Fire trainers at Auckland IAP

[linerman]

I've just arrived in New Zealand from the UK and am now living in Wellington. I'm hoping someone on the forum can help with a question I have about aircraft in use for ground instructional purposes at Auckland IAP. As the aircraft I was in was landing, I noticed three aircraft parked near to the fire and emergency services: one was clearly an F27 (presumably ZK-NAO), and another, a fuselage only, appeared to be a Boeing 727. The third aircraft was more difficult to identify and I initially thought may have been a Gulfstream 1, but that seems unlikely. Can anyone help identify them?

Roy Blewett

[vs]

It is a Boeing 767 200. When given back to its lessor, was parted out mane 8-10 years ago?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

In the past they have also used retired railway carriages masquerading as aircraft fuselages.

[flyjoe180]

The answers given would be right I think. Also there may well be the carcass of TLB, a flower covered 737-300. Wasn't much left of that either when the engineers had finished with it.

[FlyingKiwi]

That one was previously operated by Kuban Air in Russia I believe.

[flyjoe180]

Yeah it was, they flew it to NZ and stripped it bare for parts for the freighters. The -300 looks quite nice without engines on it actually, quite a sleek frame.

[zaphod]

In the past they have also used retired railway carriages masquerading as aircraft fuselages.

A couple of the English Electric sets retired from Wellington have gone to the Fire Service and Defence force, but no mention of the airports this time around.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I seem to recall that at least one of the old twinset railcars (that were retired in the 1970s) ended up as an airport crash/fire trainer at Auckland Airport.

[zaphod]

From memory the twinset was eventually rescued by the railcar group at Pahiatua, though I think the focus has since moved to another twinset that was in better condition when obtained.

[aeromuzz]

Twinset RM133 was convert to an AC class "Grassgrub" carriage set and ended up at Auckland Airport after it finished in service. It was burnt out while there and the remains were recovered and taken to Pahiatua. They've since "found" RM121 which was in far better condition. Whilst it would be feasible to restore both, it is financially impractical so now RM133 will provide parts for RM121.

These two are the only substantial remains of this class of railcar which were an important part of our rail history and it's a shame none were preserved complete. Yet another case of lack of forethought touched on in another thread.

[htbrst]

Jan 30, 2013 7:34:20 GMT 12 aeromuzz said:

Twinset RM133 was convert to an AC class "Grassgrub" carriage set and ended up at Auckland Airport after it finished in service. It was burnt out while there and the remains were recovered and taken to Pahiatua. They've since "found" RM121 which was in far better condition. Whilst it would be feasible to restore both, it is financially impractical so now RM133 will provide parts for RM121.

RM121 looked great a few weeks ago at their open day - we went for a run in RM31 up to Mangatainoka and back on the main line.

Not my photo but taken on the same day:

The Pahiatua Railcar Society's website is www.railcars.co.nz

[shamus]

Landed on 05 at Auckland yesterday and could only see the 767 painted white on the south side of the airport. It had 'fire trainer' painted in black letters on it. No other fire training aircraft visible.

[linerman]

Many thanks, one and all, for the prompt replies.

Roy