Post by corsair67 on Jan 29, 2006 16:39:10 GMT 12
Found this on the web at the Ashburton Guardian site - I didn't know Ashburton even had a newspaper! 
I think this event occurred in May 2005.
Veteran plane makes Ashburton its home
A former NAC F27 Fokker Friendship is unloaded at Aeroview. The plane will call Ashburton home after being purchased by Ashburton couple Peter and Larraine McQuarters.
Photo Carmen Rooney
By Jared Morgan
A 44-year-old veteran of New Zealand’s skies is to make Ashburton its new home.
A former National Airways Corporation (NAC) F27 Fokker Friendship, which flew between New Zealand towns and cities for almost three decades, has been bought by local couple Peter and Larraine McQuarters for their Aeroview complex next to the Ashburton Airfield.
The plane was transported from Wigram overnight, arriving in Ashburton in the early hours of this morning.
Mr McQuarters said he and his wife had had their eye on the plane for several years as it sat outside the Wigram Airforce Museum in Christchurch.
Earlier plans, believed to have included converting it into a theatrette at Wigram, were scuttled and the jet-prop plane came under the ownership of neighbouring classic airliner operator Pionair.
After approaching Pionair earlier this year, the Friendship ZK BXG “Kea”, a name it used throughout its service life, was released to the McQuarters for display at their Ashburton complex.
“We originally had in mind to cut off the cockpit section and use it as a big mobile display,” Mr McQuarters said. They planned to use the cockpit at the Cameron Air and Seafreight Classic Cockpits event, which is held as part of Warbirds over Wanaka.
“But as more and more people heard about it we were urged to retain it in one piece,” he said.
To transport the over 20 metre long and more than eight metres wide aircraft to Ashburton was to pose a logistical challenge.
Mr McQuarters found the answer in Wilson’s Transport manager John Petrie.
“John visited the aircraft at Wigram, sat up front in the virtually complete cockpit, declared it wasn’t to be cut up – he would lead a team to get it home, in one piece,” he said.
He said Mr Petrie arranged everything from the necessary massive trailer, heavy haulage pilot vehicles, cranes and permits.
Mr Petrie “called in favours” from Bradford’s, Hilton Haulage and certified road pilot Alister Burrows, he said.
Delivered new from the Dutch Fokker factory in 1961, the 42 seat “Kea” joined the NAC (later to become Air New Zealand) fleet as part of a modernisation programme to replace the company’s ageing DC3 aircraft, which dated back to World War Two.
With fully pressurised cabins, passengers were able to fly above the weather in comfort and modern jet-prop engines meant a reduction in travel times.
However, NAC was ahead of the times.
While NAC had new aircraft, planned upgrades of the country’s provincial airports was lagging behind and it was to be several years before the Friendships could be fully used on domestic routes.
The DC3s flew for several more years to bridge the gap, Mr McQuarters said.
The aircraft was all original inside right down to the bathroom at the rear, hostess preparation stations, carpet and curtains, he said.
Externally the outer wing panels are missing along with the tail but the McQuarters hope to be able to obtain them.
“The only things missing inside are a couple of instruments and a hostess. Mrs Mac isn’t so enthused about me locating one of those,” Mr McQuarters said.
Visitors to their Aeroview Museum will be able to view the aircraft by special arrangement.
“Maybe, long term, the cockpit or elements of the aircraft might end up with the Aviation Museum but in the immediate years ahead her future is secure at Aeroview Ashburton.
“She’s here in Ashburton and is certain to provide much interest for visitors,” Mr McQuarters said.
Visitors will be able to walk through the cabin and visit the flight deck. A pictorial display covering the aircraft and its history is also planned.
It will be the only Friendship in a New Zealand museum, although several were still earning their keep as freighters, he said.
I think this event occurred in May 2005.
Veteran plane makes Ashburton its home
A former NAC F27 Fokker Friendship is unloaded at Aeroview. The plane will call Ashburton home after being purchased by Ashburton couple Peter and Larraine McQuarters.
Photo Carmen Rooney
By Jared Morgan
A 44-year-old veteran of New Zealand’s skies is to make Ashburton its new home.
A former National Airways Corporation (NAC) F27 Fokker Friendship, which flew between New Zealand towns and cities for almost three decades, has been bought by local couple Peter and Larraine McQuarters for their Aeroview complex next to the Ashburton Airfield.
The plane was transported from Wigram overnight, arriving in Ashburton in the early hours of this morning.
Mr McQuarters said he and his wife had had their eye on the plane for several years as it sat outside the Wigram Airforce Museum in Christchurch.
Earlier plans, believed to have included converting it into a theatrette at Wigram, were scuttled and the jet-prop plane came under the ownership of neighbouring classic airliner operator Pionair.
After approaching Pionair earlier this year, the Friendship ZK BXG “Kea”, a name it used throughout its service life, was released to the McQuarters for display at their Ashburton complex.
“We originally had in mind to cut off the cockpit section and use it as a big mobile display,” Mr McQuarters said. They planned to use the cockpit at the Cameron Air and Seafreight Classic Cockpits event, which is held as part of Warbirds over Wanaka.
“But as more and more people heard about it we were urged to retain it in one piece,” he said.
To transport the over 20 metre long and more than eight metres wide aircraft to Ashburton was to pose a logistical challenge.
Mr McQuarters found the answer in Wilson’s Transport manager John Petrie.
“John visited the aircraft at Wigram, sat up front in the virtually complete cockpit, declared it wasn’t to be cut up – he would lead a team to get it home, in one piece,” he said.
He said Mr Petrie arranged everything from the necessary massive trailer, heavy haulage pilot vehicles, cranes and permits.
Mr Petrie “called in favours” from Bradford’s, Hilton Haulage and certified road pilot Alister Burrows, he said.
Delivered new from the Dutch Fokker factory in 1961, the 42 seat “Kea” joined the NAC (later to become Air New Zealand) fleet as part of a modernisation programme to replace the company’s ageing DC3 aircraft, which dated back to World War Two.
With fully pressurised cabins, passengers were able to fly above the weather in comfort and modern jet-prop engines meant a reduction in travel times.
However, NAC was ahead of the times.
While NAC had new aircraft, planned upgrades of the country’s provincial airports was lagging behind and it was to be several years before the Friendships could be fully used on domestic routes.
The DC3s flew for several more years to bridge the gap, Mr McQuarters said.
The aircraft was all original inside right down to the bathroom at the rear, hostess preparation stations, carpet and curtains, he said.
Externally the outer wing panels are missing along with the tail but the McQuarters hope to be able to obtain them.
“The only things missing inside are a couple of instruments and a hostess. Mrs Mac isn’t so enthused about me locating one of those,” Mr McQuarters said.
Visitors to their Aeroview Museum will be able to view the aircraft by special arrangement.
“Maybe, long term, the cockpit or elements of the aircraft might end up with the Aviation Museum but in the immediate years ahead her future is secure at Aeroview Ashburton.
“She’s here in Ashburton and is certain to provide much interest for visitors,” Mr McQuarters said.
Visitors will be able to walk through the cabin and visit the flight deck. A pictorial display covering the aircraft and its history is also planned.
It will be the only Friendship in a New Zealand museum, although several were still earning their keep as freighters, he said.
