Armstrong Whitworth Argosy In NZ Skies?

[Aharon]

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

Many thanks to all for giving me answers on specific information regarding New Zealand action for Carvair planes in another thread post which allows me to recreate few successful historic Carvair flights in NZ air space on FSX


Now I have question for the similar looking plane Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, please.

Can anyone provide me with any information regarding any New Zealand action for this British plane within New Zealand, please?

And how many New Zealand cars can this plane carry, please?

Thank you for any information any of you might provide.

Regards,

Aharon

[dbcunnz]

Hi Aharon
Do a google search on Safe Air argosy
Safe Air based at NZWB in Blenheim flew Bristol freighters and Argosy's they were mainly used for general freight around new Zealand and also serviced the Chatham Islands.

[cowpatz]

From memory they had a passenger module that could fit inside the fuse to carry passengers. I think it was something like 14 pax that the module could accommodate.
It's nickname was the "Whistling wheelbarrow".

[dbcunnz]

From memory they had a passenger module that could fit inside the fuse to carry passengers. I think it was something like 14 pax that the module could accommodate.
It's nickname was the "Whistling wheekbarrow".

Argosy aircraft ZK-SAE and its sister ship ZK-SAF flew for Marlborough-based airline SAFE AIR (Straits Air Freight Express). SAFE was established in 1950, crossing Cook Strait with a Rail-Air service that connected the North and South Island railway systems from its start through to 1986. The company initially operated Bristol Freighters with a combined air freight and passenger service using a unique removable passenger capsule. Their sole passenger service was to the remote Chatham Islands.

From 1974 SAFE operated two much larger Armstrong Whitworth Argosy aircraft with a more comfortable passenger capsule based on the cabin of a Boeing 737.

[cowpatz]

I enjoyed flying that aircraft in FS9. Great fun.

[dbcunnz]

I had it for FS9 also had it in FSX flew many trips across the straits and to the Chatham Island and back.

[Radar88]

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

Many thanks to all for giving me answers on specific information regarding New Zealand action for Carvair planes in another thread post which allows me to recreate few successful historic Carvair flights in NZ air space on FSX


Now I have question for the similar looking plane Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, please.

Can anyone provide me with any information regarding any New Zealand action for this British plane within New Zealand, please?

And how many New Zealand cars can this plane carry, please?

Thank you for any information any of you might provide.

Regards,

Aharon

Carvair flights in NZ action was short lived, with the only known operation of them being with "Nationwide Air" who had two Aviation Traders Ltd ATL-98 Carvairs that only operated in NZ for 7 - 8 months from late 1978 - mid 1979.

The Carvair was not historically, a well known cargo plane within the New Zealand skies. Although you could be forgiven for thinking, that the flightdeck Nose of the Carvair might have a similar look to the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy. The Carvair could not be considered a similar looking plane to the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy. As the Argosy's tailplane is mounted on twin booms that ran rearwards from the inner engine nacelles (hence the given nickname of "Whistling (Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop sound) Wheelbarrow (twin boom tailplane look)"), Unlike the ATL-98 Carvairs ( cargo doors at the front nose), the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy has the cargo doors both at the front nose and the rear of the fuselage giving clearance for front and rear straight-in loading with the flight deck set above the freight hold.

The most well known and popular historical cargo plane in action within the New Zealand skies was the British Bristol Type 170 Freighter and the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy operated by SAFE.

Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE) Home base airport NZWB which was a local NZ cargo airline, established in 1950, named for the fact that it encompassed the Cook Strait and connected the North Island and South Island (of New Zealand) railway systems from the 1950s to the 1970s.

The main aircraft type that the company operated was a fleet of Eleven, Bristol 170 Freighters Mk.31 aircraft, that mainly serviced short haul, daily freight run flights between airports NZWB, NZWN, NZNS and NZPP. The company also operated Two much larger Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy aircraft from 1974 until the end of flying in 1990 on the main trunk route airports between NZWN, NZCH, NZCI, NZWB and NZAA.

A Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE) Bristol Pilot's Day 1963

Bristol Freighter Finale flight over Blenheim 1986

The Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy aircraft is most famous in NZ, for the true story of a world-famous UFO encounter off the Kaikoura Coast of Marlborough, New Zealand.

The Kaikoura UFOs - 1978

Crash Landing: Four-Engine Twin-Boom Argosy Crash in 1990

Highly recommend watching this 1990's Documentary video, it's a 51 minute retrospective look back at Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE) with historical video footage showing the cargo loading and unloading of the Bristol Freighter and Argosy aircraft operations along with flight action within the New Zealand skies. The Final Flight - The Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE) Story

Further information about the "Whistling wheelbarrow" Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE) Armstrong Whitworth Argosy can be found here,
The Argosy Trust Marlborough

[Aharon]

Thanks all for great explanations especially special thanks to Radar88 for more amazing explanations.

Regards,

Aharon

[Aharon]

I had discovered from experts that this Argosy on few occasions flew flights carrying single load of six Austin Minis (the same car you see in famous bank heist movie) per flight so I guess six Austin Minis could fit in that plane!

Regards,

Aharon

[deaneb]

Both Argosy's still survive. One is a complete airframe located at the Runway Cafe near Woodbourne (Marlborough Airport) and the fuse of the other is located on a farm just south of the airport.

[Aharon]

Deanab,

Thanks for cool explanations and nice to meet you on the forums!!

Meanwhile I got answers from more experts who told me that this plane can carry EIGHT Mini cars or FOUR normal cars!!



Regards,

Aharon