12 February 2025

Helicopter Help...

A request from Mike Richardson who is doing an article for SPaNZ on some Wellington-based helicopters from the late 1980s.

ZK-HMG's initial stint on the register looked like this.

             07/11/1979   Dalhoff & King Aviation Ltd, Auckland

                     28/02/1980     Mountain Helicopters Ltd, Greymouth

                     30/11/1981     Marlborough Helicopters Ltd, Greymouth

                     21/10/1982     West Coast Helicopters Ltd, Greymouth

                     23/09/1985     West Coast Helicopters (Hokitika) Ltd, Hokitika

                     22/11/1985     Heli-Corp (NZ) Ltd, Greymouth

                     02/03/1989     Registration cancelled

Heli-Corp went belly up in April 1988 and it seems it was leased to someone...

Mike writes, ZK-HMG is proving difficult to get data on just wondering if you might know anything about it. It was with a Wellington based owner although I don't think he had it for more than 2 years or so. I have an idea he was connected to the fishing industry.


Any ideas who might have been using it at Wellington? If you could email me at westland831@gmail.com it would be much appreciated...


ZK-HMG at Greymouth on 10 May 1985


ZK-HMG at Wellington on 23 October 1987. Photo Mike Richardson

11 February 2025

Kerikeri on Waitangi Day

After the Waitangi Day celebrations on 6 February 2025 I had a couple of hours to wait for my flight back to Auckland...

Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NFB was departing for Auckland as I arrived


Shortly after Tasman Aviation's Beechcraft King Air B350 departed

Arriving from Auckland was Air New Zealand Bombardier Q300 ZK-NFA

TL Ultralight TL-3000 Sirius ZL-SRZ was in for a fuel stop

Pacific Aerospace 750XL is now devoid of titles and went to the pumps after a skydiving mission


Salt Air's Gippsland GA8 Airvan returned from a Cape Reinga run

My ride back to Auckland, Barrier Air's Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-SDC

Taking forever to start and depart was the Royal New Zealand Navy's Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite NZ3617... the last two photos taken from the Caravan 



10 February 2025

Recalling NAC's Norfolk Island Days

Thanks to Louise De Chesne who let me use her photo of the Air Chathams' DC-3 at Norfolk Island on 8 February 2025. Painted in NAC colours it reminded me of the air service NAC operated to Norfolk Island with DC-3s in the early days and later with Fokker Friendships.

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2021/08/norfolk-island-just-4-hours-away-by-nac.html

Sadly the connection will agai be broken when Air Chathams withdraws from the route at the end of April.


09 February 2025

Hercules Airlines - Safe Competition

 


As an armchair aviation nut this post has been difficult to stitch together... if you addditions, corrections, stories I would love to hear them and update the post... Steve - westland831@gmail.com

In March 1984, following the deregulation of the New Zealand aviation industry Auckland based National Air Freighters (N.Z.), Limited, applied to the Air Services Licensing Authority to operate a Category A air transport service between Christchurch and Auckland and return five times per week with a fleet of three Bristol Type 170 Freighter aircraft. Chief shareholder was Dwen Airmotive Ltd, the company that was to provide the aircraft. The company itself was registered on the 4th of May 1984 and was to provide the first real competition to the air freight market that Safe Air had dominated since its inception.

On the 8th of June 1984 the Press reported that, A new air freight service making round trips between Christchurch and Auckland five nights a week may start later this month. A new Auckland company using Christchurch Airport as a base would fly two renovated Bristol Freighter 8170 aircraft to begin, said Mr K. W. James, chief engineer of National Air Freighters N.Z., Ltd, from Auckland yesterday. Mr James said that the aircraft were formerly owned by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. A third aircraft was near refurbished, and a fourth was being prepared, depending on how business went, he said. “We are concentrating on one customer at the moment, but we will see how it goes," said Mr James. The Christchurch City Council's airport and electricity committee was told that one aircraft would be based at the airport. It would leave Christchurch between 8 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. on four nights and return between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Mr James said the new company’s start was the result of delicensing, and an air transport licence was awaited. Councillors were told that airport tarmac space was needed for the parking, loading, and unloading of the aircraft. Each turnround would involve two cartage contractors trucks, a fork hoist or cargo-handling vehicle, a refuelling tanker, and a crew car. The Auckland company is negotiating with Southair Aviation Services at the airport to handle its servicing. Its aircraft will be parked and worked in the freight forwarding area.

