NZFF

Great stuff Aharon. That would have been quite a sight to see the DC8 pull out of little old Norfolks.
Went there as a kid, but flew in a Fokker Friendship from memory (will have to check w my parents). Lovely Island and some really interesting hitory.

It probably was an F27 Deeknow. certainly a marginal operation, especially if the weather wasn't too flash. Over wing fueling from drums in Kaitaia was the back up plan!

Aharon is that the HJG DC8 or Just Flight's? Nice post.

cowpatz wrote:It probably was an F27 Deeknow. certainly a marginal operation, especially if the weather wasn't too flash. Over wing fueling from drums in Kaitaia was the back up plan!

Wo! sounds sketchy, glad I was ignorant of it as a 10-year old .. and a 50-year old for that matter

Great post Aharon, I can recall seeing the odd DC-8. The last one I really remember was at NZCH ...there was a big Airshow there to commemorate an air race many years before ...in fact it may have been a race, cant remember.
I do however recall flying up to Norfolk on an RNZAF F-27 ...originated at RNZAF Wigram with a stop at RNZAF Whenuapai, it was covered off as a "Navex"or Navigation exercise. The F-27's were operated as Navigation trainers and sometimes used for "Marops" or coastal patrols in conjunction with the P3's.
That particular "Navex" was nothing more than a Christmas shopping trip, as Norfolk was duty-free destination....and we had ways to avoid NZ Customs on return
Fuel wasn't really a problem as the RNZAF airframes had large underwing fuel tanks.

Ah the good old days ....again, great post

Nice screenshots Aharon

Splitpin wrote:Great post Aharon, I can recall seeing the odd DC-8. The last one I really remember was at NZCH ...there was a big Airshow there to commemorate an air race many years before ...in fact it may have been a race, cant remember.
I do however recall flying up to Norfolk on an RNZAF F-27 ...originated at RNZAF Wigram with a stop at RNZAF Whenuapai, it was covered off as a "Navex"or Navigation exercise. The F-27's were operated as Navigation trainers and sometimes used for "Marops" or coastal patrols in conjunction with the P3's.
That particular "Navex" was nothing more than a Christmas shopping trip, as Norfolk was duty-free destination....and we had ways to avoid NZ Customs on return
Fuel wasn't really a problem as the RNZAF airframes had large underwing fuel tanks.

Ah the good old days ....again, great post

Ah indeed Marty, yes those were the good old days. It certainly brings back memories, recall doing a flying tiki tour into Rangiora Airfield. Just to attend the Golden Jubilee Airshow Christchurch in March 1987.

You are correct it was for the conclusion of the PDL International Air Race Singapore-Christchurch, such a nostalgic trip back in time here's the AirHistory link photo details for Air New Zealand Cargo DC-8 ZK-NZD

Thanks to all for very kind words.

Cowpatz, it is freeware HJG model base

Regards,

Aharon

Sorry to Hijack your great post-Aharon.

Aharon you might find this of interest. I did have the pleasure of working on the DC8 in my previous life as an aircraft engineer.
Some good videos in there too. Enjoy.

Air NZ Flight engineers Blog

wow CP that's an excellent resource, thanks for sharing!

Splitpin wrote:Sorry to Hijack your great post-Aharon.

No need to apologize. I encourage anyone to make or create intellectual and educational discussion on commercial aviation of New Zealand in my screenshot posts.

Thanks for letting me know that Teal DC-8 participated in air race from Australia to New Zealand. Who won this race?

Regards,

Aharon

cowpatz wrote:Aharon you might find this of interest. I did have the pleasure of working on the DC8 in my previous life as an aircraft engineer.Some good videos in there too. Enjoy.Air NZ Flight engineers Blog

Cowpatz,

Thanks for great hyperlink. Much appreciated. Is there any source of information that tells what airports that any Air New Zealand DC-8s had flown to whether they were regular scheduled flights or charter flights or government flights or royal flights.

Regards,

Aharon

Aharon wrote:Cowpatz,

Thanks for great hyperlink. Much appreciated. Is there any source of information that tells what airports that any Air New Zealand DC-8s had flown to whether they were regular scheduled flights or charter flights or government flights or royal flights.

Regards,

Aharon

Not that I can immediately lay my hands on. The following is from Wikipedia: Wikipedia DC8

They did a few charter flights (including royal visits). When Air NZ was decommissioning them one was converted to a freighter (ZK-NZD). It remained the only DC8 in the company fleet for quite sometime.
ZK-NZA was initially not available due being used on another aircraft and of course NZB crashed during a tragic training flight mishap.
I'm not sure how financially successful it was as it was only a 52 series from memory. Carrying race horses around the world (but mainly Australia) became it's main source of cargo.

CP, re the link ..... as mentioned before, what a resource . I had no idea until now that we lost a DC-8.
Thanks very much.

Yes it is what prompted Air NZ to get into flight simulators. The DC8 one was very primitive. Visuals consisted of a big vertical board with a model landscape constructed on it and a camera that would move over it depending on the aircraft position. In theory you could stick a glob of chewing gum on it and it could show up in the visuals!

Great reply ...cheers CP ...I've been trying to keep these conversations away from Aharon's post, but he seems happy.
I almost choked on my Merlot when I read "In theory, you could stick a glob of chewing gum on it and it could show up in the visuals!"

Rumour has it that on one simulator sortie a giant spider appeared through the "cockpit windows"!

Thanks all for kind answers.

Regards,

Aharon