RNZAF DC-6's, F-27's, 727's - questions

[Dave Homewood]

I used to see that F-27 flying over low when i was a kid here in Cambridge. Last I saw it was in 1989 when it flew into Woodbourne one time.

What do they use for calibration nowadays?

[Dave Homewood]

Have you seen these pages Ray?

nzsi.picturetrades.com/

anthonyjhicks.com/ajh/pictures.nsf/viewer/66EFB1EF5313EF11CA256CD4004FCFEB

[phil82]

Calibration has been contracted out since the early nineties; currently to Australia!

[mumbles]

Friendship display at New Plymouth, January 1991. Aircraft is banking in the second shot, not overflying the photographer!

[turboNZ]

I personally find the F.27's rather ugly.....(Turbo ducks as the empty cans are thrown at him)

[Dave Homewood]

To me, they're not pretty, but they have a different sort of beauty. They are iconic. The first aircraft I flew on, in fact the second, third and more... were Friendships. I often saw the Air New Zealand ones about the place, every few minutes when I lived at Woodbourne of course. And then at Wigram I worked in No. 6 Hangar right next to NATTS and had the Friendships as neighbours. The type really grows on you when you're so close to them. They have charm. A noise all of their own, and a smell like no other. Just wonderful planes.

How many are preserved now in NZ? The one at Ashburton, and Motat's example are the only two I know of. And I don't think any still fly now in NZ, do they? I wish a syndicate would keep one in the air, they'd make great transports between airshows for a 100 or so Warbirds enthusiats, especially if painted in RNZAF colours. There must be dozens of nostalgic ex-F27 pilots out there with the same thoughts.

[turboNZ]

Actually every night at 11pm(ish) I hear one fly over. NZ Mail still utilise them. You can't mistake a couple of Darts for any other noise (No more 748's or Leftovers now)

[Bruce]

Airwork (Airpost) have a fleet of F27s still - one of which was (is?) fitted with spray gear to deal with biosecurity incursions by dumping chemicals over cities (bring back the DC6 if you ask me!)I used to walk past them on the apron when I was working with CityJet at Auckland. I dont think they are totally pretty, but theyre not ugly either more kinda..."dutch"...- I'll throw my clogs at anyone who says otherwise!
I remember seeing the last of the godwit tailed NAC machines in very 1970s red and orange when I was a kid visiting Hamilton airport (definitely formative years) and even went through one on a primary school trip. (bet you cant do that today...)
what was that about a Motat example?

[Dave Homewood]

Motat has a Friendship, ex-Air New Zealand, stored at Harewood till they can get it to Aucklnad, according to the curator I talked with. It was donated to them when the fleet was withdrawn. I'm unsure which one.

I forgot about the Postie ones. We never see them round here (do we?)

[Peter Lewis]

CAA or, as it was then, the Civil Aviation Division, M.O.T., had three Friendships - DCA, DCB and DCG. A and B were bought new in 1971, G second-hand from Japan in 1972. DCB & DCG were at times used in airline service with Mt Cook. All three ended up in Pakistan, DCA and DCB (via the UK in 1992) in 1994 and DCG in 1982.
With the advances in microtechnology, the equipment that filled a Friendship can now be carried in a briefcase - at one time Menzies Aviation were doing the job with their Mitsubishi MU-2B ECR.

Airwork still run three Friendships on NZ Post work. The spraying one - NAN - was destroyed in an unintended 'kneesup' undercarriage failure while parked at Woodbourne 27Feb03

[Craig Sargent]

Yes, the Civ Av F-27 was based at Paraparamu. The chief pilot Capt. McPhail was a good family friend and lived just up the road, and I even managed a flight out of Auckland on the aircraft.