Meanwhile, the application to the Air Services Licensing Authority was successful and National Air Freighters was granted a temporary licence on the 16th of June 1984 and a full licence on the 11th of July 1984.

The airline was to use three ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31M aircraft, ZK-EPC (ex NZ5906), ZK-EPD (ex NZ5907) and ZK-EPF (NZ5910). These, along with other ex-RNZAF Bristol Freighters ZK-EPA (NZ5902), ZK-EPB (NZ5904), ZK-EPE (NZ5909), ZK-EPG (NZ5911), ZK-EPH (NZ5912), had been bought by tender by Ron Dwen’s, Dwen Airmotive NZ Ltd, of Ardmore. They were placed on the civil register on the 17th of August 1978 and flown to Ardmore in late August/early September 1978 and had been in storage since that time.

In preparation for the new service ZK-EPC, which had been operated by Instone Airlines in the UK returned to New Zealand was registered to National Air Freighters NZ Ltd on the 27th of June 1984.

National Air Freighters' Bristol Freighter ZK-EPD at Christchurch on 2 August 1984

The contract mentioned in the Press article was with TNT with a Bristol Freighter operating a 'TNT Overnite' service, carrying freight five nights a week between Auckland and Christchurch. Bristol Freighter ZK-EPC was painted up in a special TNT scheme. The service began sometime in either late June or early July 1984.

National Air Freighters' Bristol Freighter ZK-EPC at Ardmore with TNT Overnite titles. Photo : D Noble

Cargo is loaded at Christchurch Airport into one of the two renovated Bristol Freighters being used in the new air freight service between Christchurch and Auckland. At left, Mr Alan Beazley, an aircraft engineer, passes a parcel to Mr Byron Phillips, the co-pilot of the plane. The new service, run by National Air Freighters N.Z., Ltd, of Auckland, makes round trips between Christchurch and Auckland five nights a week. The Press, 21 July 1984


On the 21st of August 1984 the Registrar of Companies gave notice that "National Air Freighters N.Z. Limited" had changed its name to "Hercules Airlines Limited" on that day. The three aircraft were registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd on the 27th of August 1984. The name new company name reflected Bristol Hercules engines used in the Bristol Freighters.

The three Hercules Airlines' Bristol Freighters... ZK-EPC at Christchurch on 26 December 1984 with the TNT titles replaced by Hercules Airlines' titles

ZK-EPD at Ardmore on 14 May 1985. Photo : F B Gavin 

Bristol Freighter ZK-EPF at Ardmore. Photo : D Noble

The service’s early success was somewhat stymied by Safe Air announcing on the 6th of September 1984 they would start their own Safe Air Christchurch to Auckland Bristol Freighter charter service. Safe Air’s marketing manager, Mr Denis Morgan, said that the service would run from Monday to Friday but a starting date had not been set.

For the next 18 months or thereabouts the Ardmore-based company's three Bristol Freighters were regularly plied the Christchurch-Auckland route. In addition to this contract Hercules Airlines operated charter flights to transport livestock and general cargo around the country New Zealand.

A Chris Mak postcard of Hercules Airlines ZK-EPD over the Hauraki Gulf

Hercules Airlines ceased operating in the second half of 1986.

Finally, a little history of the three Bristol Freighters used…

ZK-EPC (c/n 13059) made its first flight at the Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd plant at Filton in the UK as G-18-113. It became NZ5906 with the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 17th of October 1952. After being retired from the RNZAF it became ZK-EPC registered to R S Dwen on the 17th of August 1978 and placed in storage at Ardmore. On the 27th of June 1984 it was registered to National Air Freighters NZ Ltd of Auckland and reflecting the change of the company name it was registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd of Auckland on the 12th of November 1984. ZK-EPC was withdrawn from service on the 21st of October 1985 and was cancelled from the register on the 18th of January 1991 having flown for a total of 14,996 hours and having made 11,527 landings.

