Photo thread - The Douglas DC-3

[Peter Lewis]

By the mid-1950s New Zealand was running out of DC-3s. When the National Airways Corporation needed more capacity it had to turn to Australia for its requirements. Therefore in 1955 they bought two DC-3s from Australian National Airlines and refitted them at Christchurch.

VH-ANU had served with the USAAF in the Philippines as a C-47A-25-DK carrying the serial 42-93592 from 6Jun1944. At the wars end it was sold to Australian National Airlines and ferried from Manila to Melbourne. Converted into a freighter configuration it served with ANA in this role until sold to NAC on 13Jun1955 when it had flown 22,866hrs.

Arriving in NZ on 14Jun1955 the registration ZK-BKD was issued on the 26th. Fitted out at Christchurch as a passenger aircraft it was named Kotare on entering service in October 1956.

ZK-BKD on-line at Paraparaumu January 1957



Loading at Paraparaumu May 1959



ZK-BKD 'Kotare' at Whenuapai, late 1950s



Meanwhile, Harry Wigley at the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company had been operating light aircraft on tourist flights for some years but had bigger plans. He therefore arranged to lease a DC-3 from NAC and ZK-BKD was the chosen aircraft. Repainted into a Mt Cook scheme, Mt Cook Air Services Ltd. of Timaru took over the aircraft from 25Oct1961 and the first Mt Cook DC-3 scheduled service was from Christchurch into Mount Cook airfield on the 1st November.

ZK-BKD in Mt Cook colours. Des White photo via S Lowe



Although ZK-BKD did not undergo the full NAC Skyliner upgrade, it was fitted with the larger windows.

Mt Cook ventures north to Rongotai, late 1960s



In 1970 ZK-BKD was returned to NAC and was replaced at Mt Cook by Skyliner ZK-BEU.
Re-registered to NZ National Airways Corp. on 30Jun1970, ZK-BKD was soon sold to Fieldair, converted to the agricultural role, and initially operated as part of their contribution to Airland before reverting back to sole Fieldair ownership.

ZK-BKD at Masterton early 1982



ZK-BKD at Wairoa October 1982



Although current to Fieldair until 1October1987, ZK-BKD was retired from flying on23Jan1983 having flown 51,277hrs.



Plans to have it as a museum item at Milson fell through in mid-1985, and ownership passed to Hamish Ross who shifted the aircraft to Rotorua intending to incorporate it into his museum.

ZK-BKD at Rotorua late-1980s. Phil Treweek photo



After Hamish Ross was killed the museum idea faded and ZK-BKD was shifted (again) to Gisborne in 1992 where it became the star attraction at the Smash Palace wine bar in suburban Gisborne

I visited the bar at Gisborne about 12 years ago. At that time the place was quite neat, and there were stairs leading up to the Dakota. The interior had been stripped out, and there was a long table fixed to and running down the starboard side of the fuselage inside with bar stools adjacent. You could comfortably sit there and discuss past present and future.

Another visit in January 2009 revealed a different story. The whole place had a run down look, the stairs up to the Dakota had been removed and the aircraft was inaccessible. I managed a quick peek through a window, and the inside of the aircraft was just a rubbish dump. Vegetation was growing up around it as these photos show. Sad.

ZK-BKD Gisborne Jan2009

[Dave Homewood]

Can you please elaborate on who Hamish Ross was, what his museum was about, and how he was killed?

[Peter Lewis]

Hamish Ross was an agricultural pilot, mostly working in the Rotorua area..
He flew for Adastra Aviation in the mid-to-late 1960s, then was pilot for Rotorua Aerial Syndicate's PL-12 Airtruk.
Transferred the syndicate into Ross Aviation based at Rotorua.
Sold Ross Aviation into Superair 1990.
Flew for Superair until killed in the crash of Fletcher ZK-BIX Waimangu 11Dec90.

He apparently had a dream of creating an agricultural aviation museum on his property located on the opposite side of the road from the Rotorua airport.
As well as ZK -BKD he also garnered Pawnee ZK-CEL, PL-12 ZK-ELL and presumably a collection of other bits and pieces.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Peter. Now that I read this I recall this has been discussed before here on the forum. I was wondering initially if it was a military collection given the C-47.

[Damon]

This is a great thread Peter, fabulous pictures!

[strikemaster]

Where was ZK-BKD at, in Rotorua. I seem to remember it.

[Peter Lewis]

Thank you Damon.

