Like No Other

Very few aircraft can claim to have changed the course of history. The Douglas DC-3 is one of them. And with summer here this is your chance to sample a little of that history as Air Chathams’ venerable DC-3 – rescued by founder Craig Emeny and known to her friends as ZK-AWP – once again takes to the skies over Tauranga.

The Douglas DC-3 first appeared prior to World War II and it was instrumental in opening up international and long-haul flights. Its range and passenger and cargo carrying capability were unrivalled, and for a whole generation the DC-3 was their introduction to air travel. With the outbreak of war in 1939 however, the DC-3 found a new military role – and it was one it excelled at: in C-47 guise the aircraft was an essential part of the Allies return to Europe, dropping paratroops behind enemy lines on D-Day, and in 1948-49 it helped feed an entire city, carrying food and fuel during the Berlin Airlift. Production ceased in 1946, but the DC-3 just kept on keeping on, continuing in military roles in Asia and around the world, as well as in civil aviation and as a workhorse for industry. DC-3s are still flying today, and not many other aircraft can boast active service stretching back to the 1930s.

ZK-AWP rolled off the production line in 1945 and immediately joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, identified as NZ3543, at the end of World War II. She spent her early days bringing servicemen back from the Pacific theatre, performed military supply drops in New Zealand once peace returned, but was soon back in the thick of it during the notorious Malayan Campaign. In 1952 she hung up her uniform and joined the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC - fore-runner of Air New Zealand domestic) and it was at this time that she picked up her civilian moniker of ZK-AWP Powhaitere (yellow fronted parakeet). As part of an NAC upgrade in 1963 she underwent refurbishment to DC-3 Skyliner status, gaining larger windows, a better public address system, sound proofing, new carpets, curtains and also a new name: Skyliner Kaitaia. She soldiered on at NAC until 1970 when she headed to Western Samoa for a two-year leasing stint, before logging 6722 hours as a top-dressing aircraft prior to retiring in 1985.

With the outbreak of war in 1939, the DC-3 found a new military role – and it was one it excelled at.

IN 1986, then-owners Fieldair Ltd decided to scrap one of their DC-3 and the two contenders were placed nose to nose and a coin toss was held to decide their fates. Fortunately, ZK-AWP was the lucky winner and a new phase in her life as a freight plane began, lasting till March 1993.

Over the next ten years ZK-AWP changed hands several times. She was converted back to a passenger airliner and returned to her NAC Skyliner livery and name of Kaitaia, before ultimately ending up with Pionair of Christchurch who purchased her in May 2002.

Not long after this, Christchurch air traffic controllers were startled one morning when her crew sought clearance for a direct flight to Melbourne - little did they know that she had had long-range fuel tanks installed. ZK-AWP duly set off and landed faithfully in Melbourne ten hours later to commence outback tours to all corners of Australia. A repaint, in Pionair’s livery, came on her return to New Zealand to match their other two DC-3s and she was renamed Lucille after the chief flight attendant’s middle name.

In 1948-49 it helped feed an entire city, carrying food and fuel during the Berlin Airlift.

Air Chathams and the Classic Flyers Museum in Tauranga have teamed up to provide you with a spectacular scenic flight in our DC-3, “Pouwhaitere”. Delight in an awesome 30 minute flight with old style luxury and spectacular views over the Bay of Plenty. Learn about the history of our unique aircraft and take a very special trip with our dedicated crew on a fantastic flight for young and old.

When her owners weren’t able to carry out that inspection she languished in a hangar, largely forgotten, until 2009.

In 2004, Lucille was “summoned” by the Crown Prince of Tonga, so off she dutifully went from Auckland on a 7½ hour ferry flight to a royal welcome at Fua’amotu, Tonga. The prince owned an airline, Peau Vava’u Limited, and so old faithful began a regular service between Tongatapu and Vava’u, on a lease basis. When the airline gained its own operating certificate the DC-3 became A3-AWP, and all went well until civil unrest broke out in November 2006: a 5000 hour overhaul was due, and when her owners weren’t able to carry out that inspection she languished in a hangar, largely forgotten, until 2009.

That was until Craig Emeny, the founder of Air Chathams, entered the story. Seeing an opportunity, Emeny purchased the aircraft and after an extensive overhaul she resumed to service in 2010 with 48,862 hours logged and a new name: Tangaloa (Family of Gods).

Two years later, following the arrival in Tonga of a 50-seat MA-60 aircraft provided by the Chinese government, ZK-AWP was surplus to requirements and flew back to New Zealand in December 2013, where she once more became ZK-AWP registered to Air Chathams. Just as importantly, she retrieved her original name Powhaitere.

Today this grand old dame is still going strong, loved by her Air Chathams family and all those that fly in her.