Wigrams VIP DC-3 - the insides

[Ian Warren]

Its was my first time inside and on board the VIP NZ3551, the Queenie bus, off course me mate 'Barf' playing the part as the bumbling Prince like that fella the Prince, no seriously was one heck of a tour, specificly the photo information is for the famed Flight Simulation MAAM B-25 developer Jan Visser. I'll post further photo's as I pick through them

Oooh, I say, I'm off to the power room, oh such wonderful paneling Tiff Tiff

Oh Philip, get those dirty over all's off, your suppose to set an example.... Sorry Marm

Very posh and spiffy for a DC-3 and for 1953, Barf mention this aircraft even carry ole Henry Kissinger so very much used as the state barge.


Cheers Mister Ian

[baz62]

Wow, I was probably last onboard about 86 or 87 and she still looks great. Mind you being in the hangar the nasty UV rays are kept out. Still got that great old aircraft smell I'll bet.

[Ian Warren]

A very old aircraft smell, It was quiet the eye opener when unlocked, dang toilet/power room is almost bigger than my entire place but it was intriguing to go through the aircraft for the first time, just simply how different it is between the cargo job used by NZ-Rail air freight and Pionair/Southern DC-3 ZK-AMY.

I should do a concerted effort and return next week (now I almost no how to use my camera) - re-post for all to see, simply impressive

[Radialicious]

NZ3551 was the first aeroplane I ever flew in. It's hard to believe the interior stood up so well to 24 years of regular use between the 1953 royal tour and her 1977 retirement. Great photos of a wonderful machine. Photos like those would sit well on the display board near the aircraft to show museum visitors just how she looks on the inside.

[johnnyfalcon]

Gotta love the state-house style door handles!

[Dave Homewood]

Is that carpet the same as fitted in 1953? It looks a bit modern to me. The VIP kit in other aircraft gets updated every few years, I wonder if this one did get an upgrade?

[Ian Warren]

Feb 27, 2014 21:06:11 GMT 12 Radialicious said:

NZ3551 was the first aeroplane I ever flew in. Photos like those would sit well on the display board near the aircraft to show museum visitors just how she looks on the inside.

That is not a bad idea, I never had the opportunity until yesterday to explore the cabin, one thing 'Barf' mentioned was if they had people going through it all the time the wear and tear would degrade it.

[Ian Warren]

Feb 27, 2014 21:23:28 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Is that carpet the same as fitted in 1953? It looks a bit modern to me. The VIP kit in other aircraft gets updated every few years, I wonder if this one did get an upgrade?

Dave .... least its not retro Orange

[snaphead]

My better half has sat on the toilet (not to use I might add). She's a Royalist from way back. Made her day. I believe the A/C was re skinned in the mid 1970's (not quite sure when) as all the Brasso polishing on the wings on the 2024 Alclaad wore it a bit thin.

[Ian Warren]

Strange to think Marty climbed all over these wings and kept them polished, I look at the engineering side, the structure - not bad for a 1944 hull.
Due to OSH, these days they don't get as cleaned regular maybe as they should ?

[Ian Warren]

The Queenie .. her Throne





Toddle Pip.

[Dave Homewood]

I reckon that loo has got to be more modern than 1953. Did HM The Queen use this aircraft on later visits to NZ too?

[Ian Warren]

CARPET UPDATE : 1973 was the this , the Royal Blue , I did mention that to Barf, course seen the 'Queen' dis-embark from a standard NAC F-27 .. now did they mod or re-furbish the aircraft for her ? .. I don't no

[camtech]

Quick check indicates that the Queen visited 1953, 1963, 1970, 1974 (Chch Commonwealth Games), 1977, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1995 and 2002.

She would have used the Dak for the first 5 visits (Andovers were still arriving and when she visited, 7628 had only just been inducted into 1RD for refurbishment).
1981, 86, 90 and 95 were in the Andover era.
2002 I believe was commercial aircraft

[Ian Warren]

I questioned this couple days back about transport, as there a photo of the Duke (Not John Wayne) waving away in 1970 on a F-27 ZK-BXB in 1970, I did wonder aircraft modifications .... him being John Wayne and all

[shorty]

Ian, you don't no (otherwise you do yes?) or you don't know?

[Ian Warren]

Mar 7, 2014 17:32:45 GMT 12 shorty said:

Ian, you don't no (otherwise you do yes?) or you don't know?

No Don't no if John Wayne sat on Queenies lap while on the throne , Yes I do have a photo but you have seen tabloids these days, and the papa .. papa those goon's wanting to take photo's for jolly's well nah .. Im not selling it .

[ErrolC]

Message from Grant McHerron, who's dad was RNZAF in the 60-70's (picked up the first P-3B)

Checked with Dad, and DC3 NZ3551 was named Madame Cholet (a womble) & was the VVIP aircraft. I was on it in the 70's when it was parked in a hangar (I think at Ohakea) & I recall a rather nice interior & a drawing of the womble on the underside of the nose :-)

[Ian Warren]

Checked with Dad, and DC3 NZ3551 was named Madame Cholet (a womble) & was the VVIP aircraft. I was on it in the 70's when it was parked in a hangar (I think at Ohakea) & I recall a rather nice interior & a drawing of the womble on the underside of the nose :-)

Womble Orinoco    is still there - on the panel just in front of the pitot tube

[Dave Homewood]

No it is not Orinoco, as mentioned by Grant it is Madame Cholet.





This is a sticker that was released as a promotion back in the mid-1970's by one of the bread companies, I remember them coming in the bread bags. This exact Madame Cholet sticker my little sister had on her school lunchbox, and my elder sister had Orinoco. I had Great Uncle Bulgaria and stuck it to my schoolbag. It's still on that bag (which was a rigid, small suitcase type bag). My little sister didn't start school till 1977 so the stickers were still being released then i guess.