Bristol Freighter NZ5912

[rotoruian]

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Hello all,
I just found out about this forum from a member of yours. I kinda like it already. I am Canadian but lived in Rototrua for a while inthe late 90's. Would still be there but your government didn't want to grant me a full time visa. Oh well I digress.
I am doing a DVD on the Bristol freighter C-FDFC. it spent some time in your Airforce.

Allocated G18-194 to Bristol Aeroplane Company 17 March 1955 Bristol Freighter NZ5912 was first delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in March of 1955 and was the last 170 delivered to them. Upon Arrival at Whenuapai from United Kingdom 31 March 1955 she was allocated to No.41 Squadron. NZ5912 was purchased as a replacement for NZ5905 which had been sold to SAFE and registered as ZK-BEO.

After just two years with the RNZAF she too was loaned to SAFE from December 1957 and registered as ZK-BVI. In March 1958 she was again was returned to the RNZAF. Her final flight after spending more than 20 years with for the RNZAF was on the 14th of December 1977.

I was hoping someone might have a picture or two that they wouldn't mind allowing me to use. Full picture credits of course. I have a few from her unfortunate end, but nothing at the start of her life.

You can see a clip of the DVD at www.milehighproductions.com

Many thanks
Arnold

[Peter Lewis]

Sure . . .

As ZK-BVI, note the dual registration:



As NZ5912, Whenuapai 1965



As NZ5912, New Plymouth airport 1967



as ZK-EPH, Ardmore airfield 3Sep78





as ZK-EPH, Ardmore 1981 shortly before departing overseas



If you are interested in any of these, PM me for a high res scan of these pics.

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome to the forum Arnold, I hope you'll stick around and keep us up to date on how the DVD goes. I'm sure Peter's excellent shots above will make your day.

Peter, what was the symbol on the tail when at Ardmore in camouflage? I can't make out what it was.

[30sqnatc]

NZ5912 featured in the July 1978 issue of the Airfix Magazine

[rotoruian]

WOW,
Many thanks gentlemen. Dave, I do plan to stick around actually. I absolutely loved my time in New Zealand and plan to be back in the next year or so. I was very upset that I missed wings over Wannika. I did however make it to the wings and wheels show at Whenuapai as I was living in Browns Bay at the time.

Did anyone eat at Freos (Rotorua) in 97? If so I was the head Chef at the time. Hope you liked it..

I run a forum based out of Vancouver Canada if any one is coming to town. I also have connections at Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and soon several other airports as our Police sponsored spotting groups get set up at the major Canadian cites. You can find it at www.milehighcustoms.com/forum maybe we can set up Sister forums...

[rotoruian]

For anyone that is interested a preview can be seen at:
www.milehighproductions.com/bristol-freighter.html
Let me know your thoughts.

[SEAN]

Although not quite NZ5912, these are sort of related an I thought someone might enjoy them. These were taken at Ardmore when I think they still belonged to Dwen Airmotive. Not sure of what ever happened to them.

[Bruce]

EPC is the airframe currently used as a Motel in Waitomo, the other EPG is still at Ardmore. Hasnt moved since the photos above were taken!

[Dave Homewood]

Sean, the camouflaged one is still there, and I believe still owned by Dwen, and still in a sorry state.

[Dave Homewood]

Doh, you beat me to it Bruce.

[rotoruian]

I have some video of them from about 14 years ago. Somewhere!!

[rotoruian]

To all who helped with this DVD (C-FDFC's Journey home) a special thank you. The release date is expected to be this Monday and your copies will be in the mail shortly thereafter.

Again many thanks to you and the Forum (thx Dave) for making this production more complete.

Sincerely,
Arnold Klappe