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