I never personally saw ZK-BKD in storage at Rotorua. I understand that Hamish Ross's place was on the opposite side of the main Rotorua - Whakatane road from the Rotorua Airport and a little further out from the city.
But then I could be wrong about this.

[Peter Lewis]

The second DC-3 bought from Australian National Airlines by NAC in 1955 had a more convoluted history.

This aircraft was the only actual civil DC-3 to arrive in New Zealand. It had been ordered by American Airlines as a DC-3-277D, but was impressed by the USAAF on the production line, and rolled out as a C-50-DO. The distinguished feature of this aircraft was the fuselage door was located on the starboard side, as distinct from the port-side door on all the other NZ DC-3s.

Entering USAAF service as 41-7697 in July 1941, it served at various mainland US bases until arriving in Australia in November 1942.
Once in Australia it served with various military units until delivered to Guinea Airways, Parafield, South Australia in May 1944. Guinea Airways flew it under military contracts using the callsign VHCDK.

Sold to Australian National Airways it became VH-ANI on 22May1946 and served its entire life with ANA as a freighter.

Bought by NAC in June 1955 it became ZK-BKE on 27Jun1955.
However, it looks like it did operate briefly in NZ before being repainted in NAC colours.

VH-ANI at work Paraparaumu June 1955





When fully operational with NAC ZK-BKE carried the name Kawatere. As it served purely in the freight role with NAC, so carried 'NAC Freightair' titles

ZK-BKE 'Kawatere' in the late-1950s





At Rongotai December 1962



At Whenuapai 6Jul1963. The starboard fuselage door is evident in this photo



ZK-BKE at Whenuapai May 1965



ZK-BKE was withdrawn from service on 8Jan1966, at 38.466hrs.

Stored at Christchurch, alongside ZK-AQS



Repainted, and ready for departure overseas



 Sold via Australian aircraft brokers into Laos in late 1967, ZK-BKE departed New Zealand in January 1968 and became XW-TDD with Laos Airlines, Vientane later that month.
On the 11th March the DC-3 transferred to Lane Xang Airlines and became XW-TFI. At a later date, XW-TFI was leased to Khemara Air Transport and while operating with them crashed on take-off from Takeo, in Cambodia, on 15Dec1974, fortunately without any loss of life.

[shorty]

ZK BKD at Rotorua. It was so close to the airport that I walked across from the airport to take this while fixing a 748.

[agile]

I guess that must be PL12 ZK-ELL in the background. What became of that?

[Peter Lewis]

From the PL-12 Airtruk thread:

ZK-ELL c/n 886 Registered to Transfield (NZ) Ltd., Auckland March 1979, sold to Barr Bros Ltd. later the same month.
Sold to Beard Aviation Ltd., Kaitaia March 1985, WFU at Ardmore 1988.
To Hamish Ross' aviation museum at Rotorua.
Reported exported to Australia at a later date.

[strikemaster]

Sept 26, 2011 19:29:32 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

Thank you Damon.

I never personally saw ZK-BKD in storage at Rotorua. I understand that Hamish Ross's place was on the opposite side of the main Rotorua - Whakatane road from the Rotorua Airport and a little further out from the city.
But then I could be wrong about this.

That sounds right from what I remember. My Nana lives in Whakatane and we used to go past quite a bit. I'm not sure on the dates tho, that doesn't seem to add up to me.

[Peter Lewis]

NZ3544 had served with the RNZAF as a C-47B-35-DK from June 1945. On 14Apr1952 it suffered an accident at Wigram. Reports on this accident differ. One source says that the aircraft suffered an engine failure on takeoff resulted in the aircraft overshooting runway on subsequent crash landing. Another source says that it hit a windsock pylon on landing. In any event, NZ3544 was written off the Air Force inventory and put up for sale later in 1952.

The successful purchaser was NAC who used the C-47 as a spares source. However, when the DH Heron fleet was withdrawn from service, they proceeded to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition and registered it as a DC-3C ZK-BQK on 10May1956. ZK-BQK entered line service on 25th October 1957 and carried the name Koreke.

ZK-BQK newly online at Christchurch in late 1957



In 1960 ZK-BQK was embellished with a dayglo fin and rudder. This unique NAC colour scheme was an attempt improve the in-flight visibility of the aircraft.
The trial was eventually deemed unsuccessful, and instead the fleet was eventually equipped with rotating tail beacons.

