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Post by corsair67 on Dec 4, 2005 21:54:49 GMT 12
I recall that in the late1970s-early1980s that several Carvairs were brought to NZ with the idea of flying cars across Cook Strait.
Does anyone know who was behind this venture, when it was, etc, etc? I remember sitting at Harewood and watching them performing touch and gos for hours, but I don't remember the year!
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Post by turboNZ on Dec 4, 2005 22:18:47 GMT 12
Well the only info I could come up with was one was registered as ZK-NWA of Nation-Wide Air Ltd in 1978.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 4, 2005 22:21:51 GMT 12
Nationwide Air - that was them! I think they lasted only slightly longer in business than Skybus???
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Post by turboNZ on Dec 4, 2005 22:24:24 GMT 12
Skybus,...man, that brings back memories !!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 4, 2005 22:28:08 GMT 12
Those Carvairs, there were two of them, sat at Rukuhia for some time, and also at another airport (Milson maybe) for even longer. It was a sad tale I believe. Lots about them over the 1980's in old NZ Wings magazines. If you really want I could look them out, but I'll wait and see if anyone else has the answers to hand first. I'll bet Bruce does.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 4, 2005 22:33:31 GMT 12
1980 is probably about right; Dad and I used to go out and watch them quite often.
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Post by turboNZ on Dec 4, 2005 22:37:07 GMT 12
Here is one at Nelson in 1981  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 4, 2005 22:37:45 GMT 12
From 'The History of NZ Aviation' by Ewing & Macpherson, p247
"One individual who was fed up with NAC's air route monopoly and Licensing Authority blessing was Matt Thompson, a controverisal transport entrepreneur. Thompson, who was associated with various transport companies including Nationwide Transport and Car Haulaways, made several attempts to establish an aerial cross-Strait car transporting business. He imported two large second-hand Carvair transports (converted DC-4's), and had them painted in the livery of his new company, Nationwide Air.The plan was to take over two failing third level airlines - Air North and Akarana Air - and use their licences for the new car service. It was a long shot, but nothing in the current Air Services Licensing Act forbade such a move, the licenses in question specifying passenger number limitations but putting no limit on freight capacity.
But the Government was obviously against the whole idea from the outset and put numerous obstacles in the way of the new venture, amending legislation so that Nationwide Air and the Carvairs were never successfully launched. "
Typical Government meddling.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 5, 2005 12:17:16 GMT 12
So typical of Muldoon and his cronies: Nationwide Air had no chance from Day 1. Piggy was probably worried they might end up hurting NZ Rail too.
Think Big - my arse!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2005 13:01:51 GMT 12
Mind you, his wasn't the only Governemnt in NZ to crush the little guy airline, it has always happened from day one right up to Kiwi Air.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2005 13:04:47 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2005 13:10:42 GMT 12
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 5, 2005 13:42:15 GMT 12
Thanks for that Dave, and it's good to see that ZK-NWA and NWB are still 'alive'. They're a strange looking aircraft though, aren't they?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2005 14:05:56 GMT 12
When I was a kid and occassionally used to go past them at Rukuhia, I used to ask Dad if they were 747's! I thought only 747's had the hump cockpit.
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Post by turboNZ on Dec 5, 2005 17:26:05 GMT 12
I hope your aircraft recognition skills are not still like that, Dave..... ;D
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