Photo thread - The Douglas DC-3

[Peter Lewis]

The third DC-3 for SPANZ arrived in New Zealand at Whenuapai on 23rd October 1961.

This aircraft had started life with the USAAF as a C-47A-65-DL in October 1943 and reached Australia in December. It served with both the RAAF and the USAAF and finished the war in the Philippines.

Bought by Australian National Airways, it became VH-ANM in February 1947, and served with ANA, Queensland Airlines and Butler Air Transport. With Butlers it became one of the first DC-3s in Australia to be upgraded to Viewmaster status. It then went to Ansett in 1958 when Butlers were bought out, and was used by their subsidiary Airlines of New South Wales. Just prior to the aircraft's departure to New Zealand, it was fitted with a set of drop-down airstairs, a first for a New Zealand aircraft.

ZK-CAW at Melbourne in the early SPANZ livery, just prior to departure for New Zealand. Ed Coates photo.



ZK-CAW departing Rongotai December 1963. The competition, in the form of an NAC Viscount, in the background.



ZK-CAW in the SPANZ parking area at Whenuapai February 1963.
The fitted airstairs are clearly visible.



Rongotai October 1963



and December 1963



ZK-CAW at Whenuapai 2Feb1964. Apparently undergoing its repaint exercise into the updated livery. The 'George Bolt' name is missing and the tail logo is not yet complete.



Repaint complete, ZK-CAW at Rongotai later the same month



Some time after its arrival in New Zealand, ZK-CAW acquired the name George Bolt. When the aircraft underwent a major overhaul with NAC at Christchurch in August 1965 a standard DC-3 door was fitted. The door was replaced after it fell open at Alexandra in a similar fashion to that of 5W-FAB. Fortunately the situation did not have quite the same serious outcome.

When SPANZ ceased flying on 28Feb1966 ZK-CAW had flown 44,910hrs. ZK-CAW was then bought from the receivers by NAC and repainted in their standard colours, but without any reference to Skyliner or Viewmaster, although it did retain the name George Bolt. I think that this was the only NAC aircraft ever to be named after an individual.

ZK-CAW with NAC at Wanganui 1966



Fiji Airways then leased this aircraft, operating it as VQ-FAI from June 1966 to August 1969

VQ-FAI in Fiji Airways livery





Returning to New Zealand, the DC-3 again became ZK-CAW with NAC on 5Aug1969 but was then immediately leased to Mt Cook Airlines to cover for maintenance on ZK-AOD. It was repainted into Mt Cook colours at that time.

ZK-CAW at Christchurch during its time with Mt Cook Airlines



Returning at the end of the lease, ZK-CAW was stored at Christchurch

ZK-CAW looking a bit bedraggled, with a couple of jokers pushing it away into a corner at Christchurch



Taken over by charter airline startup South Seas Airways Ltd. of Auckland in early May 1971, ZK-CAW was repainted in their colours. However the operation never commenced due to licensing difficulties.

ZK-CAW at Milson in South Seas Airways colours.



Passing then to Fieldair later in May 1971, ZK-CAW started work in the ag role on 22Nov1972.

ZK-CAW as an AgDak at the Oringi strip 1Jul1976



and during the early 1980s



Ownership changed to Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd. on 18Nov1980 and to Fieldair Holdings Ltd. on 30Mar1984. The aircraft was retired on 29Oct1984 @ 56282hrs and stored at Palmerston North until sold to R J Harding, Wanganui on 28Mar1985.
Plans to restore to an airworthy status fell through, and the registration was cancelled on 10Jul1990.

Ownership passed to a Taupo-based car dealer who, after some restoration work was carried out, placed it on the boundary of his Taupo car yard alongside a McDonalds restaurant later in 1990.
Since then, the aircraft (and McDonalds) has moved further down the same street towards the lakefront and the DC-3 is now used as an extension to the McDonalds and is painted in their colours.

At Taupo, 8Jan2010

[Dave Homewood]

ZK-CAW has had a lot of colour schemes in NZ, hasn't it? I really like that first one, ANZ, with the red and white tail (coloured photo).

[agile]

Any idea why they would have removed the airstair from CAW? Seems like it would be a useful fitment.

[Peter Lewis]

Parts availability? Fleet commonality?

[Peter Lewis]

With SPANZ up and running with three DC-3s, the directors were expecting a bumper 1961-62 summer season. With this prospect in mind, they decided to lease a 4th aircraft over that period.

After some searching overseas, they arranged with the British charter airline Air Links to hire their DC-3 G-AMKE for three months, with the option of buying the aircraft at the end of that time if it was found to be suitable for SPANZ operations.

