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ZK AWP
Jan 23, 2010 15:35:15 GMT 12
Post by dakman on Jan 23, 2010 15:35:15 GMT 12
HI All have just enjoyed the posts on the Ag Dak but wondered what is happening with AWP? Is the aircraft in service and who actually owns it So much work and money was put into its restoration Will Craig Emeny get it back into the air any thoughts?
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ZK AWP
Jan 23, 2010 15:51:04 GMT 12
Post by aeromedia on Jan 23, 2010 15:51:04 GMT 12
Good question ! I remember pleading with Tim Scott a few years back NOT to ditch the wonderful NAC scheme that I believe Aerial Mapping put her back into. She looked stunning !
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ZK AWP
Jan 24, 2010 11:22:28 GMT 12
Post by furyfb11 on Jan 24, 2010 11:22:28 GMT 12
After retiring from ag work it was used on NZ Post work by Fieldair seen here at Wellington 26/'12/89 5 years later AWP was flying in Classic Air colours. Ardmore 19/11/94
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ZK AWP
Jan 24, 2010 11:55:32 GMT 12
Post by Tonys18 on Jan 24, 2010 11:55:32 GMT 12
Thats one beautiful aircraft. What ever happend to it?
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ZK AWP
Jan 24, 2010 12:12:23 GMT 12
Post by flyjoe180 on Jan 24, 2010 12:12:23 GMT 12
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 7:21:07 GMT 12
Post by dakman on Jan 25, 2010 7:21:07 GMT 12
Hi all Graeme MIlls in australia has confirmed that Craig Emeny has indeed bought awp replaced an engine and hopes to flr her again At this point not sure if the aircraft will return to NZ
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 7:29:00 GMT 12
Post by kiwibeavers on Jan 25, 2010 7:29:00 GMT 12
AWP being readied for her first engine run after sitting idle in Tonga for over 3 years. Thanks to Craig Emeny for the rescue and photo.
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 14:22:26 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 25, 2010 14:22:26 GMT 12
That Classic Air colour scheme is one of the nicest I have seen on a Dakota ever!
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 14:47:42 GMT 12
Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jan 25, 2010 14:47:42 GMT 12
Hi all Graeme MIlls in australia has confirmed that Craig Emeny has indeed bought awp replaced an engine and hopes to flr her again At this point not sure if the aircraft will return to NZ It would be nice it she did return to NZ, as AWP is the last airworthy ex-RNZAF, ex-NAC, ex-Fieldair C-47/DC-3 since BBJ disappeared overseas with Morris Catering and ended up derelict in some African shit-hole.
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agman
Warrant Officer
Posts: 37
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 17:53:02 GMT 12
Post by agman on Jan 25, 2010 17:53:02 GMT 12
C J DeBruyn cheif engineer Chatams Pacific Engineering is looking for a variety of DC3 parts, most importantly the last 5 floor beams which are coroded and need replacement. Could be a hangover from her fieldair days or transporting a lot of nervous Tongans
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 20:18:52 GMT 12
Post by kiwibeavers on Jan 25, 2010 20:18:52 GMT 12
Plenty of spares here ex ZK-AMS 12th June 2009 at Rutherford, not sure if she's still there, I'll go check tomorrow.
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 21:07:33 GMT 12
Post by kiwibeavers on Jan 25, 2010 21:07:33 GMT 12
More spares here as well. VH-DNF at Warnervale on the Central Coast, 30th January 2009. I'm not sure if this one is still there, was supposed to have gone to the Museum in Brisbane. VH-DNA at Bankstown 30th October 2009 VH-MMD at the Bankstown Museum 12th December 2009 VH-PWN at the Bankstown Museum 12th December 2009 VH-UPQ at the Bankstown Museum 12th December 2009
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 21:13:27 GMT 12
Post by dakman on Jan 25, 2010 21:13:27 GMT 12
Yes returning this aeroplane to NZ is what we would all like to see Maybe there is a way that this special aircraft can be used commercially and remain here , Dave have you got a Hadrian glider available??
