Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2017 9:45:05 GMT 12
This just in from Richard Waugh:
Reunion of staff & families of Queenstown postwar pioneer airlines: Southern Scenic/West Coast Airways/Ritchie Air Services/TAT/Mount Cook
Hi folks,
A reunion of some of the post-war Queenstown and region former airline staff and families, will be held at Queenstown on the weekend of 7-9 April 2017. See attached details. The airlines being celebrated, with some special anniversaries are:
- Southern Scenic Air Services
- West Coast Airways (a subsidiary of SSAS)
- Ritchie Air Services
- Tourist Air Travel
- Mount Cook (to about 1975).
I would be pleased if you could circulate this information to anyone who has links to these pioneer post-war operators. See the 2003 book ‘Taking Off – Pioneering Small Airlines of New Zealand 1945-1970’ for comprehensive airline histories.
Queenstown Airport Corporation and Air Milford are key supporters. Already Dominie ZK-AKY - which flew for all five operators - has been sponsored to “return to Queenstown” and will be fitted with a transponder so it can operate from the busy international airport. It is anticipated that a number of other aircraft once operated by these airlines will also fly in for the occasion. See John Kings magnificent photograph attached, taken in 2014 over Lake Te Anau.
With the early pilots and engineers now in their 70s and 80s, this reunion of the post-war pioneers - and their descendants - will likely be a last opportunity to remember these versatile airlines which undertook such a versatile range of operations from new scheduled services, pioneer tourists routes, air ambulance, supply dropping, special charters, agricultural work, carrying newspapers and the mail etc.
Many thanks for your assistance.
Richard
Rev. Dr Richard Waugh QSM
Aviation Historian
Hon. Chaplain, Company of Air Pilots
(NZ Region)
80 Highland Park Drive
Howick
PO Box 82-363
Highland Park
Auckland 2143
New Zealand
Ph +64 9 5339400 022 5339400
Email: rjw@ecw.org.nz
www.nzairlineresearch.co.nz
Reunion of staff & families of Queenstown postwar pioneer airlines: Southern Scenic/West Coast Airways/Ritchie Air Services/TAT/Mount Cook
Hi folks,
A reunion of some of the post-war Queenstown and region former airline staff and families, will be held at Queenstown on the weekend of 7-9 April 2017. See attached details. The airlines being celebrated, with some special anniversaries are:
- Southern Scenic Air Services
- West Coast Airways (a subsidiary of SSAS)
- Ritchie Air Services
- Tourist Air Travel
- Mount Cook (to about 1975).
I would be pleased if you could circulate this information to anyone who has links to these pioneer post-war operators. See the 2003 book ‘Taking Off – Pioneering Small Airlines of New Zealand 1945-1970’ for comprehensive airline histories.
Queenstown Airport Corporation and Air Milford are key supporters. Already Dominie ZK-AKY - which flew for all five operators - has been sponsored to “return to Queenstown” and will be fitted with a transponder so it can operate from the busy international airport. It is anticipated that a number of other aircraft once operated by these airlines will also fly in for the occasion. See John Kings magnificent photograph attached, taken in 2014 over Lake Te Anau.
With the early pilots and engineers now in their 70s and 80s, this reunion of the post-war pioneers - and their descendants - will likely be a last opportunity to remember these versatile airlines which undertook such a versatile range of operations from new scheduled services, pioneer tourists routes, air ambulance, supply dropping, special charters, agricultural work, carrying newspapers and the mail etc.
Many thanks for your assistance.
Richard
Rev. Dr Richard Waugh QSM
Aviation Historian
Hon. Chaplain, Company of Air Pilots
(NZ Region)
80 Highland Park Drive
Howick
PO Box 82-363
Highland Park
Auckland 2143
New Zealand
Ph +64 9 5339400 022 5339400
Email: rjw@ecw.org.nz
www.nzairlineresearch.co.nz
