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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2015 18:43:18 GMT 12
No-one seems to have mentioned this recently but isn't it this week that the Boeing 737 makes its final flights with Air New Zealand after various generations of the type giving decades of service with that airline.
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Post by beagle on Aug 17, 2015 19:28:45 GMT 12
I read it somewhere regards a week of a final tour with special flights and open days at the main centres. I can't find where I saw it now. Pretty sure they are around till end of month.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2015 19:39:48 GMT 12
Yeah I saw that too in some circular email sent out by one of the many groups. I thought it was this week.
It's not all the main centres, Hamilton which used to be a major hub for the 737's is not included.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2015 19:41:30 GMT 12
I found the email, sent to me by Norm Empson:
737 Final Call – Save the date
Hi everyone,
After 47 years flying up and down the country, the 737, an aircraft close to many Air New Zealander’s heart, will exit our fleet next month.
As part of the 737’s Final Call we are taking our last one on a tour of New Zealand, stopping in seven locations throughout the country – Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland.
There will be opportunities to get on board the aircraft in the regions, and we will be holding a limited number of scenic flights (drawn by ballot) in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
More information on how you can get involved will be sent out later this month, but as employees with roster requirements we’re giving you a heads up on the dates first!
The 737 final call
Invercargill Tuesday 8 September, 1000–1400
Dunedin Wednesday 9 September, 1000–1400
Christchurch Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, 0900–1700
Wellington Tuesday 15 September, 1000–1400
Napier Wednesday 16 September, 1000–1400
Tauranga Thursday 17 September, 1000–1400
Auckland Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, 0900–1700
We look forward to seeing you there to give the 737 a fond farewell.
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Post by beagle on Aug 17, 2015 20:30:08 GMT 12
Yeah I saw that too in some circular email sent out by one of the many groups. I thought it was this week. It's not all the main centres, Hamilton which used to be a major hub for the 737's is not included. who cares about Hamilton
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Post by oj on Aug 17, 2015 22:06:07 GMT 12
Don't be ungrateful wretches Chaps. The 737 services from Hamilton in the 1970's were outstanding. And we had the airstairs docking facility and there was even a ute and trailer of coupled-up compressed air bottles and manifold in case the 737 APU failed to start in the morning and an engine had to be compressed-air-started. This was later withdrawn and the crew instructed that after arrival at Hamilton, if the APU could not be started while the main engines were still running, the aircraft was to proceed to Auckland and forgo the usual overnight in Hamilton. I had been on this service to Wellington several times over the years; I think it was about 35 minutes chock-to-chock.
On frequency and quantity of 737 flights, Hamilton would rank well ahead of Tauranga in terms of a deserved farewell visit. But then in the early days, I suppose several PAX out of Hamilton may well have been peasants from $10 town going south to see their Aunty Flo's!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2015 23:08:47 GMT 12
I agree with you completely there OJ. We used to hear the Boeings taking off several times a day from Cambridge before they got the hush kits - there was always a dawn take off and a dusk take off, which sometimes we could see climbing out too if the sun was right and no clouds. And that was for many years. I flew in the Boeings myself from Hamilton on several occasions from Hamilton to Wellington and onto Christchurch, etc, back in the 1990's. They had a snorkel then, not airstairs. The 737's were the most exciting thing at the airport back then, you always knew when the Boeing had arrived when you came in the airport gate as its tail towered over the terminal, unlike all the little planes that also used the airport.
Hasn't Tauranga only had the Boeing service a few short years? I'd bet Hamilton got a lot more 737 activity than Invercargill did too.
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Post by flyinkiwi on Aug 18, 2015 9:26:33 GMT 12
My first ever flight was the 737 service from Hamilton to Wellington. And yes OJ, I was going south to visit my Uncle and Auntie!
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Post by thomarse on Sept 2, 2015 9:02:35 GMT 12
Palmie is missing off the Boeing farewell tour, too.
I well remember flying IVC - DUD on an early-morning 737 service once - did that service last? Crazy!
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Post by isc on Sept 23, 2015 2:18:42 GMT 12
A bit on TV-1 news tonight about the 737 and it's last flight into Christchurch to be prepared for sale and departure for places unknown. isc
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Post by shorty on Oct 21, 2015 21:15:50 GMT 12
The last ANZ 737 ZK-NGI departed for Canada today to be converted to a combi. It will be operated by Canada North.
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ewen
Warrant Officer
Posts: 39
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Post by ewen on Nov 11, 2015 19:13:34 GMT 12
Here is my only 737 'first flight cover'. Most of mine go back to the Short Bros flying boat days through to the DC10s. After that point there are less to collect as general interest waned (along with less new routes opening up) On the 3rd of November, 1990, Air NZ inaugurated a regular weekly service from Christchurch to Norfolk Island in a Boeing 737, ZK-NAW under the command of Captain Regnault. The return flight occurred the same day and here is an example.
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