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Post by JollyGreenSlugg on Jul 4, 2013 1:13:14 GMT 12
Hello folks,
Please forgive my forwardness here. I've read these boards for several years, but only realised that I'd never registered until now. I'm an Australian, but follow NZ history fairly closely.
As an Aussie, I have a great interest in the former Australian National Airways. Since the 80s, I've studied the history of this airline, its people and its aircraft from 1936 to 1957, when Ansett took it over. Granted, this study has become a great deal easier with the coming of the internet, but there's always something to learn.
I've amassed a bit of an ANA collection, and in studying the disposition of the aircraft, I note that two ex-ANA DC-3s survive in New Zealand. VH-ANM went to the Ansett subsiduary Airlines of New Zealand in 1961 as ZK-CAW, and after a number of owners, has its way to the McDonalds in Taupo The aforementioned ZK-BKD was an ANA freighter registered VH-ANU until it went to NZNAC and following owners, ending up at the 'Smash Palace Wine Bar' in Gisborne. I understand that BKD is in a near derelict state since the closure of the bar.
I believe that there have been moves from various people to rescue BKD, and wonder if anyone has an idea of its future. Given that it could end up being scrapped, I wonder if the possibility exists that it (or parts thereof) could be available to be repatriated to Australia. My own dream since I was a child was to own a DC-3 or a cockpit, and an ANA aircraft would be the icing on the cake!
So, thank you for reading this far. Any information would be most welcome. Please forgive me if I'm being forward or presumptuous.
Cheers,
Matt
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Post by suthg on Jul 4, 2013 7:33:02 GMT 12
Welcome Matt - I hope someone here can shed light on it's current state and possible future...  |
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Post by Andy Wright on Jul 4, 2013 15:33:27 GMT 12
Not enough to work on one, eh, Matt? :-P
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agman
Warrant Officer
Posts: 37
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Post by agman on Jul 4, 2013 19:45:54 GMT 12
i drove past smash palace about a week ago and BKD looks great with a new paint job.Condition wise I cant see any reason why the airframe is any worse off then APK CAW BQK which get a new layer of paint probably more often then BKD. Every airframe out side or up on poles are all festering away but when the paint has a nice shine every body thinks they are in excelent condition and well looked after
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 4, 2013 21:19:49 GMT 12
Great to hear it has been repainted.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 4, 2013 21:27:18 GMT 12
I actually had something to do with BKD ending up in its current location.
Phil Parker, who created Smash Palace (and also owned a winery), was collecting all sorts of weird & wonderful stuff at his bar. I became aware of BKD at Rotorua and the fact it had to be removed from the land it was on by a certain date and mentioned to Phil that if he wanted the ultimate talking-point/unusual-collectable for his bar, I knew where there was a DC-3 up-for-grabs and that he might be able to get it cheap, and gave him the details of where it was and who owned it.
I didn't think any more of it....a lot of bar talk remains just that. Imagine my surprise when I went to Smash Palace a few weeks later and discovered BKD in the then empty paddock next to the bar, with the detached wings beside it. Phil had a grin from ear to ear as he told me the legendary tale of how they moved it from Rotorua to Gisborne in the dead of night (utilising a lot of help from Jukes Transport). Phil also had a bit of help from some retired Fieldair engineers to carry out the move, then put it back together again ready for lifting onto the poles.
Phil Parker had a few plans for the DC-3, but eventually he sold the business and the winery and moved to Central Otago where he got into growing Pinot Noir grapes and turning them into wine. The new owners appeared to lose interest in the DC-3 and it ended up being a virtual ornament above the bar.
Back in about April 2009, I was talking to Alex Miller, one of the two owners of Mount Cook Skiplanes (I had known Alex for almost 20 years) about BKD and Alex told me he would love to gain ownership of the DC-3 and move her to Mount Cook Village, then restore her as a display aircraft in her original configuration with the Mount Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Company, but that it would be a huge and very expensive job to undertake, as well as housing the aeroplane undercover. Alex thought she would be a great companion to the display of artifacts at the Sir Edmund Hillary museum at The Hermitage, although not necessary at the exact same site in the village. Unfortunately, Alex tragically died after a short illness the following February, so that was the end of that idea.
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Post by JollyGreenSlugg on Jul 5, 2013 10:14:15 GMT 12
Thank you, folks. Being repainted certainly indicates that there's a level of interest in the aeroplane, which is a good thing.
I'm certainly not presumptuous to assume that nobody would be interested, and it'd take someone from outside New Zealand to save it, as I've seen plenty of that attitude here in Australia. People turn up from overseas, think that they have some sort of automatic claim on an airframe and decide that it needs to go 'home'. Saw it any number of times at Narellan, when people turned up with cheques and decided that it 'needed' to return to the US. Same with various British aircraft.
Anyway, my point was that if BDK had become available and there was no interest nearby, then I'd see if it (or part thereof) could come and join a collection of Australian National Airways artifacts.
Thanks again folks. It's all fascinating stuff! My search continues, closer to home.
