Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2008 0:07:13 GMT 12
DC3 finds a new home
By Susan Sandys
Ashburton’s large lumbering lady of the skies attracted a lot of attention while flying over her new home town yesterday.
The commercial aviation relic is owned by Southern DC3 Charitable Trust and housed at Wigram, but yesterday officially was signed over to the Ashburton Aviation Museum to be held in perpetuity. A deed was signed between members of the trust and the museum to mark the occasion.
Yesterday several flights were staged over Ashburton, with one going as far afield as Methven, for members of the Rakaia and Methven Lions Clubs, as well as members of the public.
Museum president Ron McFarlane said whenever the DC3 flew over Ashburton it commanded attention, and residents flocked to the airport to see her.
“Every time it flies over the town we always get people turning up at the museum,” he said.
Flights in the aircraft were particularly enjoyable as the aircraft flew at the low level of 1000 feet so was not in a pressurised cabin and flew slowly.
“It’s a special feeling,” Mr McFarlane said.
“It’s not like you are in a box and just going from one place to another, it’s the old sense of adventure with flying.”
The aircraft will be housed at the museum in a purpose-built hangar, which should be completed ready for the aircraft to be permanently relocated here in June.
It will continue as an operating aircraft, available for chartered flights.
April 21 2008
www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/index.asp?articleid=11274
By Susan Sandys
Ashburton’s large lumbering lady of the skies attracted a lot of attention while flying over her new home town yesterday.
The commercial aviation relic is owned by Southern DC3 Charitable Trust and housed at Wigram, but yesterday officially was signed over to the Ashburton Aviation Museum to be held in perpetuity. A deed was signed between members of the trust and the museum to mark the occasion.
Yesterday several flights were staged over Ashburton, with one going as far afield as Methven, for members of the Rakaia and Methven Lions Clubs, as well as members of the public.
Museum president Ron McFarlane said whenever the DC3 flew over Ashburton it commanded attention, and residents flocked to the airport to see her.
“Every time it flies over the town we always get people turning up at the museum,” he said.
Flights in the aircraft were particularly enjoyable as the aircraft flew at the low level of 1000 feet so was not in a pressurised cabin and flew slowly.
“It’s a special feeling,” Mr McFarlane said.
“It’s not like you are in a box and just going from one place to another, it’s the old sense of adventure with flying.”
The aircraft will be housed at the museum in a purpose-built hangar, which should be completed ready for the aircraft to be permanently relocated here in June.
It will continue as an operating aircraft, available for chartered flights.
April 21 2008
www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/index.asp?articleid=11274