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ZK AWP
Jan 25, 2010 21:19:32 GMT 12
Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jan 25, 2010 21:19:32 GMT 12
After retiring from ag work it was used on NZ Post work by Fieldair seen here at Wellington 26/'12/89 Speedlink was actually a NZ Railways Corporation parcels service. A lot of passenger trains in NZ ran with Speedlink parcels vans attached. NZ Railways Road Services (which later became Intercity Coachlines and were then sold off) also used to run half-passenger half-freight Speedlink buses around the country at night. The airfreight side of the operation (contracted out to Fieldair) was in many ways a hangover from the previous Rail Air operation which was contracted out to SAFE Air. Speedlink did however carry mail for NZ Post, but a lot of mail used to also run in ordinary rail wagons on freight trains as well. Another interesting thing back then was the amount of airfreight being carted overnight by rail, first for NAC then Air NZ. When I was working in Napier during the mid-1970s, NAC used to load a huge amount of airfreight into rail wagons every afternoon and they would head out on trains to Wellington. Each morning, NAC would unload a lot of airfreight out of wagons that had arrived off overnight trains. When I moved up to Gisborne in 1978, I noticed the same thing was occuring up there. We had a freight train that departed Gisborne at about 4pm and travelled overnight to Palmerston North, where some wagons were attached onto an express freight train from Auckland to Wellington; and NAC, then Air NZ used to consign a lot of airfreight on that train. Likewise, an overnight freight train from Palmerston North that arrived in Gisborne at about 6.30am used to carry a lot of airfreight bound for Gisborne. A lot of airmail also used to be carted overnight by rail between Auckland and Wellington. On the odd occasion the main trunk railway line was blocked by a derailment or slip, airmail would be a day late being delivered to addresses in Auckland and Wellington, as would a lot of airfreight parcels.
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ZK AWP
Jan 26, 2010 19:34:14 GMT 12
Post by Damon on Jan 26, 2010 19:34:14 GMT 12
Mid way through 2009 Slattery Auctions Australia were auctioning some DC-3's in Australia. What became of those aircraft? Some seemed to have good time on airframe as well as engines.Did they actually sell in the end? ZK-AMS/VHCWS is being sold on behalf by Slattery Auctions in Australia at present.
Thanks
Damon
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ZK AWP
Jan 26, 2010 19:51:54 GMT 12
Post by aeromedia on Jan 26, 2010 19:51:54 GMT 12
I viewed and photographed the airframes you speak of about June last year (2009). They are located at the site of the Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown and are owned by a gentleman by the name of Peter Starr. They are all former National Dakota Air examples, although there is another DC3 that belongs to the museum itself on the same site. I walked around the airframes and they are sitting in fairly boggy terrain. Much wetter than appears in the pics. I was told there had been some fairly substantial offers on at least one/some of the airframes but that the owner didin't complete the deal for whatever reason. They surely will have to be moved/sold before too long as the museum is losing the site to commercial redevelopment and is being relocated to Camden. Some of the airframes will require a lot of work, even as museum displays. A number with an engine or both engines removed.
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ZK AWP
Jan 26, 2010 20:06:09 GMT 12
Post by aeromedia on Jan 26, 2010 20:06:09 GMT 12
Actually, further to that apparently three aiframes were moved off-site late last year with a fourth to follow shortly. They have been moved to open storage at Morong NSW to the yard of the trucking compmany that handled the move. Where to from there . . . . . . .. ?? One of the aircraft was the subject of the excellent Classic Cockpits DVD, I think from memory it was VH-MIN
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ZK AWP
Jan 26, 2010 20:17:18 GMT 12
Post by Damon on Jan 26, 2010 20:17:18 GMT 12
According to the web 'National Dakota Air ' is no longer operating in Bankstown airport. Discovery Air Tours say..
DC3 Operations have now ceased It is with regret we advise that due to a relocation of our operational base at the Australian Aviation Museum, Banks town Airport, Dakota National Air has now ceased operating all of its DC3 aircraft. The management takes this opportunity to thank all staff and customers alike for their patronage and contributions in making Discovery Air Tours for many years, Australia's premier DC3 operation.
Further on DC3 Aircraft and equipment for sale Any organisation or persons wishing to contact management re the purchase of DC3 aircraft, spares or equipment, may do so by contacting the Director( email address..) So I guess there are DC-3's still avaliable in Australia.
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ZK AWP
Jan 26, 2010 20:22:43 GMT 12
Post by Damon on Jan 26, 2010 20:22:43 GMT 12
Plenty of spares here ex ZK-AMS 12th June 2009 at Rutherford, not sure if she's still there, I'll go check tomorrow. How did it go KiwiBeaver.Was VH-CWS still there?( no knicking parts off her now!) Damon
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ZK AWP
Jan 27, 2010 21:04:03 GMT 12
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 27, 2010 21:04:03 GMT 12
ZK-AWP in an earlier life, as NZNAC 'Skyliner Kaitaia' Whenuapai 2Feb1964and with Speedlink, 1988
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