Cheers,
Matt
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Post by Gary. on Jul 5, 2013 20:31:29 GMT 12
A few years back........on the quiet, ZK-CAW at macdonalds in Taupo was up for sale, the reason just quietly was although its a great icon for maccas and the town........the rateable area of land it occupies is hardly offset by the two or three kids a day that bother to climb up there to scoff a big mac. Its been there for years, and now its sitting on some prime bussiness realestate, so keep your ear to the ground......one day she may have to go.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 5, 2013 20:45:27 GMT 12
I heard it has already sold. I'm surprised it's still there.
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Post by Gary. on Jul 5, 2013 21:04:59 GMT 12
Yeah it could well be, although i read in our local rag, the Taupo maccas was voted in the top ten coolest MDs in the world....and the only MDs in the world to have a DC3 out front.......hope it goes to a good home.....one day.
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Post by JollyGreenSlugg on Jul 5, 2013 23:38:12 GMT 12
Very interesting, thanks gents.
The Taupo DC-3 would be one of the best ex-ANA airframes out there. I'd imagine that it'd be worth a bit, being in that good external condition.
Hope it gets some more TLC and a good future. I'll follow its progress as time passes.
Cheers,
Matt
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Post by aeromedia on Jul 6, 2013 7:57:00 GMT 12
I made enquires about the Taupo Maccas DC3 last year, and I was led to believe it was sold and heading to Tauranga to Classic Flyers. Surprised it hasn't moved yet. If that is still to happen, I think it's a pretty good outcome, not withstanding the fact that any airframe "preserved" outdoors is on a hiding to nothing unfortunately.
Also, as a footnote, when BKD was at Rotorua awaiting display at the proposed ag flying museum, I saw I it and met the owner. When he tragically lost his life very soon after and the aircraft was for sale, I could have bought it for 10k. I had a grand plan to get it to Auckland and lease it as a promo for a car sales yard for a few years to fund it, and then own it as part of my collection. Never quite made that happen. Probably saved myself a lot of grief ! There have been many dreams and plans, some of them just too BIG.
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Post by avenger on Jul 8, 2013 13:57:07 GMT 12
As a local I shall comment re the Macca's ZKCAW. There has been consideration re its future.
Possibilities under consideration include removing the R wing as this overhangs a Farmers' carpark. Also there is a possibility for complete removal as the area by Farmers may be 'developed'.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Aug 16, 2013 16:29:38 GMT 12
ZK-BKD at Smash Palace bar in Gisborne, earlier this afternoon.... 
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2013 17:23:11 GMT 12
Wow, great to see it restored, even if it is in a very unusual colour scheme. I saw that tail and suddenly heard an echo in my head from the very early 1980's, a slogan from their campaign, "Aisles of Smiles At New World". Remember that? These days the staff are soulless and miserable.  |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Aug 16, 2013 17:37:45 GMT 12
I was there about 1:45pm and took a few photographs.
The bar was closed at the time (it opens at 2:00pm on weekdays), but while I was taking photographs, the manager turned up and I told her I was taking some photographs to post to an aviation messageboard forum. She said I was free to enter the premises to take more photos if I wished, but I declined as I didn't have a wide-angle lens with me. However, I did chat to her about the DC-3 for a few minutes. She wasn't aware that it was the aeroplane which was used to start up Mount Cook Airlines' scheduled services between Christchurch-Mount Cook-Queenstown. I got the impression that they are quite fond of the DC-3. The manager said they would love to open it up for people to view inside, but that OSH has banned access to it being available due to the worry of intoxicated people falling down the stairs.
Still, it's good to see that they have painted the old girl. It isn't in an entirely ideal situation, but at least it isn't being totally neglected.
I might head down to Smash Palace for a beer or two sometime over the weekend. That used to be one of my regular weekend watering holes when I lived here.
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Post by baz62 on Aug 16, 2013 18:04:01 GMT 12
Wow, great to see it restored, even if it is in a very unusual colour scheme. I saw that tail and suddenly heard an echo in my head from the very early 1980's, a slogan from their campaign, "Aisles of Smiles At New World". Remember that? These days the staff are soulless and miserable. That's too bad. We shop at Coutdown and find the staff pretty good. Have two older ladies (the ones I term trouble makers  there who know us and gave me a hard time when I had to duck home cos I left my wallet at home! Usually the check out chickies like a chat. |
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Post by lumpy on Aug 16, 2013 18:17:08 GMT 12
I saw that tail and suddenly heard an echo in my head from the very early 1980's, a slogan from their campaign, "Aisles of Smiles At New World". Remember that? These days the staff are soulless and miserable. My three daughters work at new world -- you could be right ! ( na ,not really , could be just when they see you ) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2013 18:30:27 GMT 12
I worked there for a while years ago, worst workplace ever. And your hair would stand on end at some of the things that go on in the deli.
Anyway, back to Dakotas.
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there who know us and gave me a hard time when I had to duck home cos I left my wallet at home! Usually the check out chickies like a chat. 