G-AMKE had started life as a C-47B-5-DK in 1943 and was taken on strength with the RAF in 1944. Civilianized in 1951 it served with British European Airlines before being sold to Air Links in July 1961.

G-AMKE of Air Links during a charter flight to Berlin



G-AMKE arrived at Whenuapai at the end of its ferry flight from the UK on 15Dec1961. It operated with SPANZ using its British crew and retained its Air Links markings throughout its time in New Zealand.

G-AMKE in SPANZ service at a regional New Zealand airfield early 1962



However, expectations of a bumper Christmas trade were not realized, and SPANZ suffered a cash flow crisis in February 1962. Many staff were made redundant and the lease of G-AMKE was terminated. The aircraft left Whenuapai on 23Feb1962 for the return flight back to the UK, arriving there on the 7th March.

After it returned to the UK, the aircraft was sold into Rhodesia as VP-YUU in October 1962. By 1966 the DC-3 had moved to Zambia where it became 9J-RDR.
Descending into obscurity, reports indicate that it was retired at the end of 1970 and finally ended up as an artifact in a bar near the Rand Airport.

G-AMKE seems to have been a bit camera-shy during its time in New Zealand. Check in you parents/grandparents photo album, and if you find any photos of the Air Links DC-3 while it was in NZ we'd like to see them.

[dakman]

Have seen photos of AMKE at airports in NZ ,

[dakman]

Understand the derelict aircraft after several years at Lusaka
was sold to Phoebus ApolloAviation in 1998, not sure if it was
registered in South Africa,and as you say went to the Dak in the
Wall pub in Phoebus colours reported still extant 2003

[dakman]

A thought on AMKE in NZ
I think it may have featured
on the cover of a book written
by Guy Clapshaw on NZ Aviation

[Bruce]

The photo on the cover of the guy Clapshaw book is digitally altered I beleive. it was one of Pioneers DC-3s "Tweaked" to represent AMKE.

[dakman]

Thanks Bruce so they were tweeking back then

[Peter Lewis]

Yes Bruce, that's so. I understand that at time they could not find any actual photo of G-AMKE.

Since then, the Waugh/Layne book on SPANZ has come out, and there is a Whites Aviation photo of G-AMKE at Whenuapai in it.
It'd be really nice to find a few others.

[Peter Lewis]

With the popularity of AgDaks increasing during the 1960s, more imports were made.

In mid-1964 H J Laracy, Engineering manager at Fieldair, traveled to the USA to find suitable aircraft.

The result was the import of DC-3D N87672 sourced from the Aero American Corporation in Arizona. This aircraft had started life as a C-47B-50-DK in late 1945 with the USAAF and had been converted to a SC-47D before being sold into the civilian market in 1961. It had flown 9433.35hrs and arrived at Gisborne on 5Jun1964.

This aircraft was converted for agricultural work by NAC at Christchurch, and emerged as ZK-CHV on 22Sep1964.

Under conversion at NAC workshops Christchurch 1964



Operated by Airland (NZ) Ltd., Palmerston North it generally operated in the Hawkes Bay area.

ZK-CHV with Airland titles at Napier 10Jan1966





Registration now moved off tail onto the fuselage



ZK-CHV repainted in a high-viz scheme a few years later



ZK-CHV now in quazi Airland/ Fieldair livery at Masterton





When the Airland consortium dissolved, ownership of ZK-CHV passed to Fieldair on 20Feb1978.

ZK-CHV in full Fieldair livery at Masterton



However, they did not operate the aircraft for very long. The last flight of ZK-CHV took place on 29Mar1979 and the registration was cancelled on 13Jun1979. Withdrawn at Milson at 18395.20hrs, it was broken up for spares. At a later date the fuselage was used at Milson for fire rescue practice.

[Peter Lewis]

The next imported DC-3 was also sourced from Aero American Corp. This was N87655 which had been built for the USAAF in 1944 as a C-47B-5-DK and later upgraded to DC-3- SIC3G standard.

Bought in by James Aviation and arriving in early 1966, it was also converted for agricultural operations by NAC at Christchurch and became ZK-CQA on 25Mar1966.

ZK-CQA in brand new James colours at Hamilton 26Mar1966



This DC-3 seems to have spent most of its operational life during the James Aviation period at Ardmore.

ZK-CQA at Ardmore 5Aug1966



The aircraft made its first revenue-earning flight on 13th August 1966.

