75th Anniversary of South Westland Air Service

[Gavin Conroy]

Sept 13, 2009 21:05:09 GMT 12 kiwithrottlejockey said:

Sept 9, 2009 20:49:16 GMT 12 Gavin Conroy said:

Am now going to Fleetwood Mac on December 20 so will have to leave straight after the flying on the Saturday but never mind, will be a great weekend thats for sure.

Will you be there for the film evening on the Friday?

Or are you just going to head to Haast for the day on the Saturday?

I do hope to be there by 11.00am on Friday and will be driving this time.
Will then travel to Haast later in the day and might skip the Friday night in favour of an early night but will see how things go as driving from Haast back to Blenheim on Saturday night after the flying has finished will make for a long day.

[baz62]

Yeah but in your Falcoon you would do it in no time Gavin!
Actually scratch that, after reading of the fatal crash in ChCh due to exhaustion it might be a good plan to rest! And we don't want to be deprived of your fantastic photography and winning personality now do we??
Baz ;D

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I'm flying to Hokitika (due in there at 11.15hrs on the Friday) and have booked a rental car for pickup at the airport. I'll drive down to Haast sometime during the afternoon and have booked into the Haast Heartland Hotel (they've changed the name from the World Heritage Hotel) for two nights. On the Sunday, I'm leaving my options open. If the weather is good, I might go for a spin on the Waiatoto River Jetboat before driving north, otherwise I'll just take all day to drive from Haast to Hokitika and will go for a few walks at various places enroute. Sunday night will be spent in Hokitika (at Teichelmann's), then on the Monday morning I'm flying to Gisborne for a pre-Xmas piss-up with some old friends. I'll be back home again by Xmas Eve.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I received another newsletter from Richard Waugh the other day and it confirms that Stan and Gilly Smith will have newly-restored DH83 Fox Moth ZK-APT and DH84 Dragon ZK-AXI in attendance at Hokitika on the Friday morning, then at Haast for the rest of the weekend.

Elsewhere in the newsletter, it states that for the first time in NZ skies since the 1940s, three historic Fox Moth aircraft will be together. So in addition to ZK-ADI and ZK-APT, what would be the third Fox Moth? I wasn't aware there was a another DH83 in NZ since the departure of ZK-AEK.

[DragonflyDH90]

Cant tell or I would have to kill you...........

Might be a certain VH reg machine

[kiwithrottlejockey]

75th Airline Anniversary — Newsletter No.2

(PDF Document)

[Dave Homewood]

Geess, there seems to be a few raging bulls charging around in that tinpot little bush town!! Those prices are flipping staggering.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

4½ weeks to go!

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Betty wages war on weeds

By MARJORIE COOK - Otago Daily Times | Wednesday, 11 November 2009



Haast identity Betty Eggeling with her trusty weed spraying kit at Haast Aerodrome.

When Haast's newly extended airstrip was threatened by an invasion of ragwort and gorse recently, the community's senior resident Betty Eggeling (89) took decisive action.

Mrs Eggeling became an expert in spraying pest plants over many years of farming at Haast and the fruits of her labour in late October are now showing, with locals reporting a "100% kill".

Heleen Johnston, the convener of Haast's 75th Airline Anniversary to be held at Haast on December 18-19, said yesterday the committee was honoured to have Mrs Eggeling spray the airstrip, which is now 860m long to cater for large aircraft expected during next month's fly-in.

Mrs Eggeling used her Honda four-wheel motorbike equipped with spray tank, pump and boom to spray the weeds that had sprung up since the last major working bee in July.

The airstrip is on Dave Saxton's land behind the Johnston's petrol station and vehicle workshop.

Eammond Johnston said Mrs Eggeling was unstoppable and had declined an offer of lunch, because she had brought her own.

"Mrs Eggeling is a very independent woman who shares the strong community spirit which has been prevalent for the whole time the committee has been working on the big event," Mr Eammond said in a press release.

