Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2022 0:25:56 GMT 12
FAREWELL FLIGHT
One of the last of the aircraft used in New Zealand to pioneer passenger routes, the De Havilland D.H. 89 Dragon Rapide, or Dominie, made a farewell flight over Christchurch yesterday before going to a collector of vintage aircraft in Australia.
The photograph of the plane over the city was taken by Colin Simpson, a staff photographer of “The Press,” who attached his camera to a wing and used a remote-control cable release to take the picture.
Production of the Dominie began in July, 1932. The one shown above was one of six bought by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1943, from the manufacturer, the Brush Coachwork Company, for communication between airfields.
After World War II, it was kept by the R.N.Z.A.F. for eight years, and in 1953 was sold to Airwork N.Z., Ltd, for use on the Christchurch - Timaru - Oamaru passenger run.
Trans Island Airways bought it in 1956, for similar work, and sold it in 1958 to Coastal Airways for further passenger service in Northland.
In 1959, D. G. Chadwick bought the Dominie for the Christchurch-Milford Sound run, using it for five years before it came into the hands of Mount Cook Airlines in 1968 after a series of airline take-overs.
In 1970, after being used for two years in the Southern Lakes region, the aircraft was retired and stored at Te Anau, until bought by Mr W. Waterton, of Melbourne. The Dominie will fly to Auckland today and fitted with long-range fuel tanks will cross the Tasman next week. The flight over Christchurch yesterday brought its total number of flying hours to 61,100.
Only one other Dominie is left in service in New Zealand. owned by Mount Cook Airlines and used for carrying freight.
PRESS, 15 JANUARY 1975
One of the last of the aircraft used in New Zealand to pioneer passenger routes, the De Havilland D.H. 89 Dragon Rapide, or Dominie, made a farewell flight over Christchurch yesterday before going to a collector of vintage aircraft in Australia.
The photograph of the plane over the city was taken by Colin Simpson, a staff photographer of “The Press,” who attached his camera to a wing and used a remote-control cable release to take the picture.
Production of the Dominie began in July, 1932. The one shown above was one of six bought by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1943, from the manufacturer, the Brush Coachwork Company, for communication between airfields.
After World War II, it was kept by the R.N.Z.A.F. for eight years, and in 1953 was sold to Airwork N.Z., Ltd, for use on the Christchurch - Timaru - Oamaru passenger run.
Trans Island Airways bought it in 1956, for similar work, and sold it in 1958 to Coastal Airways for further passenger service in Northland.
In 1959, D. G. Chadwick bought the Dominie for the Christchurch-Milford Sound run, using it for five years before it came into the hands of Mount Cook Airlines in 1968 after a series of airline take-overs.
In 1970, after being used for two years in the Southern Lakes region, the aircraft was retired and stored at Te Anau, until bought by Mr W. Waterton, of Melbourne. The Dominie will fly to Auckland today and fitted with long-range fuel tanks will cross the Tasman next week. The flight over Christchurch yesterday brought its total number of flying hours to 61,100.
Only one other Dominie is left in service in New Zealand. owned by Mount Cook Airlines and used for carrying freight.
PRESS, 15 JANUARY 1975