ZK-CQA at the James Aviation base at Ardmore, October 1967



At some point during the late 60s, James must have operated this aircraft within the Airland consortium

ZK-CQA in James Aviation-style Airland colours





In mid-1970, ZK-CQA was found to have substantial airframe problems while under overhaul at Hamilton. It was therefore sold as-is to Fieldair, and was registered to them on 28Aug1970.
Fieldair rebuilt the aircraft, having enough spares from their redundant DC-3s to do so, and operated it until 8Jul1975 when it was withdrawn from service at Palmerston North. Registration cancelled 11Mar1977.

ZK-CQA in rotten row, Milson, 15Apr1976



The airframe was used for crash/fire practice at Milson, then I understand that it went to Ohakea Jul90 as training aid for firemen/crane drivers as 'NZ6289'. Can anyone confirm this?

[Peter Lewis]

C-47B-45-DK NZ3553 entered RNZAF service in August 1945. After operating in the normal air force transport role for some years, it was converted into 'semi-VIP' configuration in 1949. This involved fitting out the cabin with up to 12 seats and installing long-range fuel tanks.

NZ3553 continued to serve in this role with 42Sdn during the 50s, 60s and 70s

NZ3553 at Nelson 22Jan1964, as photographed from the door of my Air Scout tent!



NZ3553 was withdrawn from RNZAF service in May1977 at 13,740hrs when the remaining RNZAF C-47s were replaced by the Andovers. Along with NZ3538, NZ3542, NZ3546,and NZ3547 it was advertised for sale by tender.

NZ3551 was also to be included in this sale, but a petition initiated by individuals from the Auckland Branch of AHSNZ saw that aircraft retained and become the start of the Air Force Museum.

NZ3553 was bought, along with the other aircraft, by Brian Kneely of Christchurch and was registered to him on 6Dec1978 as ZK-ERI.

ZK-ERI in temporary markings for delivery to Christchurch December 1978



ZK-ERI was refurbished at Christchurch for eventual departure overseas.

Repainted, at Christchurch, 1979



Eventually the export embargo was lifted and ZK-ERI flew out of New Zealand on 17Dec1980 for Singapore. There it became D6-CAE of Island Associates Ltd., London on 1Jan1981 and was briefly leased to Air Comores, Moroni.

Arriving in South Africa later in 1981, the aircraft served with the SAAF as 6871 from August 1982 and was eventually sold back into civilian life. Converted to PT6 power as a C-47TP by Wonder Air of Pretoria, it flew as ZS-LJI with Professional Aviation Services, Lanseria.

ZS-LJI as a C-47TP



The aircraft arrived at Beira Airport, Mozambique in mid-1998 and was suspected of being used to smuggle cigarettes.
Impounded by the authorities on 23Jul1998, it has remained at that airport ever since, partially under cover but deteriorating. Sad.

At Beira March 2010

[mit]

A long shot I know but I am in Tete Mozambique at the moment and there is a C47 abandoned on the other side (mil) of the airport any idea if that is an exRNZAF? also there is one parked up in Kinshasa DRC?

Cheers

[Peter Lewis]

one more viewer to go and we've reached 4000 - DC3 fanatics.

[baz62]

Oct 7, 2011 12:55:53 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

one more viewer to go and we've reached 4000 - DC3 fanatics.

Still a way to go to beat the Bristol Freighter fanatics! ;D Still pretty impressive considering the thread hasn't been up long.

[nuuumannn]

Faaaantastic! Loving this thread! The DC-3 is just the perro's cojones! These images are all very nostalgic. The picture of NZ3553 taken at Nelson shows what is now the Air Nelson C check hangar behind the aircraft; the coldest hangar in the country! Built in WW2 by the Americans, it's south facing, so gets the cold winds all year round. During high tide, the doors don't close properly!

[aeromedia]

Oct 6, 2011 21:14:46 GMT 12 mit said:

A long shot I know but I am in Tete Mozambique at the moment and there is a C47 abandoned on the other side (mil) of the airport any idea if that is an exRNZAF? also there is one parked up in Kinshasa DRC?

Cheers

Chocolate fish for you Mit if you can acquire the Hamburger door off it for BEU back here in NZ !!!!!!
Cheers Pete

[mit]

Oct 7, 2011 16:51:57 GMT 12 aeromedia said:

Oct 6, 2011 21:14:46 GMT 12 mit said:

A long shot I know but I am in Tete Mozambique at the moment and there is a C47 abandoned on the other side (mil) of the airport any idea if that is an exRNZAF? also there is one parked up in Kinshasa DRC?

Cheers

Chocolate fish for you Mit if you can acquire the Hamburger door off it for BEU back here in NZ !!!!!!
Cheers Pete

Challenge Accepted!!!....