonstration flights.
BAC and Douglas both painted their planes in the competition n the NAC livery to show off how it would look. They looked alright!
Stretched DC-9-30 - note change to red stripe due to the change of position of the cabin windows. Similar to BAC-111. The -30 through -34 became the most built of all DC-9's.
