NAC prepares for 60th

[Dave Homewood]

NAC prepares for 60th
By MERVYN DYKES - Manawatu Standard | Thursday, 8 February 2007

The search is on for former staff members of the National Airways Corporation (NAC), which was New Zealand's domestic airline for more than 30 years.

March 7 this year would have marked NAC's 60th year in operation and events are being planned throughout the country to mark the occasion.

Organiser and aviation historian Richard Waugh said planning has been under way for two years, but there are staff members of the airline who have yet to be contacted.

"The shape of the 60th anniversary celebration is different to the one large 50th anniversary event held at Palmerston North in 1997," he said. "This time there will be many events all very accessible and attracting thousands of people, especially in the provinces."

The events will take place throughout March, with Palmerston North featuring on March 28 when a flying tour will stop at about 4.15pm to visit Union Airways/NAC plaques and displays.

An anniversary newsletter this month bills the flying tour as "the central focus of the 60th anniversary celebrations."

The Warbirds Dakota Society's newly painted Dakota, trimmed with NAC decals, has been chartered for the tour. It will be accompanied for the southern part of the trip by a DH89 Dominie, ZK-AKY Tui, one of NAC's original aircraft.

A commemorative book of the airline's 31-year history will be launched in mid-March.

Written by Rev Waugh, with assistance from Peter Layne and Graeme McConnell, the book is entitled NAC The Illustrated History of New Zealand National Airways Corporation 1947-78. During its time, NAC established a reputation for efficiency and reliability.

It served towns from Kaitaia to Invercargill, carrying some 30 million passengers on its way to becoming a Kiwi icon that introduced the country to mass air travel.

[beagle]

Could they borrow a F27 and do some thing with decals there too.

[Bruce]

The Ashburton F27 is due to be repainted in NAC colours (the early Red /white scheme) in the next few weeks in readiness for the NAC anniversary. Its far from complete but will at least recognise the importance of the type, and the airline, in NZ history.

[Peter Lewis]

Thanks for that starter Dave - I've just finished updating Richard Waugh's website with the book details:

www.nzairlineresearch.co.nz/national_airways.htm

"New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) was created by the post-war Labour Government nationalising all private airlines and forming the first State-owned Enterprise. During its 31 years of
operation NAC was New Zealand's major domestic airline until it
was merged with Air New Zealand in 1978. In its early years it also
flew international routes in the South Pacific.

From fabric covered de Havilland biplanes to modern Boeing jets,
NAC underwent exciting change and development. The NAC staff 'family' experienced a unique era and the airline's DC-3, Dominie, Friendship, 737 and Viscount aircraft all became household names throughout New Zealand.

Illustrated by many rare photographs (including early colour), this
book is the first photographic and social history of NAC. From its
inception in the late 1949s the airline earned an enviable reputation
for efficiency and reliability. NAC served 30 cities and towns, from
Kaitaia in the North to Invercargill in the South, carried more than
30 million passengers, and became a Kiwi icon as it ushered New Zealanders into the age of mass air travel.

325 pages, over 500 photographs (many in colour) and memorabilia

Available from about mid March 2007

Price $79.90 (hard back)"

I will be adding further info on the book and a scan of one of the inside pages as soon as it arrives back from the printers.

[Bruce]

Love that DC3 Pic.
Here are a few of NAC interest i took on my trip to Canterbury last week:


ZK-BXG at Ashburton. It is still privately owned but is now on display outside the Museum, and after a complex deal, now has its original wings back from the Air NZ training centre.


The beautiful Viscount at ferrymead is coming back together again. Dave the "restorer / host" (sorry forgot his last name) showed me around the place there - took 3 1/2 hours!


Part of the admirable Ferrymead philosphy of putting the aircraft in context (in this case an apron scene) is to have appropriate service vehicles alongside - note the suitcases - a very classy finishing touch.


Not strictly NAC, but close enough in that SAFE was owned by them, the Nose of Bristol ZK-CRK hyas also been thoughtfully displayed. In the foreground is a Bristol Hercules Engine.

I will post some of the other Ferrymead / Ashburton / Wigram Photos as I sort through them and find a suitable thread.

[Betsy46]

Opened up on 15th Feb - There are now seats available on the DC-3 on the National Tour - either 1 sector, or a whole day, or a few days! A page on the DC-3 website will be up on 16th Feb www.flydakota.co.nz .
This is not an advertisement - it is an answer to many questions to the DC-3 office.
call 09) 479 1378 for details.

[Dave Homewood]

Betsy, don't worry about promoting stuff like this, it is always welcome. I'm the guy who runs this forum and I reckon it's good to let other enthusiasts know about events like this, so please feel free to promote any DC3 events you have coming up. Welcome to the forum by the way.

[Betsy46]

Thanks Dave!
I really appreciate it - and since the Old Girl got her new frock, we have been inundated with lots of well wishing and congrats. We do miss her D-day stripes, however, it was time for a new look. RNZAF VIP met all needs - still a Warbird, still military, NZ history, and looks commercial too. Really look forward to showing her off around NZ. We are very proud of her.
Betsy 46

[denysjones]

Hi Bruce glad you liked our little world, I hope Dave didn't overwhelm you too much (he's Dave Newman for the record).

Just to let you know that things are rushing along since your visit and to put the acid on dave to put up a pic I sent him a few minutes ago....

The first engine cores and props went on BRF last week. In a weeks time we begin the repaint of all the grey areas (apologies to the NAC retirees that worked on her and painted her that way) as V807s were never grey so she is going back to a lustrous waxed metal finish which won't be as wonderful as they were when polished in their heyday but still heaps better.

I've also sent Dave an recent cockpit shot and one showing the work the guys have done in the main u/c bay.

Seeing you seem to appreciate the theme setting work you might be interested to know that a set of airstairs such as you see in the cover shot of the new book are currently being prepared as well. All of this for the 60th tour group visit March 27th...busy times!

[corsair67]

Denys, which days are the best to come out and see the collection at Ferrymead?

I will be home in Christchurch in April for about three weeks.

[denysjones]

The Park is open 364 days a year, all except Xmas which doesn't affect your trip, and we have Dave (mentioned above) on site Tues-Thurs. Sat is full work day, and so for the really interested tends to be "THE DAY" (but sometimes work pressure gets in the road of beeing overly attentive if you follow me). Sunday is a moveable feast, by that I mean that quite often people are there but the first sunday of each month is the park "live sunday" of the month with steam train etc etc so we have people rostered on for that.

Do you have rough dates as I am on site every saturday?

cheers

[corsair67]

Hi Denys,

I will be in Christchurch from 1st to 24th April. Going to Omaka over Easter, of course.