The dayglo Dak at Rongotai March 1960



The combination of DC-3 and Bristol Freighter was a common sight at Rongotai



Hard to tell if the faded dayglo was a feature of the aircraft, or if the unstable photographic colours are the culprit.



Within a fairly short time ZK-BQK reverted to the standard fleet livery.
The rotating beacon can now be seen mounted on the fin.

ZK-BQK at Rongotai December 1962



ZK-BQK was upgraded to Skyliner standard in June 1963 and renamed New Plymouth.

Skyliner ZK-BQK at Onerahi 1964



and a few years later, at Auckland International June 1968



When ZK-BQK was retired from NAC service, it was leased to Polynesian Airlines Ltd., Apia, Western Samoa from December 1969 to April 1972 as 5W-FAH.

At the conclusion of this lease, the aircraft returned to New Zealand and was restored as ZK-BQK to NAC but not used.

Outside storage at Christchurch 1972-73



After some time in storage at Christchurch, ZK-BQK was flown to Auckland on 17Jun1973, the wings were removed, and it was transported to MoTAT at Western Springs.
After reassembly at the site, it has been parked outside or in storage ever since.
Eventually ZK-BQK will be available for public inspection both internally and externally.

ZK-BQK at MoTAT 1May2010. The control surfaces, being fabric-covered, have been removed and stored

[Dave Homewood]

Here's a photo my Dad took of ZK-BQK at MOTAT, in either the very late 1970's or early 80's.

[Peter Lewis]

South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand, otherwise known as SPANZ, was founded by ex-NAC pilots Bob Anderson and Rex Daniell in 1960. Their initial flying equipment consisted of two Douglas DC-3C aircraft sourced from the Ansett organization in Australia.

The first, to become ZK-BYD on 1Dec1960, had served as a C-47A-DL 43-30755 with the USAAF from mid-1943 in the USA and Australia. Civilianized in late 1945, it became VH-ANK in March 1946 and served with ANA until May 1954 apart from two periods where it was operated by Guinea Airways as VH-AVL. Passing to Queensland Airlines, Ansett Transport Industries and finally to Airlines of New South Wales in 1960, it was upgraded to Australian Viewmaster status at Melbourne before arriving at Whenuapai on 2Dec1960.

ZK-BYD carried out a proving flight from Whenuapai whistle-stopping down to Alexandra on 10Dec1960, returning to Auckland on the 11th. SPANZ scheduled services started on the 14th.

ZK-BYD in the initial SPANZ colours, soon after arrival in New Zealand



ZK-BYD lined up at Whenuapai in February 1961, with ZK-BYE behind



ZK-BYD at the SPANZ parking area on the north-western side of Whenuapai, February 1961





The aircraft was named Ernest Rutherford in early 1961.

ZK-BYD as 'Ernest Rutherford' June 1963





The New Zealand Government and NAC made much of Ansett's involvement with SPANZ. This apparently was an attempt to portray SPANZ as a back-door attempt by Ansett to break into the NZ aviation market. Therefore, in late 1963, SPANZ announced that they were going to modified the colour schemes on their DC-3s to remove the Ansett-style tail logo and replace it with a circular motif. This change was completed by late January 1964.

ZK-BYD refuelling at Christchurch 29Aug1964



ZK-BYD at the SPANZ base , Whenuapai, 14Jan1965. ZK-BYE in the background



Overnighting with friend



SPANZ ceased operations on 28Feb1966. Stored at Auckland International, ZK-BYD had flown 49,922hrs at that time. Sold to Aviation Sales (NZ) Ltd., Auckland on 12Sep1966, there was also involvement by the Columbia Trading Corp.
ZK-BYD departed New Zealand on 11Jul1967 and headed for Laos, where it became XW-PFA on 22Sep1967 owned by Air America, the CIA affiliate. Later that year Laos Air Charter took ownership.

The aircraft apparently lasted at least until 1972, but was possibly destroyed in the Vientiane storm that claimed ZK-AZN and probably ZK-AYL in 1976

[agile]

Sept 28, 2011 19:39:37 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

The first, to become ZK-BKD on 1Dec1960

I presume that's a slip of the keyboard, BYD?

Loving this thread.

[Peter Lewis]

Indeedy . . . (fumbles for bifocals) . . . error corrected.

[shamus]

Another shot of ZK-BQK taken at Motat some years ago.