Mrs Eggeling is descended from Haast's first pioneer families and spraying became her specialty subject when son Kerry took over the family farm many years ago.

"Even after parts of the farm were on-sold, she still continued to spray [even on some of the sold land], not wanting to lose the ground hard gained. So it was only natural perhaps that when Betty heard that weeds had sprung up on the aerodrome she promptly volunteered her services and expertise. CRT kindly donated the weed and moss spray ... and we have been fortunate to have a 100% kill," Mr Johnston said.

In other preparatory work, the committee has gravelled and rolled the car park and areas for trade stalls and an 18m by 57m marquee, in case it rains.

Fundraising and sponsorship efforts continue, with the committee facing several large bills and needing to raise at least $10,000. It has about $1500.

Mrs Johnston said the ticket house had been completed and now needed a coat of paint. The original parcel scales had also been tracked down and would be returned to Haast for the event.

Historic de Havilland airliners are due to fly in on December 18 and an air pageant will be held on December 19.

The events also include a plaque unveiling at the Haast Visitors Centre on December 19, with music, entertainment and food.

The Haast event commemorates New Zealand's first scheduled airline and celebrates 75 years of airlines in New Zealand.

Visitors are expected from around New Zealand for the event.

www.odt.co.nz/your-town/wanaka/81496/betty-wages-war-weeds

[Gavin Conroy]

Looks like there will be a Nanchang visiting as well.
I just am not going to be able to squeeze everything in that weekend so a quick dash to be there for the Saturday is the plan.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Rare aviation photos in anniversary book

By NICOLA WILLIAMS - Eastern Courier | 5:00AM - Wednesday, 02 December 2009



AUTHOR: Richard Waugh has written a book about aviation history
inspired by his upbringing. — NICOLA WILLIAMS/Eastern Courier.

An aviation historian is flying high over the launch of his new book.

Hoki to Haast by Howick author Richard Waugh is hot off the press, providing a history of West Coast airlines.

It documents New Zealand’s first airline to fly scheduled services from Hokitika to Haast.

The South Westland Air Service pioneered airmail, air ambulance, alpine tourist flying and versatile freight work.

The book has more than 250 rare photographs documenting the story of de Havilland Fox Moths, Dragonflies and Dominies, explaining how they became vital to those living in the isolated south-west.

The book has been released to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the airline.

Mr Waugh’s father Brian was the last South Westland Air Service pilot which sparked his interest in aviation history.

"The memories are seared on my mind."

People from all over the country sent in photos for the book which includes a lot of historical information.

Mr Waugh’s labour of love took two years to write.

Seeing the finished result is "immensely satisfying", he says.

It’s a buzz that has not worn off after seeing 11 books published.

"A book will last forever and be around after we are gone so I get a real kick out of that. It’s an ongoing record."

A de Havilland fly-in and book launch to celebrate New Zealand’s first airline is on Saturday, December 05, 2pm to 5pm, North Shore Aero Club, Postman Rd, Dairy Flat.

Mr Waugh is also the organiser of the 75th anniversary celebrations in Hokitika from December 17 to 20.

• For more details call Mr Waugh on 09 533-9400.

www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/eastern-courier/3113768/Rare-aviation-photos-in-anniversary-book

[kiwithrottlejockey]

A few more days and I will be starting to pay a lot of attention to the long-range weather forecast for South Westland and keeping my fingers crossed.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Vintage aircraft fly in to celebrate NZ’s first airline

By MICHELLE LOTTER - North Harbour News | Friday, 04 December 2009



UP AND AWAY: Stan Smith, pictured over the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, is flying his de Havilland Fox Moth
as part of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of New Zealand’s first airline. — Photo: JOHN KING.

This month marks the 75th anniversary of New Zealand’s first airline. And to celebrate the Hokitika and Haast pioneer airline, North Shore airfield at Dairy Flat is running a vintage aircraft fly-in and book launch tomorrow.