Bristol Freighter ZK-EPC languishing at Ardmore 6 August 1990. Photo : P Campbell

ZK-EPD (c/n 13060) made its first flight at the Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd plant at Filton in the UK as G-18-114. It became NZ5907 with Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 22nd of December 1952. After being retired from the RNZAF it became ZK-EPD on the 17th of August 1978. R.S. Dwen sold it to British operator, Instone Airlines Ltd. Its New Zealand registration was cancelled on the 8th of September 1982 and placed on the UK register a couple of days later as G-AMLK. Some 18 months later The aircraft returned to New Zealand and was restored as ZK-EPD on the 5th of April 1984 being registered to ZK-EPD Dwen Airmotive Ltd of Auckland before being registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd on the 27th of August. It was cancelled from the register on the 29th of September 1987. A few days later on the 30th of September 1987 it was placed on the Canadian registers as C-GYQS  being registered to Trans-Provincial Airlines of Terrace, British Columbia. In 1993 it went to Hawkair Aviation. Its final flight was made on the 6th of September 2004 to Wetaskiwin for preservation at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. The aircraft in its lifetime had flown 17,174 hours and 21,885 cycles.

ZK-EPF (c/n 13134) was assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ5910 on the 24th of April 1954.  After being retired from the RNZAF it became ZK-EPD on the 17th of August 1978 registered to R S Dwen. On the 27th of August 1984 it was registered to Hercules Airlines Ltd. In 1987, following the end of Hercules Airlines operation ZK-EPF became a movie star appearing in the Walt Disney film The Rescue as a North Korean aircraft. In finally departed New Zealand on the 9th of December 1987 for Canada.  It was finally cancelled from the New Zealand register on the 12th of January 1988. Its new owner was Trans Provincial Airlines of Terrace, British Columbia, Canada who registered it as C-GYQY on the 2nd of February 1988. Sadly, four months later it was destroyed at Bronson Creek, 350kms north of Terrace, British Columbia when it crashed on landing on the 21st of June 1988. It was cancelled from the Canadian register on the 23rd of November 1988.

Bristol Freighter ZK-EPF at Queenstown 3 May 1987 in North Korean colours for the Disney film, The Rescue. Photo : P Campbell

08 February 2025

AWP departs


 

Air Chathams' Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP, Skyliner Kaitaia, departed Auckland at 6.45am for Kaitaia on the first leg of its ferry flight to Australia. It left Kaitaia for Norfolk Island at 8.30am

ZK-AWP was the last DC-3 in New Zealand operated on a scheduled air service. During the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Air Chathams operated the airliner on a Saturday Auckland-Whakatāne service and on a Sunday Whakatāne-Auckland return.

A photo essay of one these flights can be found here : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/11/air-chathams-majestic-flyer.html

06 February 2025

Busy Barrier Air

Four of Barrier Air's Cessna 208B Grand Caravans were in action at Auckland on 3 February 2025...

Cessna Grand Caravan EX, ZK-SDA, off to Whitianga as GBA713


Cessna Grand Caravan, ZK-SDC, off to Great Barrier Island as GB109

Cessna Grand Caravan, ZK-SDD, off to Kaitaia as GB715

Cessna Grand Caravan, ZK-SDE, off to Great Barrier Island as GB593

05 February 2025

Saabs at Auckland

Air Chathams' Saab 340 ZK-CIT off to Whanganui as 3C 704 on 3 February 2025

Air Chathams' Saab 340 ZK-CIY off to Whakatāne as 3C 824 on 3 February 2025

 

04 February 2025

Air Chathams Farewells AWP

Yesterday Air Chathams' staff had an opportunity to farewell the company's classic, nearly 80 year old Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP. A couple of scenic flights were operated from Auckland before the plane departed for Ardmore for some brief work in preparation for its ferry flight to Darwin. It then flew to Matamata where it will do crew training before leaving the country, at this stage on Saturday.

Unfortunately the Auckland heat haze played havoc with the photos landing and taking off.

A full history of ZK-AWP can be found here : 


Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP landing in the heat haze at Auckland with the first staff flight on 3 February 2025



An unexpected change of taxi way and I had to sprint to the car to change lens

Missed the side on shot

Departing on the second staff flight


And better shots on the return 





About to depart for Ardmore and Matamata 

 

03 February 2025

Hercules Farewell

Farewell to the RNZAF's Lockheed C130H Hercules over Auckland on 3 February 2025