[Peter Lewis]

The second DC-3C acquired by SPANZ from Ansett was VH-IND. This aircraft had been built as a C-47A-25-DK and served with the USAAF mainly in the Philippines.
The aircraft was sold into civil aviation post-war, and became VH-IND on 14Apr1948 operated by Butler Air Transport. Further ownership changes over the subsequent years saw this DC-3 move through Australian National Airways, Guinea Airways, Ansett-ANA and Queensland Airways before arriving at Melbourne in 1960 to undergo conversion to Viewmaster standards for SPANZ.

Registered as ZK-BYE on 2Dec1960, it arrived at Whenuapai on the 16th.

Working on ZK-BYE at Whenuapai, 2Feb1961



Early in 1961 the aircraft was named Jean Batten.

ZK-BYE at Hood airfield, Masterton, April 1962



ZK-BYE loading at Whenuapai June 1963, with another SPANZ DC-3 parked behind



Running up at Whenuapai 14Jan1965, ZK-BYE displays the later SPANZ livery



ZK-BYE was withdrawn from SPANZ service on 28Feb1966 at 39,917hrs and was parked at Auckland International airport.
On 12Sep1966 Aviation Sales (NZ) Ltd. of Auckland took ownership, and the aircraft flew out of New Zealand on 6Feb1968 en-route to Laos where it became XW-PFX with Laos Air Charter, Vientane.
At a later stage it became XW-TDA with Royal Air Lao before reverting to Laos Air Charter ownership.
Finally the aircraft is reported to have crashed when the left wing contacted a mountain and the aircraft crashed near Luang Prabang, Laos 23Dec1969 . Two crew fatal of three. Passengers 4 fatal of 16 onboard.

[Peter Lewis]

When James Aviation converted ZK-AZL for agricultural use, the concept was so successful that other operators followed suit. The 5-ton payload of the agricultural DC-3 outweighed the 3-ton capability of the Lodestar.

When the Airland consortium was formed in 1960, Rural Aviation had no heavy aircraft to contribute, so they arranged the importation of a DC-3 from the USA. The chosen aircraft was N65393, a DC-3 which had started life as a C-47A-85-DL with the USAAF before entering airline service in Hawaii with Trans Pacific Airlines and Aloha Airlines.

This aircraft arrived in New Zealand in December 1960 then left again almost immediately for Hong Kong where the conversion to agricultural configuration was carried out.

Registered as ZK-BYF to Rural Aviation (1963) Ltd., New Plymouth on 23Feb1961, ownership changed to Airland on the 4th March. This aircraft seems to have generally operated in the lower North Island areas over subsequent years.

ZK-BYF in early Airland colours at Rongotai October 1962



ZK-BYF in rather worn Airland livery at Milson 17Feb1966





ZK-BYF possibly at Ardmore, 1960s



When the Airland consortium dissolved, Fieldair took sole ownership of ZK-BYF on 20Feb1978. However, ZK-BYF must have been painted up in Fieldair colours at least two years prior to that date.

Mixed message here - Fieldair livery but still promoting the Airland name



Fieldair DC-3 ZK-BYF during loading operations, probably at Gisborne



ZK-BYF at Masterton 30Jun1976. Note the name 'Kotuku' applied under the cockpit window



Ownership was changed to Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd. on 18Nov1980. ZK-BYF finished work in early 1981, and flew into Palmerston North on 20Jan1981 for storage having flown 34891hrs, relatively light for a DC-3.

Outside storage at Milson 1981



John Regan bought ZK-BYF later that same year from Fieldair less engines and propellers and moved it to Silverstream in the Hutt Valley on 17 March 1982. He then acquired time-expired engines and propellers and fitted these to the airframe. The aircraft retained the Fieldair colours at this time.

ZK-BYF at Silverstream 22Jul1982. Dave Paull photo



Ten years later the DC-3 was moved to Ohakea, repainted in an RNZAF colour scheme as 'NZ3547' and placed up on poles outside the base as an advertisement for the Ohakea Branch of the RNZAF Museum

ZK-BYF masquerading as NZ3547 at Ohakea 1994



In September 1999 ZK-BYF was bought from John Regan by a group of members of the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society and shifted by road from Ohakea to Gisborne Airport in May 2000.
The DC-3 is now housed out of the weather in a new hangar, and restoration is planned to highlight its aerial work history, although the exterior is still painted in the RNZAF colours.

ZK-BYF at Gisborne 3Jan2009



The interior still needed plenty of work at that time