Based at the Postman Road airfield is a de Havilland Fox Moth restored by North Shore Aero Club member Stan Smith.

The plane is almost identical to the original 1934 airliner that flew on the West Coast of the South Island, organiser and aviation historian Richard Waugh says.

The Fox Moth restored by Mr Smith was imported in 1947 for light freight and charter work around the South Island, including hauling venison and whitebait on the West Coast.

Hoki to Haast — a new book about the South Westland air service which ran from 1934 until 1967 — incorporates the story of the airline’s development on the West Coast up until now.

"We are most grateful to so many people who have willingly helped us with this big research and publishing project," says Mr Waugh, son of the last South Westland air service pilot.

www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-harbour-news/3123375/Vintage-aircraft-fly-in-to-celebrate-NZ-s-first-airline

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Reliving aviation from yesteryear

By MARIANNE KELLY - Howick & Botany Times | Wednesday, 09 December 2009



EARLY FLYER: Jack Humphries fondly remembers flying the
South Island's west coast. — Times photo: Wayne Martin.

JACK HUMPHRIES finished his career flying a modern airliner to many exotic international destinations.

But the 85-year-old retired pilot’s fondest memories of his aviation days are “seat-of-the-pants” sorties on the South Island’s west coast.

At the age of 32, Mr Humphries was one of the first pilots to fly for the newly-established West Coast Airways.

It ran a scheduled service from Hokitika to Haast, and non-scheduled passenger charter and scenic flights from airfields south of Hokitika including Milford Sound.



WONDERFUL MACHINE: A Dominie on the tarmac at Haast in the early 1960s.

Mr Humphries, of Highland Park, spent all of 1957 flying Dominies for the airline carrying a range of goods from whitebait to crayfish tails and legs. The tourist trade was also getting established with flights from Hokitika to the Franz Josef Glacier, Haast and sometimes into the Fox Glacier.

“It was a great year with plenty of variety,” he recalls. “Because of the lack of roads, the aeroplane was the main way of getting supplies in and out of back-country farms.

“Some of the holdings were still being operated by pioneering families who continued long-standing grudges with each other.

“We had to be careful and diplomatic with the warring families because there were a lot of different allegiances.”

He was also wary of the three women who ran the airfield at Haast particularly Myrtle Cron, who was a member of one of the warring families.

“She was an ace with a 303,” he says. “We had to be careful of the three of them. They had a great capacity for catching out people they didn’t like.”

He was always ready for the occasional encounter with Civil Aviation people who were on the lookout for overloaded aircraft.

“You had to talk fast. You learnt to survive in tricky situations.”

As well as the local bureaucracy, Mr Humphries had to look out for bad weather rolling in from the Tasman Sea.

“I had the odd turn-back because of the weather. I didn’t want to push my luck too much.”

One of the scarier incidents occurred when Mr Humphries was flying south to Haast unaware that a local private flyer Des Nolan was heading north on the same flight path.

“We were both seeking visibility and had to watch the breakers.

“But we must have both been watching the surf line too intently because, as I reached a headland and started to swing out to sea, Des pulled up doing the same thing.

“We looked up and saw each other, changed our altitudes and ‘blinked’ past each other. When we looked out our side windows we could have shaken hands.”

Much of the flying involved supply dropping. This was in the days before helicopters when supplies were thrown out the doors of the fixed-wing aircraft.

“Bill Hewitt and I ran a twin-engine freighter plane and dropped bags of cement down to the Milford Track where they were building the Pompolona Hut.

“The Works Department brought us bags of cement which had to be manhandled to a hinged shute.

“We clipped a parachute cable on and pushed the bags down. I did the back-breaking work while Bill did the flying.

“On one drop we barely got the last bag out and one of the two engines started to cough. We had a fairly low flight back to Mossburn but we got there.”

