de Havilland Dominie leaves New Zealand

[DragonflyDH90]

Please dont shoot the messenger.........

As the operator not the owner of DH89 Dominie ZK-AKY I give the rather unpleasant news of the sale of one of New Zealands most significant and well known airworthy vintage aircraft.
The owners took it upon themselves to sell the aircraft to Australian customers, so the aircraft will be leaving the country, when possible sales within NZ were pending (just impatient).
The owners are not aviation enthusiasts really or pilots and treated the aircraft as an asset and business deal rather than the jewel she really is.

To put it mildly, Im p#*@$d, really P%$#@d

[Dave Homewood]

That is very sad news, I'm sorry to hear that Ryan. We're not only losing a significant airliner and civil aviation aircraft but a genuine veteran of WWII RNZAF service too.

Does that mean there will only be one airworthy Dominie left in NZ now? Are there any more being restored to flight? At Mandeville perhaps?

[corsair67]

Why does the term "more money than brains" come to mind when I read about the owners?

Anyway, I hope she's going to owners who will care for her over here? I will certainly be keeping an eye out for her at airshows.

[Bruce]

What has the world got against classic British civil aircraft? some people have got no class! I hope the Aussies look after her - perhaps the other potential buyers could buy one of the other Aussie rapides and bring it back this way.
BTW will AKY will ferried across via the islands or go by slow boat?

[DragonflyDH90]

Here at Croydon we are rebuilding a Dominie at present, which was ex NZ, it went to Aus in about '77 has come back for the rebuild and will then go back to Aus (Perth), we will fly this one across.
As for AKY flying across, not sure as of yet (there are some possible eventualities that have come to light regarding the antiquities act which may bar the export!!)
There is another Dominie due to fly very shortly coming of rebuild (ex Croydon Aircraft Company & Southair), not sourced from NZ but somewhere in Europe with unknown pedigree.

Ill keep everyone posted as time goes on..........I may have to get the Comet finished now to fill a gap in the hangar....