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 : 

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2020/04/douglas-dc-3-zk-awp-her-75-year-history.html

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