Mr Humphries made his last West Coast Airways flight in December 1957. He became a top-dressing pilot in Waikato and then flew Lockheed Electras, DC8s and DC10s for TEAL and Air New Zealand before retiring in July 1979.

His retirement came just months before the tragic DC10 crash into Mt Erebus in the Antarctica.

“I was on a rostered crew to go down there. My name came up and I was looking forward to it but retired just before a flight came up.

“I knew Jim Collins [the DC10 captain who flew the Erebus flight]. He was a fine fellow.”

• Celebrations are being held from December 17-20 at Hokitika and Haast to mark 75 years of licensed scheduled airlines in New Zealand.

• Phone organiser on Richard Waugh [phone] or 273-9044 or email for more details.

www.times.co.nz/cms/front_page_feature/2009/12/reliving_aviation_from_yesteryear.php?
www.times.co.nz/cms/front_page_feature/2009/12/reliving_aviation_from_yesteryear.php?page=2
www.times.co.nz/cms/front_page_feature/2009/12/reliving_aviation_from_yesteryear.php?page=3

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Anniversary show takes off

North Harbour News | Friday, 11 December 2009



DRAGON RUN: A rare de Havilland DH.84 Dragon takes off. — Photo: JILL GUILLEMIN.

Stormy Friday weather stopped some vintage planes making it to the North Shore Aero Club Vintage Fly in on Saturday, but there were still great crowds.

The North Shore Aero Club celebrated the 75th anniversary of New Zealand’s first airline with a variety of vintage planes on show.

Laurie Larsen, 96, of St Heliers was there to celebrate, being one of the passengers on the original Fox Moth used by the airline in 1937.



FOND MEMORIES: Laurie Larsen, 96, of St Heliers
was a passenger on the original Fox Moth in 1937.
— Photo: JILL GUILLEMIN.

The show featured the DH83C Fox Moth, which had a complete rebuild and is one of only two Canadian Fox Moths in the world still flying.

There was also a Nanchang CJ6 Chinese Air Force advanced trainer, and a DH84A Dragon which is one of only two in the world that are still airworthy.

The following day thousands gathered for the Browns Bay Beach Fly Past Aero Show.

www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-harbour-news/3147159/Anniversary-show-takes-off

[thomarse]

I like the bit about the marquee "in case of rain".

In case of rain? At Haast?

I can feel a Tui billboard coming on here..................

[Peter Lewis]

While I was doing my BFR flight test this morning in G158 (Woodhill) I heard the Dragon ZK-AXI and Fox Moth ZK-APT filing their flight plan to head south, presumably en route to Haast.
Stan Smith was flying the Dragon, don't know who was flying the Fox but he had great trouble getting the tower guy to understand that he was a DH83 not a DH82. Don't think said guy knew such an aircraft existed.

Must have been a good omen - passed the flight test. Good Chrissy present.

[DragonflyDH90]

Fingers crossed we get there also. We depart Mandeville tomorrow morning bound for Hokitika initially with the Dominie, Fox Moth and Dragonfly (unfortunately the Aussie Fox is a no show). The weather for the weekend is a little iffy but we will play with what we get.

Here's hoping.

[Gavin Conroy]

Stan and the gang are staying in Blenheim for the night and head to the coast tomorrow.
Hopefully the weather does stay nice for the event.

[Dave Homewood]

Great photos Gavin. there is just no bad angle to take a photo from with those lovely de Havillands. Is it noisy in the DH83 cabin or it it fairly quiet out of the slipstream like that?

I thought since all you chaps are on a nice nostalgia kick for air travel in the 1930's right now it might be a nice time to link back to an old thread with a wonderful series of articles written by Leo White as he travelled through New Zealand in the 1930's aboard the DH84, DH86, DH89, etc. Some of you may have already read them but I'm sure there are a number of casual observers popping into this thread as the event grows nearer who may not have seen them before. Take a look here:

rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=civil&thread=4220&page=1