Fokker Friendship ZK-RTA to Queensland museum

[Peter Lewis]

This ex-Safe-Air, ex-Rex Aviation Friendship freighter has been sold to the Queensland Air Museum and has now arrived at Caloundra.
This aircraft, initially owned by Ansett in Australia as VH-FNQ, was leased to Safe-Air from December 1989 to May 1990.
It returned to NZ in November 1990 to become ZK-RTA operated by Rex Aviation (NZ) Ltd., Wellington until departing again in March 1996.
After a further period on freighting duties within Australia it was finally retired at Tamworth in 2001.

ZK-RTA at Mangere early 1996


Further details and photographs can be found at the QAM website
www.qam.com.au/aircraft/friendship/VH-FNQ.htm

[Dave Homewood]

That is an interesting colour scheme, I've not seen that one before.

[flyjoe180]

Bit more exciting than the overall white scheme the current NZ F27's have. A change is in the wind however.

[corsair67]

Gee, QAM have a few ex-NZ aircraft in their collection now.

[ron]

QAM have a few ex-NZ aircraft in their collection now.

Indeed we do. In addition to the F.27 formerly ZK-RTA, QAM also has Heron VH-KAM which spent some time on lease to Vincent Aviation. Curiously, both of these aeroplanes were on static display at an airshow at Mangere in 1992 where I photographed them. Given this trend, I figure it's just a matter of time before the Beriev Albatross turns up at Caloundra

Other Kiwi aircraft in the collection are:

Pawnee ZK-CEL (restoration nearing completion)
Hiller UH-12E ZK-HCQ (stored pending restoration)
Nomad ZK-SAL (stored pending restoration)

Now how is your new government disposed towards museums who aspire to a Skyhawk?

Regards

Ron