Final Flights

[nzompilot]

One memory I have from childhood is Dad rushing us outside to see the final F27 flight into Blenheim arrive. He had his camera with him and I have recently come across the photo dated late November 1990


I was then at Woodbourne on Sunday 12 August 2002 when my friends (then) Cpt Rhys Nicholls and F/O Steve Chick ferried ZK-VJG the last Eagle Air Bandeirante BHE-HLZ after it had operated its final revenue flight as NZ2477 WLG-BHE the previous evening.

So what I want to know is does anyone know the rego of the final F27 into Blenheim and out of interest what were the final flights/rego's for the various types?

DC-3 -
Heron -
Viscount -
F27 -
HS748 -
ATR 72-212 -
Bandeirante - ZK VJG NZ2477 11/08/02 WLG-BHE
Metroliner (Eagle) -
Metroliner (Air Nelson) -
Saab - ZK NLH NZ8161 24/09/07 WLG-NSN (then back in service 26/09 to cover 1900D grounding)
Electra -
DC-8 -
DC-10 -
737-200 -
767-200 -
747-200 -

I have only listed the NAC/NZ types but if anyone wants to expand it out to cover Tasman Pacific / Qantas NZ / CityJet / Origin Pacific - please do - I would appreciate this info as I find it interesting.

[Bruce]

CityJet was 30/11/99 aircraft was EMB110 ZK-TZM (which I think became -VJG with Eagle)

[nzompilot]

Cheers Bruce - Which route was the last flight on???
I've got TZM as CEF with Eagle and VJG as ex TZN

[nzav8a]

Air NZ 747-200 ZK-NZX 30.06.99 NRT-CHC-AKL NZ90

Air NZ 737-200 ZK-NAB 17.12.01 AKL-CHC NZ509

Mount Cook HS748 ZK-MCF 12.02.96 -CHC

[Dave Homewood]

Mum and Dad flew on the last ever NAC flight, which went from Auckland (Mangere) to Norfolk Island in March - April 1978. They came home on the same F-27 now painted as Air New Zealand. I might be able to find the exact date if you want.

[nzompilot]

Thanks for the info on the 742 and 732 nzav8a ... any idea of where the last HS748 flight to CHC originated?
Dave would be interested in the dates if you could get them ...
Final type and company flights are an interesting/quirky set of stats, that I have developed an interest in

[Dave Homewood]

Regarding the Norfolk Island flight I asked Mum and she said it was 1978, not 1977. I think they flew up on Good Friday which would be 24th of March 1978. Don't take this as gospel but use it as a guide if you're looking for the facts. I have a feeling this may have been the last ever NAC flight, not just to Norfolk but anywhere. Can anyone confirm this?

[nzav8a]

I believe the HS748 flt was WLG-CHC

[nzompilot]

Dave - probably the last NAC flight to Norfolk as the timing is right - have found that NAC and ANZ merged on 1/04/78 with the last NAC flight being 737-200 ZK NAP as Flight 434 WLG-AKL 31/03/78

For anyone else interested the list so far:

Type - Rego - Route - Flight # - Date

NAC
Douglas DC-3 - ZK AOF - TIU-CHC - ? - 19/12/1974
dH Heron - ? - ? - ? - 31/07/1957
Vickers Vicount - ZK BWO - PMR-WLG-CHC - ? - 28/09/1975
Boeing 737-200 - ZK NAP - WLG-AKL - 434 - 31/03/1978 - also final NAC company flight

Air New Zealand & Link
EMB Bandeirante (Eagle Air) - ZK VJG - WLG-BHE - NZ2477 - 11/08/02
Saab SF340A (Air Nelson) - ZK NLH - WLG-NSN - NZ8161 - 24/09/07
HS748 (Mt Cook) - ZK MCF - WLG-CHC - ? - 12/02/96
Boeing 737-200 - ZK NAB - WLG-CHC - NZ509 - 17/12/01
Boeing 747-200 - ZK NZX - NRT-CHC-AKL - NZ90 - 30/06/99

CityJet
EMB Bandeirante - ZK TZM - ? - ? - 30/11/99

Freedom Air
Airbus A320 - ZK OJM - OOL-HLZ - SJ928 - 29/03/08

[graemewi]

Air NZ DC8 - passenger: December 15 1981, ZK-NZE, Melbourne - Auckland
Freight: September 25 1987, ZK-NZD, Brisbane - Auckland

I always have been disappointed to have missed out flying on the QF707s and NZ DC8s

[nzav8a]

Air NZ
DC-6 21.03.61 NAN-AKL
DC-10 02.11.82 ZK-NZR HKG-AKL
767-200 06.03.05 ZK-NBA SYD-AKL NZ106
F-27 02.12.90 NPL-AKL

Air NZ Link/Air Nelson
Metro 10.11.02 ZK-NSZ WLG-NSN NZ8537

Kiwi Air
A320 09.09.96 S7-RGX HLZ-BNE

Safe Air
B170 30.09.86 ZK-CLU BHE-CHC-IVC-BHE